The health and fitness industry is full of myths and fallacies regarding training mostly based on emotion. Thing is some people believe in these so much you could almost mistake it for another religion.

All my Personal Training and Boot Camp training programs are based on scientific principles and not somebody’s unfounded emotional opintion or some massive supplement company out to make a quick buck by manipulating  the truth. Remember these companies pay marketing houses massive amounts of money to help relieve you of your hard earned cash. So oftentimes the only thing losing weight is your wallet!

Over the next few articles I’m going to cover some common myths that I’ve come accross recently with regards to training and nutrition. I’ll start with a quick list a quick list of the more common ones before I pull it apart and give your the TRUTH.

1. Women who lift weights get big bulky muscles
   
2. Your lean toned muscles will turn to fat if you stop lifting weight
3. Specific exercises are great for toning muscles
4. Specific exercises are great for ’spot reduction’
5. Lifting light weights for high reps is great for ‘toning’
6. Men can get ‘muscle bound’ and can’t move around
7. Men and women need different exercise programs
8. Children should not lift weights
9. Specific exercises help ’shape’ a muscle
10. Specific exercises can help ‘cut up’ a muscle
11. You can train different ections of a muscle
12. You can eat and drink protein powders to build extra muscle
13. You ‘must’ take supplements to enhance muscle strength, power and size
14. You can take fat metabolisers, fat burning pills anduse cellulite cream to burn unwanted body fat
15. You should go on a diet if you want to lose weight
16. You should stop strength training if you are pregnant
17. You should not lift weights if you have arthritis
18. You should not lift weights if you have diabetes
    

Women who lift weights get big bulky muscles

Ok so lets knock this one on the head straight away. Women do not have the neccessary levels of testosterone and growth hormone required to increase lean muscle mass dramtically naturally. The majority of women only have the ability to replace the muscle tissue they have lost naturally since the age of about 20. At most an increase of a couple of kilograms of lean muscle tissue, above and beyond what your genetics determines may occur in a small percentage of a very few lucky women.

Lucky because this increase in muscle tissue will results in a faster metabolism therefore speeding up the bodies fat burning ability and slowing down the ageing process.

Ok, so suppose you have increased your muscle tissue by 5lbs over and above your genetic potential you are still not going to be bulky. There are a couple of reasons for this. Firstly, if you are training hard, are ingesting calories congruent with your training goals (which for most women is weight loss), then you going to lose weight due to the increased calorie burn from the extra muscle. Its like putting a supercharger on your car, it will burn more petrol.

Another factor that would prevent you bulking up is the fact that muscle tissue takes up 1/3 the space of body fat. So if you gained 5lb of lean muscle and burned off 5lbs of fat then yes you would weight the same on the scales but as we know the scales lie but you clothes would be looser due to your decreased body fat. Next time you are in the super market why not put it to the test. Get 1lb of lard and compare it to 1lb of lean steak.

So the take home message from this is: don’t be afraid to lift weights if your goal is weight loss. Set your training up  in a circuit fashion to help you burn more fat and not only will you lose weight and get in great shape, you wont bulk up!

I’ll be back in a couple of days with Training Myth 2: Your lean toned muscles will turn to fat if you stop lifting weights

Train Hard, Eat Smart!

Marc

The body is flexible. It is supposed to be flexible. You must be able to bend and reach that something you dropped on the floor. You must be able to zip the back of your favorite dress on your own. You must be able to reach that book you need to read at the top shelf.

These are simple activities. Nothing grand about them, you merely stretched out a bit. However, if there are difficulties in doing such simple motions, then you have to stretch your limits. You already need a stretching program.

What Is Stretching?

Stretching is simply the act of extending to full length the body or simply a part of it. This activity involves straightening or stretching the structure or the limbs.

How Does One Do the Stretching?

Stretching is fairly easy. As mentioned in the introduction, it is involved in the normal activities. It can be done by any people, regardless of age.

However the extent of stretching and flexing differs. The muscles tighten as a person ages. The range of joint movements can be minimized. This can very well obstruct an on-the-go lifestyle. That is why as the person grows older, bending or flexing becomes more limited. This is why stretching regularly, as part of a routine is very important.

Simple stretches can be done everyday. They can be incorporated into your lifestyle and daily activities. Stretching  does not require much of your time.

Stretching exercises can also be done while training. Actually, stretching is an essential part of any training or sport. It must be done first before anything else. Stretching the body and the limbs is a good preparation for a more rigorous activity.

Most athletes would do the sit and reach, wherein they position themselves on the floor, extend their legs and reach the tip of their foot with the tip of their hand. Most trainers actually require their athletes to do some form of stretching before playing.

There is actually an ideal length of time in stretching. It is best to do it in 10 minutes. This will give the body enough opportunity to move and flex the muscles, thus preparing it for more complicated and strenuous movements.

