Exercising to get toned is the coolest thing these days, with athletic and fit being the ideal shape, over everything else. While this is great, a lot of people hit the gym without knowing what they are getting into, or if it is at all productive. Here, we bust some common myths around gymming, be it the ideal diet to accompany your workouts or the amount you should be working out. Prepare to be quite surprised!
Don’t wear makeup while working out.
If you’ve spotted a hottie at the gym and you want to look nice in front of him, then convince yourself that you look beautiful without makeup because wearing makeup while exercising is a huge no-no. This is because sweating makes makeup melt off your face, resulting in a breakout-causing mix of bacteria, sweat, oil and whatnot. Not only that, makeup clogs the pores that would otherwise be relieving themselves of toxins and making skin look flushed and glowing, had they been left alone!
Cardio is overrated.
Many gym instructors aren’t as educated on muscle function and building as doctors or trained fitness experts. For this reason, they often instruct most people to spend hours on the treadmill, doing pointless cardio. This is a rookie mistake, because it does not help strengthen or work your core. In addition, it also puts a lot of pressure on your lower body, making your joints brittle. So, if you want to lose weight from your belly, or get toned arms, that won’t happen by just walking or running on a treadmill. Diversify your workout and stretch your limbs for results!
Proteins are your best friend.
When we hear “protein,” we immediately think of huge jars of steroid-rich protein powder and pass it off as something we don’t need in our simple life. However, proteins, in case if you’ve forgotten, include chicken, chickpeas, lentils, eggs, yoghurt and fish as well, and are a must in our diet. When we exercise, we do it not only to burn away fat, but also so that our body’s muscles re-align themselves and build themselves differently after exercise tears at their tissues. Without proteins, this does not happen. As a result, we don’t get the abs or toned legs we so desire. So, it is crucial to have a protein-rich diet.
You need to time your meals right.
We all know that working out after having a big meal is a no-no, because it will probably make you throw up. But did you know that there should be a two-hour gap between your last meal and your workout? Moreover, did you know that metabolising proteins is difficult for the body, so a protein-rich meal should never be consumed before a workout? In addition to that, having carbs before a workout is ideal and consuming loads of sugar or starch after working out defeats the point of working out. So, chart your meal timings according to your workout, for best results!
Hydrate!
Exercising can be very dehydrating for your entire body, be it your skin or your muscles. Exercising too much can make your body very dehydrated, giving you muscle cramps and making their repair very difficult. It is crucial to maintain your electrolyte balance by hydrating with ORS and sipping water throughout the day. Your skin will also thank you for it!
Gymming is not an excuse to binge-eat.
We mistakenly think “Eat what you want, and then go work it off at the gym,” is an adage to live by. The truth is, being fit is 20% exercise and 80% diet. By this, we do not mean crash-dieting. But we do mean that binging on burgers and pizzas every day is not going to do you any good, just because you have been hitting the gym regularly. At the end of the day, the whole process is a mix of getting healthy by eating fresh, unprocessed food and eating only the calories that you will actually burn. Pizzas and cake do damage to both these goals, no matter how much you work out!
Don’t overdo it.
Going to the gym seven days a week is a terrible idea and any qualified dietician or fitness expert will tell you this. This is because your body needs time to rest, recover and build muscles. If you work out every day, your body will get dehydrated, it will be in pain and more importantly get accustomed to that unsustainable routine. So, when you skip the gym, you’ll put on weight at the drop of a hat. Go for something more achievable.
