If you’re someone who has a few pounds to lose, you’re not alone. Statistics show that as many as 65% of the population considers themselves overweight in the United States alone. After all, we live in modern times where people are less physically active, and our nutritional choices aren’t always, well—nutritional.
If you’ve decided that you’re ready to finally lose the weight you’ve been wanting to shed, then it helps to know some of the most common misconceptions beforehand. Avoiding these misconceptions can help you save time, and ultimately achieve better results that are likely to last.
Here are some of the biggest weight loss myths you should know before you dive into your weight loss journey.
Crash Diets Promise Fast Results
Crash diets, like totally eliminating one food group or eating nothing but soup for five days, may seem so extreme that they must be effective. However, the results are often extremely short-lived and ultimately detrimental to your health. When you subject yourself to prolonged calorie and nutrient restriction, you may experience weight loss, but in many cases, you’re losing muscle in addition to fat.
Sustainable weight loss is not about extreme measures for long periods of time but rather a balanced and gradual process that will slowly start to show physically. Slow and steady is always the way to go.
Targeting One Exercise Area Is Effective Exercise
We’ve all seen workouts that promise guaranteed results in one specific area of our body, like our thighs or our abs. However, targeting only one area of your body is not going to make a difference. If you’re eating donuts and hamburgers for every meal, then you’re not going to see the payoff of your 5000 sit-ups.
You have to lose fat all over your body to see a difference in one area. Overworking one specific area of your body, also known as “spot reduction,” won’t magically make that one area of your body slimmer than the rest.
Focus on a comprehensive workout that includes every area of your body and encompasses both strength and cardiovascular activities. This all-inclusive approach will not only work faster but will lead to a more balanced and toned physique.
All Calories are Calories
When people are counting calories, they may assume that all calories are created equally. However, the reality is that not all calories are the same when it comes to weight loss. Even though counting calories may be a useful way to cut pounds, the quality of your calories matters and will make a difference in how your body burns these calories.
For example, 50 calories of almonds are not going to be used for energy the same way that 50 calories of Oreos will. The more nutrient-dense your foods are with plenty of minerals and vitamins, the more energy this food will give you, and the less hungry you’ll get faster. In other words, opting for healthy calories instead of empty ones will help curb your appetite and ultimately lead to better weight loss results.
You Need a Big Breakfast
One of the oldest myths surrounding nutrition and weight loss is the idea that you have to have a huge breakfast to sustain your energy for the rest of the day. Unfortunately, this couldn’t be further from the truth.
When you start your day with a sugar spike, you’re going to get hungrier faster and also find yourself getting more tired earlier on. This is why experts swear by the power of fasting in the mornings.
By letting your body run on its natural energy reserve from the food you ate the day before, you’ll maintain a healthy glucose level and a solid energy level until late morning till lunch. Not to mention, you’ll experience the added benefit of being in a caloric deficit since you skipped breakfast. That means you can be a little more lenient with your servings at lunch and allow yourself a more generous portion.
