Are You Secretly Sabotaging Your Health?

LET’S FACE IT: We are all a little (or a lot!) guilty of falling for a fitness myth. Whether it’s following your fave Instagrammer’s diet down to the kale chips or counting every single calorie, it’s easy to make mistakes or pick up bad habits without even knowing how they may set back your goals. But don’t sweat it: We’re setting things straight so you can keep fit and strong all year long.

- Amanda Tarlton

MYTH 1 BEING SORE IS THE ONLY WAY TO KNOW YOU GOT A GOOD WORKOUT.

That OMG-I-can-barely-move ache in your legs is known as delayed onset muscle soreness—and it doesn’t necessarily mean you torched mega calories in last night’s spin class. It simply means you worked your muscles in a way they aren’t used to, which is normal if it’s your first time on a bike. But it also can be a warning sign of injury if you’re still aching a few days later.

Remember to take rest days to give your muscles time to repair if you’re achy, especially if you’re a beginner. And whenever you work out, always focus on form. Sure, it’s impressive if you can squat more than your BGF...but if you aren’t doing it properly, you won’t reap the benefits (because you’re stressing your joints instead of your muscles) and you’re also putting yourself at risk of serious injury.

MYTH 2 CONSISTENCY IS KEY! YOU SHOULD RUN THE SAME NUMBER OF MILES AT THE SAME PACE.

Running is a great workout, but it shouldn’t be the only thing you do. Your body adapts pretty quickly to a routine, so your daily jog is less effective the more you do it. Plus, running long distances at the same pace can eat away at muscle mass, which weakens bones and leaves you feeling fatigued.

Next time you’re at the gym, mix up your cardio workouts with some heart charging intervals on the spin bike or elliptical. Then wander over to the weights and try out a new circuit workout— check out girlslife.com/iti for inspo (and no, you won’t get bulky). Building muscle also boosts your metabolism, so you reap the rewards of your hard work all day long.

MYTH 3 CARBS (OR SUGAR OR MEAT OR WHATEVER) ARE TERRIBLE FOR YOU.