Muscle & Fitness logo Muscle & Fitness

  • Workouts

    Workouts

    • Workout Routines
    • Workout Tips
    • Fitness
    • Athlete/Celebrity Workouts
    • Exercise Videos
    Find Exercises Targeting…
    • Abs and Core Exercises
    • Arm Exercises
    • Back Exercises
    • Chest Exercises
    • Leg Exercises
    • Shoulder Exercises
  • Nutrition

    Nutrition

    • Healthy Eating
    • Lose Fat
    • Gain Mass
    • Supplements
    • Performance Nutrition
    Young professionals drinking Caffeinated Alternatives on their coffee break
    Healthy Eating

    Top Recommended Caffeinated Coffee Alternatives for Clean Energy Through...

    Chef Dan Churchill in the kitchen of his restaurant The Osprey in Brooklyn’s 1 Hotel
    Performance Nutrition

    Dan Churchill's 5 Rules for Top-Level Fueling

    Person putting a banana into a blender to make a banana smoothie
    Healthy Eating

    Study Reveals This Drawback to Adding a Banana to Your Smoothie

    Muscular fit woman holding a bunch of plant based foods
    Healthy Eating

    Can You Build Muscle on a Plant-Based Diet? Here's What Research Says

  • Athletes & Celebrities

    Athletes & Celebrities

    • News
    • Interviews
    • Women
    • Pro Tips
    • Behind-the-Scenes
    • Videos
    Hunter McVey on a red background
    Interviews

    How Hunter McVey Turned a Week’s Notice into a 9-1-1: Nashville Breakout...

    Dmitry Nuyanzin passes away from practicing extreme yo yo diet
    News

    Social Media Influencer 'Dmitryfit' Dies Following Extreme Diet Plan

    Matt Mathews performing on stage
    Athletes & Celebrities

    Matt Mathews' Funny Formula for Balancing Fame, Fitness & Farm Life

    Paralympian Declan Farmer
    Interviews

    Life of an Athlete: Paralympic sled hockey’s Declan Farmer

  • Features

    Features

    • From our Partners
    • Active Lifestyle
    • M&F: Fit to Serve
    • Gear
    • News
    • Opinion
    Roger Lockridge and Rob Wilking standing with military guards for Fit To Serve
    News

    Muscle & Fitness Celebrates Military Content Strategy

    unnamed-1
    From our Partners

    Introducing EKnives, a Trusted Hub for Knife Collectors and Enthusiasts ...

    Black Friday Sale sign
    From our Partners

    Best Fitness Deals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday

    Purple metformin pill standing up among other pills
    News

    Does Metformin Minimize Muscle and the Ability to Crush Cardio?

  • Anti-Aging

    Anti-Aging

    • Functional Medicine
    • Hormone Optimization
    • Recovery
    • Wellness
    Participants in the Unlimited Life biohacking retreat in the Amazon Rainforest
    Wellness

    5 Aging Lessons Learned from a Biohacking Retreat Deep in the Amazon

    Fit female using technology scan to biohack her health and fitness in 2026
    Wellness

    10 Biohacking Trends for 2026 to Keep On Your Radar Now

    Over 40s couple performing mobility workouts and stretches outdoors
    Wellness

    2 Simple 15-Minute Mobility Workouts to Help Reduce Pain

    A group of young adventurers using travel and outdoor adventures to keep health and fit
    Wellness

    Traveling and Adventuring: Your Path to Staying Young, Fit, and Healthy

  • Flex

    Flex

    • Olympia Coverage
    • Athletes
    • Nutrition
    • Training
    • Videos
    United States Air Force Staff Sergeant Joshua Alvord performing a behind the neck squat
    Pro Tips

    This Air Force Honor Guard Member Takes Being Fit To Serve Seriously

    Jay Cutler performing Wide Grip Seated Rows throughout his career
    Training

    This Back Exercise Helped Jay Cutler Win 4 Mr. Olympia Titles

    TMP episode 261
    News

    Can Anyone Compete With Neckzilla's Legs?

