All along, there have been a lot of workout myths that made us believe about certain things regarding women’s fitness. Knowing to figure out which is real and which is not liberates us. It makes us more capable and more confident in our journey to staying fit and active.

However, letting go of these workout myths or misconceptions isn’t easy, especially if they’re ideas we’ve believed for so long. We understand you, and we were there, too. This time, allow us to help you find out more of these workout myths and let them be a guide to a better and compelling you.

Myth 1: Focusing on losing fat by targeting specific body parts

Truth: This workout myth is also called spot-training, and we’re here to debunk that. Remember that fats are all over your body. If your goal is to lose fat on all specific body part, then you must lose your overall body fat. To do so, you can try high-intensity interval workout as it requires your body to exert more efforts while burning more calories during the process.

Myth 2: Tired muscles always mean you had a great workout

Truth: The intensity of your workout can result in tired muscles or soreness, but having such doesn’t always mean you had a fantastic workout session. You can still have a successful workout even without the pain. According to Pete McCall, a trainer and physiologist, tired muscles or soreness means that your muscle tissue is undergoing a critical amount of stress.

Myth 3: Strength training results to bulking up

Truth: Women would have a difficult time bulking up through strength-training because their testosterone level is not as high as of that of men’s. The high degree of testosterone in men makes it easier for them to bulk up. If you’re doing strength training, you’ll likely lean out more than bulk up. Of course, doing so would still require adequate nutrition.

Myth 4: Performing lots of cardiovascular exercises are the best way of losing weight

Truth: Focusing on cardio exercises to lose weight is a workout myth because relying on it doesn’t guarantee weight loss. It’s undeniable that a daily cardio workout can help with a consistent calorie deficit, but remember that it’s only possible with a healthy diet. We recommend you combine strength training with high-intensity cardiovascular exercises.

Myth 5: There should be a 100% effort every workout

Truth: This is another workout myth. Yes, you have to give your best, so you’re focused. However, providing a hundred per cent effort or a high level of intensity is not required every single workout session. Remember that if you keep pushing too hard, you might end up as overtrained, which has detrimental effects. Instead, we recommend you go extra miles twice or thrice a week only.

Hopefully, these five workout myths with corresponding truths have shed light on some confusions. Assess your fitness beliefs now and be more efficient with your workouts. Always remember that a good workout should be coupled with proper nutrition to gain the optimum results.