Best fitness or weight loss myth you've heard

[wheresmybacon]

Heard this one yesterday:

"Well walking is the best way to lose weight because it doesn't increase your metabolism, so you don't get hungry like you do if you run..."

 

[MegaVovaN]

"You have to starve to lose weight"

 

[KoolDrew]

Fat makes you fat
Carbs make you fat
You can spot reduce
Aerobic activity is the most efficient way to lose fat

 

[presidentender]

"It doesn't matter how many calories I eat, as long as it's healthy. Besides, I've been working out."

 

[Megatomic]

"I'm not fat, I'm big boned."

 

[ubercaffeinated]

Originally posted by: MegaVovaN
"You have to starve to lose weight"

That's sort of true for the general public. Decreasing daily caloric intake is "starving", no?

 

[MegaVovaN]

Not really, one thing is decreasing calories gradually, another thing is going on diet where all you eat is water and 2 apples a day.

 

[scootermaster]

Pretty much anything said about weight other than calories in < calories out.

It's not that fucking complicated.

 

[purbeast0]

"i'm skinny therefore i am healthy."
"i can eat whatever i want and not gain weight therefore i'm healthy" (kind of the same)

"that guy has a ripped 8 pack i bet he does 100 crunches every day"

"i'm working my arms today"

 

[scootermaster]

If we're going to go like those other ones...how about: "It's organic so it's gotta be healthy!"

Or maybe "Diet Soda doesn't have any calories!"/"This frozen yogurt is non-fat!"

Right. So drown yourself in it. That's good for you.

 

[Deeko]

Originally posted by: purbeast0
"i'm skinny therefore i am healthy."
"i can eat whatever i want and not gain weight therefore i'm healthy" (kind of the same)

"that guy has a ripped 8 pack i bet he does 100 crunches every day"

"i'm working my arms today"

That's a myth.....?

 

[SociallyChallenged]

"I run a lot so my legs are strong."

"I'm in great shape 'cause I look good." That's perhaps the most common belief among amateur bodybuilders and the general public.

"I'm getting really strong, I can squat 315." "Oh really? How far down do you go?" "I go down pretty far." "Show me." He then proceeds to do a quarter squat and then leaves the weight on there without removing it. What a joke.

 

[brikis98]

"I'll get a visible 6 pack just by doing crunches!"
"I'll get a visible 6 pack just by doing crunches in this fancy <insert 'as seen on tv' ab product here>!"
"I'll get a visible 6 pack just by doing crunches in this fancy <insert 'as seen on tv' ab product here> while watching an instructional video!"
"I'll get a visible 6 pack just by doing crunches in this fancy <insert 'as seen on tv' ab product here> while watching an instructional video with my friends!"

"I'll burn off my fat hips by using this hip abductor machine" (mostly women)

... In short, any spot reduction BS

"I'll get stronger by going to the gym and doing the exact same exercises, with the exact same weight every week"

"I don't weight lift because I don't want to get big" (women)

"I'll lose weight by cutting this arbitrary product - e.g. bread - out of my diet" (mostly my mom)

"I don't need to do legs at the gym, I work them plenty from <fill in the random sport>"

"Abs are made out of a special kind of muscle, unlike all the other muscles in my body. I can work them every day with very high rep counts and I'll have great results"

"Ronnie Coleman <or any other steroid abusing body building monster> does <insert ridiculous routine that could only work for a steroid abusing monster>, I'll have equal success if I do the same"

"I'm a unique and special snowflake and proven method <insert name of proven workout technique, such as starting strength> doesn't work for me. I'll instead do <insert routine here that focuses entirely on bench press, abs and biceps>"

"Squatting below parallel is bad for your knees"

"I squat <insert ridiculous number here> pounds... In a smith machine". Alternatively, substitute any exercise for squat.

 

[KoolDrew]

Women are better off doing higher reps so they don't get bulky.

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: Deeko

Originally posted by: purbeast0
"i'm skinny therefore i am healthy."
"i can eat whatever i want and not gain weight therefore i'm healthy" (kind of the same)

"that guy has a ripped 8 pack i bet he does 100 crunches every day"

"i'm working my arms today"

That's a myth.....?

im talking about the people who think that arms = 1 muscle group.

 

[TecHNooB]

Not really a myth, but kids who are only in the gym to get a six pack annoy me

 

[spamsk8r]

For barbell shoulder press you should only go down to your chin, and use a wide grip, because it works your triceps more.