    Milos Sarcev guiding Ronnie Coleman how to perform the Hanging Straight Leg Raise exercise for abs and core strength
    Training

    Hanging Straight Leg Raises: Old-School Ab Exercise for Deep Core Streng...

  • Hers

    Hers

    • Workouts
    • Nutrition
    • Supplements
    • Athletes & Celebrities
    • Features
    Erin Stern
    Hers Workouts

    Erin Stern Has 4 Quad-Building Tweaks for You to Try

    Maddy Forberg working out with dumbbells
    Hers Athletes & Celebrities

    Maddy Forberg Prepares To Return To The Powerlifting Platform

    Female bodybuilder Dana Linn Bailey demonstrates how to do the Reverse Fly Hack exercise for strong shoulders
    Hers Athletes & Celebrities

    Dana Linn Bailey’s Reverse Fly Hack for Bigger Rear Delts

    Priscilla Block
    Muscle & Fitness Hers

    Priscilla Block is Now Running the Show After Her Fitness Transformation...

  • Olympia

    Olympia

    • Olympia Coverage
    • Buy Tickets
    Caesar Bacarella performing a dumbbell workout with biceps curls
    Pro Tips

    Caesar Bacarella Is Building a Fitness Empire at Full Speed

    Olympia-2019-Whiteny-Jones-Press-Conference
    Interviews

    Whitney Jones Can Break, But Can Never Be Broken

    IFBB Wellness Pro Yarishna Ayala
    Interviews

    Yarishna Ayala Shares Advice for Future Wellness Division Competitors

    2021 Mr. Olympia Top 3 winners Brandon Curry, Big Ramy, Hadi Choopin
    News

    BIG RAMY WINS THE 2021 OLYMPIA!

Subscribe to YouTube Subscribe to the Newsletter Terms of Use Privacy Policy Cookie Policy Accessibility Statement Do Not Sell
  • Workouts
    • Workout Routines
    • Workout Tips
    • Fitness
    • Athlete/Celebrity Workouts
    • Exercise Videos
  • Nutrition
    • Healthy Eating
    • Lose Fat
    • Gain Mass
    • Supplements
    • Performance Nutrition
  • Athletes & Celebrities
    • News
    • Interviews
    • Women
    • Pro Tips
    • Behind-the-Scenes
    • Videos
  • Features
    • From our Partners
    • Active Lifestyle
    • M&F: Fit to Serve
    • Gear
    • News
    • Opinion
  • Anti-Aging
    • Functional Medicine
    • Hormone Optimization
    • Recovery
    • Wellness
  • Flex
    • Olympia Coverage
    • Athletes
    • Nutrition
    • Training
    • Videos
  • Hers
    • Workouts
    • Nutrition
    • Supplements
    • Athletes & Celebrities
    • Features
  • Olympia
    • Olympia Coverage
    • Buy Tickets
  • Resources & Highlights
    • Topics
    • Videos
    • Podcasts
    • Contact
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Accessibility Statement
    • Do Not Sell

Stay Connected

Newsletter Signup

Stay up to date

Sign up below to receive our newest workout routines, recipes, news stories, and offers from our partners

Facebook Twitter Youtube Pinterest
Open menu button
Open search bar button
×

Search M&F

Featured Articles
Lean Muscle
Healthy Eating

28-Days-to-Lean Meal Plan

With the right plan and the right discipline, you can get seriously shredded in just 28 days.

Read article
Kate Upton Attends the 2016 Vanity Fair Oscar Party
Women

The 20 Hottest Female Celebrities

Talented stars, killer physiques.

Read article
Bench press record holder Bill Gillespie breaking the world record at age 62
Pro Tips

The 'Dos' and 'Don’ts' of Bill Gillespie’s Record-Breaking Bench Press

At age 62, "Big Bill" shares his wisdom to dominate one of the ultimate strength marks.

