(Creatas)

BUSTED:7 Fitness Myths

America's fixation on quick ways to get fit just took a major blow.

A new study printed in the New England Journal of Medicine this month seeks to destroy practices most dieters have come to believe.

The pages ahead will reveal 7 Things You Thought You Were Doing Right, which the researchers now say don't make much difference at all.

(Stockbyte)

MYTH: Small Tweaks Pay BIG Dividends

Reality: The human body easily adapts to changes, so the study suggests small steps to cut calories doesn't have the same effect over time.

(Associated Press)

MYTH: School Gym Classes Keep Kids Fit

Reality: The study's authors say gym classes aren't long or intense enough to make much of a difference.

(Brand X Pictures)

MYTH: Snacking Adds Major Pounds

Reality: The authors say there's no evidence to suggest snackers pack on pounds.

(Comstock)

MYTH: Losing Weight Slowly is Better Than Losing Quickly

Reality: Although many dieters regain weight, those who lose a lot at the beginning often end up weighing less than people who drop more modest amounts.

(Brand X Pictures)

MYTH: Skipping Breakfast Is Dangerous Dieting

Reality: The authors cite two studies that found no evidence to support the breakfast claim.

(Getty)

MYTH: Aim Too High and You're Bound to Fail

Reality: Studies suggest people with ambitious goal do better.

(Stockbyte)

MYTH: Sex Burns Tons of Calories

Reality: Even though people want to believe sex can burn between 100 and 300 calories each session, studies show people are burning about 20.