| Nearly everybody who's started out with the dream | | | | all the suggested. The person asking simply doesn't |
| to get into shape, build muscle or lose fat, has fallen | | | | really know how they got bigger and most likely it will |
| prey to some type of fitness myth. Many times, | | | | be a combination of hard work and dedication along |
| those myths come from sources and publications | | | | with some pseudo-scientific explanation of their |
| that we trust. Maybe it's false advertising that leads | | | | training.Reminds me of a story one person told me.A |
| somebody to start a myth or the quest to get rich. | | | | very large bodybuilder was the envy of all the |
| Or maybe it's just simple ignorance.The fitness | | | | younger guys in the gym. They always wanted to |
| industry is no exception. As with any commerce | | | | know his "secrets." He never told them until one day, |
| industry, there's the potential for myths that develop | | | | this young guy was pestering him."Do you really want |
| into frauds, dangerous exercises, worthless | | | | to know the secret?" The Big Guy asked."Yes!" Said |
| supplements or just incomplete information. If there | | | | the young student."It's Alpo Dog food. Seriously. |
| is money to be made, you are guaranteed to find | | | | Something they put in there just builds muscle. I can't |
| some popular fitness myths.These 6 sources of | | | | explain it." The Guru said.[ 2 weeks pass ]The |
| myths, deception and fraud are not all inclusive. They | | | | younger guy see the big bodybuilder again and says, |
| are the top contenders for a variety of reasons | | | | "You know I really don't like the taste. I just can't |
| which will be explained below.The best way I know | | | | keep eating the stuff."Now I can't tell you if this is |
| how to combat and avoid falling prey to any of | | | | true. It's probably a myth in itself. But it lends itself to |
| these misconceptions and myths is to travel down | | | | proving a point that you can get a lot of myths from |
| the path of education.It's far less costly to educate | | | | the biggest guy or gal in your gym. And over time, it |
| yourself (just learning from a variety of sources) | | | | can be pretty costly or foul tasting depending on the |
| than fall victim to ignorance and waste years and | | | | advice you receive.4. Supplements Salespeople:How |
| sometimes thousands of dollars on false information. | | | | many supplements have over 300 peer reviewed and |
| Not to mention the frustration that myths can | | | | published studies behind them from various sources? |
| incur.Fact is...These 6 sources can be myth-makers or | | | | Not many. Supplement salespeople have a clear |
| myth-busters!1. Websites and Magazine | | | | agenda to push their products. Which is fine expect |
| Editors:Without a doubt, magazines and websites can | | | | you don't know what they are thinking, their agenda |
| be a popular source of bodybuilding myths. | | | | or if they have some quota to fill. Just keep in mind |
| Sometimes the story will just have it's facts wrong. | | | | they may or may not know what they are talking |
| Or it might be an editorial. Sometimes editors have to | | | | about. Keeping yourself informed will help you make |
| take an old story and put some popular spin on it to | | | | the right choices and help them direct you to what |
| make it more interesting.If something is published | | | | you want.5. Equipment Salespeople:Similar to the |
| that is controversial (the recent Soy examples) it can | | | | supplement salespeople, how many highly trained and |
| be fuel for further research and studies but more | | | | fully qualified equipment sales people are fully aware |
| often than not, people take a single article in a | | | | of biomechanics and how exercises related to the |
| popular magazine or newspaper as fact.There is a | | | | body? Not a whole lot. You could get an entirely |
| common belief that if it's in print... it must be right.Am | | | | different story about muscle building from a Bowflex |
| I right about that so far?Pick up an issue of Cosmo, | | | | salesperson over a person at Sears who wants to |
| Us, People or look at back issues of most popular | | | | sell you a weight stacked machine. You can easily fall |
| fitness magazines. How many times have you seen a | | | | prey to the machines vs. free weights myths right |
| new twist or angle put on the ever popular, "Arnold's | | | | here.6. Podcasters:Heck, I'll put myself on the |
| Arm Routine."It's part of life to re-create, re-package | | | | chopping block here. With the Internet being so |
| and enhance old stories. Just keep in mind that myths | | | | popular and everybody having a microphone, all of us |
| can start anywhere.2. The "I Feel It" Syndrome:Just | | | | who podcast about fitness can spread myths or be a |
| because it worked for me, doesn't mean it works for | | | | new source of a myth. Much like website or |
| you. This can apply to training programs or | | | | magazine editors, we want readers and listeners and |
| supplements. The "I Feel It Syndrome" simply doesn't | | | | might put new slants on old stories. Hopefully you will |
| take into account the Principle of Individual | | | | research things for yourself, get other opinions, |
| Differences. Everybody is slightly different. If a | | | | check with your doctor if necessary and educate |
| beginning builder happens to respond very well to | | | | yourself so that you can make informed choices. |
| some strange exercise (not taking into account they | | | | Even my podcast is simply there to help you learn to |
| are new and will almost respond to anything) it | | | | love to learn.Make no mistake... while this list isn't all |
| doesn't make that exercise or routine one that will | | | | inclusive of every possible sources of myths, they |
| work for everybody.I cannot tell you how many | | | | are the lead contributors. But that doesn't mean they |
| times I've personally heard people tell me that | | | | are inherently bad or you need to avoid them.In fact, |
| Creatine is a worthless supplement that simply | | | | the same sources can be the greatest contributors |
| doesn't work.While it might not work for them | | | | of myth-busting!My point is...Keep yourself informed |
| (roughly 30% of the population does not respond to | | | | and just be cautious.I'm going to close this article out |
| regular creatine products) there are over 300 peer | | | | with a quote I think sums up falling prey to the |
| reviewed and published studies that show many | | | | fitness myths that you may encounter. "If you think |
| benefits of creatine and that it does work.For | | | | education is expensive, try ignorance." - Derek Curtis |
| starters, I'm going to take 300 journals with well | | | | BokCopyright 2006 Marc DavidHeavy resistance |
| researched documentation over "somebody" in the | | | | training, light resistance training, psychological |
| gym telling me it doesn't work.3. The "Big Guy" | | | | techniques, therapeutic modalities, medical support, |
| Syndrome:A younger bodybuilder might look up to | | | | biomechanics, dietary manipulation and nutritional |
| the biggest guy in the gym, but without knowing | | | | supplementation each play a significant role in |
| how the big guy got big... it can be a real source of | | | | integrated sports training. Learn how to use each of |
| myths. How he or she got big might be 1) hard work | | | | the pieces to your advantage in the Beginner's Guide |
| and dedication 2) genetics 3) drugs 4) combination of | | | | to Fitness and Bodybuilding. |