10 Weight Loss Myths – Don’t Be Fooled!

When does a lie become an accepted truth?  When the lie is repeated often enough.

It’s the oldest trick in the book, a favorite ploy of marketers and others who stand to gain, but still we fall for it! Especially when it comes to losing weight.

Myth #1            “Lose 30 Pounds in 30 Days”   
Anyone that promises massive weight loss at breakneck speed does not have much consideration for your health and well being.  It’s dangerous and irresponsible!  Permanent weight loss requires lifestyle change, not a quick fix.

Myth #2            “Fat is bad for you”   
The truth is that some fats are unhealthy, and some are good, and indeed necessary for your health. (Hence the term “Essential Fatty Acids”)

Myth #3            “Carbohydrates are bad for you”   
First it was fat, now carbohydrates are the bad guy. When trying to lose weight, make a distinction between unhealthy carbohydrates, such as white Rice and complex carbohydrates, such as vegetables and whole grains, which provide vitamins and minerals, along with fiber to aid digestion.

Myth #4            “Lose weight by not eating” 
Absolutely not!  Starving deprives the body of the nutrients it needs for life and can lead to serious illness.  Most often you lose muscle and not fat!  Even if you succeed in losing some weight, you’re most likely going to gain it back as soon as you start eating again.

Myth #5            “Don’t eat after 6 p.m”   
It’s not what time you eat, it’s what you eat.  In Europe they often eat past 10 p.m., yet they’re half the size of Americans!

Myth #6            “Salad bars are healthy” 
Bacon bits, Cheese, Fried Chicken, oily dressings….The apparent lure of salad bars means they probably require as much of your considered attention as ordering at a fast food restaurant.  You have to choose the food at a salad bar wisely.

Myth #7            “Diet sodas aid weight loss”
This is one of my favorite pieces of the dieting hype!  There isn’t a single study that shows diet soda helps you lose weight.  There’s absolutely no data at all.

Myth #8            “You shouldn’t step on a scale”   
I completely disagree.  You should check your weight at least once a week to measure progress.  Keep track of your waist, hip, and thigh inches too.

Myth #9            “You can lose weight with a pill”   
You can’t replace healthy eating and exercise with a pill.  Pills aren’t a new thing.  They’ve been tried for decades, with horrible side effects.

Myth #10           “You don’t have to workout to lose weight”   
Actually, studies indicate 30 to 60 minutes of exercise accelerates fat loss and balances out healthy food intake.