8 Biggest weight loss myths
Lately when it comes to losing weight, there seems to be so many myths about what will make the process easier and faster. Some of them sound so "healthy" and "effective" that it would be crazy not to try them. But the truth is, that at the end of the day these remain myths. Let's review the 8 biggest weight loss myths and why they don't work.
I've battled with my weight my whole life. Not because I am actually fat or majorly overweight, but because I have a tendency to pack up the kilos fast when I don't take care of myself. I would love to say that just as I pack the kilos easily, I lose them the same way. But sadly that's not my case. Losing weight is hard, man? ! In moments of desperation, I tried all of the biggest weight loss myths to help my cause. Believe me, they are called myths for a reason, they don't work! Although at the beginning they seemed to work and I saw small progress, I wasn't able to maintain them for long and I ended up gaining all the weight back twice as fast! Sometimes I gained even more weight than I had originally lost!
The only thing that actually worked and helped me lose weight and get fit, was exercise and a balanced healthy diet. It wasn't until I stopped with drastic measures and focused on changing my lifestyle completely that I saw results. That's why I thought I would share with you the 8 biggest weight loss myths so that you won't fall into the trap and follow my mistakes.
8 Biggest weight loss myths
1) SKIPPING MEALS:
According to plenty of studies, skipping meals may actually increase belly fat. When you don’t eat and your body gets hungry, it goes into “starvation mode”. This basically means that your body thinks you won’t feed it anymore, so it stores fat as a defense mechanism. Plus let’s be honest, skipping meals will make you feel hungrier which may result in overeating.
2) ADOPTING A GLUTEN- FREE DIET
Having a gluten intolerance is one thing, simply dishing gluten in order to lose weight is another. Remember that eating gluten-free foods doesn’t mean that you are eating foods low in calories or with better nutrients. After all, how many calories do you think you ingest when you eat those delicious gluten-free brownies? ;)
3) DRINKING LOTS AND LOTS OF JUICE INSTEAD OF FOOD
It is okay to drink your favorite green juice for breakfast or as an in-between snack, but it is not okay to indulge in an only-liquid diet plan. Only liquid or all-liquid diet plan can seriously deprive your body of crucial nutrients and muscle definition, which is what we all want after all right? Plus let’s be honest, how long would you be able to keep up with such a diet?
4) CUTTING OUT ALL “UNHEALTHY” FOODS
It is super smart to limit your consumption of unhealthy food, however, taking it to the extreme by eliminating entire food groups from your diet is a bad idea. When you do this, you are more likely to feel deprived, which in turn will only make you crave these foods more. Craving something and not allowing yourself to eat it will make your diet unsustainable, probably causing you to eat these foods in larger amounts in the end. The best thing is to allow yourself to have some of your favorite “junk foods” in moderate portions whenever you are craving them.
5) EAT LOW-FAT VERSIONS OF FOOD
Don’t think that because it is low-fat, it is low in calories. Many times these “healthy looking” products are still loaded with sugar or dangerous ingredients to make them a) low-fat or a b) diet version.
6) COOK ALL YOUR MEALS
Yes it is true that cooking your meals helps you to preserve more nutrients and gives you more control over your ingredients. However, how realistic is it to actually cook all your meals? Remember that there are many other ways in which you can eat healthy.
7) ONLY INDULGE ON YOUR “CHEAT DAY”
Having a cheat meal is more recommended than having a cheat day. The problem with them is that people tend to eat a week’s worth of calories in their cheat day if they only have one. It makes sense if you know you only have one day of the week to eat everything you like, of course you are going to end up overeating. According to experts, it is better to treat yourself sporadically. So allow yourself to have a cheat meal once in a while in a day other than your cheat day.
8) FALLING INTO THE TRAP OF "MAGIC DIETS"
If it sounds too good to be true, then most likely it will only work in the short term. After all, how long can you keep up with an unrealistic diet?
Although some of these myths may seem like a quick fix for your weight loss goals, remember that all these options are only a momentary fix. Nothing will keep the weight off for good unless you find a balance between exercise and healthy eating. Plus remember, it shouldn't always be about losing weight, in the end, being healthy is what it's all about! If you need any tips for losing weight, check out our top 5 tips!
