Weight loss myths that actually do the opposite

Weight loss myths that actually do the opposite

Body goals and myths

With an increasing number of people who are prioritising looking after their physical health and improving body composition, achieving body goals is the next big thing. Fortunately for many of us, we have access to vasts amounts of knowledge which we can gain both online and from fitness professionals. However, information can sometimes be inaccurate, and since most people who want to make a change in their lifestyle are beginners, they end up believing the misinformation, and are left to go through many stages of trial and error. In this article, I will sort out the misinformation from the real facts by debunking a few weight loss myths.

Skipping meals

It’s not uncommon for people to skip meals in an effort to cut down on calories and lose weight. However, you lose weight by reducing your overall calorie consumption, or increasing your activity levels, not by missing out on an entire meal. Meals provide you with essential nutrients which boost your metabolism. Therefore, no meal means no nutrition, and a slower metabolism. Slower metabolism then translates to lower efficiency in burning calories, which means a higher chance of calories being stored as fat.

Fat-free foods

Fat-free food is a diet trend that is very popular. Claiming to help people consume regular food minus all the fat, these foods are a popular choice among those seeking to lose weight. The problem with fat-free foods is that they still contain other unhealthy ingredients like sugar, flour, salt, and thickeners, all of which add calories and can contribute to weight gain.

Ignoring all sugars

Sugar has been commonly misbranded. Unlike processed sugar that is present in foods like cakes, cookies, soft drinks and chocolates, natural sugars like those present in fruits are not bad for health, and can be beneficial to us. The natural sugar in fruit comes with a whole lot of vitamins and minerals which provide antioxidants that boosts your body’s functionality and fiber intake, which has been linked to long term weight loss.

Giving up carbs

While refined carbs that are present in foods like breakfast cereals, and baked goods might not be the healthiest option, the carbs found in whole foods like sweet potatoes, bananas, and oats are essential for weight loss. They provide you with fiber that keeps you satiated for longer, and reduce your feel good capacity, both of which prevent overeating or snacking.

Crash dieting

If you think the quickest and best way to lose weight is by crash dieting, you’re wrong. The notion of suddenly changing your eating habits drastically by eating less food in a short timespan can actually be detrimental to the body. Suddenly consuming much fewer calories can weaken the immune system and might even cause starvation. Besides, crash dieting is not effective in the long run as once the diet ends and you resume your normal diet, you are highly capable of gaining back all the weight you lost.

Buying weight loss supplements

The weight loss supplement industry has a massive influence on gym-goers. Weight-loss supplements are sold in huge numbers, even though studies have shown that most of them hardly have an effect, and act more like a placebo. Taking these supplements makes the person think that a large percentage of the work is being carried out by these capsules, giving free ride to a more lax diet plan, hampering weight loss goals.

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