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