Bodybuilding Myths Exposed!
I can't believe some of the things I hear or read about when it comes to building muscle. These myths (distortion of truth, really) are just ridiculous. In any bodybuilding conversation, everyone has their own opinion, so you might find it difficult to choose whose advice to take.
I'm gonna run through 5 very common, and somewhat 'ridiculous', myths I hear most often. I want you to know that these 'lies' that most people are conditioned to believe can stop you from gaining the muscle you want and deserve. I tell ya', if I had a dollar for every time I heard such things.. I'd be one rich son of a gun... (excuse my french).. :)
Bodybuilding Myth #1: “As Soon As You Stop Working Out, Your Muscles Will Turn Into Fat”
I know you've heard this one before, it's a classic used by people looking for excuses as to why they haven't started working out.
Our body doesn't have any mechanisms that magically turn muscle into fat as soon as someone stop working out, point blank. BUT... (there's always a but.. ), what DOES happen is a loss of muscle because of the lack of stimulation to the muscles (or 'laziness' as some might call it).
Now, there's no doubt that people who don't workout and eat alot end up getting fat. That's just how life is, and that's how our bodies work. So, what you see more often than not, is someone who stopped working out, loses their muscle mass, and gain more body fat because they're eating too much and not burning enough.
So, the next time you spot someone who used to be buff but now is fat, it's not because their muscles magically converted into fat; it's because of the same reason a million others are fat - too many calories, not enough activity.
Bodybuilding Myth #2: "Your Muscle Gain Depends On The 'PUMP' You Get When You Workout"
During your workout with free-weights, your muscles appear fuller because blood is pumping into them; also known as a "Muscle Pump". We've all felt it, it feels good because you look stronger and more muscualr.
The things I'm hearing about this 'muscle pump' is that your gains somehow depends on the "pump" you get when you workout. Many people believe this garbage and those who do, aim to get better pumps when they workout, not knowing that this might be doing them more harm than good.
This can lead to overtraining your muscles, and even muscle damages. Most think that they will achieve more, but never do. The truth is… it's nonsense. The pump you get has nothing to do with getting bigger muscles; it's just a temporary side effect of training with weights.
So, now that you know this - enjoy you pumps, they really do make us feel good, but don't foolishly believe these lies about muscle gain.
Bodybuilding Myth #3: "More Reps Will Get You Ripped"
This one is funny... I'm sure you've seen those people at the gym (you probably have a friend who's done this) doing 25, 30 or even 40 reps of bicep curls, thinking their arms will look more defined.
Then they lay on the floor and do endless sit-ups so they can get a 6-pack. What most people don't know is that it just doesn't work that way.
Here are the steps to getting ripped:
1. Weight Train & Eat less calories... so that
2. You lower your body fat level... and as a result
3. Your underlying muscles are revealed.
Burning more calories than you eat will help you accomplish muscle definition... NOT MORE REPS!!
Bodybuilding Myth #4: "Weight Training Everyday = Bigger & Better Results"
O.k here's another common mistake; typically made by beginners. People just starting to workout go to the gym every single day expecting amazing results. But (remember, there's always a but...) they make very little progress, and sometimes none at all.
They soon realize that in order to build muscle, you need to have a balanced workout/rest routine. What most people don't understand is that, muscles need rest to grow; a lot of it too! You can read the article on Resting For Bigger Muscles for more info on that.
It has been proven effective for a lot of people (the majority I should say) that working out 3 to 4 days a week for an hour or so, is good enough for substantial growth. - So, Don't OVERTRAIN..
Bodybuilding Myth #5: “Weight Training Gets You Big Muscles, & I Don't Want To Get Huge”
I've heard alot of people say this before, mostly women; and I just think it's a pitiful excuse for not getting started. As I said before, building muscles mass is NOT EASY and most people reading this will be lucky to gain above normal levels of muscle mass, let alone 'Get Huge'...
I don't know of anyone who woke up one morning with big bulky muscles that they didn't want or expect. There are, however, the lucky few that put on muscle mass relatively easily, but the rest of us have to do it the hard way; (and really, the only way) and for some it might take months, even years to see their desired results.
Closing Thoughts..
...and there it is, 5 of the most common bodybuilding myths debunked (hopefully). If you have an idea of one that should be in ths article, please feel free to let me know, and I'l add it to this article at some point.