5 Exercise Myths

Some exercise myths are harmless, some are grounded in good intentions, and some can be downright dangerous. Make sure you’re exercising safely by checking out these 5 common exercise myths.

1. If you’re not sweating, you’re not working hard enough

Some people sweat easily while others don’t sweat much at all. Sweating isn’t a good indicator of how well you’re working out, it’s simply your body’s way of keeping cool.

2. Exercising uses up all of your energy

You might be surprised to learn that exercising actually gives you energy. Sure, you’ll probably feel tired immediately after you exercise, but a good workout helps you feel much more energized throughout the rest of the day.

3. Regular exercise means you can eat whatever you want

Sadly, no. Exercising burns calories, builds muscles, and helps improve your metabolic rate. But that doesn’t mean you can sneak cookies and ice cream whenever you want.

4. A healthy exercise routine takes too much time

We all know the old adage of “30 minutes of exercise a day.” But recent studies suggest that even “microbursts” of activity — 60 seconds of strenuous exertion — are a great way of squeezing the benefits of a workout into your busy lifestyle.

5. No pain, no gain

This is the fitness myth that holds the most potential for harm. While a good workout often results in some soreness the next day, pain while you’re working out could be an indicator that you’re exercising wrong or have an injury.