Common Myths From The
Weight Loss Crowd
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Myth: You’ll be OK with a high protein/low carb diet
Fact: This type of diet
aims to secure most of the daily required amount of calories from
protein foods, such as meat, dairy products and eggs, with a very
small part taken from foods containing a lot of carbs (bread, pasta,
potatoes and fruits). The biggest problem with this diet is that
many common and popular foods are forbidden, which makes it easy
for the user to get bored or frustrated. When boredom and frustration
set in, quitting time is never far off. Another problem is the lack
of nutrients that are usually brought in by carbohydrate foods,
while allowing the user to eat bacon and cheese that raise cholesterol
levels.
The bottom line is that high protein/low carb diets result in fast
weight loss in some users, but it’s not just fat that goes
away. People also lose some of their lean muscle mass and a lot
of water as the kidneys work harder to rid the body of excess waste
from protein and fat.
The added stress to your kidneys is not healthy at all and, in
the long run, will lead to dehydration, headaches, feelings of nausea
and dizziness. Before engaging in a long-term diet, you would do
well to discuss it with your physician. And if you are really keen
on dieting, try a balanced diet first, because it will help you
lose weight without hurting your system.
Myth: Permanent weight loss can be achieved with fad diets.
Fact: This is yet another
common myth among the weight loss crowd. Like any other diet that
tells you to cut this or that food from your daily meals, fad diets
are not healthy for you. The cornerstone of any diet is supplying
the body with all the calories, proteins and minerals it needs.
Diets that cut out foods without regard for the needs of your body
cannot be healthy for you. Fad diets fail to deliver on the promise
of permanent weight loss because people will always crave the forbidden
foods and will always end up breaking the rules and ditching the
diet.
The key to making weight loss permanent is more exercise and to
avoid eating food that makes you fat without nourishing your body.
Our extensive studies confirmed the importance of exercising and
of a well-balanced diet.
Myth: Low-fat or no fat food is always a good choice.
Fact: The only low fat
foods that are also low in calories are fruits. The rest of the
huge low-fat or non-fat group are not a safe choice if you are dieting.
These products may have added sugar, starch or flour to make them
taste better, which means extra calories that do not belong into
your diet. So make sure you check the list of ingredients on packages
whenever you decide to buy low-fat.
Myth: Switching to vegetarian food will help you lose weight and
stay healthy.
Fact: I know this is a
hard pill to swallow, but no food plan will work for you unless
you take charge of your eating and make sure that everything that
goes past your lips is the right kind of food. The key here is to
be absolutely sure that the vegetarian diet will give your body
all the nutrients and calories it needs. Eating heaps of foods that
do nothing for you from the nutritional point of view, outside maybe
of filling your stomach, can bring you a lot of trouble in the future.
Since plants tend to have a lower concentration of nutrients than
meat, you will have to eat more food than before to make up for
this difference. Not to mention that a strictly vegetarian diet
will not get you enough vitamin B12, vitamin D, iron, calcium and
zinc. These substances are taken mostly from dairy products and
eggs in a regular diet, but true vegetarians can’t touch those.
You’ll have to rely on the few and uncommon vegetables that
can provide these substances.
Myth: Dairy products cause heart problems and make you fat.
Fact: Well, thanks to modern
medicine everybody knows that eating a lot of dairy products is
a surefire path to high blood pressure and stroke, although a large
group of people from France refuse to die despite the large quantities
of cheese and wine they consume.
Dairy products are the main source of calcium that keeps your bones
strong and healthy. It is absolutely essential for children and
can be in no way overlooked by adults. Dairy products also contain
vitamin D, which is crucial to maintaining the normal levels of
calcium and phosphorus in your bloodstream.
If you don’t want to gain weight from dairy products, then
choose low-fat or non-fat brands. There are enough of those around.
If you are lactose-intolerant, drink soy or rice milk. It does not
taste exactly the same as true milk, but it’s still good and
nutritious.
Butter and margarine are the only dairy products you should worry
about. They do contain big levels of fat. Still, if you can’t
do without them, at least eat butter. Margarine is an over-processed
fat that is not particularly good for you. Butter may be a bit fatter,
but it definitely is the healthier of these two.
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