Recent trends show we are becoming a nation of dieters. We pile on the pounds only to lurch into yet another diet. Yo-yo diets, food fads, supplements and pills seem to be the answer. We may be obsessed with weight and image but the healthy eating message is being ignored.  How many times in a day do you think you talk about food, diets and who has put weight on and who has lost weight?

 

Weight Loss Resources works on the premise that when it comes to losing weight, or putting it on, it's the number of calories consumed that really counts.  Society is saturated with myths on how diets work, what’s the best diet and what you should and shouldn’t do.  How may times have you or someone you know said the following?

 

I always seem to be dieting; it doesn't work

 

I will starve myself to lose weight

 

No more crisps, chocolate or beer!

 

Skipping meals will help me to lose weight

 

You Shouldn’t Eat After 6pm

 

Drinking water will help weight loss

 

Cutting out all dietary fat is a sure way to lose weight

 

Carbohydrates are fattening

 

Food combining loses weight

 

Eating eggs will make me fat

 

Exercise alone will ensure weight loss

 

Diet drugs alone are the best way to lose weight

 

People who are slim are healthy

 

 

Now lets take a proper look at these myths to find out what is fact or fiction.

 

I Always Seem to be Dieting; it Doesn't Work

 

Losing weight is a scientific matter; if you make sure that you consume fewer calories you will lose weight.

 

Calories consumed - calories expended = weight loss!   

 

I Will Starve Myself to Lose Weight

 

It's not how much you eat but what you are eating. Some foods contain a lot more calories than others. One small cake can contain more calories than a piece of chicken and a plateful of vegetables (and leave you feeling a lot less full).  It’s also a scientific fact that if you stop eating regularly your body will only hold on to its reserves. The body goes into "starvation" mode in the fear of not getting food soon if you don’t eat.  Not eating is one of the slowest and unhealthiest ways to loose weight

 

No More Crisps, Chocolate or Beer!

 

There are no "good" and "bad" foods. Your diet should be healthy and balanced with some treats. Make adjustments to your eating habits to allow treats in moderation. Depriving yourself will not help.  If you cut out all of these foods you will feel deprived and will crave them constantly.  A small amount of what you like will not do you any harm; and will have little or no effect on your weight loss success.

 

Skipping Meals will Help me Lose Weight

 

If you stop eating regularly your body will only hold on to its reserves. The body goes into "starvation" mode in the fear of not getting food soon. There is also danger that by not eating all day you will overeat or binge in the evening.  It is very important that you eat breakfast as it’s the fuel that kick starts your metabolism.

 

You Shouldn’t Eat After 6pm

 

Eating in the evenings can mean you eat more. You're at home, relaxed, near the fridge and can pick. However, calories are the same at any hour, therefore the body processes calories in the same way at any time of the day.  However, if you eat late at night you won’t be able to digest your food properly and this may result in indigestion and struggling to sleep.

 

Drinking Water will Help Weight Loss

 

Water has no calories, it fills you up and helps to keep you hydrated. Water does not increase the rate at which the body burns calories.

 

Cutting Out all Dietary Fat is a Sure Way to Lose Weight

 

Although fats are a major contributor to obesity, many of the fats we eat are essential for the smooth running of our metabolism. Upset this fine-tuning and you may find losing weight very difficult. Try to ensure that you eat sufficient polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, whilst cutting down on saturated fat. Oily fish, such as mackerel and tuna is an excellent source of essential fat.

 

Carbohydrates are Fattening

 

There is no scientific evidence to suggest that carbohydrates are fattening. Too many calories (whether from carbs, protein or fat) will make you gain weight

Carbohydrates are an important source of energy and vital nutrients for the body and Carbohydrates are an important part of an overall healthy weight loss diet. Withdrawing carbohydrates from the main ingredient of your daily energy supplies will leave you feeling completely drained and unable to effectively, which is not a good position to be in as you try to motivate yourself into loosing weight.  Most carbohydrates are low in fat and it is only the fat that is added that makes them fattening.  For example, potatoes and bread are healthy and low in fat, but become fattening when you add butter, cream or mayonnaise.

 

Food Combining Loses Weight

 

There is no scientific evidence that separating carbohydrates from protein will reduce the rate at which you loss weight. The human body is developed to deal with different food groups and it needs all the combined nutrients to ensure a healthy, balanced diet.

 

Eating eggs will make me fat

 

Eggs are an excellent source of nutrients. The latest research has found that the major dietary risk in obesity is saturated fat - eggs contain very little of this type of fat. Eggs are also relatively low in calories (1 egg, hardboiled = 75 kcal) and dietary recommendations allow for one egg per day.  If you are dieting thought you must cook eggs without fat.

 

Exercise Alone will Ensure Weight Loss

 

No matter how much you exercise you will not use weight unless you combine it with a healthy eating plan.  A complete plan for losing weight includes a well-balanced diet and a carefully planned exercise or activity programme. Only by combining both components can you expect to succeed in losing weight, and keep the weight off. Concentrating on exercise alone will not achieve this. Yes, it is true that exercise is greatly beneficial and it does burn off calories but not in sufficient quantities to have resounding effects on weight loss.

 

Diet Drugs Alone are the Best Way to Lose Weight

 

Certain diet medications have been officially approved and therefore hold a license in Britain for those who are medically obese.  However, they cannot and should not be used alone. They must be used as part of the overall diet plan.  Successful weight loss requires a long-term strategy. It should never be reliant on short-term therapies alone.

 

People Who are Slim are Healthy

 

Being slim doesn’t necessarily mean you are healthy.  Having a bad diet is unhealthy no matter what size you are.  Everyone should eat a combined diet of fruit, vegetables, protein (not for vegetarians), carbohydrates, dairy products and a certain amount of far.  

 

As you can see most of what we know about dieting is a myth, the plain facts are the same for everyone.  Eat healthy food on a regular basis and exercise regularly and you will lose weight and more importantly you will be healthy.