ExecutiveChronicles.com | 8 Muscle Building Myths You Need To Stop Believing | 2020 is (finally) almost over, and that means you’re starting to think about your New Year’s resolutions. For most people, especially after months stuck at home without access to a gym due to the COVID-19 pandemic, that means you’re considering your fitness goals for the year. There’s no reason this year can’t be the year you meet your goals, but to do so, you need to stop believing these eight muscle building myths.
Steroids Are Scary
When you think about anabolic steroids, doping scandals, roid rage, and some unfortunate anatomical shrinkage are probably the first things that come to mind, and for a good reason. All three issues are widely publicized.
However, when you’re using the right steroids for you under proper medical supervision, you shouldn’t face many problems. Starting with an Anavar cycle is a popular choice for those new to steroid use as there generally aren’t intense side effects.
You Need To Be Sore After Every Workout
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When you’re sore after a workout, you may view it as a sign of progress, and in a way, it is. Microtears cause muscle soreness in the hours or days following a workout in the muscles you were working. Eventually, these tears result in increased muscle mass as your body repairs itself.
You do not need to be sore after every workout, and you also shouldn’t be. Your body needs time to heal and come back stronger than before. If you don’t give yourself a chance to recover, you risk injuring yourself, chronic pain, and burnout.
Rest Days Are a Waste of Time
Related to giving yourself a chance to heal, don’t discount the importance of rest days. With the constant push to improve and work toward your goal continuously, it’s easy to view rest days as a waste of time.
Your rest days shouldn’t be completely sedentary unless you’re resting an injury, but don’t overwork yourself either. Some light cardio is generally enough, depending on your goals and timeline. Before you ignore this advice, consider that rest days tend to improve your performance. When your body is well-rested, you will have more endurance and motivation.
What Works for Them Will Work for You
Image by Markus Spiske from Pixabay
How many hours have you spent scrolling through the #fitspo tag on Instagram, admiring your favorite fitness gurus? You may think that if you could only manage to copy their diet and exercise routine, you would also look like them.
The truth is, everyone’s bodies and metabolisms are unique. What works for a bodybuilder or model on social media won’t necessarily work for you, even if you had access to specialized exercise equipment. Find what works for you, not what works for your favorite celebrity.
Pain Is Just Weakness Leaving Your Body
While “pain is just weakness leaving your body” is a common saying, it’s not true. Pain is a distress signal. It’s a sign that something is wrong, and you shouldn’t ignore it. Muscle pain that lingers longer than a few days and joint pain are both causes for concern.
Rather than ignoring pain or viewing it as a sign of weakness, listen to your body. When you need a break, take one. You’ll lose much more progress if you have to stop while you wait for a stress fracture or muscle strain to heal than you will if you take a day off here and there.
Cardio Doesn’t Matter for Muscle Growth
If you want to bulk up, you may have heard that you should focus exclusively on weightlifting exercises rather than doing a blend of weightlifting and cardio. That’s a myth. Cardio is vital to muscle growth.
Because cardio exercises improve your circulation, they can boost your recovery time between workouts as well as your stamina. As long as you’re following a healthy diet and you have a balance between your cardio and weightlifting workouts, you should see improvements.
Everything You’ve Ever Read About a Diet
You can’t turn around without running into a new diet fad. If you take this supplement, cut this one food out of your diet, or do this exercise, these fads tell you that you will suddenly be thinner, happier, healthier, and more confident. In many cases, the people marketing diets and dietary products are preying on your insecurities without regard for your well-being.
When you’re changing your diet to help you build muscle, protein is essential. So are fruits and vegetables that provide you with vitamins and minerals. However, you don’t need to cut sugars, carbs, or fats out of your diet. Your body relies on all three for energy and other processes.
You Will Lose Weight
Which weighs more, a ton of bricks or a ton of feathers? It’s a trick question. They both weigh a ton. The same goes for a pound of muscle and a pound of fat, despite frequent claims that muscle weighs more. Muscle is, however, more dense than fat. That means a certain volume of muscle will weigh more than an equal volume of fat. That’s why you might notice yourself becoming slimmer as you work out without seeing the results reflected on the scale.
If you have questions or concerns about a muscle-building program, you are thinking of trying, talk to a medical professional.
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