And this was told to me by a trainer at a local Bally Total Fitness. It's like people who are "certified trainers" aren't required to learn even the simplest of strength training principles.

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: spamsk8r
For barbell shoulder press you should only go down to your chin, and use a wide grip, because it works your triceps more.



And this was told to me by a trainer at a local Bally Total Fitness. It's like people who are "certified trainers" aren't required to learn even the simplest of strength training principles.

heh trainers at bally's are NOT certified anything, trust me i know.

one of my friends got a job as a trainer after working out there for a few months. they came up to him and asked him if he wanted to be a trainer. he had no certs or anything.

now he is a district manager of trainers heh.

 

[Deeko]

Originally posted by: purbeast0

Originally posted by: Deeko

Originally posted by: purbeast0
"i'm skinny therefore i am healthy."
"i can eat whatever i want and not gain weight therefore i'm healthy" (kind of the same)

"that guy has a ripped 8 pack i bet he does 100 crunches every day"

"i'm working my arms today"

That's a myth.....?

im talking about the people who think that arms = 1 muscle group.

ahhh ok. I thought you meant it was a myth that people worked out their arms in a single day...while it may not be the best training method, people still do it, haha.

 

[rasczak]

Originally posted by: KoolDrew
Fat makes you fat
Carbs make you fat
You can spot reduce
Aerobic activity is the most efficient way to lose fat

My brother in law told me this and i believed him lol. That asswipe. I actually aruged that point on a forum one time, and i finally did more research on it and found out how wrong I was.

 

[Trey22]

"Spot reduce".

Makes me want to stab the person in the eye.

 

[paulxcook]

The idea that lifting on a swiss ball is so much better than the normal exercise (bench, OH press, etc) because it really "strengthens your core".

 

[spamsk8r]

Originally posted by: purbeast0

Originally posted by: spamsk8r
For barbell shoulder press you should only go down to your chin, and use a wide grip, because it works your triceps more.



And this was told to me by a trainer at a local Bally Total Fitness. It's like people who are "certified trainers" aren't required to learn even the simplest of strength training principles.

heh trainers at bally's are NOT certified anything, trust me i know.

one of my friends got a job as a trainer after working out there for a few months. they came up to him and asked him if he wanted to be a trainer. he had no certs or anything.

now he is a district manager of trainers heh.

Wow, I did now know that. Makes a lot of sense, though.

 

[brikis98]

Originally posted by: spamsk8r

Originally posted by: purbeast0

Originally posted by: spamsk8r
For barbell shoulder press you should only go down to your chin, and use a wide grip, because it works your triceps more.



And this was told to me by a trainer at a local Bally Total Fitness. It's like people who are "certified trainers" aren't required to learn even the simplest of strength training principles.

heh trainers at bally's are NOT certified anything, trust me i know.

one of my friends got a job as a trainer after working out there for a few months. they came up to him and asked him if he wanted to be a trainer. he had no certs or anything.

now he is a district manager of trainers heh.

Wow, I did now know that. Makes a lot of sense, though.

It's actually a little scary to find out just how many trainers at the various gyms in the world have virtually no certifications whatsoever. They are (sometimes) required to do CPR and similar life-saving training, are shown how to use the various machines around the gym, and voila, you have a trainer. no knowledge of proper workout routines, free weight training, injury prevention and so on.

and the proportion of good trainers to clueless ones, in my experience, is not favorable. i can't count the number of times i've heard these "trainers" spreading BS like "squatting below parallel is bad for you", "get a 6 pack by just doing crunches in my class for 20 minutes 3 times a week", "women should do high reps to not get bulky" and so on.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: purbeast0

Originally posted by: spamsk8r
For barbell shoulder press you should only go down to your chin, and use a wide grip, because it works your triceps more.



And this was told to me by a trainer at a local Bally Total Fitness. It's like people who are "certified trainers" aren't required to learn even the simplest of strength training principles.

heh trainers at bally's are NOT certified anything, trust me i know.

one of my friends got a job as a trainer after working out there for a few months. they came up to him and asked him if he wanted to be a trainer. he had no certs or anything.

now he is a district manager of trainers heh.

Actually, I'm fairly sure it's illegal for them to do that. You have to have a certification to train people for money. If they're doing that, then someone should blow the top off that scam.