MYTH #1 - I Don’t Need to Warm Up

This is one of the biggest mistakes people make. Not warming up properly not only increases your risk for injury, but it can actually make your workout less productive. When you warm-up for 5 to 10 minutes, your core body temperature rises, and your body starts to increase its use of oxygen. Warming up also enhances the efficiency and power of the exercising muscles.

MYTH #2 - I Don’t Need to Work My Legs Because I Use Them All the Time Doing Cardio

Your legs are being worked when you train aerobically, but they are being trained solely for endurance. The muscles are not being challenged in the same way so you are not increasing muscle mass (and therefore not increasing your metabolic rate and not increasing the strength of your connective tissue). Bottom line, don’t neglect your legs!

MYTH #3 - More Weight is Better

This is not true. Have you ever seen someone lifting a large amount of weight but he or she is struggling and using momentum or muscles unrelated to the exercise? These individuals are not benefiting the muscles they are trying to work and are increasing the risk for injury. You only need to lift enough weight to reach fatigue while using proper form – that is training SMART!