8 Fitness Myths Stopping You From Getting Ripped

Hitting the gym regularly but not getting that buff body? You might need to change things up. Learning to discern fact from fiction (e.g. not believing everything you watch on TikTok or YouTube) is crucial to achieving your goals. Read below for a list of common fitness myths that may be messing with the results of your workouts.

Sure, there are pros to working out early in the morning: You’re starting from 100%, assuming you’ve slept well and are well-rested. You can tick off the task early in the day without worrying that you might be too tired to exercise later.

But exercising in the morning doesn’t mean you’ll burn more – it doesn’t make your workout any more effective. Any time of the day is okay, but don’t do it too close to bedtime so you can give your body adequate rest.  

You can also try to schedule your workouts around your meals. Timing is key! A study on nutrient timing cites the practice of consuming a pre-exercise meal one to two hours before working out to maximize training performance, especially if the goal is to increase muscle.

Pain after a workout is not an indicator that you’re doing well. Feeling sore, on the other hand, can be expected. Usually, you feel slightly sore after exercising (called delayed onset muscle soreness or DOMS) because your body’s still adjusting, or you need to fix your form or change your technique.

Over time, you’ll be able to do more reps with ease. Your workouts will also feel more effortless as you improve your form. These are better measures of a good workout other than muscle soreness.  

Six-pack abs are any man’s pride and joy, but this can’t be achieved with crunches alone. Crunches target the rectus abdominis or the top layer of your ab muscles (a.k.a. your six-pack), but don’t neglect the other areas that make up your core muscles. Russian twists, side planks, or side bends are also necessary for toned abs that look good from all angles.

Keep your focus and be disciplined with your workout plan but take rest days and allow your body to recover, too. This isn’t Physical 100. IRL, you might end up not being able to train at all if you overdo it and end up hurting yourself. Get a full six to eight hours of sleep to help your body produce hormones that stimulate muscle growth and repair.

If you want a leaner, tighter body, you need to cut back before you can gain muscles. Unfortunately, you can’t offset that burger-and-fries binge with longer hours of exercise the next day. Maintain a calorie deficit consistently (read: burn more than you consume) – and don't just work out longer for one session to make up for a night of poor food choices.

A pro tip? Amp your routine for the day with 10 minutes of HIIT to help you burn more calories than usual.

Static stretches like bending over for your fingers to reach your toes can help with flexibility, but dynamic stretches as part of a warm-up can wake your body up. Try arm circles, shoulder rolls, walking lunges, leg swings, and high knees before exercising. The goal is to mobilize your joints and get your blood flowing to avoid pulling a muscle or overextending yourself.

More sweat, more calories burned? Nah, that isn’t always the case. You may be sweating more because it’s too warm at your gym, your clothing isn’t moist-wicking, or maybe you’re just pawisin. At the same time, you might leave an airconditioned gym with hardly a drop of sweat – but that doesn’t also mean you didn’t work out well.

Remember that burning more calories brings you a step closer to getting ripped, but it doesn’t guarantee a chiseled physique – yet. Trimming down and losing excess weight can help you build muscles later on as you resistance-train for a swole body.

You might fool yourself into thinking that all you need are rock-hard muscles, shredded abs, toned limbs, and that V-shaped torso – and your job’s done. Goodbye, gym membership! Maintenance and consistency are key and don’t forget, it’s about the lifestyle. Staying strong, eating right, getting enough sleep, and managing stress all play a part in being truly fit.

Take care of your skin and give it a thorough cleanse post-workout. Don’t think you can get away with washing your face with water and whatever soap bar is available. Try Dove Men+Care Deep Clean Body + Face Bar, which delivers a deep, refreshing wash without leaving your skin feeling tight and dry.

Make that extra step with Dove Men+Care Deodorant Spray Extra Fresh, which gives 48-hour sweat and odor protection. Its formulation is alcohol-free and non-irritating and has moisturizing cream to help soothe the skin, keeping you comfortable and fresh.

Health is wealth and it’s always worth your energy and time. If anything, these fitness myths only prove that there are no shortcuts to achieving a beastly body. It takes real. hard. work. A fit (and ripped) body requires a holistic approach that encompasses your daily life choices – do you reach out for that burger or the barbell? The choice is yours.