Why are these weight loss fallacies still doing the rounds? It’s time for some myth-busting.
- The lower your calories, the more you’ll lose
You might think that slashing your calories at the start of a diet will lead to better weight loss results. The truth is you’ll be hungry, your weight loss will stall, and you won’t be able to stick to your plan. A better approach is to reduce your intake by a small, sustainable amount. Take the patient approach.
- Low-fat foods are a must when dieting
Foods labelled as low-fat aren’t necessarily the best choice as they can often be high in sugar. A better strategy is to have a little less of the normal stuff.
- Cut carbohydrates to lose weight
Carbohydrates do not make you fat- excess calories do. Carbohydrates are necessary for energy and brain power. Eat a balanced diet and keep your overall calorie intake in line with your energy needs.
- Scale weight is the only thing that matters
The number on your bathroom scales tells you what your body weighs- but nothing more. It won’t tell you whether you have lost body fat, water, or muscle mass. Tracking your waist circumference is useful, and you should focus on losing unwanted body fat for a slimmer body.
- Weight loss will be linear
You will have ups, downs, and plateaus. Take a long term approach and assess your weight loss on a weekly and monthly basis.
- Eating fat makes you fat
Fat is calorie-dense (9 calories per gram) but fat itself won’t make you gain body fat. Only an excess of calories will do that.
- Eat little and often
The mini-meal myth is over. There’s no evidence to back up the theory that eating little and often stokes your metabolism. Eat regularly but choose a meal frequency that suits your lifestyle and routine.
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