All thanks to the advancement in the weight loss industry, it has become quite easy for a person to fall in traps. We’re talking about all kinds of weight loss products, diet categories, supplements, and anything that leads to tons of myths and a spark of truth to them.

Then again we’ve got weight loss gurus, coaches and experts who toot their own horn because they’ve got a little bit of self-promotion to carry out. That’s not all; it’s just the tip of the iceberg. There’re self-made gym buffs, who tell you about the “proper” way of holding a barbell, while the coaches at Gym Number 2 think about such angles as nothing but a hoax.

In a nutshell, we all need someone to debunk a couple of diet, nutrition and exercise related myths. Take a look at some of the most popular myths and logical explanations that really make sense: 

-          Myth 1 – Treadmill doesn’t affect knees that much, as compared to jogging on pavements and asphalt tracks:

• People think that if they run on a treadmill, instead of opting in for conventional packages, they’re going to end up exerting less pressure on the knees. In other words, the knees are going to have a much “longer” and an arthritis free life.

BUSTED: The myth is busted according to Todd Schlifstein, D.O at New York University’s Medical Branch. Todd says that no matter where you run, if you’re overweight, your knees will have to bear with a certain amount of weight. The best way to reduce this severe impact is diversity in exercise.

Instead of sticking to cardio, you should perform rope jumps; sprints, cycling, swimming and etc. a combination of fast paced exercises are equal to a regular jogging session. The rest is up to you. 

-          Myth 2 – Ab Exercises Are The Most Accurate and Fast Way of Reducing Belly Fat!

• Oh boy, if you think that you’re performing abs exercises to reduce belly fat, think again. You couldn’t be wrong anymore. First of all, I’ve personally seen guys hitting their abs EVERY single day at gym. The results? None, nada, zero.

BUSTED: Health experts believe that doing abs exercises will only do you good as long as you’re focusing on taking a low calorie and fat free diet. On top of that, never ever go for abdominal exercises on daily basis. Your abs need some time to recover and rest. Try reducing your overall percentage of body fat through chest, cardio, thighs, shoulders, biceps, triceps and wings workouts. 

-          Myth 3 – Aerobics Can Boost Metabolism for Hours to Come!

• Woohoo, it’s time for aerobics. Do you know why? Because someone told me that aerobic exercises can boost metabolism for hours after a thorough workout. First of all, aerobics are just like a cardiovascular workout – you do boost your metabolism but it doesn’t stay like that for HOURS!

BUSTED: Sorry to be the bearer of “bad” news for your aerobic resolutions, but here’s the truth: Your metabolism stays high during the first 45 minutes after an aerobics session. Other than that, your body will slow down on burning calories, whilst your muscles take time to recover.

-          Myth 4 – Swimming Is Great for Losing Weight:

• Yes, swimming is a great overall body exercise – no doubt about it. But if you’re not swimming for hours every day, while maintaining a steady diet plan, it’s not going to be a miracle. You’re not a professional swimmer and the most you can get out of swimming is a 40 – 45 minutes session, in the middle of a busy life, hectic office routine and a real life family drama.

BUSTED: Water has a certain level of buoyancy, which keeps the body elevated. On top of it, water also has the tendency to induce a hunger related feeling on swimmers. It is very uncommon for a person to take a dip and not end up feeling hungry. If you want to walk down this road, make sure you’re swimming real hard, with a strict diet resolution.

That’s it for today – stay tuned for more nutrition, weight loss and diet related myths.