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As a bodybuilder yourself, you have doubtless heard some of these myths before at some point.

1. The 12 Rep rule

Most weight training program include this much repetitions for gaining muscle. The truth is this approach places the muscles with not enough tension for effective muscle gain. High tension e.g. heavy weights provides muscle growth in which the muscle grows much larger, leading to the maximum gains in strength. Having longer tension time boosts the muscle size by generating the structures around the muscle fibers, improving endurance.

The standard prescription of eight to 12 repetitions provides a balance but by just using that program all of the time, you do not generate the greater tension levels that is provided by the heavier weights and lesser reps, and the longer tension achieved with lighter weights and more repetitions.

Change the number of reps and adjust the weights to stimulate all types of muscle growth.

2. Three Set rule

While there is nothing in the world wrong with three sets, neither is it is also not a panacea for weightlifters. How many sets you do should have a lot more to do with what your personal goals, and a lot less to do with an old rule that many do not understand. Bear in mind that the greater the number of reps per set, the fewer sets you should do. And the other way around, of course; the total number of reps should be the same no matter how many sets you choose to break it up into.

3. Three to four exercises per group

There is really no basis for this myth. It is better to do more reps of one exercise than lose focus by trying to do too many different exercises per group. Try upping the number of reps (say 30-50, somewhere in there). Obviously, break this up into sets.

4. My knees, my toes

An adage of the gym with some basis, though it is more common to be injured as a result of leaning forward too far during an exercise. Memphis University researchers have found stress on the knees increases approximately one third when the knees go past the toes during squats. However, stress on the hips goes up ten times when the knee is held back from passing the toes.

The strain is merely shifted from the knees to the lower back, which can cause worse injuries than can having ones knees pass the toes.

Try to think more about the position of your torso, and not so much about your knees. Keep your torso as upright as you can during lunges and squats. This means less stress on your back. A tip for staying upright: prior to squatting, press your shoulder blades together and keep them there. While squatting, try to keep your forearms at a right angle to the floor.

5.Lift weights, draw abs

What is the most important muscle group? The transverse abdominis? That all depends. The answer depends on what exercise you are doing. In most cases, the body already knows which muscle group to call into action to keep the spine supported. Focusing on the wrong muscle group (in this example, the transverse abdominis again) can work the wrong muscles while holding back the correct ones, which raises your risk of injuries and lowers the weight you can lift.

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