5 Myths About Staying Fit -- Debunked!

From the Community…

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  Posted by BSFreeMama Fri Jul 31, 2009 9:42am PDT

  Interesting article.. Thank you :)

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  Posted by Lesha Fri Jul 31, 2009 2:12pm PDT

  This is very helpful!!

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  Posted by Rebekah Tue Aug 4, 2009 11:07am PDT

  Very helpful. I'm especially grateful for the 1st tip--I hate being told to exercise in the morning!

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  Posted by Debby Sun Aug 9, 2009 2:10am PDT

  Interesting to a point. Thanx

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  Posted by justin Sun Aug 9, 2009 2:20am PDT

  This article is right about a few things, but for the most part its wrong. The first tip and the last tip are spot on, but the rest of them are completely wrong. Anyone who is working out and trying to build a physic whether it be a manly or feminine one should consume large amounts of protein. Protein is the building block for muscle, regardless of whether or trying to get big or lean. It says that women can lift heavy weights and not get big, that's true if they are not eating enough protein, but if that's the case than they will just cause themselves pain and will not make much change in their bodies. Have you ever seen a female body builder?? Proof that weights can make women look like big men. Working out your abs for only 5 minutes will do nothing, but make you feel like you almost did something. I am a body builder and martial artist I understand the human body and physical fitness very well. If I were you guys I wouldn't waste my time listening to what a bunch of old doctors tell you to do to get fit on the internet. Go to the library ;)

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  Posted by Rebbeca Sun Aug 9, 2009 2:38am PDT

  I already knew about the lifting weights part, joined the weight lifting team and lost 20lbs in 3 months and got my lettermen too!

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  Posted by Thomas Sun Aug 9, 2009 5:19am PDT

  I have to agree with Justin regarding the protein. I've been working out for over 30-yrs and have remained very fit to this day at 50. A good daily recommendation for people working out is protein (grams) = body weight (lbs). Maybe somewhat less if your work outs aren't intense. Protein shakes and bars are a good way to supplement between meals. It is also a good idea to consume some protein when you first wake up - I start every day with an Atkins shake that has around 15 grams and just a few carbs. I'm not an expert, but believe that this technique keeps your body from breaking down muscle for energy when you first wake up, which it will do even if you eat first thing in the morning because it will take a little time to digest your food and covert it to energy.

  Regarding carbs, every human being should be on a carb control diet. The reason we have so many diabetics in this country is because we make our bodies work too hard to process sugar and alcohol. I'm not talking Atkins or South Beach diets - neither are good for sustaining good health. It's really very simple - 45 grams of carbs per meal three times a day. Also need to add snacks between meals - but no more than 10 - 15 grams of carbs. This diet will 1) help you to eat only good carbs - vegetables, fruits, nuts, and whole grains; 2) will eliminate sugared drinks (including fruit juice), processed snacks, and sugary sweets from your diet; 3) force you to limit alcohol to 1 or 2 drinks max per day; and 4)most importantly will maintain your blood sugar at the levels that our bodies were designed to utilize. This is critical to good health - trust me. I learned the hard way after suffering from hypoglycemic seizures (one near fatal). Turns out my blood sugars were getting very high and then my body was overcompensating with insulin production after enduring long periods of exercise that would drop that level down to a very dangerous point literally within an hour after exercising.

  Regarding weights - it's the inensity of your work out - not the amount of weight - that will determine results. The old saying "no pain no gain" is very true. However, you will still get minimal gains even from just hitting the gym for 20 - 30 minutes a few times per week. The key is to keep your muscles active - so do what works for you. Those machines at the gym really work and they're easy. So don't let the personal trainers convince you that all of that other stuff is really necessary - unless you're trying to look like them:) For Cardio - try something fun to keep your interest and get outdoors. Tennis, Kayaking, Cycling, Mountain Biking are all GREAT activities to burn calories, have fun, and keep your heart healthy. Sorry for the long blog - but this stuff is really important for a HEALTH AMERICA.

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  Posted by tanya Sun Aug 9, 2009 5:33am PDT

  good tips! been trying to get motivated to get fit.......thanks for the advice!!!!!!!

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  Posted by Jimmy G Sun Aug 9, 2009 5:36am PDT

  Wow, maybe we should make Thomas' comment the article instead! Good read Thomas.

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  Posted by Stacy Sun Aug 9, 2009 5:41am PDT

  The biggest problem with people looking for answer is that they assume a degree or a good looking body means the person speaking knows what they’re talking about. The best looking people in the gym were usually born that way and required little effort to get within 80% of what they look like. Because things are so easy for them genetically, they make really stupid assumptions based on their own experiences and preach those concepts which are most always more harmful than good. People with degrees are really the worst. For one thing, their education is highly subsidized by the fast food industry. I remember back in College there was actually a poster on the wall in a nutrition class paid for by the fast food industry that (believe it or not) explained why French fries are good for you. People assume a “MD” or “Registered Dietician” (etc) title means the information being given is good, but it’s usually the opposite.

  #1 When you work out at a certain time of day and on a regular basis, your body alters it’s biorhythm to spike at that time. If you work out regularly, it’s such an obvious “upper” that it’s hard to miss. You can feel a spike in energy and you usually get a “happy” feeling. Like everything else with fitness and nutrition, your body is very adaptive. It doesn’t matter when you work out except that the spike in your metabolism may make it hard to go to sleep or sleep well if you work out late at night.

  #2 The goal is progressive resistance. If you just do 5 minutes a day of the same thing, your body will adapt and you’ll never make any progress. “Melting Fat” made me laugh. Your body adds and removes fat in a specific order based on your genetics. (almost without exception) there is no such thing as “spot reduction”. At first the muscles will tighten and slightly contract as a normal state of existence that will make your waist feel smaller. Really that’s probably the most overlooked part of weight training. When you exercise regularly, your body prepares itself for the activity by leaving your muscles in a slightly contracted state (like a cocked gun). Your muscles will feel harder and tighter. The key thing here is that this state of preparation burns a ton of extra calories.

  #3 That was stupid. If exercise is the only thing that builds muscle, then I don’t need protein? (LOL). When you exercise, you need more protein. Also, protein will only be utilized in the presence of carbohydrates (if you’ve starved yourself all day your body will process the protein into fuel before it uses them to rebuild muscle). And, they never mention the best protein is the kind that most closely matches the composition of human protein. Eggs are the best, being 90% usable for building by the human body. The best thing you can do when working out is drink a little egg white (not soy – horrible) protein every day. Women also love this because you will easily notice your hair and fingernails start growing much faster as a side effect.

  #4 This has to be the most stupid fact of them all. Women do have the hormones, it can be done. To look like a bodybuilder though you need superior genetics and you have to live in the gym and eat a very specific way. It’s just that there a normal woman has no chance of looking very muscular through three or four normal workouts a week. “The heavier the weights” – moronic fact. When you lift weights you are doing one of two things depending on how you are working out. If you are using very heavy weights and low repetitions, you are building the ability to fire more of your muscle cells at the same time (Power Lifting basically – say 2 to 6 repitions). If you are using more repetitions and less weight (say 8 to 20 repetitions) you are working more toward building the components of your muscles cells, making them larger (bodybuilding).

  PS: I don’t have a degree, and there is nothing I said that I did not learn 20 years ago (seriously)

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