Lie #1: The more ab exercises you do, the skinnier your waist will be.
TRUTH: Doing abdominal exercises can strengthen your core muscles, but it won’t burn body fat to give you that seemingly elusive 6-pack you’re after. If you want your abdominal muscles to show, you need to either be naturally skinny or embrace a diet low in carbohydrates and high in proteins with a decent helping of healthy fats and fruits and vegetables. Yes, you have to eat healthy if you want phenomenal abs! However, the good news is you don’t have to be one of those freaks that suck on an ice cube for dinner. Simply make smart choices about what you eat and eat in moderation. Your waistline with thank you.
Lie #2:Drink diet soda, it’s zero calories so it’s good for you.
TRUTH: According to a recent study, drinking just two cans (or more) a day accelerated waistline expansion by 500%. The artificial sweeteners prohibit the body’s ability to regulate calorie intake. In other words, your body is being tricked into thinking it’s ingesting sugar, so you crave more food and as a result, eat more than you would have without drinking the so-called “good for you” diet soda. Bottom line, diet soda will not help you lose weight.
Lie #3: Cardio is more important for fat loss than weight lifting.
TRUTH: You will definitely burn calories completing a cardio workout, but to lose weight, your primary concern should be muscle gain. Muscles make it easier for your body to prevent fat gain. Your body will burn more calories maintaining muscle than maintaining fat. In other words, the more muscle you build, the more calories your body will burn each day. The less muscle you have, the lower your metabolism. A great weight loss program should focus on (in this order) your caloric intake, weight training and then cardio.
Lie #4: By working out, I can convert fat into muscle.
Truth: You cannot convert fat into muscle as they are completely different. In fact, when working out it is best to focus on either losing fat or gaining muscle. In order to gain muscle, you have to eat more calories than you burn and, in order to lose body fat, you must burn more calories than you consume. There are dozens of other myths and lies about health and fitness on the Internet, so just be careful what you read and believe. Make sure what you are reading is from a reputable source written by an expert in the field they are writing about. When in doubt, go with your instinct. Stay away from opinions and fad diets too. The myths about fad diets could be a book by itself. Eating a healthy meal balanced with protein, vegetables, carbs and healthy fats will always steer you and your waist in the right direction.
