Popular diet and exercise myths debunked!

As anyone who's tried to start a new diet or fitness routine knows, there's plenty of information out there on how to get started. While some of it's helpful, a lot of simply isn't true. The website Medical News Today sat down with two experts -- Julie Bender, a dietitian with Baylor University Medical Center, and Phil Tyne, director of Baylor's Health and Wellness Center -- to set the record straight on some popular misconceptions.

Among the false assumptions many people have are "crunches will get rid of your belly fat." According to Tyne, "you can't pick and chose areas where you'd like to burn fat." Instead, you should be creating a workout that decreases your overall body fat content -- combining both cardiovascular and strength training elements. You also may have heard that "stretching before exercise is crucial." As a matter of fact, some studies have suggested that stretching actually increases your muscles' susceptibility to injury.

In general, don't start any new routine based on assumptions. Gather information from multiple sources, talk to people who are experts in the field, and create your diet and exercise schedule based on facts -- not myths.