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 May 4, 2026, 10:34:53 AM

# 31 Fitness Myths I Used to Believe (and What's Actually True)

![Picture of Dennis - Move Republic](https://blog.moverepublic.com/hs-fs/hubfs/DL_600x600.png?width=50&name=DL_600x600.png) [ Dennis - Move Republic ](https://blog.moverepublic.com/en/author/dennis-mysports-rewards)

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31 fitness myths I believed (and what's really true)

2:59

1. **Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.**
   
     - For some it is, for others not necessarily.
2. **Intermittent fasting is best for burning fat.**
   
     - It is primarily about reducing calories, not about fasting itself.
3. **Eating before going to bed makes you fat.**
   
     - Not directly, but it can make your sleep worse.
4. **You need food supplements.**
   
     - Not necessarily; a good lifestyle usually covers everything. Exception: creatine.
5. **Carbohydrates make you fat.**
   
     - No, you can also be slim on a high-carb diet.
6. **Full-body training is less effective than split training.**
   
     - Arnold Schwarzenegger has proven the opposite.
7. **You always have to train to muscle failure.**
   
     - Often leads to overload.
8. **Never train to muscle failure.**
   
     - Sometimes important to get to know your limits.
9. **Eating within 60 minutes of training is essential.**
   
     - The total intake counts, not the exact time.
10. **You must eat every 3-4 hours.**

- Frequency is not important as long as calories and nutrients are correct.

1. **Calorie counting is essential for success.**

- It can help, but is not a must if you know your eating habits.

1. **Eating protein at night improves muscle growth.**

- Quality of sleep is more important than eating at night.

1. **BCAAs are crucial for muscle growth.**

- More of a marketing strategy than necessary.

1. **Over an hour of training is necessary.**

- Short, intense sessions work very well.

1. **No progress without sore muscles.**

- Muscle soreness is not an indicator of effective training.

1. **No muscle training on two consecutive days.**

- Can be effective if dosed correctly.

1. **Muscle building only works with heavy weights.**

- Lighter weights and many repetitions also work.

1. **Self-weight training is less effective.**

- Very effective if done correctly.

1. **Walking does nothing.**

- Studies show that it improves your health enormously.

1. **Cardio prevents muscle growth.**

- Can be complementary, not mutually exclusive.

1. **Machines are ineffective for strength training.**

- Best for targeted muscle groups and beginners.

1. **Diet and training are more important than sleep.**

- Sleep is at least as important.

1. **Super restrictive diets work long term.**

- Are the main reason why many fail.

1. **All sugar is bad.**

- It's the dose that counts.

1. **Only weak people lack motivation.**

- Motivation is complex and fluctuates naturally.

1. **No discipline means you lack willpower.**

- Changing behavior is complex and not just a matter of willpower.

1. **Artificial sweeteners are always harmful.**

- Problematic for some, not for others.

1. **Good and bad foods make sense.**

- This black and white thinking doesn't help anyone in the long term.

1. **HIIT is mandatory for fat loss.**

- Effective, but not essential.

1. **Social health does not influence physical health.**

- Wrong: social connections are essential for your health.

1. **Emotional and mental health does not affect physical health.**

- Emotions and psyche are strongly linked to physical health.

### Why honesty always wins

Admitting mistakes only costs your ego. Stubbornness costs confidence and success. Every mistake makes us smarter and better.

Sources

- Walker, M. (2017). "Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams."
- Schoenfeld, B.J. et al. (2013). "Meal Frequency and Weight Loss: A Systematic Review."
- Aragon, A.A., Schoenfeld, B.J. (2013). "Nutrient Timing Revisited: Is There a Post-Exercise Anabolic Window?"
- Slater, G., Phillips, S.M. (2011). "Nutrition guidelines for strength sports: sprinting, weightlifting, throwing events, and bodybuilding."
- Harvard Medical School. "Walking for Health."
- Holt-Lunstad, J. (2010). "Social Relationships and Mortality Risk: A Meta-analytic Review."
- World Health Organization (WHO). "Mental health: strengthening our response."

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