EILEEN ADLER

With the start of a New Year a few days away, now is a good time to tease out several of those health and fitness myths and misconceptions. Throughout the years, suggestions have been made to eat this, do that, take this, participate in a designated exercise regimen, and you’ll be on your way to great health. Then, within a short time, it seems that the news pundits say, “Whoa! You’re doing what?” What is the “right” thing for us to do?

 

Myth #1: Protein Shakes. Regardless of your dietary intake, protein shakes are touted as shaking up your insides to provide all the nourishment you need. “Whoa! You’re doing what?” Protein shakes can add calories with added sugar, and they can cause bloating. If you want to build muscle, cruise the food aisles picking up some plain unsweetened yogurt, lean meat sources, eggs, and maybe some tofu. 

Myth #2: Six-pack abs. “Whoa! You’re doing what?”  Regardless of doing daily crunches per day, ouch, that hurts, you won’t get to that muscle-bound mid-section any more quickly. Sticking to a healthy diet, working out with both cardio exercises and weight training, and losing a few extra pounds is the journey to your goal.

Myth #3: The BEST exercise is Cardio. “Whoa! You’re doing what?” The best way to exercise is to exercise! Yes, completing a cardio workout in conjunction with strength/resistance training may be the best way to exercise . . . but you must be committed to your regimen to have success.

Myth #4: The Kim Kardashian buttocks. “Whoa! You’re doing what?” Squats till your drop will not produce that “Bootylicious” as sung by Destiny’s Child in 2001. A good diet with enough carbs and protein will build muscle right where you want it, along with exercises that will enhance your posterior.

Myth #5:  Abracadabra - fat becomes muscle! “Whoa! You’re doing what?” It’s not magic, but exercise like lifting weights, which will increase your metabolism, along with a good cardio workout, resistance training, and a healthy diet will burn more fat promoting muscle growth.

Myth #6: Drink eight glasses of water each day. “Whoa! You’re doing what?” Every liquid you consume found in juicy fruits and vegetables, soups, tea, coffee, and fruit juices are included in your daily liquid intake so drinking an additional eight glasses each day may not be necessary.