Every day we read about diet plans, fast diets, crash diets, Atkins diet and any other diets that you can think of, but every day we also read about why these diets are good for you or bad for you and why they do or don't do what they promise. There are many differing opinions out there about dieting and foods and there are many myths out there that people have been led to believe are true.

Below you will find 12 dietary facts that everyone should know but the mass media seems to ignore. Lets try it as a true or false quiz you will find the answers and explanation below the last question, try not to peek though tell me how well you scored in the comments box below.

1. Fast food is fattening:

2.Eating a big meal at night makes you put on weight:

3. Hitting middle age equals weight gain:

4. I can't lose weight because I have a slow metabolism:

5.lifting weights will make me too muscular:

6. I will lose weight if I stick to food with low fat labels:

7. Obesity is Hereditary:

8. Some foods burn fat:

9. I can eat what I want as long as I exercise:

10. Cutting carbohydrates is the best way to lose weight:

11. Herbal weight-loss products are safe because they are natural:

12. If I work up a sweat I will lose weight:

1. Answer = False

Many fast food restaurants have started serving healthy options and they display the calorie content of every item on the menu, if you avoid deep-fried, Saturated fat or sugar rich foods, then you can still have a good variety of choice from the menu.

2. Answer = False

It is calories eaten over time that count, not when they are eaten, ideally you should work hard all day, then relax and eat a light meal to fuel your body while it repairs itself during sleep.

3. Answer = False

Your metabolism may slow down as you get older, but there is no reason to gain weight later in life.

4. Answer= False

The heavier you are the higher your metabolism, because you will need more calories to carry the extra weight, an 8 stone person only needs about 45 calories an hour to maintain their body whereas a person who is 14 stone uses 80 calories an hour.

TOP TIP

To find out how many calories per hour will maintain your body size, multiply your weight by 0.409

5.Answer False

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Many women avoid lifting weights because they are afraid that they will bulk up, but only very intense training will build large amounts of muscle, weight training once or twice a week will tone your body and because muscle burns more calories than fat, it will actually help you lose weight.

6. Answer False

Just because it says low fat or even no fat on the label, doesn't mean that it will also be low on calories, and it is calories that put the weight on, although some low fat foods are low in calories, others contain added sugar and other calorific ingredients.

7. Answer False

Obesity does not run in families, but eating habits do, children often copy the behaviour of their parents, overweight parents are less likely to exercise, and their children are likely to follow suit.

8.Answer False

Celery takes one or 2 calories more to digest than the calories they provide, but the calories lost would be so tiny that you would have to eat it 24/7 365 for it to have any benefit.

9. Answer False

Exercise is not meant to deal with over eating.

Exercise is essential to keep our bodies supple, toned, mobile and strong.

People often underestimate the calories that they burn, for example, a large sandwich may take up to 2 hours walking to burn off.

10. Answer False

Your body can't recognise which food group you eat; it only recognises nutrients and calories, so long as you use more calories than you eat, you will lose weight whether you eat carbohydrates or not.

11. Answer False

Just because something is natural, does not mean that it is safe, and many of the natural products that you see advertised have not been properly tested, talk to your doctor for advice before taking the plunge.

12. Answer False

You will burn more fat by walking one mile around the shops than you will on a one-mile run a greater percentage of calories are burned from fat when you exercise at a steady rate rather than a fast blast.