Fitness Myths: Setting the Record Straight

Now that we know sit ups won’t melt away body fat and building muscle doesn’t necessarily translate into a speedier metabolism, let’s debunk a few more popular fitness myths: Myth: Lifting Weights Makes You Look Bulky If you are a woman, who is concerned that lifting weights is going to make you look like Popeye, you can stop worrying. According to experts, women can’t develop muscles like men. However, if you are still not convinced, then workout with lighter weights, or complete exercises that use your own bodyweight for resistance. Bottom line: The average woman doesn’t produce enough testosterone to … Continue reading

Debunking Fitness Myths

I always wonder about those sweaty guys I see in the gym who do dozens of crunches, then stroll over to the vending machine to down a bottle of Mountain Dew. Unless that’s the only high calorie beverage they consume all day, I would think they would be better off drinking a bottle of water. That is if they ever want to see the six-pack abs they are trying to create via the crunches. Crunches won’t get rid of body fat. That’s one of the biggest fitness myths out there. The only way you are going to be able to … Continue reading

Debunking Exercise Myths

Exercise myths are great because they are either so patently untrue that it’s easy to dismiss them or they sound suspiciously like great advice so they are easy to believe. We’ve all been taken in by common fitness myths. My favorite was the one I believed for years. If you’re not going to give it your all and exercise every day or at least every other day, then exercise is a waste of time. That’s complete bunk. Sure, exercising every other day is ideal, but even if you can only get out and walk for an hour or two a … Continue reading

Pilates Becoming Popular with Men

For years Pilates has been popular with women looking to improve their flexibility and strengthen their core. But, a new study out shows that the exercises designed for total body conditioning are now attracting a record number of men. Some 12.5 million people participated in Pilates in 2006, the latest year for which figures are available, up from 9.4 million in 2003, according to the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association. What’s more, of those 12.5 million more than a third are men. That’s up more than half from 2003. Experts theorize that the growing number of men who are supplementing their … Continue reading