Here are some fun fitness facts which you may or may not know. First, read the 5 questions and answer them according to what you believe or think to be true. Then, scroll down and see if your answers match the latest scientific findings. Get ready… go!

Questions

Question #1: Does lactic acid cause your muscles to burn?

Question #2: Do muscle cells multiply when you gain muscle mass?

Question #3: Can muscles both push and pull?

Question #4: Do fat cells multiply as you gain weight and decrease when you lose weight?

Question #5: What is the only place in the body where fat is burned?

Answers

Question #1: Does lactic acid cause your muscles to burn?

Answer: The common belief that lactic acid build up is the cause for muscle burn (acidosis) has been found to be false. Recent research has proven that lactic acid doesn’t even exist in the body, but is rather found in a form called lactate. Lactate actually assists with the decrease of muscle burn. Lactate is also converted to glucose by the liver which is an important fuel for energy.

Question #2: Do muscle cells multiply when you gain muscle mass?

Answer: It has been a common belief that muscle cells multiply when muscle mass is accumulated. This “splitting” of muscle cells under conditions of increased demand is called “hyperplasia”, but no concrete evidence exists to validate such a concept. However, it has been found that muscle cells simply increase in size when placed under stress which is called “hypertrophy”. There are also two types of muscle fibers (Type 1 and 2) which can grow to different sizes, and each type of muscle cell is limited in how much it can grow.

Question #3: Can muscles both push and pull?

Answer: Even though fitness exercises such as pushups and presses contain the word or thought of a “pushing” action, the movements are actually all conducted by using contractions of various muscles. Therefore, the apparent “push” of a motion is actually a contraction of a muscle (or muscles) which activates a lever action that gives the appearance of a pushing action. Muscles can only contract and release, but cannot push.

Question #4: Do fat cells multiply as you gain weight and decrease when you lose weight?

Answer: Similar to muscle cells, it has been widely believed that fat cells multiply as a person gains weight and becomes obese. However, just like muscle cells, recent research has revealed that fat cells simply expand and do not increase in numbers when weight is gained. When people get fat, the number of lipids within the fat cell is what increases, but the number of fat cells remains the same. Research has also shown that fat cells in obese people die much more rapidly than in thin people and the production to replace the dead cells also increases more rapidly.

Question #5: What is the only place in the body where fat is burned?

Answer: The furnace where all fat is burned within the body is called the mitochondria. Every cell contains these powerful mini furnaces where fatty acids are transported and oxidized to produce energy. There are even ways to multiply the numbers of mitochondria within the cells so that your body can burn fat more effectively.