The six fitness myths that drive me crazy

Fitness myths breed like rabbits online and it drives me insane. The sheer abundance of self-declared “experts” offering solutions to improving health, wellbeing, fitness, and more, is overwhelming. While some simply have good intentions, others might be pushing an agenda… or perhaps just their new range of weight loss teas.

Either way, the mass of information and worse, misinformation, is often contradictory and confusing and could easily leave you wondering who you can trust or what to believe. So, to help you navigate through the noise, here are some of the most common fitness myths that deserve to be debunked.

1. You need to stretch before you exercise 

We’re often told to stretch before a workout. But the latest research shows that this won’t reduce your risk of injury and could even make you more vulnerable.

The scientists found prolonged stretching may actually lead to a short-term reduction in strength, so you could be more likely to overestimate how far you can push your body. Rather than stretching, try warming up with a few key moves that will get your body ready for the workout you’re about to do. Prior to activities like running or racket sports, perform exercises like knee raises, hip rotations, calf raises, squats, and lunges.