5 Weight Loss Myths You Might Be Believing

Think you know everything about weight loss? You might be holding on to some myths.

There are a number of different programs you can try, just remember that almost everyone will have an opinion on ways you can cheat and lose weight fast. Below are some of the myths that we have uncovered about weight loss. Before you start your new diet, make sure you are not giving in to one of these weight loss myths that will leave you frustrated rather than fabulous.

1. Stick to No Fat Diets.

Yes, fatty foods are not good for you and will help you put on the pounds but cutting out fat completely from your diet is also not a good idea. It is important to stick to a low fat diet but still have good fats in your diet, such as fats from olive oil, beans and nuts. The body needs fats to store energy. It is important that you are incorporated 70 grams of good fat into your diet each day.

Weight gain and weight loss is a gradual process. Essentially, if you are consuming more calories than you are losing in the day, then this will equal weight gain. However, you need to eat an extra 3500 calories to gain one pound of body fat.  So indulge in that chocolate cake on special occasions just have a smaller portion of dinner instead.

2. Fasting Is The Quickest Way to Lose Weight

Sure, if you don’t want to eat for the next three days, you probably won’t put on any weight. However, this is incredibly unhealthy. Fasts or crash dieting also do not work because you have to eat eventually. There are some fasts out there that are designed to help rid your body of toxins. If you are trying to lose weight, however, it’s best to stick to a diet that works in moderation, not limitations. Fasting is quite unhealthy unless it is being monitored and can result in your body crashing before you actually lose any weight.

3. Don’t Eat After 7:00 pm

Indulging in a healthy yoghurt desert is not going to cause you to gain weight. Many people assume that if you eat dinner late, then your body will store more fat because you are lounging around and sleeping. This is not the case. Food will not have more calories if you consume it at 9:00 pm rather than 9:00 am. It’s all the same and your body will do the work in a 24 hour period, regardless of when you eat.

4. No Fat Products Mean Less Weight Gain

Low in fat products are often the better choice but just because something is low in fat doesn’t mean it’s also low in calories. Always check the calorie content when you are looking into low fat products.

5. Cholesterol is Bad for You

When you have high cholesterol this means that you are at a greater risk of certain health complications. This is because cholesterol is a fatty substance that can form deposits that clog our arteries. However, there is good cholesterol and bad cholesterol out there. Good cholesterol is used to build cells.

Cholesterol is often found in fatty foods. Bad cholesterol is known as low density lipoprotein (LDL) and delivers the cholesterol to the arteries. LDL is often found in high saturated fatty foods such as cheese, cream, butter, milk and pastries. High density lipoprotein (HDL), however, is considered ‘good’ cholesterol because it transports cholesterol back to the liver. You can find HDL is foods that contain unsaturated fats such as seeds, nuts, some fruits and certain oils.

What other weight loss myths do you know?