You really can't have a well-rounded fitness plan without including at least some strength training and although in and of itself it's a pretty simple concept, there are an amazing number of misconceptions out there regarding how to do things and what is and what isn't effective in building and maintaining muscle. Alive.com is looking to help us all clear up some of those misconceptions, though, with their list of the 7 biggest muscle myths.

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Just yesterday I caught an old episode of the popular Discovery Channel show Myth Busters. In the ten minutes that I watched, I saw the hosts try to dispel the myth that if someone holds onto too many balloons, they will be lifted off of their feet and soar into the sky. I wish I could tell you how it turned out, but I had to hit the gym so I never saw the end. But, my dash for the gym, coupled with what I had just watched on TV, led me to think of the following:

FITNESS MYTH BUSTERS!!

It's all too often that people hear things, or read things, or hear things that other people have read, etc. about what constitutes a healthy diet and exercise program. Other times people just kind of wing it, doing their best to make it up as they go along. Is that the right way? Wait -- IS there a right way? Or are all the things we've heard that people do to get in shape merely things of myth? Ahhh -- let's find out!!

MYTH #1 - I Want to Lose Weight in My Stomach, So I'm Going to do Some Ab Exercises

Sorry, but you can't lose weight or inches only from a specific area on your body. While it is possible to tighten and tone that area, body fat cannot be "spot reduced," but will instead peel off of you in an even fashion with proper diet and full-body exercise. Abdominal exercises would certainly help tone the muscles in your midsection, but they really won't do much to help you lose weight.

Like the popular series Mythbusters, BBC program The Truth About Food dispels mysteries and rumors, only on this show, they focus on the nutritional side of life. Recently, the program put their segments online and now all of your burning food questions are easily answered with the click of a button. Have you ever wondered:

• Is my metabolism to blame for my weight?
• Does detox work?
• Can omega3s reduce you stress levels?
• Do aphrodisiacs really work?
• Can changing your diet give your gut a makeover?
• Is TV really to blame for making us fat?

And many, many more. You'll need RealPlayer or Windows Media Player to view the clips, but I highly recommend checking the site out for a closer look at these interesting and highly entertaining clips.

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