Health and fitness are prone to misconceptions that may end up preventing you from meeting your goals. The concepts of health, fitness and general wellness are complex and have many overlapping areas, and there is still a lot of ground to cover. Most areas of life have myths that people believe in. And these myths may not be helpful to them or could even be harmful.
Many experts believe that buying into bodybuilding myths may be preventing you from making progress and achieving your fitness goals. Studies in muscle building are relatively new. Scientists are still trying to establish a connection between psychological, physiological, and the external anatomy of how muscles develop and grow and what roles exercise and nutrition play.
1. Unused muscles are converted to fat
If you notice that you no longer look as muscular as you once were, you have accumulated fat tissues. Your body will store excess fat if you can't compensate for the number of calories you consume with strength training. The unburnt calories will be stored as fat tissues since you have not used them as fuel. You are only losing muscle mass and gaining fat simultaneously. This process leads to the misconception that your muscles convert to fat.
2. Stretching before strength training improves performance
Many experts have reported that stretching does not improve performance when strength training. However, a dynamic warm-up such as jumping jacks and jogging, which involve a full range of motions, will improve blood circulation. These are the types of exercises you need to improve performance, not stretching.
3. You need more protein to gain more muscle
A common myth believed by many amateur bodybuilders is that you need lots of protein to gain muscle. More protein does not mean more muscle mass. Consuming more than the necessary amount of protein will not provide any benefits. It is important to note that protein only helps repair the muscles and grow their mass when combined with strength training. Always stick to the recommended amount of protein, based on your body type and fitness goals.
4. Train longer to gain the best results
Like most things in life, more isn't always better. Quality always trumps quantity in muscle building. Working out without rest will do more harm than good as your muscles need time to recover. Overworking your muscles for extended periods won't give you the results you seek.
5. Muscle weighs heavier than fat
Muscle tissue and fat tissue weigh the same; the difference is in their composition. Muscle is more compact than fat and takes less space in the body. This explains why two individuals with the same weight can look completely different depending on their body composition.
6. Vegans struggle to build muscle mass
While it may seem tempting to think along this line, it is not true. Vegans can build muscle mass as much as anyone. The majority of vegan diets are packed with rich protein ingredients, which provide the needed amount of protein for strength training. Vegan foods such as tofu, legumes, seitan, and quinoa can give vegans enough protein to gain muscle mass.
7. Training first thing in the morning will give you better results
Your workout routine is more important than what time of the day you workout. Studies have reported that some people may experience better stamina and strength in the afternoon and evening. Some researches have shown that your muscle gain has nothing to do with the time of day you do your strength training. It is about finding what works for you and gives you the best results. If you feel motivated in the morning, then you should work out in the mornings.
