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.
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