Four Diet/Fitness Myths, Busted by Fitness Trainer, Damien Woodson

Four Diet/Fitness Myths, Busted by Fitness Trainer, Damien Woodson

Have you ever had these faulty ideas when you started your health and fitness regimen?

Author : Christelyn Karazin

Author's Website | Articles from

MYTH 1: Muscle turns into fat and fat turns into muscle:


Muscle and fat have two different functions in the body.  Muscle can be compared to the engine.  It takes in “gasoline”: energy in the form of carbs, fat and protein, and uses it to “run” or operate.  In this case, to contract the muscle. Muscle is the engine and fat is the fuel.  One doesn’t turn into the other even though it looks and feels like it.  More fat may appear to be present as the muscle gets smaller from inactivity, or fat will increase in that area for the same reason, but no conversion is taking place.

MYTH 2: Low Carb Confusion (Good Carbs vs. Bad Carbs):

Most individuals believe that all carbs are bad.  They don’t understand that carbs are absolutely essential for muscle contraction and clear thinking. Carbohydrates are the primary source of fuel used by the body to function.  Without carbs, your workouts, recovery and results would be frustratingly subpar.

Learn to differentiate between “good carbs” and “bad carbs”: Vegetables, fruit and high fiber grains would be considered good carbs while rice, pasta, low fiber breads/bagels, soda/pop/alcoholic beverages, candy, and confectionery goods etc. would be considered bad.  Both are very helpful for an effective training program, but need to be used at different times and with differing amounts.  For example, the “bad carbs” absorb really quickly and can be a better form of short and therefore long term recovery than the slower absorbing “good carbs.” I introduce a healthy eating plan to my clients; one that consists of primarily good carbs and a fraction of “bad carbs” used at the right times and in the right amounts.

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MySmile 4281 pts

The carb thing is difficult for me. It's like everything has carbs..and not the good kind either...Carbs seem to give me the most energy! While I don't eat much junk food, I eat my fair share of wheat bread and crackers. It is difficult for me to have a quick lunch without bread or crackers...I know wheat is better than white...but that's still a lot of carbs..are they considered bad carbs too? I need to lose belly fat (apple shape) and too many carbs will probably make it worse. I eat lost of fruit too (especially before I work out or for breakfast), but I want more options than just fruit & veggies!!! What are some other good carbs to eat?

Brenda55 20976 pts moderator

 MySmile 

Here is a really great site to get a lot of those kind of questions answered.

http://blackgirlsguidetoweightloss.com/

 

Here is the section on carbs.  Hope it helps.

http://blackgirlsguidetoweightloss.com/?s=carbs

MySmile 4281 pts

 Brenda55 Thanks! I've heard of this site before but never took the chance to look through it...so far this is good stuff...she mentions how most stuff that goes on sandwiches would make good salad or some type of lettuce wrap...I didn't even think of lettuce wraps...that's just what I needed because I needed ideas for lunch foods...This site is going in my favorites. I need to do more reading on weight loss rather than just doing everything myself...being more knowledgeable will probably get me the results I want in a shorter period of time (though I'm aware it will still take time)

Statuesque 2064 pts

Rice and pasta shouldn't be in the same category.  Whole wheat or white pasta are processed foods, (brown) rice is a whole food (seed of a rice plant).  Sprouted or GABA-brown rice is one of the most nutritious foods around. Many grains, when sprouted, take on the properties of plants and no longer like seeds.

 

Raw honey and whole sugars are also not like processed sugars.  My workout recovery drink (unless I have done an exercise called Peak 8, which spikes post-workout HGH levels so I avoid any type of sugar for two hours because sugar depresses HGH) often contains honey.

 

I agree that there is no need for most people to fear bulking up, and especially not most women.  When I was at my strongest I had very lean, flat muscles and I did not get much bigger than I am naturally.

 

I'd also add Myth #5:  Eating fat makes you fat.  The most effective way to offset a sugar craving is to eat something with plenty of fat in it, like an avocado or cheese.

