Clear up these common misconceptions for a more productive workout!

What you don’t know about fitness and exercise can hurt you and interfere with your weight loss and fitness goals. In this article, we have tackled the 5 biggest fitness myths for women and the truth behind them. For a safer workout with awesome results, forget everything you thought you knew about exercise. Read on to get your fitness facts right.

MYTH #1:

 Lifting weights will bulk you up

FACT: Actually, it can slim you down. Women who lift a challenging weight for eight reps burn nearly twice as many calories as women who do 15 reps with lighter dumbbells, according to a study published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.

MYTH #2:

 You can target your fat burning area

FACT: Working out can reduce your overall body fat, but you can’t control where that fat comes from. In a new study published in Journal of Strength & Conditioning, 11 people completed a 12-week exercise program to train a single leg. Even though they only trained on one side, they lost about the same amount of body fat in each leg—and burned even more body fat above the waist.

MYTH #3:

 You shouldn’t workout on an empty stomach

FACT: Your body burns more fat when you hit the gym before you eat breakfast. Just don’t skimp on water before, during or after.

MYTH #4:

 Sweating means you are out of shape

FACT:  The fitter you are, the sooner your body begins to sweat, so a person who’s in extremely good shape will produce more sweat than somebody who isn’t. With each workout, you will notice that you will sweat more.

MYTH #5:

 Doing crunches and ab workouts will get rid of belly fat

FACT: In order to burn fat, you should create a workout that includes both cardiovascular and strength-training elements. This will decrease your overall body fat content, including the area around your midsection. Hence Myth #2 where you cannot target your fat burning area.