Five Big Myths You'll Hear At the Gym

“I don’t want to lift because I don’t want to be bulky and gross.”

Plenty of men and especially women refuse to lift weights because they are under the impression that working out in such a manner would immediately make them look muscular and puffed up. They say they prefer a leaner, slimmer build.

What they don’t understand is that working out won’t change your body so radically and definitely not so rapidly. Working with weights won’t automatically transform your body into a pile of muscle. You can get muscular and ripped. You can get really big and heavy. Or you can get lean and toned. It all depends on the workout, the routine, the calorie intake, the rest, the supplements, etc. There are no absolutes. You can set a goal of slimming down or getting bigger and work towards it.

“Lifting stunts your height.”

Not true in the slightest. This is a myth we see all the time. Misled parents. Kids who don’t know what they’re saying. If done properly, working out will increase bone density, making them stronger and much more resilient. A lift may compress your bones momentarily, but overall, and as long as safe practices are kept in mind, there are no negative impacts to your height. Arguing that lifting stunts your height because you can mess it up and injure yourself is like arguing crossing the street will get you killed cause you might not see a car coming. Safety is important no matter what you do.

“Girls who lift are too manly.”

For starters, I can promise you that your identity won’t change simply because you work out. Everyone needs to understand that the female musculoskeletal system is practically identical to that of males. The key difference between the genders is the level of testosterone. Men produce it in much higher levels, making it easier for men to build muscle and strength. Women who workout will see an increase in testosterone, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be sacrificing their gender. It’s just a change that reflects the amount of work your body is doing. Reasonably, if working out benefits the male physique, then it also benefits the female physique. Building muscle won’t make you any less of a woman. Work with weights. Get strong. Punch anyone who tells you that lifting is only for men.

Building muscle won’t make you any less of a woman.

“To lose fat, only do cardio. Don’t bother with weight training.”

Weight training has been shown to improve musculature and promote fat loss. Cardio is an aerobic exercise (which means energy is generated from oxygen), so it’s great for fat loss. But if you want to add lean muscle to your frame while also increasing strength, then anaerobic exercises (weight training and sprinting) will help you lose fat while also building your desired aesthetic. The more muscle you have, the more calories you burn. To maximize fat loss, hit cardio while also hitting weights.

“Gyms are for strong people. Weak people shouldn’t bother.”

Everybody should workout to maintain a healthy lifestyle. That’s just a facet of life. Our muscles crave to be used. Our minds feel fresh and clear after exercise. Our heart needs to be worked. I’ve heard parents tell their children that the gym is only for strong people, but to them I ask, how did they get strong in the first place? Skinny people are welcome at the gym. So are overweight people. So are abysmally weak. We all start somewhere.