Read article
The 50 Best Female Fitness Influencers on Instagram
Girls

The 50 Best Fitness Influencers on Instagram

Follow these fit women we're crushing on for inspiration, workout ideas, and motivation.

Read article
Hers Workouts

5 Common Fitness Myths

It's time to dispel fact from fiction. Here's the bottom line on common confusions.

by PrettyFit
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
Medballleglift
Per Bernal
View Gallery

5 Common Fitness Myths

Close gallery popup button
1 OF 6

1 of 6

Medballleglift

Per Bernal

Fact Or Fiction?

The fitness industry is known for sound health information, yet at times that information can be inaccurate. It’s easy to believe when you have a significant amount of content coming from varying sources. With that said, it’s time to dispel some of the common fitness myths.SEE ALSO: 9 Exercise Mistakes Fit Chicks MakeThis article is courtesy of trainer Yami Mufdi of PrettyFit. Check out their sites for more recipes, nutrition and fitness tips, and to learn about their fitness products for women.

2 of 6

Salmon sesame meal diet

Myth: Eating 6 Small Meals A Day Will Increase Your Metabolism

It’s been thought that if you’re not eating several times during the day, then your body will go into starvation mode, which will make you hold onto more fat.Fact: The time you eat or the amount you eat doesn’t matter. Eating six small meals or three big meals per day will have no effect on your metabolism.

3 of 6

Woman Training With A Kettlebell

Shutterstock

Myth: Lifting Weights Will Make You “Too Big”

A common thought amongst women is that lifting more weight will pack on more muscle, making you look like a man.Fact: It won’t happen because women do not have a significant amount of testosterone, a major sex hormone that’s produced in the gonads in men. It’s largely responsible for muscle growth. Therefore, women are not able to put on muscle like men.  So ladies, get out there and lift some weights. It will help you build lean muscle and boost your metabolism.SEE ALSO: Why Weightlifting Is More Important For Fat Loss Than Cardio

4 of 6

5 Reasons to Reboot Your Gut Health

Shutterstock

Myth: Ab Exercises Will Lead To A Six-Pack

Fact: A healthy diet is the way to carve out six-pack abs. In order to see your abs, you must first lose the subcutaneous fat layer covering them up. Once that layer is dropped, start doing ab exercises.Try flexible dieting, it’s a popular nutrition program that focuses on enjoying foods while removing the stress of a restrictive diet. 

5 of 6

Exhausted Girl Lifting

Shutterstock

Myth: If You’re Not Sweating, You’re Not Working Hard Enough

Fact: Sweating is simply your body’s way of cooling itself off and typically occurs when your core temperature begins to rise. This can be caused by a high ambient temperature (under the sun or in a sauna) or through cellular metabolism and respiration (physical activity). Everyone sweats at different rates, so if you aren’t sweating while working out…it’s ok. 

6 of 6

Woman Hiking

Sean Gallup/Getty

Myth: If You’re Not Sore The Next Day, You Didn’t Work Hard Enough

Fact: Have you ever been on a long hike and been sore the next day? If you are sore, chances are it is from the fact that you did something that your body is not used to. However if you’re hiking every day and aren’t sore the day after, it’s most likely because your body is adapting to the workload—performing the tasks more efficiently.Now, in order to keep progressing, it is important to not get comfortable with the workload and to continually raise the intensity.

Back to intro

Fact Or Fiction?

The fitness industry is known for sound health information, yet at times that information can be inaccurate. It’s easy to believe when you have a significant amount of content coming from varying sources. With that said, it’s time to dispel some of the common fitness myths.

SEE ALSO: 9 Exercise Mistakes Fit Chicks Make

This article is courtesy of trainer Yami Mufdi of PrettyFit. Check out their sites for more recipes, nutrition and fitness tips, and to learn about their fitness products for women.

Myth: Eating 6 Small Meals A Day Will Increase Your Metabolism

It’s been thought that if you’re not eating several times during the day, then your body will go into starvation mode, which will make you hold onto more fat.

