Dieting Misconceptions

In the world of weight loss there is a barrage of information and ever changing ideas about the best way to diet. Some of the information is good, and a lot of it isn’t. The smartest thing to do is avoid fad diets, make healthy choices, and educate yourself. The following is a list of common diet misconceptions: All or nothing: This relates to the “cold turkey” approach to dieting. Many people are stuck with the belief that dieting equals a life of bland food or giving up everything they enjoy. In reality, any overly rigid diet plan will lead to frustration, boredom, and inevitably to giving up. Also, diets that are severely calorie restrictive can actually slow down the body’s metabolism. The most realistic way to lose weight is to incorporate a series of healthy changes, but still allow for things that you want to eat. Moderation is always better than deprivation. Low fat is always the best option: The low fat diet craze is one that seems on the surface like it would be a great way to lose weight. However, research shows again and again that those who adhere to strict low-fat diets do not lose more weight. Part of the problem is that most products labeled as low fat or fat-free have to make up with the missing fat by using extra sugar, flour, or other unhealthy additives. The key with fat is to be sure to avoid saturated fats, and eat more unsaturated fats. Natural is always the way to go: It is easy in this day and age to wander the aisles of the grocery store and pick out a number of products labeled as “all natural.” This makes it seem like these products are healthy. Unfortunately, there is not a very clear government definition of what exactly natural means. A food labeled as “natural” can still be filled with sugar, salt, or lots of calories. The best thing to do is aim for as many whole, unprocessed foods as possible, and to always read labels. Exercise means eating whatever you want: It is so easy to indulge after a workout, but this can quickly become a very bad habit. Hitting the drive-through after working out will simply cancel out the calories that you burned, and then some. Instead, stick to your regular plan of healthy meals and snacks. Skipping meals is a quick way to lose weight: Skipping meals is never a good idea. You may think that skipping a meal equals weight lost, but in reality this just isn’t true. When you skip a meal, your metabolism slows down in order to conserve energy and will make it harder to burn calories. It can also lead to an extreme drop in blood sugar, which results in a lack of energy, poor focus, and extreme hunger later on. Those who have the most successful diet plans eat smaller meals more frequently.

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