Exercise is more complicated than most people think. Walking downstairs into the Dedman Center for Lifetime Sports can be intimidating if you don’t feel like you know what you’re doing.

There are a wide variety of machines that look like a combination of playground equipment and medieval torture devices, which can heighten a person’s worry. Not to mention, there’s everyone else who have mastered the ability to look like they know what they’re doing as they expertly lift, run and stretch their way to their fitness goals.

Working out can be dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing. There is potential for serious injury if you are working out incorrectly. You can also put significant strain on your body if you begin to overwork specific muscles.

Some of us are fortunate and have been taught how to exercise properly, but many people are flying blind or are just trying to copy those around them to avoid the potential embarrassment of asking for help.

Not knowing how to exercise properly can hinder your fitness goals and may result in injury. Here is a breakdown of a few common misconceptions about exercise that happen at the gym everyday.

Abdominal exercises will get me the six-pack I want because I will be burning fat in that area

Working your abdominal muscles is a great way to strengthen the muscles in your core. Exercises that work your abdominal muscles will strengthen them, but it doesn’t burn the fat off in that area. It is not possible to burn fat in one particular area of your body. Strengthening muscles is important, but the results only show when coupled with cardio sessions. Doing cardio sessions along with weight training will get you the results you desire.

Strength training will cause me to bulk up

This is the most common misconception among women. Lots of girls believe that lifting weights will cause them to get big and look bulky. This myth causes lots of girls to shy away from strength training. Lifting weights does not cause women to get bigger or bulk up; instead it can help women get the lean, toned limbs they desire. Lifting weights has other health benefits besides improving people’s appearances. Strength training can help prevent disease like diabetes and reduce the risk for stroke and heart attacks.

Doing the same form of exercise is best

Doing the same exercise everyday is not good for you and will not yield the best results. Lots of people go to the gym and have pattern that they do everyday. This is not the best method to lose weight or improve your fitness. In fact, doing the same exercise everyday, like running, can have negative impacts on your body. Mixing up your activities at the gym can help you lose more weight and perform better athletically.

Aerobic exercise is best

Aerobic exercise is a form of working out that improves the efficiency of your body’s cardiovascular system. Aerobic activity commonly consists of long sessions of low intensity cardio. Lots of people believe that a long session of cardio will keep their metabolism up and help them burn the most calories. This is not true. Doing anaerobic activity is the best way to burn the most calories. HIIT, or high intensity interval training, is the best way to keep your metabolism up.

Working out can be tricky but can be understood with a little bit of research and help. If you have specific goals, it’s a good idea to get a personal trainer to help you reach them.