Weight Loss Myths and Facts

The diet and exercise industry has had many people from all over the world believe myths. Maybe at one point they thought that the myths were true, just like smoking was believed not to have any harmful affects on the human body.

When someone is trying to reach their weight loss goals, sometimes it's hard to know what to do. What are the myths and what is the truth. How can you actually lose weight and keep it off permanently. The goal of this Hub is to inform you of the diet and exercise myths and give you the truth so that you can have success at losing the unwanted pounds.

Myth #1:  Don't drink coffee and lose weight.  For years I have heard that drinking coffee can sabotage my weight loss efforts.  Some time's I felt like "why bother trying to lose weight if I have to quit drinking coffee first".  I love drinking coffee and only have about two a day.  I was very happy to have found an article about coffee and weight loss.  And this is what I found out: Dutch researchers found that people on a calorie reduced diet who drank 2.5 cups of coffee or tea a day, for four weeks lost more weight then the subjects who were not allowed to have any caffeinated beverages.  The caffeine actually helps the body burn more calories a day.  The only advise that I can give is not to add ton's of sugar and cream.  If you need sugar (like I do) use Stevia or sweetner.  Also a low fat cream or milk would be the best option as well.  So coffee and tea lovers, keep drinking and burn calories.  Just do it in moderation. 

Myth #2 Starve yourself to lose weight.  This is the furthest from the truth!  I have no idea why we believed this one.  It does make sense to eat less, but you don't want your body to go into starvation mode.  When you're body is always in starvation mode your metabolism slows down.  When the metabolism slows down the body burns less calories.  It is a vicious cycle!  The best explanation I can give you of why you need to eat to lose weight is this.  Think of your metabolism like a burning fire.  When you keep adding wood to it, the fire keeps burning strong. What happens if you stop putting wood into it for five hours or so.  Right, it dyes down and there is nothing left, but hot coals.  When you feed your body with good food every two- three hours, your body knows that it is going to be fed regularly and stops being in starvation mode.  When you're body is no longer in starvation mode it will burn the fat instead of clinging on to it.  So if you want to lose weight please do not starve yourself.  You will only wreck your metabolism for the long term. 

Myth #3: Diets Pills.  Pills are not going to help you lose weight permanently.  The only reason why you should take a diet pill is if you need help with food cravings and your energy levels.  They should only be taken with a diet and exercise routine.  Sorry, but you can not take a pill, eat bad food and sit around to lose weight.  There is no magic pill, it takes some hard work and changing your lifestyle to get the body of your dreams.  Diet pills compliment a good nutrition and exercise plan.  

Myth #4: Salads are healthy. It's not the veggies and lettuce that made salads unhealthy, it's the dressing and simulated bacon bit's.  Salad dressing ( even though it's low fat ) is full of hydrogenated oils and trans fats.  And people just pile it on, which make a once good meal turn into a bad one. Please still eat salads, just make them healthier by using fresh lemon juice or making your own balsamic vinaigrette instead of store bought dressing.  If you are out at a restaurant, just ask for the dressing on the side and a couple slices of lemons.  Olive oil is also a great option.

Myth # 5:  Fad diets work for permanent weight loss.  These diets claim to help you lose weight super fast.  Fad diets are most of the time so strict that many people find them hard to follow or hard to not cheat.  We are always going to have temptations in life, like at birthday parties and family together's for example.  The worst thing you can do is to deprive yourself so much of the foods you love and then find yourself binging.  That will not keep your weight off permanently and many people who have followed fad diets have found themselves weighing more a year later.  Believe me I have been there.  Be aware of any diets that claims you will lose weight really fast.  A healthy weight loss is 1 to 2 pounds a week or 10 pounds a month.  You can lose more if you are following a really tough exercise routine that keeps challenging your muscles.  If an advertisement is claiming faster results then that please don't be their next victim.  If you want some chocolate or some chips, have a small amount.  If you want to drink alcohol at a party then chose a clear or light kind.  Have everything in moderation, because losing weight is not a diet that you go one for a couple months, it's a lifestyle change.