Myths about Strength Training You Must Stop Believing

Myths about Strength Training You Must Stop Believing

Ask any professional trainer about the biggest fitness mistakes women make, and they will always tell you one thing: not doing enough weight training.

In fact, most women believe that it’s best to avoid the weight room as it is not for them. This and other things we come across are major myths about strength training that you must stop believing if you take your fitness seriously.

Strength training makes you bulky – another common thing we hear, and that’s nothing but bogus rumours that need to be busted once and for all. The truth is that strength training is one of the best things you can do for your body. It works wonders for not only your appearance but also your health.

If you avoid strength training for these myths mentioned below, you may miss out on a tremendous opportunity for achieving potential results. Here are the most common myths and the reasons they shouldn’t be believed.

Muscle Turns into Fat

One thing needs to be cleared out right away – fat will remain fat while muscle will be muscle. These are two different things. And as bizarre as it may sound, it’s a myth that most people believe.

Strength training is for building muscles. Why would anyone indulge in a training routine if it could be morphed into fat later on? Weight training helps to build and strengthen muscles while using the fat of your body for energy. In short, it burns the fat as it builds the muscle instead of the other way round.

The only way you can store more fat is if you eat more to support the extra calorie burning for strength training and then do not change your diet after you quit strength training. That’s when those additional calories will be stored as fat. And this isn’t because you have stopped training, but because you are consuming much more calories than you need.

Comprises Flexibility

‘Muscle-bound’ is a term used for athletes who have overdeveloped muscles, which are often inelastic. In simpler words, it means having inflexible and rigid bodies. This label is also used for bodybuilders and weightlifters and thus used by athletes as an excuse for not indulging in strength training to avoid compromising on their flexibility.

This concept is wrong.

Strength training does not shorten ligaments and tendons and is not the reason some people lose their pliability. Strength training does not dictate an individual’s flexibility. Either an athlete is flexible or isn’t – and that’s natural.

Also, it varies according to the strength training program you choose. If your program isn’t designed for developing excessive muscle mass, you are good to go.

Strength Training Enlarges Muscles

Another common misconception is that strength training can enlarge muscles whether or not you want it – which also means training will make you bigger. This is also known as hypertrophy. But if we know what strength training is all about, the outcomes can be different and based on your own preferences.

Strength training is just like using a tool, and it can deliver results as per your preferences. If you aim to build muscle mass, you will gain bigger muscles. But if you want to keep with your lean muscles without adding more mass, you can achieve that too. The key is to pick the right strength training plan that suits your specific needs.

If you don’t want strength therapy to grow your muscle mass, indulge in a resistance moderate, higher repetition program to improve muscle endurance and strength without experiencing growth in your muscle size. It’s your own choice.

Doesn’t Help with Fat Burning

Another ridiculous myth!

In fact, building muscle mass with strength training is your best ally against weight gain. Strength training is the ideal way to turn your body into a fat burning machine. With regular strength training, you can strengthen your muscles as well as preserve your muscle mass.

Also, eating the right food helps too. If you are not looking to gain a lot of muscle mass and focus more on strength endurance and fat burning, you need to eat the right food.

Strength Training is only for the Young

True, if only used as an excuse to skip the routine. Otherwise, there’s nothing true in that statement. The senior citizens around the world have shattered this myth by indulging into muscle building routines and living a healthy lifestyle.

However, before you indulge into something so strenuous, it is important that you consult your doctor to rule out medical concerns such as shoulder conditions. There’s so much that you can benefit from following a regular weight training routine but it will be even better if you do not have a condition that could come in between.

Once you get an OK, go ahead and join up for improved coordination and balance, better flexibility and strength, and a reduced risk of osteoporosis.

Strength Training is Not for Women

Fortunately, this myth is dying out too. Traditionally, women were not considered physically capable or suitable to perform strength training routines. With fitness becoming the core of health concerns around the globe, the view changed drastically. Women were encouraged to take part more in sports and follow an active lifestyle. Keeping up with the spirits, women also started with strength training and achieved better and long-lasting results for the toned and fit body.

The idea is to identify what works for you and choose a program according to your specific goals.

Here you are with all the common myths busted so you can adopt a healthier lifestyle without paying heed to things that are not true about strength training.

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