Fact Or Fiction? Discovering Different Myths About Weight Loss

There are various common concepts about weight loss and dieting that can make it hard to distinguish between fact and fiction in regards to healthy eating and losing weight. Weight loss myths can end up making you gain weight and diminishing your health and fitness goals.

Eating after 8 pm

• The theory of avoiding food after 7 pm or 8 pm is based on the belief that the food you consume earlier is burnt up while calories at night remain in your system and are transformed into fat. The reality is that calories are not actually aware of time. The body uses calories and digests in the same way throughout the day.
• If you eat and sleep on the couch, they may stay around longer but your body will dip into the storage when you move around the next day. However, there are other valid reasons for avoiding late-night snacks. The snacks that you grab at night when you are tired are usually unhealthy ones.
• Try cutting out the snacks if you have a tendency of unwinding before bed with buttered popcorn or ice cream. The calories you save will add up and might be enough for significant weight loss each year. Eat something light if you feel hungry, such as cereal with milk or a piece of fruit.

Small and Frequent Meals

The theory of eating small meals frequently to boost your metabolism is founded on small amounts of food serving as fuel for your metabolism. Contrary to popular belief, food intake does not have a major impact on metabolism. Don’t believe these ones here.

Certain foods such as those that contain caffeine may temporarily and slightly increase metabolism. However, the effect would be too small to aid weight loss. Body size and composition influence your basal metabolic rate, which is why more muscles generally burn more calories. Building up your muscles will help over time, which is why strength training is crucial for anyone who wants to lose weight.

Drinking Coffee

The relationship between coffee and weight loss is based on the caffeine content acting as a metabolism booster and an appetite suppressant. Although coffee can diminish your appetite temporarily, drinking some cups each day will not be effective enough to help you lose weight.

Additionally, excessive coffee consumption may lead to an increase in blood pressure and heart rate, sleeplessness, and anxiety. You can enjoy one or two cups of the brew but you need to consider whether you will be adding items such as cocoa powder, sugar or cream, and account for those calories.

Fad Diets

Switching to a prescribed diet is often regarded as a temporary and smart way to lose weight. You may lose weight on a plan that involves eating fewer calories but short-term changes do not lead to long-term losses.

Rather than going on a diet as a quick fix to fit into a certain suit or attend an event, consider changing the way you eat. Identify a realistic and satisfying plan that you can sustain on a long-term basis and ensure that you consume an appropriate amount of calories to drop the pounds.