3 Weightlifting Myths That Must Be Debunked

I’m into lifting heavy stuff. On this journey of strength I’ve heard people say : “ Oh no, you shouldn’t lift weights because it will stunt your growth.”  My bullshit detector immediately beeped.

I’ve heard many myths about weight training being thrown around. It sometimes ticks me off to see people tarnishing the beautiful deadlift.

Today I will cast a few common myths into depths of Mount Doom, never to be heard again.

Myth 1. Lifting weights makes you a dwarf.

People think that weight training stunts your growth. I have no idea where this myth came from but I can bet my bacon on this that it doesn’t stunt your growth(I love bacon,so it’s a big bet on the line).

Look at Shaq O’ Neil, Karl Malone and David Robinson. They all started some form of weight training at a young age and look how tall they are. Not to mention Arnold Schwarzenegger the HUGE Austrian Oak started lifting at 14 and he is taller than many people I know who doesn’t lift weights.

I also hear is that you will only get short if you lift weights overhead. Next time your hear someone saying this, ask them how much shouldn’t you lift overhead. They probably won’t have an answer.

So if I press a pencil overhead will I get stunted? Heck no! This is because of something called the SAID principle. It states that our body adapt to the stress imposed on it. That is why the pencil ain’t going to stunt our growth. As long as you have sufficient thoracic extension, scapula range of motion and don’t try to press 500lbs on your first attempt overhead pressing will make you pretty bad ass. 

Myth 2. Lifting weights is not fucntional

“OH MY GOD, WON’T YOU GET BIG,BULKY AND SLOW?” This is what I hear as well. What about your functionality? Why not do some more functional training? *Birds Chirping*

First up, I hate the phrase functional training. It’s thrown around so much that the world functional loses its function. Moreover people have different ideas of what functional training is. So it’s hard to tell what others mean by “functional” training.

Do you think Usian Bolt broke the world record without lifting weights? Look at NFL players, I bet they can beat you in a sprint with their hands while running backwards. They all lifted weights and I don’t see how they are not “functional”.

If all else fails tell them the function of weight training is to pack on muscle. Screw functional training!  If you want huge guns, the bicep curl is a functional exercise. Yes I said it, the bicep curl is functional. <—- Tweet This

MYTH 3. TONING

I get this all the time. Lifting heavy weights helps you build big muscle while lifting cute pink mini dumbbells would give you the long, lean muscles of a dancer.

This is not true, 100 reps with light weights will not give you tone muscles.

Lifting heavy weights for lower repetition will build muscle. However higher reps with light weight will not tone your muscles. To actually have that “toned” look you need to build some muscle and lose fat. The fat is actually the layer that prevent your muscle from looking defined. In the words of others “toned”.

Doing any thing above 15 repetition is usually considered endurance work. You might grow a small amount of muscle if you have never lifted anything above 5lbs but it’s mainly endurance work . It’s like going for a walk, but a walk beats doing 100 bicep curls with 5lbs. Plus lifting 5lbs 100 reps 3 times a week makes you look like an idiot.

To get “tone” you need to grow some muscles using a relatively heavy weight, then shed those fat with proper diet and nutrition.

BONUS MYTH:  SHE HULK HERE I COME!

Lifting weights does not make women look bulky. Women lack the testosterone to actually grow the same amount of muscle mass as us dudes. Besides if everyone could pack on muscles so easily, the shake weight would be everyone’s preferred exercise equipment.

Just take a look at the girls from GirlsGoneStrong. They are all strong as hell, but they do not look like a she-hulk. The bottom line is, girls if you want to lift weights don’t be afraid of lifting big.

If you need more persuasion read this awesome article by Neghar Fonooni. Then check the blogs of these awesome people:  Sirena Bernal, Marianne Kane and for those who want something dance related check out Monika Volkmar.

These are just a couple of myths I have heard. If any of these are the reasons why you are not lifting then it’s time to start kicking ass.

P/S: If haters still gonna hate just say : “DO YOU EVEN LIFT?”

Alright, I hope I’ve cleared the air a little. What are some of the myths you heard but I’ve not included? Drop them in the comments and then share this post to show the world you lift 😉

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