Here are five fantastic fitness facts that surprised us. Don't fall into #4, stay motivated and consistent to achieve your desired results!
Surprising fitness facts that you may not know!
These 5 surprising facts about exercise and fitness may surprise. Whether you are an avid gym goer or brand new to fitness, the following 5 facts may come as news to you.
1. Sweating has no correlation to fat loss!
Sweating has nothing to do with actual fat loss as it is merely a cooling mechanism that your body naturally employs to control your body temperature and keep itself from overheating. Sweating is not only triggered by exercise. Perspiration also occurs when the weather is warm, you become overwhelmed by stress, nervousness, anxiety, or you feel scared. Losing fat comes solely from one major principle; burn more calories than you take in. Studies show that if you want to burn 1 pound of fat, you must burn 3,500 calories. This can be best accomplished by reducing the amount of calories you take in on a regular basis, as well as increasing your amount of physical activity.
2. Stretching before running may lower your endurance!
One of the most widely spread myths pertaining to exercise is that of pre-workout stretching. Many of us have been stretching before we participate in distance running or lengthy cardio sessions; yet according to recent studies in The Journal of Strength and Conditioning, it is suggested that stretching may lower endurance as well as increase the energy spent when running. Stretching as a warm-up can be replaced by walking and workout-specific movements to loosen your joints.
3. 60 percent of gym memberships go unused!
While purchasing a gym membership is the most widely accepted New Year’s resolution (over 15% of all American’s make this commitment each year according to WebMD), studies show that gym attendance dips back to normal by mid-late February. If you are an avid gym-goer this can be a very stressful time for you but you can make the assumption that your routine will be back to normal by Valentine’s Day!
4. Exercise is very good for brain function!
Maintaining a regular exercise routine is very effective in improving your brains function. Physical activity increases the amount of blood that flows to your brain which increases the amount of oxygen and other nutrients that is transported to your brain. Exercise also releases serotonin in your brain which is the human body’s natural anti-depressant. Serotonin is the chemical that is responsible for maintaining mood balance and a serotonin deficiency can lead to depression.
5. Crunches will not give you a flat stomach!
Another very persistent myth surrounding the fitness industry is the idea that crunches are the key to a flat stomach. In reality, crunches do not burn very many calories and will deliver very few results if done exclusively. If you want to effectively trim your waist, you will need to pair a balanced, goal driven diet, with calorie burning cardio exercises
