People starting out on a healthier lifestyle often carry plenty of questions and misconceptions about fitness training. Negative claims and bad experiences get shared widely online, and once a story has circulated enough, those who don’t know better start treating it as fact.

Debunking the Internet’s fitness myths

Having the right information is what gives you the confidence to try new things on the road to healthier living. Below, we clear up five of the most common fitness-training myths found online:

Myth #1: The higher your numbers on the weighing scale, the less fit you are

Lots of people measure their fitness goals objectively with the weighing scale, since the mirror alone can give a misleading picture of your progress. Still, there are times when people feel their hard work isn’t reflected in the numbers on the scale.

Keep in mind that a weight reading doesn’t account for how differently fat and muscle are built. A pound of muscle takes up less space than a pound of fat, which is why weight alone is a poor way to track progress. In fact, putting on weight can be a good sign that you’re building more muscle while holding on to less fat.

Myth #2: Doing strength training will give you a bulky body

Some people avoid strength training because they worry it will leave them with a bulky figure. In reality, it takes a long time — along with intense training and strict nutrition — before anyone reaches a bodybuilder’s level of bulk.

Unless you follow the same training and diet as professional bodybuilders, there’s little to no chance your muscles will end up looking like theirs.

Myth #3: If you’re not sweating, you’re doing it wrong

People who believe they know a lot about fitness often share their personal tips and tricks without understanding the science behind them. One widespread myth is that your workout isn’t being done correctly unless you’re sweating heavily or pushing yourself to exhaustion.

Remember that sweating is simply your body’s way of cooling down when strenuous activity raises its temperature. Sweating helps you shed water weight, which comes from sodium, carbohydrates and dehydration. For that reason, you can burn calories without breaking a sweat at all.

Myth #4: Using machines is the safest way to work out

Working with free weights — loading plates, dumbbells and handlebars — can be confusing for beginners. Without a built-in mechanism, people can sometimes get hurt by mishandling these individual pieces.

Exercise machines are great for both veterans and first-timers getting into working out. That said, they aren’t automatically the best or safest route to a healthy body. Even if you’re used to a machine’s specific settings and functions, you can still get injured if you don’t use proper form when handling the equipment.

Myth #5: If you’re not in pain, your workout plan isn’t working

The belief that you must always suffer to get a fit body is completely false. This ‘no pain, no gain’ mindset is exactly what keeps many people away from fitness training. The first few days of working out will certainly break your body down under the load of exercise, but your body adapts to it over time.

Those who adapt well to their workouts often find they feel far less pain during and after a session.

Conclusion

Beginners pursuing a healthy lifestyle often carry plenty of questions and misconceptions about working out. Even so, understanding what fitness training can really do for your body lets you see its genuine benefits for healthier living.

Those who hold the fitness process in high regard can sometimes forget that everyone moves at their own pace toward a healthy lifestyle. At AM Fitness Cambridge, we understand how important it is to support each person’s individual path to healthy living.

Want to step up your fitness routine? Our boot camps in Cambridge and online coaching sessions can help you build the fitness body you’re after!