As OriGym celebrates 10 years as one of the UK’s top fitness education providers, they’re marking this huge milestone by tackling one of the industry’s biggest issues: misinformation.
A recent survey by The Manual reveals some surprising statistics: 25% of people are too embarrassed to work out in a gym, 28% unsure how to use the equipment, and 18% anxious about asking for help from gym staff, making it clear that confidence, not just access, is still a barrier to fitness. OriGym’s “10 Years, 10 Myths” campaign aims to change that by busting the most common (and damaging) fitness myths to help educate the UK public.
The OriGym team proudly celebrating their 10th anniversary.
“There’s never been more fitness content available, especially online, but much of it is based on outdated science or pure myth,” says Neil Cosgrove, Managing Director at OriGym. “We’ve trained over 43,000 fitness professionals, and even experienced PTs get caught out by these.”
Among the most common myths, OriGym will debunk them for you right now:
- “Doing ab training gets you abs.” Visible abs come from reducing overall body fat.
- “Sweating means it’s working.” Sweat’s about body temperature, not effectiveness.
- “No pain, no gain.” Discomfort builds strength, but pain just builds injuries.
- “Carbs make you fat.” Carbs are fuel, not the enemy.
- “Stretching prevents injury.” Not alone, mobility and strength matter more.
- “You have to train every day.” Rest is part of progress.
- “Calorie burn equals results.” Not all gains can be measured on a tracker.
- “You can burn fat in specific areas by training them.” Fat loss doesn’t work that way; it happens across the whole body, not in specific areas.
- “Fasted cardio burns more fat.” Studies don’t support this consistently.
- “Supplements are essential.” Whole foods do the heavy lifting; supplements are luxuries.
One person who has had to help a lot of people stop believing these myths is OriGym graduate Angel Howarth, who now runs a women’s strength community. “It is such a rewarding feeling to help women become better, stronger, fitter and more confident,” Angel said after graduating from our courses.
“We’re not here to shame anyone; we’ve all believed bad advice in our lifetime,” adds Neil Cosgrove, Managing Director. “But the more people we educate, the more confident, safe, and strong gym-goers will feel.”
Ten years in, OriGym is really doubling down on its mission: to raise the standard of UK fitness education through evidence-based, inclusive, and practical training for professionals and everyday people alike.
With plans for a new training facility and expanded course offerings in 2025, OriGym isn’t slowing down. Instead, their focus remains on preparing future fitness professionals with the tools, support, and confidence they need to thrive.