Skip to main content
5 min read

Five Mythological Fables Concerning Exercise

Tomasz Jankowski
Tomasz Jankowski ✓
Diets Premium Expert • 22.03.2026
✓
Scientifically reviewed by a clinical dietitian: This article has been peer-reviewed for adherence to IŻŻ, WHO, and PTGiP clinical nutritional standards.
Diets Premium Expert Tomasz Jankowski min read 5 min Scientifically reviewed by a clinical dietitian 22.03.2026
Five Mythological Fables Concerning Exercise

Smart Voice

•

Listen to the article content live

0:00 / 0:00
Key Takeaways
Anyone who visits the gym has had the chance to hear some untrue tales about training. Some of them make more sense, some less, and others are utterly nonsensical. I will present to you the mythical fables that I consider to be the most popular and frequently repeated. We will see who believes them and why they should stop immediately.
Meal Plan

Want to apply these guidelines in your daily diet?

Our smart diet generator creates a tailored meal plan in 3 minutes based on the recommendations in this article.

Knees extending beyond the toes during squatting

This myth, I am not sure why, has been repeated for many years. People who think this way have always tried to convince others that performing exercises with knees extending beyond the toes is the biggest sin that a person can commit in a gym. But that is not true. In reality, people often damage their natural movement patterns during the execution of squats, so that the knees do not go beyond the toes, which leads to incorrect execution of the exercise. The disposition to perform squats arises mainly from the biomechanics of the body. Bone proportions do have an impact on the way a squat is executed. In almost every athlete who trains Olympic weightlifting, which consists mainly of snatch and clean, the knees extend beyond the toe line during a full squat. So where did this myth come from? In a study conducted in 2003, the knee load was studied during the execution of a standard squat when the knee crosses the toe line and when the knee does not cross the toe line. It was discovered that the knee carries a greater load when it crosses the toe line, but another very important relationship was also discovered. The hips during a squat, in which the knee does not cross the toe line, take on 1070% (!) more work. It is clear that such an overload of the knees is not significant in comparison to the overload that occurs in the hips. People often forget that each type of squat requires a different setting of hips, knees, and ankles.

A woman engaging in strength training will not acquire a masculine appearance

This is complete nonsense. Women often avoid strength training because they believe it will make them look more masculine. Most often, the problem lies in the fact that such a woman saw a picture of a bodybuilder using doping substances somewhere and immediately thinks that this will happen after starting strength training. No, this is not true! The amount of muscle mass mainly depends on the amount of anabolic hormones a person has, mainly testosterone. Men produce about 10 times more testosterone than women, so if a woman does not use doping substances, her muscle mass will never be too large. It is physiologically impossible. Below is a table in which the difference in the rate of muscle mass gain in women and men is presented.

Every kilogram of muscle tissue burns roughly 12-20 calories a day

Although many individuals believe that every kilogram of muscle burns 50 calories per day, research indicates otherwise. It is evident that the more muscle mass a person has, the more calories they require to maintain their metabolic processes. Nevertheless, research shows that every kilogram of muscle tissue increases the calorie requirement by about 12-20 calories. This means that individuals with more muscle mass produce more energy during intense physical exertion. Therefore, building muscle is advantageous for those who want to maintain their weight or reduce excess weight.

"Simultaneous muscle mass gain and fat loss is not achievable"

This is not entirely correct! However, there are certain conditions that must be met. You must belong to one of the following groups: - Overweight or obese individuals with sedentary lifestyles who are starting training, - Individuals over 50 years of age who are just starting training, - People who are just starting training. To gain muscle mass, you need a caloric surplus, while reducing fat requires a negative caloric balance. But what does it look like in reality? If you belong to one of the above groups, there is a possibility that your body will utilize stored energy in the form of fat as fuel for muscle building. However, this does not mean that the body is capable of converting fat into muscle or vice versa. Research shows that individuals with a lot of fat and little muscle mass are more likely to simultaneously gain muscle mass and reduce fat. However, this does not mean that overweight is a prerequisite for this.

