24 Aug Those Lingering Exercise Myths that Drive Personal Trainers Nuts

With the birth of the world wide web, we’ve all become experts. We just Google it. The problem is, with such a surplus of information, it’s hard to sift between fact and the outrageous claims that are made every day. Add that to those long-believed practices I call exercise lore, we’re so often confused and misinformed, we don’t know where to begin.

As a certified personal trainer in New York City, I have clients coming in, swearing by some of these ideas – old and new. So, today, I want to dispel some of these exercise myths so you can stay informed and safe!

• No pain, no gain: I’m dating myself here, but my kids had that Samantha Fox poster. Every time I think of it, I cringe. Exercise can be uncomfortable. Exercise will push limits. Exercise should never be painful. Your body is a phenomenal machine. Pain is a signal it gives to tell you to stop. So if you hurt, stop.
• Stretch Before You Work Out to Avoid Injury: Ahhh … what about the sustained stretch? Well, it does absolutely nothing to prevent injury. In fact, stretching while muscles are cold can be more harmful than anything. Stretching can be positive for specific needs, like sports specific dynamic stretching or working for sports-specific flexibility. But it never replaces a warmup!
• Just a few minutes a day won’t make a difference: This is one of the biggest, lingering myths when it comes to exercise. When I tell clients that by just walking twenty minutes/day, five days/week, getting their heart rates up, they’re meeting the minimum requirement for exercise, they don’t believe me. Making movement a mindset is a way to sneak exercise into your daily life. Whether at a gym or home, by making movement part of your every day, you can see a difference in your health. The key is to getting your heart rate up and being consistent.
• Don’t Forget the Gatorade or Vitamin Water: Ahh … that ‘thirst aid’ jingle has stuck. Remember, though, there’s a difference between marketing to create needs and “real” needs. Hydration is incredibly important when exercising. Hydration, though, for most means water. Plain old water from the tap! Pretty simple and ultra inexpensive.
• Exercise is for the Young of Heart and Body: It’s never too late to start exercise. The most important component of exercise is fitness. And fitness means mobility, balance and strength which means independence. Seniors who exercise are more likely to live longer on their own. With a program that includes the four components (cardio, strength training, flexibility and balance), seniors can experience a new lease on life!
• Only the Rich and Famous Need Personal Trainers:  As a certified personal trainer in New York City I’ve worked with athletes and actors. But the majority of my clients are people who just want to get fit and healthy, everything from expecting moms to teens to seniors. Fitness isn’t for the elite. Fitness is for everyone. Most people come to me to teach them how to work exercise into their everyday lives.

These six myths continue to be part of the fabric of what we believe about exercise. I hope to chip away at these lingering ideas so that everybody can be more informed and feel more comfortable making positive decisions about exercise and fitness.

So, are you ready to start?