Myth Busters: Fitness Edition

David Modderman

Myth #1: The more you sweat, the more you burn

According to an article on Health.com says that sweating has nothing to do with how many calories you burn. “Sweat is a biological response that cools your skin and regulates internal body temperature,” Matthews says.  I always believed that sweating excessively was a sign of my hard work, but it turns out it doesn’t mean that.

Myth #2: Stretching helps your body recover faster

A recent study at the University of Milan on the effects of postworkout recovery methods found no significant changes in blood lactate levels (a measure of how fatigued your muscles are) in folks who stretch after exercise. While stretching may not completely reduce muscle soreness or speed muscle tissue repair, limbering up still has certain benefits, Westcott says: Doing it right after a workout, when the body is still warm, is the best way to increase joint flexibility.

Myth #3: You shouldn’t work out on an empty stomach

Many people think that working out without having food in your stomach isn’t good for your body. According to Women’s Health Magazine, you burn more fat at the gym before you eat breakfast. However, it is important to remember to keep drinking water while you work out.

Myth #4: NO PAIN, NO GAIN

Anybody who has worked out has heard the saying “no pain, no gain” however, that is a dangerous saying. It is normal to feel some discomfort while working out or lifting weights, but if you feel sharp pain anywhere, you need to stop immediately and consult your doctor. Pushing your body through extreme pain while working out may result in serious injury.

Myth #5: If you aren’t sore, your workout was too easy

According to an article on bodybuilding.com soreness is inflammation and the chemical response to inflammation. The only yardstick by which you need to measure progress is that of your goal. There are Olympic athletes who haven’t felt soreness in years.  Judging your progress by a pain threshold is incorrect—you don’t have to have soreness to gain muscle size or strength.

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The Practice of Yoga

Yoga has been practiced for thousands of years. According to an article called “A Short History of Yoga“, yoga originated from over 5,000 years ago from India. Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual practice or discipline which originated in India.

Yoga is good for the mind and soul as well the body. There are many different types of yoga that focuses on different things  such as yoga for strength, yoga for flexibility and yoga for weight loss.

According to the American Yoga Association the most well known schools of yoga include Hatha Yoga, Raja Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga, Tantra Yoga, and Kashmir Shaivism Yoga.

Hatha Yoga: The physical movements and postures, plus breathing techniques. This is what most people associate with Yoga practice.

Raja Yoga: Called the “royal road,” because it incorporates exercise and breathing practice with meditation and study, producing a well-rounded individual.

Jnana Yoga: The path of wisdom; considered the most difficult path.

Bhakti Yoga: The practice of extreme devotion in one-pointed concentration upon one’s concept of God.

Karma Yoga: All movement, all work of any kind is done with the mind centered on a personal concept of God.

Tantra Yoga: A way of showing the unseen consciousness in form through specific words, diagrams, and movements. One of the diagrams that is used to show the joining of the physical and spiritual bodies is two triangles superimposed upon one another.

The downward-pointing triangle represents the physical body, or the female aspect having to do with work, action, and movement; the upward-pointing triangle represents the spiritual body of support, energy, and vastness.

Kashmir Shaivism: This Yoga system states that everything in the universe has both male and female qualities. In Kashmir Shaivism, these male and female principles form an equal partnership, so interdependent that they cannot be separated. The attraction between them produces the ultimate union of opposites, creating the immense complexity of the universe that we enjoy and celebrate.

I was interested in starting yoga because I wanted to become more flexible again. Being a cheerleader for 11 years helped me gain flexibility, but after I stopped I realized how inflexible I had become.  For Christmas I asked for a yoga mat and DVDs to help me learn more about yoga and its practice.

Within a week of yoga training for flexibility I could see myself making progress. I could touch my toes easily when I leaned forward.

I am most interested in yoga inversions. Types of yoga inversions include handstands, headstands, shoulder stands, and forearm balance. Inversions help strengthen your core  abdominal muscles, legs, arms and back.

Yoga fascinates me because it teaches you about your body and how to bend it in intricate ways. Seeing pictures of these difficult, advanced level yoga inversions pushes me to keep trying new things. I set goals so I can see myself making progress.

     

 

 

Importance of Health and Fitness

In an article written for Health Status, the term fitness refers to a person’s mental state of mind as well as being physically fit. In order to function optimally a person needs to be mentally fit and physically fit.

Being physically fit is important because people who are physically fit are  healthier and they are able to maintain their most optimum weight, and are also not prone to cardiac and other health problems.  Being physically fit helps a person maintain a relaxed state of mind.

According to an article written for Fit Day more than 60% of Americans do not get the recommended daily amount of physical fitness. As you get older, regular exercise and a proper diet becomes more important. Adulthood is the ideal time to maintain your weight, build strong bones and prevent chronic health problems.

I believe the key to being both physically and mentally fit is doing everything in moderation. Many people try to cram a weeks worth of workouts into one night and over work their body.

Also, people try diets that claim its possible to lose 20lbs in one week! Starting with an intense workout the first day can create injuries and setbacks. In order to be successful it is important create logical goals.

Also, try to avoid junk foods,  and fizzy drinks.  As well as avoiding eating poorly, it is necessary to quit bad habits such as excessively drinking alcohol and smoking.

I decided I wanted to live a more healthy life after my first semester of my sophomore year in college had ended. I realized I gained weight and I was not as physically or mentally fit as I used to be.

Growing up I was always active, however after an injury last winter, I was not able to active for a long period of time. My goal is to be the best person I can be, both physically and mentally. Living a healthier lifestyle has already had a positive impact on my life.

Welcome!

Hello my name is Jillian and welcome to my health and fitness blog. This blog focuses on the importance of health and fitness. It includes different exercises, health tips and facts as well as my personal journey.  Enjoy!