by Dena White

Created on: December 22, 2008

Each year, millions of us make a resolution to lose weight and live healthier. Every year, we find ourselves getting frustrated and giving up before we ever come anywhere close to our goal. Additionally, we are exposed to an abundance of substandard information about exercise and dieting at work, at the gym and online, which is corrupting our success. There is a new myth popping up every day. In order to find your way to a healthy routine you can maintain, you should be aware of the more corruptive myths you may hear along the way.

Myth: Crunches will eliminate all of your belly fat.

Truth: If you would like to burn fat, you will do best to find a workout routine that consists of both strength training as well as cardiovascular components.

Myth: It is crucial to stretch before you begin your workout.

Truth: Studies suggest that it may make your muscles more vulnerable to injury. Researches claim that when you stretch, the muscle fibers become lengthened and weakened, which makes them less equipped to handle the strain of the workout. You may want to warm-up a bit and stretch before you go for your run. However, if you are weight training it is best to wait to stretch until after you complete your sets. It is important to remember to never stretch cold muscles.

Myth: You should not eat anything before working out.

Truth: The fuel that your body needs in order to have enough energy to function effectually, even if you work out early in the morning, is obtained through the food that you eat. Think about enjoying a small snack about one to three hours before you begin exercising such as yogurt, whole-wheat toast or fruit.

Myth: Women will get bulky if they lift weights.

Truth: In most cases, a woman's body does not produce the amount of testosterone that is necessary to get bulky. If you do find that you are getting bulkier than you would like, just do more reps using less weight.

Myth: All fat is bad.

Truth: There are several "good fats" that are vital for preventing disease and maintaining good health. These are the fats that are found naturally in foods such as fish, nuts and avocados, not the ones that are fabricated and added at the factory. Adding these foods to your diet in small amounts will help you maintain a feeling of fullness for a longer period, causing you to eat less.

Myth: Cutting calories is the ideal way to shed pounds.

Truth: Both restriction calorie intake and increasing activity are necessary to maintain lean muscle mass, lose weight and boost your metabolism.

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