It is safe to say that during the summer months, gyms across the nation notice an uptick in the amount of locals flocking to get their fitness on. Why? For obvious reasons – the summer is swimsuit season. YMCA employees at the local Columbus facility recently released the most common workout myths and facts.
- Walking vs. Running – It is a common myth that walking is just as effective as running; however, a fitness expert will tell you that running is better than walking every time because it burns more calories.
- “No pain, no gain” – YMCA Columbus staff also say that this is incorrect. According to the crew, “muscle soreness is natural after working out, but pain means there’s actual injury.”
Jean Fry, who works at the Columbus YMCA, explained, “It’s very common to think that, ‘oh my gosh if i’m not aching and paining everywhere after this workout, then I didn’t do anything, but that’s just not true.”
- You gain weight when you eat before going to sleep – Although many argue that this is true, because you can’t burn the calories off if you are sleeping, experts say that it’s false. However, binge eating unhealthy snacks will make you gain weight.
- Knuckle cracking causes arthritis – This is another myth that Columbus movers are glad to hear. A new study shows that there are no long term, negative effects to cracking your knuckles.
Take a break from moving this summer and hit the gym at your local YMCA. Their trained staff and fitness experts can answer all of your questions, as well as help your arms get buff for lifting those heavy moving boxes.