Fitness myth or fact? | CNN

CNN values your feedback

1. How relevant is this ad to you?
2. Did you encounter any technical issues?
Thank You!
Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much appreciated.
Close
Ad Feedback
Health
Life, But Better
Fitness
Food
Sleep
Mindfulness
Relationships
More
Life, But Better Fitness Food Sleep Mindfulness Relationships
Watch Listen Live TV
My Account
  • Settings
  • Newsletters
  • Topics you follow
  • Sign out
Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account

My Account
  • Settings
  • Newsletters
  • Topics you follow
  • Sign out
Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account

Live TV Listen Watch
Edition
US
International
Arabic
Español
Edition
  • US
  • International
  • Arabic
  • Español

Life, But Better
Fitness
Food
Sleep
Mindfulness
Relationships

Follow CNN
Download the CNN App

  • World
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia
    • Australia
    • China
    • Europe
    • India
    • Middle East
    • United Kingdom
  • US Politics
    • Elections 2026
    • Trump
    • Facts First
    • CNN Polls
    • Redistricting Tracker
    • Epstein Files
  • Business
    • Tech
    • Media
    • Calculators
    • Videos
  • Markets
    • Pre-markets
    • After-Hours
    • Fear & Greed
    • Investing
    • Markets Now
    • Nightcap
  • Health
    • Life, But Better
    • Fitness
    • Food
    • Sleep
    • Mindfulness
    • Relationships
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Celebrity
  • Tech
    • Innovate
  • Style
    • Arts
    • Design
    • Fashion
    • Architecture
    • Luxury
    • Beauty
    • Video
  • Travel
    • Destinations
    • Food & Drink
    • Stay
    • News
    • Videos
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Motorsport
    • US Sports
    • Olympics
  • Science
    • Space
    • Life
    • Unearthed
  • Climate
    • Solutions
    • Weather
  • Weather
    • Video
    • Climate
  • World Cup 2026
  • Ukraine-Russia War
  • Israel-Hamas War
  • Features
    • As Equals
    • Call to Earth
    • Freedom Project
    • Impact Your World
    • Inside Africa
    • CNN Heroes
  • Watch
    • Live TV
    • Featured
    • CNN Fast
    • Shows A-Z
    • CNN 10
    • CNN TV Schedule
  • Listen
    • All There Is with Anderson Cooper
    • Chasing Life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta
    • The Assignment with Audie Cornish
    • Terms of Service with Clare Duffy
    • CNN 5 Things
    • All CNN Podcasts
  • Games
    • Daily Crossword
    • Jumble Crossword
    • Photo Shuffle
    • Sudoblock
    • Sudoku
    • 5 Things Quiz
  • About CNN
    • Photos
    • Investigations
    • CNN Profiles
    • CNN Leadership
    • CNN Newsletters
    • Work for CNN

Download the CNN App
Health

Fitness myth or fact?

