For the longest time I was working out hard trying to lose weight, and it just wasn’t working. Come to find out, there were diet myths I had believed or dieting facts I ignored that completely put my weight loss at a standstill. Shape Magazine outlines these myths in this article online.
Here’s to helping you discover the fact instead of the fiction!
1. Eating late at night does not make you fat.
There is nothing wrong with eating something after dinner AS LONG AS you haven’t already consumed the calories you’re supposed to for the day. Don’t use this as an excuse to start munching if you have no business putting more calories into your body before bed; however, if you do have room to spare, grab fruit, veggies, or popcorn (my favorite!).
2. Hunger does not always mean you need food.
Hunger can often be a sign that you’re dehydrated. Drink 16 oz of water before you reach for something to chew- your hunger may dissipate.
3. It’s harder to keep weight off than to lose it.
Losing weight is hard, but keeping off the lost weight is harder. Around 90% of people gain back weight lost because they go back to eating the way they did when they were heavier. A lighter body means you don’t need as many calories as you did pre-diet. The less pounds you carry, the less calories you should be eating to maintain your weight.
4. Exercise does NOT make you tired.
The more in shape you get, the more energized you feel. Even after a long day at work when my brain is exhausted, there is an amazing amount of energy that surges as soon as I start exercising.
5. Working out is not a huge time commitment.
Too often people think there’s no point to work out if they can’t give it an hour. FALSE. All you need is 20-40 minutes 3-5 days a week. That’s it.
6. You don’t lose fat in an area just because you train that area.
If you want to tone a specific muscle, I’m sorry to say, you won’t lose fat there faster because you work it out all the time. Your body burns fat in specific areas before it hits others. You can tone a muscle all day long, but until you hit the cardio and circuit training hard, you’ll never burn the fat off of the muscles you are trying to see.
7. Weights won’t make you bulky.
Women are often concerned that lifting weights will make them bulky and ripped. Sorry ladies, it’s an excuse. Training with weights will not make you bulky but actually give you the extra tone and trimmed body you’re looking for.
8. Carbs are NOT the enemy.
Instead of fearing carbs, embrace the right carbs. Get rid of any white flour or processed grains you are eating. Embrace whole grains in breads and pastas and make sure you are only eating the recommended serving size. My favorite whole grain bread and english muffins is Ezekiel Bread- found in the freezer section at Kroger and any Whole Foods or health market.
I hope these facts help you reevaluate some things. There’s alot of information concerning diet and exercise, but you cannot believe everything you hear.
Your Homework:
Pick one item from the list above and do something about it.
Try whole grains, do some weight training, or save your calories so you can have a snack after dinner. Enjoy being healthy instead of always feeling like you’re being tortured by the diet police.