Wishing to increase muscle mass? It is necessary to perform a range of 8 to 12 repetitions

One may have heard of such concepts as metabolic stress, muscle destruction and mechanical muscle tension in the form of TUT (time under tension). These main factors are responsible for muscle growth or hypertrophy. Mechanical stress is the main driving force behind muscle growth, and muscle damage and metabolic tension are just its physiological effects. Therefore, lifting smaller weights (70%CM) to muscular development. This means that the number of sets, number of repetitions, and the weight used in these exercises influence the positions that affect the mass. It is important to design our training programs in such a way that we take into account heavy exercises in the range of 1-3 repetitions and lighter weights in the range of 10-15 repetitions. Our medium-term training plans should be designed in such a way that they take into account heavy lifting and light accumulation over the course of a year.

Tags

mgr Tomasz Jankowski

mgr Tomasz Jankowski

✓

Diets Premium Expert

Diets Premium team expert. Specializes in nutrition plans, strength sports, and training plans.

View Profile →
Recommended articles in this category

Related Articles

Discover similar publications and expert insights.

Nutritional Division – Resist the Temptations!
Nutrition
Nutritional Division – Resist the Temptations!
⏱ 3 min czytania 📚 Nutrition
#Nutrition #Soup
5 Optimal Rules for Reduction
Nutrition
5 Optimal Rules for Reduction
⏱ 4 min czytania 📚 Nutrition
#Pea
Vegetable preserves – manufacturing process, advantages and disadvantages
Vegetables
Vegetable preserves – manufacturing process, advantages and disadvantages
⏱ 4 min czytania 📚 Vegetables
#Vegetable #Sauce
Vitamin A Deficiency and Its Adverse Health Impacts
Pea
Vitamin A Deficiency and Its Adverse Health Impacts
⏱ 2 min czytania
#Pea #Pear
Nutritional Approach to Psoriasis: Anti-Inflammatory Principles
Nutrition
Nutritional Approach to Psoriasis: Anti-Inflammatory Principles
⏱ 6 min czytania 📚 Nutrition
#Nutrition #Tuna
4 Most Significant Exercises for Back Muscles
Upper Body
4 Most Significant Exercises for Back Muscles
⏱ 3 min czytania
#Upper Body #Pea
Musk Pumpkin – Features and Cultivation
Nutrition
Musk Pumpkin – Features and Cultivation
⏱ 5 min czytania 📚 Nutrition
#Cream #Pasta
Pear-Shaped Muscle Syndrome
Pear
Pear-Shaped Muscle Syndrome
⏱ 2 min czytania
#Pear
Green Legumes – Characteristics and Applications
Legumes And Health
Green Legumes – Characteristics and Applications
⏱ 3 min czytania
#Legumes And Health #Nutritional Properties
Couch Grass Rhizome (Elytrigia repens) – Therapeutic Properties and Applications in Phytotherapy
Peach
Couch Grass Rhizome (Elytrigia repens) – Therapeutic Properties and Applications in Phytotherapy
⏱ 4 min czytania
#Peach #Spread
Avocado – Properties and Health Benefits. How to Identify a Ripe Fruit? Ways to Speed Up Ripening
Salads
Avocado – Properties and Health Benefits. How to Identify a Ripe Fruit? Ways to Speed Up Ripening
⏱ 3 min czytania
#Salads #Fatty Acids
Avocado Cultivated in the Warm Regions of Central and South America
Fatty Acids
Avocado Cultivated in the Warm Regions of Central and South America
⏱ 3 min czytania
#Fatty Acids #Avocado
The Significance of Peanut Butter for Health and Diet
Peanut Butter
The Significance of Peanut Butter for Health and Diet
⏱ 2 min czytania
#Peanut Butter #Snack Food
Prickly Pear – Characteristics, Properties, Uses
Health Benefits
Prickly Pear – Characteristics, Properties, Uses
