If losing weight were easy, we wouldn’t need any assistance or guidance from personal trainers with it.
We wouldn’t be stressing over it, we wouldn’t be struggling with it, and it would happen with minimum effort. Unfortunately, weight loss is easier said than done and takes an immense amount of effort.
Despite how hard it can be for some people, it isn’t impossible. In fact, it’s a 100% realistic and attainable goal for anyone that’s willing to put in the time, hard work, and dedication necessary — whether you want to lose a few pounds for summer or a few 100 pounds for a healthier life.
Of course, weight loss comes with plenty of common misconceptions in today’s society. Many people have the wrong idea about losing weight and are exposed to a wide range of myths about weight loss. Don’t worry, we’re going to clear everything up for you so you can finally succeed.
So, How Does The Body Lose Weight?
In order to lose weight, your body must burn more calories than it consumes. The number of calories you consume depends on how much carbs (4 calories/gram), protein (4 calories/gram), and fat (9 calories/gram) you eat. The more calories you eat, the more the body stores away.
The body initially turns to carbs (glucose/sugar) for energy since it’s readily available. This means a majority of the fat you eat (and excess protein) is stored away for later use. Since most of us eat a high-fat diet, our body has to make room to store it — which it does via fat cells.
If the body is consuming more fat than it burns, eventually the body has to create more fat cells and increase the size of those fat cells to make space for storage. This is the main cause of weight gain in most individuals and is why a balanced diet and active lifestyle are so important.
6 Myths About Weight Loss
While weight loss sounds fairly simple when broken down, there are a lot of things that can get in the way and impact someone’s ability to lose weight properly — such as age, injury, health and medical conditions, lifestyle, metabolism, etc. That’s why weight loss is different for everyone.
Now that we understand a little bit more about why people gain weight and why some people have a hard time trying to lose weight, we can start to take a deeper look at some of the weight loss myths we’re exposed to. You’ll be surprised by the amount of false information out there.
Without further ado, here are 6 myths about weight loss you should be aware of.
Skipping Meals Will Help You Lose Weight
Many people are under the impression that skipping meals throughout the day will help them lose weight at a faster rate. While this can help reduce the amount of calories you eat daily, it can actually do more harm than good to your physical health — as well as your mental health.
Skipping a meal often leads to tiredness, a lack of essential nutrients when you need them most, and a craving for high-fat or high-sugar foods. In a way, skipping a meal each day can eventually lead to weight gain — which is the very thing you’re trying your best to avoid.
Losing Weight Means Avoiding Carbs
Most people think that carbohydrates are the reason we gain weight. As a result, many people choose to avoid carbs as much as possible. In reality, we need carbs and they’re essential to everyday living. They’re the body’s main source of energy and help fuel the body’s processes.
With that said, the key is ensuring you eat the right carbohydrates on a daily basis. Try and focus on foods like whole grains, potatoes, brown rice, wholemeal bread. Avoid refined grains or carbs that come from processed foods, such as white pasta, pastries, and sugary drinks.
Avoiding Snacks Is One Way to Lose Weight
This myth is quite similar to the myth about avoiding carbs. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with eating snacks throughout the day. In fact, it’s recommended to snack in-between meals. It helps ensure your body has an ample amount of fuel to get you through to the next meal.
With that said, the key here is eating the right snacks. Many people turn to unhealthy snacks, which can do more harm than good. Instead of turning to chips, cookies, and candy, try turning to fruits and vegetables when snacking throughout the day — they’re a much healthier option.
Eating Healthy Is More Expensive
A common excuse we hear often when trying to get people to eat healthier is that it’s too expensive. Sure, there are some healthy foods that might cost a little more than their unhealthy counterparts, but there are ways around this — plus it’s for the greater good when losing weight.
For example, you can find cheaper cuts of meat and mix it with healthy vegetables that won’t cost a whole lot. You also don’t have to target organic foods, unless you can afford them. Organic foods help, but it’s not like they’ll contain different nutrients than non-organic foods.
Intense Exercise Is Necessary When Losing Weight
When most people try to lose weight and keep that weight off, they’re told to maintain an active lifestyle — which usually includes some form of exercise on a daily basis. The moment they hear the word exercise, they get anxious and immediately look for a much simpler solution.
That’s because when most people hear the term exercise, they imagine intense workouts that leave you gasping for air. In reality, that’s not what’s needed and it can actually do more harm than good. Instead, exercise can mean anything from walking, jogging, swimming, or dancing.
All Weight Loss Supplements Are Created Equal
Another thing many people turn to when trying to lose weight are supplements. There are a wide range of ‘weight-loss supplements’ that are designed to help the body lose weight, burn fat, and increase metabolism. Some supplements even market themselves as meal replacements.
While supplements can help in certain situations, they generally don’t do what they’re intended to do and the claims made are often exaggerated. Supplements aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution and should only be used to ‘supplement’ your healthy eating patterns and active lifestyle.
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