Jon-Erik Kawamoto and Thomas King are registered kinesiologist and strength and conditioning specialist, and owners of JKConditioning, in St. John’s, N.L. They say you don’t need endless cardio to lose weight. ContributedArticle contentIn a world where there is so much misinformation and disinformation, especially on topics concerning health, it can be difficult to know exactly what the truth is.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentThis is where Thomas King and Jon Kawamoto come in. They’re strength and conditioning coaches and certified kinesiologists at JKConditioning.com, a personalized group training company in St. John’s, NL.Article contentArticle contentArticle contentMany of us have ingrained truths about fitness, but have we ever stopped to wonder if they are true? Here, Kawamoto and King tackle some of the most common fitness myths.Article contentMyth: Lifting weights will make you bulkyArticle contentThis one comes up a lot, especially with people who are newer to the gym, they say.Article contentThe truth is, getting “bulky” takes a very specific training program, years of dedication, and usually a nutrition plan designed to support muscle growth.Article contentFor most people, lifting weights will actually make you look leaner, stronger, and more defined — not bulky.Article content“Strength training helps with things like bone health, posture, and overall fitness, so there’s really no downside,” he added.Article content No pain, no gain is not all that it’s cracked up to be. Listen to your body, as pain is usually your body telling you something isn’t right. ContributedArticle contentMyth: Doing lots of core exercises will burn belly fatArticle contentIt’s a common belief that if you just do enough sit-ups or planks, your stomach will flatten out.Article contentUnfortunately, our bodies don’t really work that way. You can’t “spot reduce” fat in one specific area. Core exercises are still important — they build strength, stability, and protect your back — but losing belly fat has more to do with overall activity, nutrition, and consistency than hammering away at crunches.Article contentArticle contentArticle contentMyth: Sweating means you’re burning more caloriesArticle contentIt’s easy to assume that if you’re drenched in sweat, you must have torched a ton of calories.Article contentThe truth is, sweat is just your body’s way of cooling itself down, not a direct measure of how hard you’re working. Some people sweat more than others, and even things like temperature and humidity play a role.Article contentA good workout isn’t measured by how soaked your shirt gets, but by the effort and consistency you put in.Article contentMyth: No pain, no gainArticle contentWe’ve all heard this one before, and while pushing yourself can be part of progress, pain isn’t the goal. Discomfort from working hard — like your muscles burning a bit during the last reps — is different from sharp or lingering pain.
St. John’s trainers explain the truth behind common fitness myths
