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Weight Loss Myths Exposed

By Amanda Leigh
When you look at all the information available on weight loss, you will notice there is a huge variation in advice.  One article will tell you to cut out carbohydrates, the next will tell you to avoid eating after a certain time, while another lists magical foods which burn extra calories for you.  As one piece of advice often contradicts another, it’s important to separate the diet myths from the diet facts. 

Carbohydrates Make You Fat

A common belief is that carbohydrates make you fat and you should try not to eat them.  This is a myth.  If you cut out carbohydrates and eat mainly proteins, your body won’t get the nutrition it needs.  In order to maintain a balanced diet you need to include carbohydrates, especially healthy ones like wholegrain bread and wholegrain pasta.  Once carbohydrates are refined and processed, such as white bread and white pasta, they lose some of their nutritional value and increase blood glucose levels.

Skipping Meals Will Help You Lose Weight

Many people believe that skipping meals will speed up their weight loss, but in practice the reverse is true.  When you skip meals, you don’t give your body the nutrition it needs, and your energy levels will dip.  This will leave you feeling tired and hungry, and your body will crave sugary, high-fat snacks, in order to recover. 

All Reduced-Fat Foods Are Healthy

Don’t make the mistake of confusing low-fat labels with reduced-fat labels.  While the law states that low-fat foods have to contain 3 grams of fat or less per serving, reduced-fat foods can still contain a high-fat content.  To qualify as reduced-fat, the only stipulation is that the product contains 25% less fat than the regular version.  So if the product was high in fat in the first place, a 25% reduction won’t be enough to make it a healthy choice.

You Shouldn’t Eat Late at Night

A common myth is that food consumed late in the evening is impossible to burn off.  This is another myth.  Calories won’t refuse to budge just because of an evening curfew.  It doesn’t matter what time of day or night you eat, as long as you consume less calories than your body requires, you will lose weight.  

Eating Certain Foods Will Burn Excess Calories

It would be wonderful if eating a piece of celery would burn off extra calories, but unfortunately this is just another myth.  While many foods are extremely low in calories, there is no one food that will burn off excess calories.

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