A wise man once said, “your body is a temple”. You need to be doing everything you can to make sure you’re taking care of your body in order to maintain a healthy and happy life.

There is a lot of pressure to be in tip-top shape this year and with the constant noise on the internet, there are millions of places that give unwanted advice for your health and wellness routine.

Digging through that advice to find what’s right and wrong can be tough. Finding the right workout or healthy meal plan is an uphill battle at times.

It’s not just finding the right and proper information, but it’s wading through all of the information that just flat-out isn’t true. A myth or rumor can start anywhere but once it gains ground, it can be hard to stop.

Below, we’ll talk about some of the biggest myths out there and tell you why you should stop believing them.

“If I work out, I’m going to get really bulky.”

Sorry ladies, this myth is something we hear out of your mouths more often. While the fellas usually are looking at packing on some extra muscle, we often hear women avoid lifting weights because they’re going to get bulky.

That can’t be further from the truth.

Lifting weights can make you bulky, but only if you follow a strict regime both in and out of the gym for months and months. Bicep curls, LAT pulldowns, tricep extensions and more can be incredibly beneficial for your body. Studies show that consistent weight training can increase bone strength and prevent osteoporosis.

“Diet soda is better for me than regular soda.”

This one is pretty easy to debunk because both are terrible for you. Yes, diet soda has fewer calories and sugar than the regular versions. This means you’re not going to be putting on weight and as many harmful chemicals into your body, correct?

The only problem is that diet sodas are loaded with artificial sweeteners which can do plenty of damage to your teeth or stomach lining over a long period of time. If your someone who regularly craves sugar, giving your body impostor sugar is only going to increase your desire for sugar more and more making you more likely to consume more down the road.

“All fat is bad fat.”

You can chalk this one up to the national media and all those health and fitness magazines that encourage you to stay away from fat.

There are three types of fats: saturated, unsaturated, and trans fat. While it is true you don’t want to gorge yourself on fatty foods, there is nothing wrong with eating foods that have fat in them. In fact, your body needs fats to survive.

What you do want to avoid are trans fats, which have absolutely zero health benefits to them. You’re going to find trans fats in fast-food, processed food, and almost any dessert.

“I work out, so I can eat what I want!”

Everyone knows that a good health plan involves working out and eating right. That’s something that’s been known since the dawn of time.

It’s also known that working out equals burning calories. Your body is expending injury while you’re running, playing soccer, or doing yoga. But, that does not mean you can eat whatever you want.

It is true that a consistent workout plan and eating schedule, your metabolism will increase and you’re naturally going to want to eat more food. But that doesn’t mean you get a free pass on everything.

The average Oreo cookie has 50 calories in each. If you eat four cookies, you’ve consumed 200 calories. That doesn’t seem like a lot, but it takes the average person about 45-60 minutes of running to burn through 200 calories.

So, if you “reward” yourself by eating Oreos after a workout then you’ve likely just undone your entire workout. Be smart and eat healthy instead.

“I feel great, I don’t need to go to a doctor.”

Going to the doctor is never the most fun thing in the world with all the waiting and old magazines. But heading to the doctor on a regular basis is great for your long-term health.

With regular checkups, you can be sure that nothing is wrong with you. While you may feel perfectly fine, a doctor might tell you if there is some underlying problem or issue.

This extends to all doctors, including dentists or eye doctors. It’s imperative to make sure you’re getting checked up on a regular basis.