Weight loss myths.

Think you know everything about weight loss? I suggest you take this quiz! I actually was wrong on one of the questions, which was a shock. The question was about eating at night. Oh well, good to know!

I am not mentioning a thing in here about diet pills because we all know they are a waste of time. They may give you results initially, but not in a healthy way! STAY AWAY!

Myth #1: Muscle weighs more than fat.
This drives me absolutely nuts when I hear people saying it. I seriously want to slap people who go around saying that muscle weighs more than fat. That is simply NOT TRUE! One pound of muscle and one pound of fat are - you guessed it - ONE POUND. The problem is, fat takes up more room & muscle is lean. Check out this link to see what I mean!


Myth # 2: Skipping meals will help jump start weight loss.
Oh boy, you couldn't be more wrong! Skipping meals is what got me in the predicament I am currently in! You see, when you don't eat frequently, you are slowing your metabolism down & forcing your body into "starvation mode" and your body will keep the fat and burn off muscle instead. Ouch. You also tend to overeat at your next meal or snack heavily on things you shouldn't.

Myth # 3: If I watch what I eat, I don't need to exercise.
This is NOT the case! Exercise is definitely very important to weight loss, as is watching what you're eating. Doing one of the two alone is not going to be nearly as effective as combining them. You need to burn off over 3500 calories to lose a pound of fat, do you realize that? How on earth are you going to lose weight if all you are doing is counting calories? Counting calories does not help you burn them. On the other side of things, exercise alone isn't enough. If you go to the gym three hours a day but then hit up the McDonalds drive thru later on, you're just making things worse for yourself. You NEED to watch what you're eating AND exercise. I'll say it again: combine exercise & a healthy diet to see maximum results!

Myth #4: Never eat at night, it turns into fat!
I never believed this one entirely, but I thought it made more sense to eat during the day so you had a better chance of burning calories off.. I feel really dumb now. Calories don't have watches. What you need to do is make healthy choices after dinner. Opt for fruits or veggies, that's what I do! I cut out late night snacking on chips & ice cream & chocolate and traded it in for apples, broccoli, etc. Health snacks! The trick is to eat less, and eat healthier.

Myth #5 This has low fat & no sugar? I'll eat more!
This is something that a lot of people mess up on. They think that if something is low fat or has no sugar, they can pig out on it. Not true. Low fat doesn't mean no calories.

Myth #6: If I lift weights, I'll bulk up! 
No, no, no. Lifting weights will not turn you into a bodybuilder. Strength training should already be a regular part of your exercise plan (at least 2-3 times a week) because we all (should) know that these activities will lead to building muscle and the more muscle you have, the more calories you burn. The only way you will bulk up is if you're really trying to by doing intense training. The heaviest weight I own (besides the adjustable one) is 10 lbs, which is more than enough for most exercises.


Myth #7: I have to give up my favorite snacks & desserts to lose weight.
Anything is fine in moderation! Depriving yourself of the things you love to eat will only make you miserable and more likely to fail. Allow yourself a small incentive a few times a week, but make sure you keep it small. Portion control is key!

Myth #8: Aerobics are better than strength training. 
True, you'll burn more fat during an aerobic exercise, but the benefits from aerobics end shortly after exercising. Strength training, however, keeps your metabolism alive long after the workout is over. Look at it this way; weight training is like a salary, whereas aerobics is the bonus. (Taken from here, click!)

Myth #9: My perfect weight is whatever the height & weight chart says it is. 
Again, this is totally wrong. Everyone has a different body type & shape. Genetics play a role, as does your metabolism. I am big boned, for example. I am 5'8" and so I "should" weigh around 146. HA! I have always been bigger than other people, even when I was thin, I still weighed more than most of my female friends. When I got down to 170, I looked stick thin and emaciated, so surely I would look awful at 146. Everyone is different.

Not enough myths debunked for you? Well here is another quiz you can take. I think I handled most of the bigger myths here, but don't worry - I'll add more from time to time!

Motivational quotes for today:

Most of the shadows of this life are caused by our standing in our own sunshine.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

They can because they think they can.
- Virgil

 

You are the handicap you must face. You are the one who must choose your place.

- James Lane Allen

 

What progress, you ask, have I made? I have begun to be a friend to myself.
- Hecato, Greek philosopher