Exercise is a great way to stay healthy and shed pounds. But don’t believe everything you hear.

Here’s the truth about working out:

Lifting weights won’t make you gain pounds due to big bulky muscles. Strengthening exercises once or twice weekly won’t “bulk you up.” But they’re a great way to build muscle mass and help you burn more fat.
You don’t need a long workout to benefit from exercise. You can break exercise into sessions of about 10 minutes each, at least three times a day. Aim for at least 150 minutes per week of aerobic exercise, such as walking or biking. Perform muscle-strengthening exercise at least twice weekly.
You don’t need to go to a gym to get fit. Find easy ways to work more activity into each day, such as by dancing with friends, gardening, walking to your bus stop or taking the stairs.