 

I have tried to lower my intake of polyunsaturated fats (soy and seed oils) and increased my intake of pastured butter, coconut oil, olive oil, avocados, beef fat, and omega 3s because most Americans get way too much omega 6 (in seed oils) fats.  It's the one to avoid or minimize unless sufficient omega 3s are consumed.  I believe the ideal omega 3 to omega 6 ratio in the diet is 1:1.  For Americans it is more like 1:6 or 1:10.

Christelyn 9253 pts moderator

Weird how this post only has 14 comments but the fat-shaming post is electrified. It's amazing how folks want to fight to the death for dysfunction but ain't interested in ways of getting out of it.

Toni_M 20095 pts moderator

 Christelyn  If excuse-making and soap box indignation were a form of exercise, we would be a site full of body builders. :B

 

Karla 19132 pts

Good post.  It's amazing how these myths have staying power.  A woman came up to me in the gym and said, "Honey, you're so tall.  You don't want to lift all those weights or you'll look like a man in drag."  I was in a good mood (love endorphins!) so I just smiled and kept working out.  She barely used any weights and already looked like she was in drag with all the makeup... oops!  I drifted into The Catty Zone.  I printed this off and took it to my gym.  They posted it.

heyimPearlilikefries 2121 pts

Ahh weight training. So.. do I just continue to weight these 8 lb. weights or do I move on to bigger weights. I heard that more muscle also prevents sagging or slows it.. is that true?

punkchique 7 pts

 heyimPearlilikefries Move on to bigger weights! Its a myth that women have to lift light. You won't get any results lifting light. And building muscle most certainly prevents sagging! It can even reverse sagging that has already started to occur on legs and arms.

mzsunshine 2616 pts

I pretty much was aware of most of these myths from due to my obession of reading enliessly about healthy living.  I did beleive myth #3. WhileI was attending college, I took a health class that required weight training in addition to other activies.

 

Myself and other females almost failed this component of the class because we were not educated by our instructor as we should have been. We felt if we weight trained we  would bulk up like the guys.  Of course this not true as the arrticle above indicated.

 

Another myth, I believe is widely believed is that you can lose weight in specific area of your body.  I just saw a commerical that touted how if you took this product , you could lose belly fat alone.  According to what I've been reading, research shows your body loses weight all over in layers.  You cannot target a specific area to lose weight.

mzsunshine 2616 pts

I'm typing from the phone lol

MySmile 4281 pts

 mzsunshine "You cannot target a specific area to lose weight."

 

This is a good one because a lot of people don't know this. I didn't know this for the longest time!!! It still confuses me sometimes..I guess because some areas of the body tone up or get smaller more easily (depending on body type..for me, the hardest thing to lose is my stomach..weight on my bottom half comes off fairly easily) but you still have to be working your whole body to get the desired results

 

I guess that's why when you gain weight even your face gets fatter..it's a domino effect

The Working Home Keeper 6990 pts

I've worried about myth 3.  I want to be tone, but don't want to be too muscular!

 The Working Home Keeper As the list says, it is literally physically impossible for women to get even slightly bulky. What happens is you just get really tone and svelt, even when you life high weights.

 

The bulky women that you see 75% of the time, are using steroids, the other 25% lift for about 5 hours a day and eat like 5000 calories worth of proteins.

 

The best thing you can do for the way your body looks is lift just like the men do. Don't be afraid of those squats and bench presses.

 

source: Countless fitness articles plus I've been lifting for 5 years.

WendyH 96 pts

You took the keyboard right out of my hand.  LOL!  I was just about to comment but you summed it up perfectly.

 

For the last year or so I was doing bicep curls and tricep kickbacks with my 3 lbs dumbells.  I stayed consistent 3-4 x's a week but I just couldn't understand why I couldn't get the weight off my arms.  I just figured that since I'm in my early 40's now I will just have to live with the bat wings.  I started researching info on the internet and I found the website to Oxygen Women's Fitness magazine.  This magazine along with a few other websites has really helped make a difference in how I workout and eat (clean).  I've been using 10 lb dumbells and the fat in my arms has reduced dramatically.  I still have a little extra fat in the tricep area but it's almost gone and my arms aren't the slightest bit bulky. 

 

 

mzsunshine 2616 pts

 WendyH

I've been using 10 lb dumbells and the fat in my arms has reduced dramatically.

