It’s always a little dangerous to latch onto one type of workout “absolute” with a single-minded intensity. The real truth is that if there were an easy solution to improving your physique and staving off injury, then everyone would do that one thing.
But there’s not. There are people who prefer lifting weights, those who like to engage in a brisk run, some who get their exercise in by riding their bikes to and from work, and others who just want to maintain a healthy diet supplemented with a walk around the block. Everyone has their own preferred exercise regimen, but getting boxed in to any one technique can harm you. A new report takes a look at some fitness myths, and what they all these myths tend to have in common is that they seek to establish certainty in a place where there will always be exceptions and doubts.
The first myth the author points to is the idea that exercises requiring assistance from a machine are preferable. This could mean a treadmill or some type of weight apparatus where the machine essentially becomes the spotter.
If you prefer this type of workout regimen, then by all means pursue it. Realize, though, that you don’t have to only use machines, and relying exclusively on them could be undercutting your ability to reach your full potential. If you’re using the same weight machine, you’re devaluing your other muscle groups; it’s easier to strike a healthy balance if you take up free weights in conjunction with the machines. When you run on a treadmill, you could grow comfortable doing one thing, and thus it could do your body good to reinvigorate yourself by running along a trail with hills and downward slopes.
You also shouldn’t be targeting one area of your body in the hope of solely improving that area, as this will come at the cost of the rest of your frame. We see too many people attempting to improve their upper arms and chest because they think doing so will make them more appealing to the opposite sex. Unfortunately, this puts the arms and chest in danger of overuse injuries and puts neglected parts of the body at risk of acute injuries. Again, balance throughout your body is the key, as taking a full-body approach to things will improve your overall form and help you lose weight more than just working one sector of the body will.
Finally, don’t rely exclusively on weight training or exclusively on cardio. The best workout will be one that combines both, as you’re able to develop strength and stamina all at once.