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In this world we live in, nothing is actually permanent, and I think you know it as well as I do. If even the seemingly fundamental laws of physics are periodically revised and adjusted, what can we say about such things as various rules and advice that allow us to be healthy and in good shape?
Imagine - just a few decades ago, something was considered an unshakable rule in physical training and fitness - and now most experts confidently call it not just a myth, but a harmful misconception. These are the myths (and their debunking) that the viral online thread is dedicated to, a selection of the best opinions from which we present to you today.
More info: Reddit
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#1
The lie- calorie count doesn’t matter.
the truth- it sure fkn does.
RELATED:
#2
“No pain, no gain.” I’ve had people look at me in disbelief when I tell them that they can get their exercise by walking outside on a beautiful day and listen to music or podcasts. Any activity is better than none. It doesn’t have to hurt to be working, it needs to be something that is sustainable.
CanadianaKa 1 month ago
That also includes household chores. When I work up a sweat cleaning and walk 2-3k steps I feel... well, not virtuous, but less like a slob.
The thread was started a little over a week ago in the AskReddit community by the user u/i-hold-your-purse, who asked netizens: "What’s the biggest fitness myth that just won’t die?" As of today, the thread has nearly 4K upvotes and 1.7K various comments. Moreover, in fact, a heated discussion arose over some of these myths - after all, some of the readers considered them not myths at all.
#4
That stuff like walking doesn't count. Anything that burns calories counts Kyle.
Jason Kennith 1 month ago (edited)
I pace for hours every day (I have Autism Spectrum Disorder) and easily get in more than ten thousand steps. My parents insist that "pacing isn't exercise" and that I need to do more strenuous workouts. The problem is that if I develop too much muscle, it will be more likely that I can hurt other people when I have episodes (I have Disruptive Mood Disregulative Disorder). My dad says that's a "poor excuse" when he's the one who tells me not to have episodes in the first place. I can't do both. Does anyone here have advice?
#5
A more recent one is needing like 300g of protein per day. I’ve talked to numerous ppl doing that while entirely avoiding carbs. It’s miserable and unhelpful .
K Barnes 1 month ago
I know several really "interesting" men who are on versions of "the carnivore diet" and think that eating only meat and eggs, I repeat ONLY MEAT AND EGGS, is good for them because they've lost a few pounds. Cutting down on carbs? Usually very helpful! Cutting out all food groups but one, especially no veg? Not so helpful.
#6
Sweating (by means of being in a hot room or wearing extra clothes) purifies you or makes you lose weight (aside from temporary water weight).
In fact, this is quite natural; it is precisely the pluralism of opinions that allows people to develop any branch of science. And medicine, nutrition and other related fields are absolutely no exception here. For example, just over a hundred years ago, many doctors around the world 100% seriously claimed that some substances, long banned by law by now, were good for health.
#7
The timing of food or workouts, pre workout, post work out.
Look, just eat and workout when you can. Those other things are not going to make any difference .
keyboardtek 1 month ago
Unless one has blood sugar stability issues. People with diabetes have to time workouts correctly with food intake and insulin injections. I have low blood sugar and have to eat something 30 minutes before a workout or my blood sugar drops too far.
#8
Not so much fitness more of nutrition. Don’t f*****g take 500g of protein a day. You aren’t getting jacked, you’re getting fat. The body can’t magically process incredible amounts of protein towards muscle development. THE EXCESS TURNS TO FAT (extra aminos are excreted through p**s, I.e. no benefits)!
#9
Whats actually naturally achievable in terms of building a muscular physique.
Kids still think those roided out bodybuilders on instagram are natural.
Secondly, of course, there is no absolutely universal recipe for becoming strong, fast and healthy. There are different types of human bodies, each with a different metabolism and pain threshold - and a completely suitable training plan for one person will be real torture for another. And vice versa, of course.
For example, one of my friends, with a height of about 6'2'', has never weighed more than 130 pounds. Moreover, he never complained about lack of appetite - he can eat several burgers, wash it down with a liter of cola and snack on a couple of chocolate bars, but it will not affect his weight in any way. Don't rush to envy him, however - he tried to train in the gym for years, but never became even a little stronger.
#10
When people don't want to lift weights because they don't want to be super muscular.
You have to specifically try to get big and its very difficult. You are not going to end up looking like a body builder because you get under a barbell once or twice a week.
JD 1 month ago
this is especially true for women. Female bodybuilders have to take estrogen blockers and other things to get their bodies to do that, You, are not going to look like Vin Diesel from your 3-4 times a week doing weights. It takes a lot of effort to get there, you aren't going to do it by accident.
#11
That seasoning your chicken destroys your progress. All it destroys is the will to live.
#12
All these complicated methods to losing weight
All you have to do is eat less and exercise more. And the stuff you do eat should be healthy.
Age also plays an important role in this process. The older we get, the more difficult it is to choose the right training regimen and menu. "The reality is that metabolism often plays a minor role. The greatest factors as you age are often poor diet and inactivity," Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing says in this dedicated article.
