Weight Loss Myths and Facts

People interested in losing weight often get confused by deceptive statements regarding weight loss and do not know what to do. Here is an article where most common myths about weight loss are busted and facts are explained.
When a person makes up his mind to lose weight, he starts doing all sorts of activities in order to fetch immediate results. This hurry makes him try anything and everything for weight loss. There are many thoughts pertaining to losing weight but, how many of them actually work out. Not all, obviously. A person following a wrong advice for weight loss is highly susceptible to a harmful outcome. It is, therefore, essential to know what is right and what is wrong before indulging in something you are unsure of. Following are some myths and facts that I am sure, will help you in understanding the difference.

Myths and Facts of Weight Loss

• Myth: Consistent eating and exercising will never let you gain weight.


• Fact: Consistency is not the key to weight loss. As a person grows older, the metabolic capacity of the person reduces. Changes in metabolism are evident after the age of 40 years, after which the metabolic capacity keeps on reducing gradually. Therefore, a person may need to increase exercising or reduce eating to match to changes in the body. Consistent exercising may not help in weight loss in the long run.

• Myth: Fast food should be completely avoided.


• Fact: Obviously, cheeseburgers, fries, potato wedges, etc., will have to be avoided, but one does not need to completely put a full stop to fast food. What is required to be done, is to make careful choices in fast foods so as to control the intake of calories in the diet.

• Myth: Snacking is bad for weight loss.


• Fact: Snacks are considered bad because people tend to have wafers, candies and cookies during snacks, rather than fresh fruits and vegetables. Snacking actually helps you to eat less by preventing overeating during proper meals. Dietitians also suggest that five small meals per day are better than two heavy meals. Avoiding snacks can lead to excessive intake of calories during meals and disturb your weight loss routine.

• Myth: Carbohydrates should be avoided.


• Fact: Foods with carbohydrates should not be avoided completely. Processed carbohydrates usually have a high content of white flour and sugar which should be avoided. But, other foods like whole grain breads, brown rice, beans, etc., can be included in the diet.

• Myth: Skipping meals help you lose weight.


• Fact: The body needs certain nutrients everyday for proper functioning. Skipping meals will create a deficiency in the body which will have a negative effect on the body instead of helping you lose weight. Apart from that, it makes you eat more and you end up adding extra calories in your body which are in no way beneficial.

• Myth: You tend to gain weight if you eat after 8 PM.


• Fact: Eating time does not cause weight gain. What affects, is the amount of calories you have had throughout the day and the amount of exercising you have done to burn those calories.

• Myth: Certain foods help in weight loss.


• Fact: It is often misunderstood that foods like celery and grapefruit help in losing weight. It is true that some foods enhance metabolism in the body but they are not completely responsible for weight loss.

• Myth: Nuts should be avoided if you want to lose wight.


• Fact: It is true that nuts have a high calorific content but they are low in saturated fat. As they contain high amount of fiber and protein, they can actually benefit a person if, incorporated in small amounts in the diet.

• Myth: Red meat makes it difficult to lose weight.


• Fact: Red meats contain some amount of cholesterol and fat but they also contain other essential nutrients like iron, zinc and protein. Small amount of red meat can be included in the diet to fulfill those needs.

• Myth: A vegetarian diet helps in weight loss.


• Fact: It is often seen that people following a vegetarian diet are less in weight as compared to non-vegetarians. However, this does not ensure weight reduction. If a person's choice includes foods with high fat and calorific content, following a vegetarian diet will not help.

Many people tend to register for weight loss programs which claim to help lose weight in very less time. A person interested in such a program should first learn the myths about weight loss programs so that he can take a right decision. Hope this article has been an eye opener and helped you to differentiate between the myths and facts about weight loss.
By Priyanka Sonkushre