Five Muscle Myths

The World Wide Web is chockfull of information about how to build muscles. Some of this information is awesome while some of it is just plain wrong. When embarking on a muscle building plan it is wise to consult a professional in diet and nutrition that can help you separate the fact from the fiction. If you don't have the means to hire a professional then do your research before you start any workout program. Below is a list of the top 5 muscle myths.

Number 5 Top Muscle Myth: Stretch before training.

There has always been a school of thought that told people that you have to stretch before every workout. However, there are now health experts that suggest stretching before a workout does nothing to help you have a better workout. In fact there are some people who say that stretching before a workout could lead to injury.

The best time to stretch is directly after the workout. This will help reduce overall soreness and muscle fatigue. People even suggest stretching during your rest period between sets or stations.

Number 4 Top Muscle Myth: Do cardio after weight training.

Experts now understand that it is better for you to get all the cardiovascular training you need first thing in the morning before any food is consumed. This is suggested because it will allow your body to get the energy it needs from stored fats instead of food or proteins. This will help burn fat faster which will lead to better muscle tone and a lower overall body weight.

Number 3 Top Muscle Myth: You can't gain muscle while losing fat.

I debated about putting this as the biggest myth on the list of top five muscle myths. Believe it or not there are bigger muscle myths than this. The point being here is that it is completely possible to build muscle and lose fat all at the same time.

Any workout program should be combined with a proper nutrition program to help fuel the muscles and burn fat at the same time. A good diet should include lean proteins, good carbs and essential fats. A good workout program to build muscle while burning fat will focus on circuit type training that keeps the metabolism up while pushing the muscles to the edge.

Number 2 Top Muscle Myth: Never train when you are sore.

This myth about muscle building always makes me laugh because everyone knows that if you are on a good workout program you will always be sore somewhere on your body. There is truth that you should not workout the areas of your body are sore, but the way around this is to design your workout program to workout different parts of the body on different days. This is the reason for focusing on one area at a time.

Number 1 Top Muscle Myth: Fats are bad.

Not all fats are created equal. Sure there are plenty of bad fats out there, but there are also a lot of good fats. In fact if your body doesn't have enough of the good fat in its system it could end up being counterproductive to muscle building. Good fats can be found in a lot of nuts, fish, olive oil, flaxseed oil and canola oil.