6 Common Exercise Misconceptions

Today I wanted to share with you a few misconceptions that people have about being active, and exercising. I’m really hoping to bust some of the things that can be used to hold people back or lead people to not be active so that we can all lead a life where we move on the regular!1. Needs to be long to be effective- this is my favorite misconception, favorite in that I am NOT a fan of long workouts and I am so glad that short ones can be just as effective. Give me a 25-30 minute workout and I am good to go. The key is that if your workouts are effective, and keep you huffing and puffing, and is burning- then it doesn’t need to be hours long in order to see results. This is so perfect for me (and I think for a lot of moms) because even though working out is important- it can’t take too long since there’s usually at least 3 things waiting for us when we are done!2. Lifting weights will make me bulky- this certainly can happen if you lift weights, but by picking up a dumbbell, I assure you that you will not turn into a body builder. It may in fact help you to lean out. Weight training is the perfect compliment to any cardio workout. I used to only do cardio actually, and I had never set foot in the weight area of the gym for this reason. Silly me! Fortunately, before it was too late, someone educated me and I learned that weights are great for you! It helps you to build strength. You build strength by developing muscle. As you strength train and increase your muscle, you build a more efficient body that burns more calories and helps you lose weight. Sure, muscle does weigh more than fat so if you are watching the scale, this can skew results you are getting so just be sure to keep that in mind.3. I don’t need to lose weight so I don’t need to workout- exercising shouldn’t always be about losing weight. It is a perk that comes with it, but it is about so much more than that! Staying active and being in good physical health translates into so many different parts of your life. Working out releases endorphin's and endorphin's make you happy! ( happy people just don’t kill their husbands… Get the Legally Blonde reference 😊) it helps you to destress. It helps to reduce your risk or heart disease, it improves your flexibility and body strength. Working out is good for your mental health too. There are studies that have shown that working out can help to reduce the symptoms of depression and anxiety. It also helps you to get a better sleep and believe it or not, makes you feel more energized!4. I’m just not meant to workout- working out is for everybody!! Lifting weights isn’t for everyone, practicing yoga isn’t for everyone, but that is the beauty of it. There are so many different ways that you can move your body in meaningful ways to reap the benefits of being active. Don’t like to run? Dance your heart out for a solid amount of time, or hop on your bike and explore your neighborhood. Don’t like being confined to a gym? Get outside and become one with nature while you get your workout in. Use the park bench for dips, run laps around a park. Find something that you enjoy and stick with it!5. I need to workout everyday- This is not the case. A comprehensive structured workout program 3 days a week is all you need. Of course, it is recommended that do something active everyday for your overall health, but those sweat inducing heart pumping workouts are only needed a few times a week! Having this mindset can help to make working out feel a little bit more manageable to include in your week.6. Exercise will make you lose weight-  it will totally help you to get your weight loss goals if you have one. But exercise is not the be all and end all of weight loss. There is no quick fix or substitution for a healthy lifestyle. The ratio is somewhere around 30% physical activity and 70% what you eat. That’s heavily weighed on nutrition guys. So you need to be really mindful about what you are putting in your body! Stress has also been known to cause your body to hold onto fat, which prevents you from shedding the unwanted weight, so happiness and de-stressing through exercise and other mindfulness outlets is the way to go.There you have it, some of the exercise myths busted! Just another attempt at me trying to give you out there who may be thinking about adopting a more active lifestyle more of a reason to do so! I am a HUGE advocate for taking care of your body and overall wellness and exercise is a big piece of that puzzle, balanced with the other components, to create the best version of you!Hugs and Kisses,Andrea