⏱ 6 min czytania
#Health Benefits #Nutritional Value
Advantages and Disadvantages of Consuming Avocado
Fruit Preparation
Advantages and Disadvantages of Consuming Avocado
⏱ 4 min czytania
#Fruit Preparation #High In Fat
Medicinal Properties of Cloves – Toothache, Sore Throat, Parasites, and Immunity
Compote
Medicinal Properties of Cloves – Toothache, Sore Throat, Parasites, and Immunity
⏱ 4 min czytania
#Compote #Pear
Hairless Nectarines
Pregnancy & Motherhood
Hairless Nectarines
⏱ 3 min czytania 📚 Pregnancy & Motherhood
#Peaches #Vitamins
Dragon fruit (pitaya) - properties, application, flavor
Strawberry
Dragon fruit (pitaya) - properties, application, flavor
⏱ 3 min czytania
#Strawberry #Superfood
Low-Sugar Peach Jam
Nutrition
Low-Sugar Peach Jam
⏱ 2 min czytania 📚 Nutrition
#Antioxidant #Peach
Essential Pear
Fluid Balance
Essential Pear
⏱ 2 min czytania
#Fluid Balance #Balance
Homemade peanut butter – comprehensive ingredient breakdown and a step-by-step preparation guide
Food Science
Homemade peanut butter – comprehensive ingredient breakdown and a step-by-step preparation guide
⏱ 4 min czytania 📚 Food Science
#Nutrient-Rich #Peanut Butter
Peanuts (Arachis hypogaea): Botanical Classification, Nutritional Profile, and Health Benefits
Food & Ingredients
Peanuts (Arachis hypogaea): Botanical Classification, Nutritional Profile, and Health Benefits
⏱ 2 min czytania 📚 Food & Ingredients
#Versatile Ingredient #Confectionery
Prickly Pear (Opuntia ficus-indica): Botanical Profile, Health Benefits, and Nutritional Applications
Food & Ingredients
Prickly Pear (Opuntia ficus-indica): Botanical Profile, Health Benefits, and Nutritional Applications
⏱ 5 min czytania 📚 Food & Ingredients
#Traditional Medicine #Bioactive Compounds
Cardioprotective Evidence for Routine Peanut Butter Intake: Lipid Dynamics and Clinical Recommendations
Food Science
Cardioprotective Evidence for Routine Peanut Butter Intake: Lipid Dynamics and Clinical Recommendations
⏱ 1 min czytania 📚 Food Science
#Cardiovascular Health #Peanut Butter
The Unexpected Benefits of Peanuts: Why Their Consumption Does Not Cause Weight Gain Despite High Caloric Density
Food & Ingredients
The Unexpected Benefits of Peanuts: Why Their Consumption Does Not Cause Weight Gain Despite High Caloric Density
⏱ 1 min czytania 📚 Food & Ingredients
#Calorie Content #Caloric Content
The prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) – a remarkable exotic fruit boasting distinctive flavor and nutritional benefits that deserves a place in your travel culinary experiences
Nutritional Benefits
The prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) – a remarkable exotic fruit boasting distinctive flavor and nutritional benefits that deserves a place in your travel culinary experiences
⏱ 2 min czytania
#Nutritional Benefits #Culinary Traditions
Pine Nuts (Pignolias) – Nutritional Characteristics, Sourcing, and Culinary Substitutes
Food & Ingredients
Pine Nuts (Pignolias) – Nutritional Characteristics, Sourcing, and Culinary Substitutes
⏱ 4 min czytania 📚 Food & Ingredients
#Nutritional Properties #Bioactive Compounds
Quince: Ten Key Health Benefits and Therapeutic Properties to Discover
Health Benefits
Quince: Ten Key Health Benefits and Therapeutic Properties to Discover
⏱ 3 min czytania
#Health Benefits #Nutritional Properties
Spirits in an Athlete's Diet
Spirits in an Athlete's Diet
⏱ 3 min czytania
Diversity for Tea - Suggestions for Warming Drinks
Nutrition
Diversity for Tea - Suggestions for Warming Drinks
⏱ 4 min czytania 📚 Nutrition

Share