Exercise Advice You Can Completely Forget
By Genevieve Cunningham
There's no denying that exercise advice is abundant. If you’re looking for it, you can find tips and tricks almost everywhere you turn. And while the abundance of information is certainly advantageous, it can also be overwhelming. Not all advice out there is necessarily beneficial. To help sift through the information, take a look at these common pieces of advice that you can completely forget.
If It Doesn’t Hurt, It’s Not Working
This is almost a ridiculous concept. By this measure, any workout that didn’t cause pain would be worthless, and we all know that this just isn’t true. While you should definitely challenge yourself regularly, and while some workouts should probably cause soreness, there is nothing about feeling pain that ensures you’re getting a good workout. Instead of looking for discomfort as a sign of better fitness, look instead for heart rate, muscle fatigue, lung expansion, and even weight loss as determining factors in how well your routine is going.
Longer is Better
Some people believe that as long as they spend ample amounts of time in the gym, it’s going to work. But this is not always the case. While it’s good to spend some time working out, it’s most important to make sure that you are getting quality time in the gym. Poor form, a lack of effort, and excessive rest time can all lead to a bad workout experience. Instead of measuring your workout success by time spent, measure your intensity level and dedication to getting it done right.
You Have to Sweat
Sweating is good. A lot of people love that dripping sweat feeling that comes with a good workout. But it’s not necessary. Imagine working out when it’s freezing outside. Are you going to sweat? Maybe or maybe not. Is the workout still doing your body some good? Absolutely! While breaking a sweat on a regular basis is definitely a good thing, don’t think that a lack of sweat indicates a bad workout or a useless waste of time in the gym.
It’s good to listen to fitness advice. The right advice can get you moving in the right direction. But don’t get lost in all of the noise. Listening to outdated advice can cause you unnecessary suffering. Ignore these pieces of advice, and ask a professional to help you make a plan to get fit and healthy for a better future.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Miami Gardens, Fla.