But, for example, the authors of this recent study, on the contrary, claim that metabolism doesn't decrease with age. The data, based on a study of nearly 6.5K people between the ages of 8 days and 95 years, refutes one of the basic principles of modern medicine. Moreover, the same study claims that men and women actually don't have much difference in metabolism....
#13
U gotta eliminate carbs from your diet.
Rachelle 1 month ago
Ugh - the whole elimination method of dieting will inevitably fail. Period. Eat in moderation with the biggest portion of your meal being veggies. Avoid highly processed foods & seed oils. Honestly, I lost 90 pounds through intermittent fasting, exercise and moderation. It's not rocket science, folks!
#14
Once you stop training, all that muscle will turn into fat.
The fact I've heard this from people who *REALLY* should know better is not just baffling, but disturbing. To say the least.
Who, one wonders, should we believe? First of all, you need to trust your own body: to know all of its features and limitations, and do what is good for you and only you. And, of course, be critical of any "absolute" rules. After all, as we have already found out, everything in the world is relative. So just feel free to scroll this list to the end, and we do believe it will definitely come in handy for you.
#16
Eating nothing but protein will slim you down and it's super healthy way to live.
George Costanza 1 month ago
It will work, because you'll go into ketoacidosis, hence "keto". But it is NOT healthy. Our bodies are not meant to be in ketoacidosis for any significant length of time. Our metabolisms were not evolved for that.
#17
That working out makes a significant difference, when the reality is that when you stop pushing food into your mouth, you will start losing fat. All the working out effects are secondary, at best. The primary, and first-order, effect is simply not consuming as much. By an order of magnitude.
#18
I'm a group fitness instructor for active older adults. You are not going to lose weight just by exercising. Exercise is important for your circulation and mobility but you can work out all day long and not lose weight unless you change your eating habits. I used to teach 11 fitness classes a week and I was the heaviest I'd ever been in my life until I started keeping track of my calories. I didn't realize how much I was eating every day until I actually SAW the numbers. I lost 50 pounds last year counting calories, giving up some of my classes and doing my own workouts.
#19
Doing sit ups gets rid of body fat around the stomach specifically.
Graham Berry 3 weeks ago
No, but it does sculpt your figure by strengthening your core which pulls in and flattens out your waist.
#20
That if you aren't losing weight, you are not working out hard enough. Plagued me for years. I gained about 30 lbs. after a surgery. Started lifting again and tracking what I eat and drink. The scale has not changed in over 6 months, but according to my doctors, I am far healthier than I was a year ago.
#21
Seasoning your food will make you lose muscle.
#22
not specifically a fitness myth but comes up in my coaching course a lot, the idea that it takes 21 days to build a habit. it comes from a plastic surgeon in 1960 who said people get used to their new appearance after 21 days and so much researching saying it takes a different amount of time has come out since it's crazy that people still believe it.
#24
That you can slim down if you just start going to the gym, I think that losing weight always should start with your diet that's the most important aspect of any weight loss journey.
#25
That exercise makes breasts smaller. If you reduce fat then you might have some shrinkage, but if you naturally have lots of breast tissue, that's not going to change much.
#26
Eating fat makes you fat.
#27
That other people in your gym are constantly looking at you and judging you, your weight, your form, your attire, and your hair.
This myth is the indirect cause of huge amounts of un-fitness, by scaring people away.
Reality is that nobody got time for all that exhausting s**t when there's work to do, or walls to stare blankly at (my personal fave gym activity).
XYZ 1 month ago
I’m not sure of this. I was once laughed at when I bought a rebounder at a sport and fitness store. The skinny b***h tried to hide her giggles but it was too obvious. Even after her boyfriend told her off she was still making fun of fat me trying to do something to improve my health. I’ve been avoiding fitness stores since then and there is now way you’ll catch me going to a gym. Luckily online shopping has taken off since then so I don’t need to expose myself to ridicule anymore.
#29
Higher reps “tone” the muscle, lower reps with heavier weight makes you “bulky.”
You can’t “tone” a muscle through reps. You can grow a muscle and then lose body fat through a deficit, but that isn’t toning it…you just grew it and got leaner. Your rep range doesn’t matter.
#30
Dietary cholesterol raises your cholesterol levels.
Being fat is a moral failing or makes you less worthy as a person.
Poll Question
Which of these fitness myths do you find most persistent?
You need to exercise every day to see results
Cardio is the only way to lose weight
Lifting weights will make you bulky
Spot reduction works
What do you think ?
WubiDubi 1 month ago
BP should stay away from the topic of health. They can't even do celeb news accurately. Of course if BP fact checked all the Reddit content it's fine. What's fact checking Oleg asks. Oh.
GlitterPanda 1 month ago
especially when a lot of what get's upvoted is by the opinions of individual users, and not anything to do with actual facts.
WubiDubi 1 month ago
BP should stay away from the topic of health. They can't even do celeb news accurately. Of course if BP fact checked all the Reddit content it's fine. What's fact checking Oleg asks. Oh.
GlitterPanda 1 month ago
especially when a lot of what get's upvoted is by the opinions of individual users, and not anything to do with actual facts.
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