Myths about Dieting

Everyone knows about dieting but while some of the information taught is accurate, there are many myths. One of the most important ways to be successful with dieting is to understand how it works with the body to help pounds drop off. Unfortunately, the diet industry specific to supplements and “miracle” pills is a multi-billion dollar business, pulling desperate people in with outrageous promises.

Therefore, individuals interested in getting rid of unwanted weight need to know what diets actually work and what dies do not. Along with this, for both effective and ineffective diets are myths that should be identified and understood. Armed with this information, people know the truth so they can choose the type of diet that will work best for their specific goals.

Fat is Bad

Myth

Most people think that fat is bad and is something that should be avoided at all costs.

Truth

In reality, the body has to have some fat to function. What happens is that when a person eats too many calories, more than what the body is burns the extra is stored in the form of fat, waiting to be used for energy. Interestingly, approximately one-third of consumed calories should be from fat but healthy fat. For instance, saturated fats are not only a cause of excessive weight, but also unhealthy while unsaturated fat is good for the body.

Cut Back on Meals

Myth

To lose weight, a person will have more success by cutting back or skipping meals.

Truth

The worst thing a person can do is not eat enough. The body’s metabolism reacts to eating and when the body is not fueled with food, the metabolism will begin to slow down, trying to protect the body from starvation. Someone interested in losing weight will actually see far more progress if they were to eat five to six small meals throughout the day opposed to one large meal. Eating tiny meals will help stop hunger and keep the body’s metabolism working at peak performance.

Eating Late at Night

Myth

People believe that eating after 7:00 pm is the cause of weight gain.

Truth

Food is food, and calories are calories, regardless of the time of day consumed. The problem is not the time of day when the last meal is eaten but the number of calories being consumed – period.

Weight Gain after Quitting Smoking

Myth

When a person quits smoking, weight will be gained.

Truth

Smoking and weight gain have nothing to do with one another. The reason people gain weight when they stop smoking is that they begin to turn to food as a distraction. People who smoke are accustomed to having something in the mouth so when the cigarettes are gone, it only makes sense they would turn to food.

Red Meat is Fattening

Myth

Eating red meat will pack on the pounds.

Truth

Okay, while red meat should be consumed in moderation due to higher levels of saturated fat and cholesterol, it is also nutritional, being loaded with things such as protein, iron, and zinc, all nutrients the body needs. The key here is to choose lean cuts of meat to include tenderloin, round steak, flank steak, and extra lean ground beef. Then, keeping the serving size to no more than three to four ounces is perfectly fine.