Published on 03:56 PM, August 19, 2023

5 weight loss myths

Photo: Collected

There are many tips for weight loss on the internet. If you are trying to lose weight, you have probably read a tonne of articles to find the right food, diet, and exercise to guide yourself. However, before you can start getting healthy, you need to get rid of a few false beliefs about weight loss. Here are 5 myths and assumptions about losing weight that you should know.

"Low-fat foods are the better option"

Many junk foods have been marketed as healthy. Low-fat or fat-free foods, diet soft drinks, and processed gluten-free meals are a few examples. You should be cautious of any claims regarding health on food packages, especially for such processed things. Even if an item is labelled as healthy, you should not always believe it. Products promoted as "diet foods" are often highly processed and may include hidden additives that are not healthy. Some of these may include extra sugar or salt, which can eventually harm your body.

"Removing fat in specific body areas"

Some people want to lose fat from specific areas of their bodies, like their thighs, stomachs, arms, or faces. This kind of pinpointing is impossible in the actual world. We have no control over how our bodies will react to weight reduction or which areas of fats will go earliest. Nonetheless, if weight reduction is accompanied by activities designed to tone a specific area, the result might create the appearance of more localised weight loss. But otherwise, targeting fat loss in specific places is quite impractical and not possible.

"Carbs increase your weight"

Certain foods that are high in fat and low in carbs seem to help people lose weight. This is because our bodies need good fats to speed up their metabolism. But, carbs are not the only cause of weight gain. In fact, a healthy diet needs foods like fruits and vegetables, and whole grains, and these are all high in carbs. Your body will require carbs for energy and more, so eating them in moderation is hardly going to impact your weight loss significantly.

"Cutting all sugar to lose weight"

As a continuation of the myths that were just discussed, everybody is aware that there are several calories in sugar in its many forms. A person who is interested in losing weight does not, however, need to remove sugar from their diet completely in order to be successful. As is the case with everything else, moderation is the way to go. Instead, you should try to stay away from foods and drinks that have sugar added to them.

"Juice cleanses helps weight loss"

Juice cleaning is a trendy diet that eliminates solid meals and includes only fruit and vegetable juices. Juice cleanses may temporarily reduce weight, but they are unrealistic. No research shows drinking juice aids in weight reduction. Juicing can be a part of a healthy diet but the drink itself cannot burn fat or get rid of toxins, as some believe. When you eat solid meals again, you will likely gain weight as this method loses water weight only since consuming so much juice makes you urinate more.

 Overall, it can be challenging to lose weight. Everyone's body and needs are different, so it does not help to compare your weight loss process to someone else's. As a repercussion, keep in mind that if a "weight loss miracle" appears too tempting to be true, it generally is. Hopefully, the information provided will be helpful for anyone who is starting a weight reduction programme this year. Good luck!