Fact: The time you eat or the amount you eat doesn’t matter. Eating six small meals or three big meals per day will have no effect on your metabolism.

Myth: Lifting Weights Will Make You "Too Big"

A common thought amongst women is that lifting more weight will pack on more muscle, making you look like a man.

Fact: It won’t happen because women do not have a significant amount of testosterone, a major sex hormone that’s produced in the gonads in men. It’s largely responsible for muscle growth. Therefore, women are not able to put on muscle like men.  

So ladies, get out there and lift some weights. It will help you build lean muscle and boost your metabolism.

SEE ALSO: Why Weightlifting Is More Important For Fat Loss Than Cardio

Myth: Ab Exercises Will Lead To A Six-Pack

Fact: A healthy diet is the way to carve out six-pack abs. In order to see your abs, you must first lose the subcutaneous fat layer covering them up. Once that layer is dropped, start doing ab exercises.

Try flexible dieting, it’s a popular nutrition program that focuses on enjoying foods while removing the stress of a restrictive diet. 

Myth: If You're Not Sweating, You're Not Working Hard Enough

Fact: Sweating is simply your body’s way of cooling itself off and typically occurs when your core temperature begins to rise. This can be caused by a high ambient temperature (under the sun or in a sauna) or through cellular metabolism and respiration (physical activity). 

Everyone sweats at different rates, so if you aren’t sweating while working out…it’s ok. 

Myth: If You're Not Sore The Next Day, You Didn't Work Hard Enough

Fact: Have you ever been on a long hike and been sore the next day? If you are sore, chances are it is from the fact that you did something that your body is not used to. However if you’re hiking every day and aren’t sore the day after, it’s most likely because your body is adapting to the workload—performing the tasks more efficiently.

Now, in order to keep progressing, it is important to not get comfortable with the workload and to continually raise the intensity.

Topics:
  • M&F Hers
Author picture
Written by PrettyFit
Related Articles
Hunter McVey on a red background
Interviews

How Hunter McVey Turned a Week’s Notice into a 9-1-1: Nashville Breakout...

Dmitry Nuyanzin passes away from practicing extreme yo yo diet
News

Social Media Influencer 'Dmitryfit' Dies Following Extreme Diet Plan

Newsletter Signup

Stay up to date

Sign up below to receive our newest workout routines, recipes, news stories, and offers from our partners

Muscle & Fitness logo

Follow us

Facebook Twitter Youtube Pinterest

More news

Erin Stern
Hers Workouts

Erin Stern Has 4 Quad-Building Tweaks for You to Try

Step up your leg day with these Olympia worthy muscle-building modifications.

Read article
“FitQueen” Anita Herbert demonstrating her Legs and Glutes Workout
Hers Workouts

Less Equipment, More Muscle With Anita Herbert's Legs and Glutes Workout

The “FitQueen” showed how to get the most from each machine

Read article
Fitness influencer Kim French's upper body workout sculpting her back and biceps for a sexy figure
Hers Workouts

Kim French’s Upper-Body Workout for Sculpted Back and Bigger Biceps

Build strength while sculpting your upper body with this varied routine.

Read article
All Hers Workouts
  1. Home
  2. /
  3. Muscle & Fitness Hers
  4. /
  5. Hers Workouts
  6. /
  7. 5 Common Fitness Myths
Muscle & Fitness logo
  • Workouts
  • Nutrition
  • Athletes & Celebrities
  • Features
  • Recipes
  • Topics
  • Videos
  • Exercise Videos
  • Podcasts
  • RSS Feed
  • Buy Olympia Tickets
  • Archives
  • Sitemap
Facebook Twitter Youtube Pinterest

Newsletter Signup

Stay up to date

Sign up below to receive our newest workout routines, recipes, news stories, and offers from our partners

JW Media, LLC

Copyright 2025 JW Media, LLC, parent company of Muscle & Fitness. All rights reserved.

Contact Us Terms of Use Privacy Policy Cookie Policy Do Not Sell Accessibility Statement