Health & Fitness Myths Uncovered!
There are some common health and fitness myths that never seem to get old. One being that lifting weights will make you big. THIS IS A MYTH!
Fact: as women we really don’t have the testosterone to put on big and bulky muscle. So if you are avoiding the weights, think again. Resistance training will actually help you lose weight faster and probably keep it off in the long run.
Here are some others that you will probably hear amongst your mommy friends. Make sure you set things straight!
Myth: Sports bras are just to prevent the awful bounce!
Fact: Actually yes, they help prevent that painful bounce, but they also help to prevent breast sagging. High-impact activities, like running or jumping, can stress your Cooper's ligaments (the connective tissue that keeps breasts firm), causing your breasts to sag more quickly.
As much as they make us look “flat”, they’re important! PS – don’t forget you need to replace workout bras every six months to a year.
Myth: Fresh fruit is better than frozen fruit
Fact: Actually, not in all cases. Sadly, with shipping and storage, fresh fruit can often sit around for as long as two weeks before it hits your supermarket (yikes)! Unfortunately during that time, it can lose a lot of its nutrients, especially vitamin C. Frozen fruit is often picked and frozen at the peak of freshness. It's also a great choice when making smoothies. But steer clear of the frozen fruits in syrup — it packs extra calories! Your ultimate best bet is to buy LOCAL fresh fruits … hello Farmer’s Markets!
Myth: Doing crunches and ab workouts will get rid of belly fat after having a baby
Fact: You can do crunches till you pass out, and you still might not get a six-pack. The truth is, after having a baby it’s important to “re-train” your core before you even start “training” your core. Some moms shouldn’t be planking or doing crunches at all!
It is always recommended you see a pelvic floor physiotherapist postpartum for a detailed assessment prior to starting any type of activity. Before returning to any regular exercise including ab workouts, you must have optimal function of your core (this includes the diaphragm, pelvic floor, transversus abdominis and multifidus, which Bellies Inc. terms “The Core 4”). Therefore, you should have optimal alignment, biomechanics and control for the specific movement or activity at hand.
Myth: A hot bath will prevent muscle soreness
Fact: Sadly mommies, cold water is a better bet. Don’t get me wrong, all moms should enjoy a steaming hot bubble bath to unwind, but if we are talking muscle soreness, immersing yourself in chilled water is like an ice pack for your entire body.
When you exercise, your blood vessels open wider and stay that way for at least an hour afterward. Soreness occurs when waste products like lactic acid settle in your muscles through these dilated vessels. Colder temps constrict vessels, limiting the amount of waste product that accumulates. Again, you should still add a warm bubble bath into your regimen too!
Myth: If you're not working up a sweat, you're not working hard enough.
Fact: listen moms, sweating is not necessarily an indicator of exertion. Sweating is simply your body’s way of cooling itself. In fact, it’s possible to burn a significant number of calories without breaking a sweat!!
Hope this sheds a little more light on some common myths you have probably heard over the years. Send me a message if you have any other questions about anything else you may have heard in your mommy circle; I would love to try and answer them!