Test Your Fitness Knowledge: Answers

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When it comes to health and fitness, there are a lot of myths and misinformation floating around. Here are five of the most common ones.

1. Never eat before working out.

False. Experts advise drinking water and eating a nutritious snack or small meal one to three hours before exercising to give both your brain and muscles the “fuel” they need to exert.

2. All dietary fat is bad for you.

False. Small amounts of “good fats” that appear naturally in foods such as avocados, nuts, and fish are actually essential to good health. They also help you to feel fuller and so eat less.

3. Restricting calories is the best way to lose weight.

False. The most effective way to lose weight and maintain a healthy weight is to decrease calories and increase movement. Reducing your food intake to less than 1200 calories a day does not provide adequate fuel for your body and may actually slow metabolism, thereby inhibiting weight loss and maintenance.

4. Eating late at night makes you gain weight.

False. You can enjoy a small snack at night without gaining weight—if you eat sensible portions of nutritious food every 3 to 4 hours, starting with breakfast, and get enough exercise. Being sedentary, depriving your body of adequate fuel during the day, and overeating in the evening is what leads to weight gain.

5. You have to work up a sweat to benefit from exercise.

False. Sweating is your body’s way of cooling off when exerting. You can burn substantial calories without breaking a sweat—for example, by walking, swimming, bicycling, or light weight training.

Source: Baylor Health Systems on About.com Senior Living