Myth | Reality |
---|---|
You’ll get huge unless you lift light weights. | The only way your muscles will burst the seams of your dress shirts is if you regularly lift extremely heavy weight repetitions, and if you have a body type that will even allow for the development of mega muscles. |
You’re the only one in the gym baffled by the equipment. | No one is born knowing how to operate the assisted dip machine or perform a decline chest fly! Weight training equipment can baffle even the sharpest of minds. |
Weight lifting is dangerous. | If Dr. Ruth tried to hoist a 300-pound barbell overhead, that would be dangerous. But if you use good technique and common sense, you’re likely to stay injury free. |
Thigh exercises will slim your thighs, and ab exercises will whittle your middle. | You can’t melt the fat off any particular body part by performing exercises that target that area. There simply is no such thing as spot reducing. |
Lifting weights won’t help you lose weight. | Lifting weights is an essential part of a fat-loss program. Developing muscle is the only way to boost your metabolism, which can help you lose fat and keep it off. |
Free weights are for muscleheads and machines are for beginners. | The free-weight room of a gym isn’t a special club for bodybuilders; novices are welcome there and should make a point of learning to use dumbbells and barbells. |
Slang | Translation |
---|---|
Pecs | Chest |
Traps | Upper back |
Lats | Middle back |
Delts | Shoulders |
Bis | Front of upper arms |
Tris | Rear of upper arms |
Abs | Front midsection |
Glutes | Butt |
Quads | Front thighs |
Hams | Rear thighs |