Debunking Fitness Myths: Mind Pump’s No-Nonsense Approach
Feb 21, 2025 mindpumpThe fitness industry runs on myths and misinformation. And the unfortunate public is drowning in it. Think of Mind Pump as a life raft. If you’re tired of treading water… grab on.
Mind Pump’s goal is to cut through the nonsense and lies that are keeping people from getting healthy. Most people in the space want to create a problem so they can sell you a solution. Mind Pump started because they were sick of that. They just wanted everyone to have access to evidence-based and proven methods to health and fitness. Over the years, they’ve busted many myths. Here are some of the top ones:
Myth: To Be Healthy and Strong, Fitness Has to Be Your Identity
You don’t need to wear Gym Shark clothing, spend every Sunday meal prepping, and adopt a #NoDaysOff attitude toward life in order to be fit. Being healthy doesn’t have to be your newest passion. You can live your normal life and focus on what you actually like, and health and fitness can simply exist in the periphery. The gym doesn’t need to be your love language. You don’t have to dream about barbells and bench press. A few new habits and behaviors are all it takes to improve your strength, body composition, health, and longevity. Simply put, you don’t need to be a “fitness-person” to be a fit person.
Myth: Fit People Have All the Answers
Just because someone is in shape doesn’t mean they have all the answers. Muscle size is determined by many variables, including genetics, diet, and training, but none of these have anything to do with trustworthiness or the accuracy of advice. Be wary of taking fitness advice from someone who claims to have the ultimate answer or the “only way” to get results. Intelligent individuals worth listening to don’t sound like they’re preaching or selling. They approach information with a foundation of evidence, and they’re open to being wrong as new data emerges. If someone is trying too hard to convince you that their method is the only way, take a step back and evaluate whether they’re genuinely helping or just selling you something.
Myth: Supplements Make a Huge Difference
The effectiveness of supplements is exaggerated. Some may have fringe benefits, but the vast majority of bottles on the shelves of GNC won’t give you the results they promise.
Supplements can be helpful in certain situations, like filling in gaps in your diet or addressing a specific deficiency caught by bloodwork. Protein and creatine goals are often hard to reach for many people, and supplementing these two things can make a lot of sense in that context. But the blanket statement that supplements make people healthy is misleading.
Myth: The Gym is a Judgmental Place
Contrary to the belief that gyms are unfriendly or intimidating spaces, they are often very accepting environments where people support each other in their health and fitness goals. This misconception can prevent individuals from starting their fitness journey or relying on expensive personal training packages to feel safe getting started. In reality, gym-goers are focused on their own progress, not judging others. It’s a place for personal growth, community building, and exercise. From my years (and Mind Pump’s) on the gym floor, I can’t remember a single time where a new gym member was met with hostility or judgment. And if a case ever occurs, it’s an outlier. And in that rare scenario, I’m certain one of the many kind and compassionate members of the gym would step up and have your back.
Myth: Intensity is the Key to Results
There’s a romanticized notion that you need to train with The Rock level intensity to see results. That’s not true!
To build muscle, your body just needs a reason to adapt. But here’s the thing: it doesn’t need much. Let’s say your baseline strength is being able to lift five pounds. If I now instructed you to lift six pounds, you would stimulate a positive adaptation (strength gains, muscle growth, etc.). Small, gradual progressions like this are all it takes to make progress! That’s not an opinion or a training philosophy that can be debated. It’s basic physiology that is most often ignored by people in the industry.
Myth: Cardio is the Best Weight Loss Tool
Cardio is often hailed as the best way to lose weight, but in reality, it shouldn’t be a weight loss tool at all. Cardio should primarily be used to improve cardiovascular health, not as the main method for burning fat. The true drivers of weight loss are a proper diet and muscle building. A balanced diet that supports fat loss and muscle growth, paired with strength training to build muscle mass, is far more effective than relying solely on cardio. Muscle mass increases your resting metabolic rate, helping you burn more calories at rest. While cardio is beneficial for overall health, it shouldn’t be your primary focus when trying to lose weight. Instead, focus on muscle building and creating a calorie deficit through dietary adjustments.