Updated 3:25 PM EDT, Fri August 15, 2014
Link Copied!
Bad advice and outdated research could be putting a kink in your workout efforts. Here are some fitness myths that have proved to be just that.
Fitness: Myths vs. facts —
Bad advice and outdated research could be putting a kink in your workout efforts. Here are some fitness myths that have proved to be just that.
Getty Images
Crunches do tone a small portion of your abs, but you may get better results from moves engaging your entire core.
Fitness: Myths vs. facts —
Crunches do tone a small portion of your abs, but you may get better results from moves engaging your entire core.
Getty Images
Sweating doesn't equate to calories burned. It might be the result of a hot room, the weather or your physiology.
Fitness: Myths vs. facts —
Sweating doesn't equate to calories burned. It might be the result of a hot room, the weather or your physiology.
Getty Images
Running is safer on your joints than contact sports, but it's not totally harmless. A total-body workout at least twice a week along with regular jogs can build up muscles supporting the knees.
Fitness: Myths vs. facts —
Running is safer on your joints than contact sports, but it's not totally harmless. A total-body workout at least twice a week along with regular jogs can build up muscles supporting the knees.
Getty Images
Stretching after exercise won't completely reduce soreness or speed muscle tissue repair, but can increase joint flexibility.
Fitness: Myths vs. facts —
Stretching after exercise won't completely reduce soreness or speed muscle tissue repair, but can increase joint flexibility.
Getty Images
More and more studies are pointing to the power of short workouts rather than longer ones. Some research even suggests quickie sessions might be better.
Fitness: Myths vs. facts —
More and more studies are pointing to the power of short workouts rather than longer ones. Some research even suggests quickie sessions might be better.
Getty Images
Scheduling rest days is crucial. Working out every day can lead to injury or overtraining, which keeps your muscles from rebounding and your body from improving.
Fitness: Myths vs. facts —
Scheduling rest days is crucial. Working out every day can lead to injury or overtraining, which keeps your muscles from rebounding and your body from improving.
Getty Images
Research has shown that skipping sleep may lead to weight gain. Even partial sleep deprivation ups production of the hormone ghrelin, which triggers hunger.
Fitness: Myths vs. facts —
Research has shown that skipping sleep may lead to weight gain. Even partial sleep deprivation ups production of the hormone ghrelin, which triggers hunger.
Getty Images
Yoga improves strength and flexibility, but it doesn't burn as many calories as aerobic exercise, researchers say.
Fitness: Myths vs. facts —
Yoga improves strength and flexibility, but it doesn't burn as many calories as aerobic exercise, researchers say.
Getty Images
Women have less muscle tissue and produce lower levels of testosterone than men, so they're less likely to bulk up from lifting weights.
Fitness: Myths vs. facts —
Women have less muscle tissue and produce lower levels of testosterone than men, so they're less likely to bulk up from lifting weights.
Getty Images

My Account
  • Settings
  • Newsletters
  • Topics you follow
  • Sign out
Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account

Live TV Listen Watch
  • World
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia
    • Australia
    • China
    • Europe
    • India
    • Middle East
    • United Kingdom
  • US Politics
    • Trump
    • Facts First
    • CNN Polls
    • Elections 2026
    • Redistricting Tracker
    • Epstein Files
  • Business
    • Tech
    • Media
    • Calculators
    • Videos
  • Markets
    • Pre-markets
    • After-Hours
    • Fear & Greed
    • Investing
    • Markets Now
    • Nightcap
  • Health
    • Life, But Better
    • Fitness
    • Food
    • Sleep
    • Mindfulness
    • Relationships
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Celebrity
  • Tech
    • Innovate
  • Style
    • Arts
    • Design
    • Fashion
    • Architecture
    • Luxury
    • Beauty
    • Video
  • Travel
    • Destinations
    • Food & Drink
    • Stay
    • News
    • Videos
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Motorsport
    • US Sports
    • Olympics
  • Science
    • Space
    • Life
    • Unearthed
  • Climate
    • Solutions
    • Weather
  • Weather
    • Video
    • Climate
  • World Cup 2026
  • Ukraine-Russia War
  • Israel-Hamas War
  • Features
    • As Equals
    • Call to Earth
    • Freedom Project
    • Impact Your World
    • Inside Africa
    • CNN Heroes
  • Watch
    • Live TV
    • Featured
    • CNN Headlines
    • Shows A-Z
    • CNN 10
    • CNN TV Schedule
  • Listen
    • All There Is with Anderson Cooper
    • Chasing Life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta
    • The Assignment with Audie Cornish
    • Terms of Service with Clare Duffy
    • CNN 5 Things
    • All CNN Podcasts
  • Games
    • Daily Crossword
    • Jumble Crossword
    • Photo Shuffle
    • Sudoblock
    • Sudoku
    • 5 Things Quiz
  • About CNN
    • Photos
    • Investigations
    • CNN Profiles
    • CNN Leadership
    • CNN Newsletters
    • Work for CNN

Health
Watch Listen Live TV
My Account
  • Settings
  • Newsletters
  • Topics you follow
  • Sign out
Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account
Follow CNN

Download the CNN app
Download the CNN app

Terms of Use Privacy Policy Ad Choices Accessibility & CC About Newsletters Transcripts

© 2026 Cable News Network. A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All Rights Reserved.
CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network.

Download the CNN app

Scan the QR code to download the CNN app on Google Play.

Scan the QR code to download the CNN app from Google Play.

Download the CNN app

Scan the QR code to download the CNN app from the Apple Store.

Scan the QR code to download the CNN app from the Apple Store.