With all the advice we hear from fitness experts in magazines, or self-proclaimed exercise addicts, or just things your mother told you when you were young, it’s hard to know what to believe when it comes to exercise. Should you ever eat before a workout? Can you really tone your abs just by doing crunches? Find out how much you really know by playing Fact or Fiction: Fitness Edition below!
FICTION. Stretching before your workout may actually make your muscles feel weaker. Instead, try doing a warm-up to get your blood pumping and reduce your risk of injury.
FACT. Your biceps aren't the only muscles you're building at the gym - studies have shown that exercise boosts brainpower, specifically learning and memory. So technically going to the gym is the same as studying. Pretty much.
FICTION. Abdominal exercises like crunches are a great way to build muscle, but the best way to burn fat in your torso area is cardio. Doing crunches alone won't lead to results - make sure you incorporate some form of cardio into your routine, whatever that may be.
FICTION. Running puts the same amount of pressure on your knees regardless of where you run, so if you have a choice: run outdoors! The uneven terrain and wind resistance help burn more calories, and Vancouver's wonderful fresh air doesn't hurt.
FICTION. Sweat is your body's way of cooling down; it's not a measure of how hard you're working, or how fit you are. Measure your heart rate instead to find out if you're working hard enough.
FACT. In addition to numerous other health benefits, exercise can lower the risk of breast cancer, as long as you are exercising regularly and sleeping well.
FICTION. Your body needs fuel before exercising, and working out without eating will cause your body to start burning muscle instead of fat. And don't forget to drink plenty of water too!
FICTION. While you should be exercising hard enough to elevate your heart rate, you shouldn't feel pain or extreme discomfort during your workout. Pushing your body too far could lead to injury or burnout.
FACT. Eating dark chocolate can boost your performance during exercise, specifically your endurance capacity. So go ahead and treat yourself!
FACT. Studies have shown that sex is the most effective cardio and can burn up to 1000 calories per hour. Who knew that was even possible?
APRIL FOOLS!
Sex is not actually the best form of cardio, or at least not the best at burning calories - on average, sex burns around 150 calories per hour, far less than the outrageous alleged 1000 calories.
Bet you weren't expecting that either.