 

Hey, thanks for that tip.  10 lb dumbbells, here I come!

 

 The Working Home Keeper Another thing I'll add is that women who do decide to lift automatically head for the machines. While they have a time and place, machines should not be you primary way of lifting. Machines typically target a single muscle group and build no stability, free weights target multiple groups of muscles all over your body in complex ways and builds tons of stability.

 

I always tell people that if weights make them nervous to grab a buddy, grab a gym worker or a trainer to show you how to do them. Youtube videos are also a huge asset.

PoliticallyAware 84 pts

The Working Home Keeper

 I completely agree with punkchique. I work out at least five times a week & struggle to put on muscle. Its not as easy as people think. Those ultra muscular women you see are probably  on steroids. Combining cardio & weightlifting makes you look even more feminine in my opinion.

Takunda 36 pts

@PoliticallyAware "Combining cardio & weightlifting makes you look even more feminine" thanks I'll be doing that soon :) just hope that I'll be able to go through with exercising on a regular basis

MySmile 4281 pts

 Takunda  PoliticallyAware Unfortunately, my arms are naturally kind of big/ muscular (not manly but not that feminine) and the more I work them out the more muscular they get lol..I suppose losing the extra fat and "bat wings" could help them look a bit smaller, though...because now it's like fat on top of muscles..so thanks for the info..I need some small dumbbells..I only use the machines at my university's gym..I don't want the muscles to make my arms look too big, but I'll probably be fine.. the fat is what I really want to get rid of!

Christelyn 9253 pts moderator

 MySmile  Takunda  PoliticallyAware If you can, try the elliptical machine. I'm using it and it's working wonders.

MySmile 4281 pts

 Christelyn   Takunda  PoliticallyAware I love the elliptical!! That's what I use every time I work out!! It's been getting me the results I want (slowly, but surely) and I like it WAY better than the treadmill, so I will continue to use it...It just doesn't help me tone up my arms like they need to be toned.. I use a lot of other machines for various body parts. They help me gain muscle in my arms, they're not helping me lose the "bat wings"!!

 

I think I will try weights. There is no way I'm going in the weight room at my school though...I'm way too intimidated by all those hot, muscular, shirtless guys :-D...and the women who look like they're training for the olympics... I'll just have to buy my own set...

Brenda55 20976 pts moderator

 MySmile  Takunda  PoliticallyAware I used to worry about that also however as the article says women really cannot get big arms like men can. That testosterone works wonders on guys and we just don't have and much as they do....thank goodness. 

 

I work out with dumbells every other day. Three sets, 15 reps.  5lbs for my wrists and 10 lbs for the rest of my upper body work. 

I am still too fat to see the results, but I can feel it since my functional fitness has greatly improved.

 

It is also important to strength strain while you are losing weight so that you do not have that sagging skin under your arms as you lose the fat.  

Brenda55 20976 pts moderator

 MySmile  Christelyn   Takunda  PoliticallyAware 

"There is no way I'm going in the weight room at my school though...I'm way too intimidated by all those hot, muscular, shirtless guys :-D"

 

When I was younger and was strength training before I used to feel that way also but got over it.

 

Most of the time the guys are so into their own work out they are not checking for you. Sometimes times a guy will come over to give you pointers so long as you are serious about what you are doing and not trying to hook up. 

MySmile 4281 pts

 Brenda55  Christelyn   Takunda  PoliticallyAware  Yeah they seem pretty focused...I don't even think they'd be concerned with me....this girl was telling me they usually will help and they're usually nice about it....and that they're not trying to hook up...I don't even think guys take women who come to the gym to hook up seriously lol...but the girl telling me that stuff was going to the military and was already in good shape...so I'm sure it's not as intimidating for her. I wouldn't be trying to hook up..I'm pretty focused when I work out (plus I have earphones in)....but I can feel the testosterone in the room lol! I don't mind the eye candy while I'm taking a breather or getting a drink of water. I think I'll wait until I'm comfortable with it and in better shape to try the weight room, though

thecrazyartist 2420 pts

I am guilty of 2 and 3,  I go so obsessed with low carb that I cut back from 6 servings of vegetables to 2,  I learned my lesson after I nearly passed out on 10g of carbs a day.