5 Fitness Myths That Are Keeping You Stuck

Myth: No pain, no gain.

Busted: While pushing yourself is important for progress, pain is your body's way of signaling something's wrong. Listen to your body and stop if you feel sudden or sharp pain. Pushing through it can lead to injury. Along with this, soreness isn’t a sign of workout effectiveness.

Myth: Spot reduction is possible.

Busted: You can't target fat loss to specific areas. If you can’t choose where you gain fat, you can’t choose where you lose it from. Exercises promising to burn stubborn belly fat are just a ploy to get your money.

Myth: Stretching before a workout is essential.

Busted: Static stretches before exercise might actually decrease performance and increase injury risk. Muscles don’t stretch, they either lengthen or shorten. Lack of flexibility is due to weakness through that range of motion. Opt for movement that mimics your exercises or a light cardio warm-up instead.

Myth: Lifting weights will make you bulky.

Busted: Strength training builds muscle, but not in the bulky way many people fear. It actually helps tone and define your physique. Women especially typically need years of lifting experience and some “pharmaceutical” help to get big and bulky.

Myth: Cardio is the best way to lose weight.

Busted: While cardio is important, combining it with strength training is more effective for weight loss and overall fitness. Muscle burns more calories at rest, even when you're not exercising.