FIVE FITNESS FALLACIES
When it comes to nutrition and fitness, there is no shortage of advice—but not all of it is accurate. This month, Krissy is clearing up a few common fitness fallacies to help you make smart, healthy choices.
- Carbohydrates make you gain weight. No single nutrient makes anyone gain weight; the only thing that can make you gain weight is excess calories.
- Fat makes you gain weight. While fat may contribute to heart disease and high cholesterol, it alone does not make you gain weight. Everything in moderation.
- If you eat late at night, you will gain weight. Again, we are under the misconception that we have an internal clock and that it matters what time or what we eat. We do not, and it does not. Calories! Calories! Calories!
- If working out 3 times per week gives you great results, then working out 4 times per week will yield even greater results. This is a very common misconception. While 3 days in the instance yields good results, remember that you are not making progress while you are in the gym, but rather while you are resting, so by adding days, you are taking away the days when you are making progress. Let me explain: when we work out, we break down muscle; when we are at rest, we heal and rebuild stronger muscle. Without the rest, we will just keep breaking down until WE break down!
- You have a maximum target heart rate that you should try to reach each time you exercise. While we can determine a good target heart rate for any individual, I believe each person should take into account how they feel. If your target heart rate is 150 bpm and Monday afternoon you are at 155 bpm, and you feel great, that does not mean that Wednesday afternoon, when you are at 135 bpm, and you are feeling weak, you should blindly push to 150 bpm. Remember, your body will tell you everything you need to know; just listen.
Hope this helps with your fitness journey!
Krissy Blizzard, Fitness Director
