Myth About Sit-Ups

I saw something in the Chicago Tribune last month that really caught my eye.  It was an article called Muscling Past Fitness Myths.

This is the part that interested me:

"Some fitness myths are harmless half-truths. Others, however, scare people away from working out or lead to injury. The spot-reduction myth -- which holds that you can, for example, flatten your stomach by doing crunches -- wastes time, effort and can even add size to your middle. Ab exercises can strengthen muscles. But they don't remove fat because from a metabolic standpoint, fat isn't connected to the muscle it covers."

So there you go.  I don't have to do sit ups.  Granted, I haven't done sit-ups since college so no harm done.

So how do you get rid of that tummy?

Another myth about sitting for long periods being OK if you exercise also got my attention.  It said:

"Myth: You can sit for long periods if you exercise.

Truth: Unfortunately, you can't exercise away the effects of sitting for 10 hours at your desk, said Alex Hutchinson, author of "Which Comes First, Cardio or Weights?" Long stretches of sitting are associated with cardiovascular disease, independent of how much exercise you get.
Try it: Get up at least once every hour; pace around your desk or do five jumping jacks to remind your muscles that you're not dead."

Yes, I've read and heard that you shouldn't sit at your desk, computer, whatever for long periods.  I have to be careful because I have been doing a lot of work on the computer.  I'm making more of an effort now to get up and move around.

I went to Zumba last Friday despite the fact that I was really tired.  However, Art is right.  It was a good tired.

I'm imagining my son reading this and I can see him smiling.  He's been on my case to  get more exercise for a long time. You see, Jon?  I'm trying.  I'm trying.