Some experts however would frown upon going way beyond 10 minutes. Stretching the exercise to 30 minutes or more will already wear out the body. This will not be favorable if one is preparing for a game.

What Are the Benefits of Stretching?

1. Increase the Range of Movement
As one constantly do the stretching exercises, the length of the muscles and the tendons are also increased. This will help in increasing the range of your movement. Thus, the limbs and joints will be able to move, way before an injury can take place. You are definitely physically fit.

2. Increased Ability to Perform Skills
When you have a wide range of movement, the more you will be able to do more things. For example, you can jump high without feeling any pain when you land back on the floor. This will also help you start a new sport or improve more if you are in one. Stretching in this aspect also allows you to have a more active lifestyle.

3. Injury Prevention
One can prevent injury to joints, tendons and muscles with stretching. When the muscles and tendons are well-flexed, they are considered in good working order. This will help in a faster recovery and decreased soreness. The muscles of the body will be able to take more exhausting and rigorous movements with less probability of being injured.

4. Reduce Muscle Tension
If the muscles are given their regular exercises and stretching, it is less likely that they will contract. This will definitely relieve you of any muscle pain or problems.

5. Enhance Energy
Being able to move more will also give you more energy. Stretching will also help enhance your awareness, like knowing that you have a body that is capable of doing many things. As such, you are going to be more driven to move rather than sulk in the corner.

6. Reduces Cholesterol
Research also shows that doing prolonged stretching exercises can help reduce the cholesterol in the body. This of course must be done with a healthy diet at hand. This could prevent and even reverse the hardening of the arteries, allowing you to avoid coronary diseases.

Incorporate stretching in your everyday lifestyle. It has benefits you can not say no to. It also does not require much time. It can be your usual activities, bending and flexing every now and then. After all, your fitness is everything so do what it takes to keep the body healthy.

Train Hard, Stretch and Eat Smart!

Marc

Many women nowadays are into resistance training. Many get into resistance training programs engaging into sports. Resistance training is important for women. It allows you to be active and have a healthy body. You may also gain the needed strength from physically built muscles.

Before you start lifting weights, you should know the proper ways on how to execute the exercise. Many women seriously encounter injuries when they incorrectly lift weights. It is important that you get rid first of the excess weight that you have by walking or jogging. You may also purchase weight loss equipment such as treadmills, cross bar platinum, and nutrition boo guides for a better health.

Women usually do not have the natural muscle structure that most men have. They may not also have the same strength to carry heavy loads or the same resistance that men have. What more if you get older? Your body may no longer have the same strength when you were still young. This happens because of the lifestyle you have or just because of aging process. Your resistance may have just decreased and your body tends to weaken.

You can benefit many things when you get into resistance training. Even if you are not an athlete or a body-building enthusiast, you can get into resistance training programs. Having an active body and well-toned muscles can provide you more strength and good resistance. You can do some workouts outdoors like walking or jogging to get a better blood circulation.

You may also do some stretching and warm up exercises to allow the blood nutrients go to the muscles and joints of your body. Muscle stretching also helps in lessening the risks of injuries and muscle pains after the work out. Muscles tend to get sore and get strained if you are not well warmed-up and do the proper stretching techniques before the work out.

In addition, muscle stretching also gives you more flexibility. You will be able to execute exercises comfortably and effectively. It is advisable that you do repetitive stretching and warm ups. Repetition of exercises makes your muscles and joints more enhanced and more adapted to the motion you are executing.

When you are ready to lift weights, you should first work on your larger muscles then the smaller ones. You may then finally go to the muscles that are isolated. You may execute push-ups that can enhance the upper muscles of the body. Before doing triceps extension exercises, you should first focus on the larger muscle groups such as the muscle found in your butt. You may execute exercises like repetitive squatting, box step-ups, and lunges.

You may also work on your quads which is the muscle found on the front thigh. You may perform repetitive squatting and lunges as well.

You should always remember that you work on the opposite muscles. Muscles tend to get imbalanced especially if the amounts of exercises you do are not equally distributed. When performing triceps extension, it is advised that you also do bicep exercises. If you work out on the chest and the stomach area like crunches, it is important that you do back extension exercises to get a balanced upper muscle toning.

Always take a rest after your resistance training work out. Allow your muscles to cool gradually so that you will not feel any sore or strained muscles. After the resistance training, you will see that you are more ready and physically fit for many kinds of sports.

Train Hard, Eat Smart!

Marc

I love using gym rings for recline rows and dips as more muscles are involved in the movement to help stabalise your body which in turn burns more calories to help you burn fat faster. Granted you will sacrifice reps to start with compared to fix bar recline rows and dips but with more practice you will be able to surpass your current exercise personal bests.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_X1_wTQz2ko[/youtube]

If you have access to gym rings give the following superset a go and let me know how you get on by leaving a comment in the box below