It would be fair to say that over the last few years, strength training has become much more mainstream.
Once upon a time it may have just been reserved for the bodybuilders of this world, but now times are changing. Whether it is through the media, or just governmental initiatives which place more of an emphasis on active lifestyles, we’re not going to speculate. The fact remains that going to the gym, and ultimately looking buff, is for the masses now.
However, with such popularity breed a few misconceptions. This is what today’s article will look to get to the bottom of, as we debunk the four biggest strength training myths that are currently doing the rounds.
It’s Too Easy To Bulk
This first myth is mainly for the female readers out there. Whilst toning is something that appeals to both sexes, it would be fair to say that it is generally males who want to bulk.
Fortunately, it’s actually really difficult for women to bulk when it comes to muscle building. You don’t generate as much testosterone, while your oestrogen levels also mean that muscle building in this regard is just so much harder.
Of course, there are exceptions, and some women have turned to something like breast revision surgery after toning up a little more than they anticipated through their training!
It Doesn’t Burn As Many Calories As Cardio
For years, we have bought into the notion that cardio is the be-all and end-all when it comes to burning calories. To some extent it is true; after all, if you are going to run miles upon miles on the treadmill, you are undoubtedly going to burn calories.
Unfortunately for runners out there, it’s not quite as efficient as strength training. Lifting weights is something that does wonders for your metabolism and means that even after you have finished your session, your body will still be working away and burning calories for hours and hours.
You Need To Go To The Gym
When we think about gyms, we are programmed to think about stacks of weights and complex machines.
There’s no doubt that these venues make strength training much easier to perform – but you don’t have to be part of one.
There are now umpteen home-based programmes out there, while through various bodyweight exercises there is no reason why you can’t complete a strength training session anywhere in the world.
Strength Training Is Instantly Gratifying
In other words, a lot of people think that they will be shredded a couple of days after their session. This tends to stem from the fact that we are so sore if we have never completed such a workout before!
Well, here’s a newsflash – most strength training programmes only start to yield the rewards after a couple of months. It means that you should resist the urge to give up, if you don’t feel as though things are going quite as planned.
