6 Common Fitness Myths You Shouldn't Believe

Exercising on a regular basis is one of the most important things you can do to protect against chronic diseases. Research has shown that people who exercise several times a week are less likely to develop heart disease and diabetes than their counterparts. When planning your exercise regimen, however, you shouldn't believe these fitness myths.

#1) Stretching Is a Waste of Time

Think stretching is a waste of time? Think again. It may not burn many calories, but stretching can lower your risk of injury when exercising. Stretching helps to loosen your muscles so that they don't sustain an overexertion-related injury. Whether you're lifting weights, jogging or cycling, stretching is always worth the time.

#2) All Types of Exercise Offer the Same Benefits

Another common myth is that all types of exercise offer the same benefits. The reality is that different types of exercise offer different benefits. Aerobic exercise, for instance, is great for burning calories and losing weight. Resistance training exercise, on the other hand, is great for building muscle mass.

#3) You Can Target Fat in Specific Areas

Some people believe that they can target fat in specific areas of their body. To burn fat around their stomach, for instance, they may perform crunches and sit-ups. Unfortunately, this doesn't work. There's no way to target fat in specific areas of your body. Your body will burn fat naturally from all places of your body -- and you can't dictate or control the areas from which it burns this fat.

#4) Daily Exercise Is Best

You may assume that daily exercise will yield better results than exercising just two or three times a week. After all, if you exercise all seven days of the week, your body will burn more calories. The problem with daily exercise, though, is that it doesn't give your body the opportunity to recover. You'll typically get better results when exercising every other day of the week.

#5) Apparel Doesn't Matter

The clothes and accessories you wear when exercising absolutely matter. You should typically exercise in activewear clothes. Activewear clothes are made of moisture-wicking materials that provide a superior level of cooling. They also have an elastic construction that doesn't inhibit your ability to flex and bend your body.

#6) No Pain, No Gain

You've probably heard the expression "no pain, no gain" before. Fortunately, this is just another fitness myth. You don't have to experience pain to develop gains from exercising. As long as you exercise regularly while using the correct form, you'll develop gains.