10 Weight Loss Myths You Should Know About

We are surrounded by thousands of "facts" on how to lose weight and get what we see as the perfect body: Don't eat carbs, drink this juice, soup diet, no fat.. and the list goes on. Well here are a few clarifications on some of the things that so many people have tried and failed (for long term success) in their heart-felt attempt at reaching their physical goals.

10. Fad Diets are a good long-term answer to losing and maintaining weight.

Most fad diets are promises to lose a lot of weight very quickly by restricting your caloric intake and giving you only a few foods to choose from. In every day life you are bombarded and surrounded by foods that offer plenty of nutritional value, and are okay in moderation. Your best bet to find a diet you can stick to long term and turn it into a lifestyle is to go with unprocessed (boxed or frozen for example) and natural foods, including things like chicken, wheat grains, fruits and vegetables, all while eating them in moderation.

9. All protein's and no carbs is guaranteed to work.

Carbohydrates, found in grain products, vegetables, and fruits are essential to your bodies function. They help regulate your blood sugar level. If you are not getting enough of these healthy carbs in your diet it can lead to naeusea, weakness, and kidney stones in extreme conditions.

8. Only eating salads is best.

It is important to have a balanced diet, and eating just salad products is not healthy. To balance out your carbs, proteins and fats is essential to have your body react favorable and have it functioning at its best. It is also a common mistake to think that if you eat salad then you can have any dressing and as much dressing as you want. When choosing a dressing try to stay away from any kind of creamy dressing. Any kind of vinaigrette tastes really good and is a great health choice.

7. The less I eat the better.

The average woman should consume at least 1200 calories-a-day if they are not physically active. In extreme cases, often found in anorexia your body can actually start eating itself because there isn't enough food being consumed. Your height, weight and activity level all play a role in how many calories you should consume each day. One site you can look to is through the American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ped/content/ped_6_1x_calorie_calculator.asp

6. The more I work out the faster the weight will come off.

There is such a thing as over-training. If you over-train then your body can become exhausted, and only run you down. Your body needs to be healed with some time off and foods that refresh it well.

5. Certain foods burn fat faster.

There are no foods that specifically burn fat. It's all about having regular physical activity, even if it's only walking, and having a healthy diet that you can follow day to day. Your body will follow.

4. Diet Pills are required.

Diet Pills are the easy way out. Many of them are simply pills with caffeine. There is another ingredient that is supposed to suppress your hunger. All this does is give you the energy taken away from you because you are not getting the nutrients you need from the foods you are eating. Weight loss can be achieved without the consumption of diet pills!

3. I can eat whatever I want and still lose weight.

If it were that easy then we wouldn't have anyone obese because of the food they eat. Have a consistent and healthy lifestyle!

2. As long as it's low-fat or non-fat I can have as much as I want.

There are a lot of foods that put these labels on their products and end up substituting with other process ingredients. Stick with moderation and fresh foods.

1. Lifting weights will only make me gain weight and "bulk" up.

Unless you have the diet and a specific training program you will not "bulk" up. While muscle does weigh more than fat, having more muscle helps speed up your metabolism, and help you with overall support when it comes to walking, internal body function, and everyday activities.

Written by: Breanna Dobbe