5 Myths About Weight Loss
Obesity has become a big problem in the United States. Recent reports show that 1 in 5 people is obese in every U.S. state. In Mississippi and Louisiana, more than 1 in 3 people is obese.
Becoming healthier and stronger is something we should all try to do, but there are many dieting myths floating around that will ultimately become a roadblock to weight loss success. For the most part, don’t give in to hype–health is very simple: regular exercise, wholesome food in the right portion sizes. Here are 5 myths to avoid:
1. All carbohydrates are bad.
Carbohydrates tend to get a bad rap because the most common carb of all is sugar, and we’ve all been told how bad sugar is to the average diet. The fact is that carbohydrates are found in everything, including fruits, vegetables, grains, and milk. Avoiding carbohydrates completely would be ignoring some of the most important foods for your body. Moreover, your body needs carbohydrates to make glucose, which is the basic fuel that keeps you going.
The truth is that not all carbs are created equal. Avoid refined carbohydrates that add sugar or use processed grains. Instead, aim for complex carbohydrates full of fiber and nutrients. This includes whole grains, brown rice, and your usual fruits and veggies.
2. Some foods help you burn calories.
Different foods certainly offer different health benefits and nutrients, but the fact is, a calorie is a calorie, regardless of the source. No foods will increase your basal metabolic rate, and the few that are purported to do so at an utterly insignificant amount.
If you want to increase your metabolism, consider lifting weights. Your body burns more calories maintaining muscle than fat.
3. Weight loss surgery requires a long period of recovery.
Many people turn to forms of weight loss surgery, such as liposuction, gastric banding, and surgical laser procedures. Many are reluctant to seek these procedures out for various reasons, but the technology used in weight loss procedures has improved greatly over the past few decades.
In terms of recovery, many people return to their daily activities within two weeks, with some even returning to work within days. Weight loss and breast augmentation laser procedures allow patients to return almost immediately to everyday activities, because cosmetic laser treatments are completely noninvasive. These procedures aren’t recommended for those that are significantly overweight, and are intended to help healthy-weight people ditch those last stubborn pockets of fat.
4. Snacks are never good.
You should never starve in order to lose weight. Starving yourself isn’t healthy and, in some cases, will cause you to gain weight. Snacking between meals is a good way to stave off the hunger, but what you snack on is the most important part. Most people equate snacks to potato chips, cookies, candy, and other junk foods.
Use snacks as an opportunity to incorporate healthy foods into your diet. Instead of diving into a bag of chips, pack yourself some fruits, veggies, and nuts. Eat snacks that you might not have during mealtime. If you don’t drink much milk, for example, use snack time to eat some low-fat yogurt or cheese.
5. Eating and exercising constantly means you’ll never gain weight.
It’s true that diet and exercise are the foundations to maintaining your weight, but you must be willing to make lifestyle changes as you grow and age. Metabolism slows down as you age, which means you have to follow a stricter diet or exercise more. The biggest change occurs around the age of 40, when your metabolism takes a significant dip and continues to slow down gradually over the years.