There are so many different reasons for people to exercise. Some people turn to running to blow off some steam, or lifting weights to get the arms they have always wanted; there is no wrong reason to work out, but we want to make sure that it is benefiting you. One of the most common reasons to work out is with an end goal of weight loss.
If you are putting in all the hard work, you want to see the results. Take a look at some of these online weight loss myths and get your goal body! These myths are courtesy of Healthline.com
Losing Weight is a Linear Process
Weight loss is a fluctuating process. It is more normal for people to lose weight and then gain a few pounds before losing more than it is for them to lose a ton of weight right away. There are many reasons why this might happen, women carry extra water weight around during their menstrual cycle or you may be carrying more food in your digestive system at the time you weigh yourself. Losing weight is a long process. As long as, for the most part, weight is coming off then keep up the good work! If not, try switching it up. Do a different form of exercise or try a different diet.
All Calories are the Same
The calorie is a measurement of energy. Any calorie has the same energy content but that doesn’t mean that the calorie has the same effect on your weight. 100 calories from chicken is better for you than 100 calories from pasta. Calories from the chicken are going to boost your metabolism and reduce appetite and cravings unlike the pasta. Different foods travel through different metabolic pathways in your body and have different effects on hunger and the hormones that regulate your body weight.
Diet Foods can Help you Lose Weight
There are a lot of unhealthy things that are marked to make you think they are healthy. For example, low-fat, fat-free, and gluten-free foods are more processed and can contain even more sugar.
Obesity is about Willpower but not Biology
There are so many contributing factors to obesity and many of them have to do with your genetics. People with obesity tend to have dysfunctional biological pathways that are supposed to regulate body weight. This makes it hard for those people to lose weight and keep it off. This does not mean you should give up on trying to lose weight, it just means that you not working hard enough is not always the reason why the weight isnt coming off as quickly as you would like.
Carbs Make You Fat
It is true that low-carb diets can help with weight loss, that does not mean that carbs cause you to gain weight. Foods that are high in carbs are very healthy, but that is not true for foods with refined carbs like grains and sugar. Some good carbs are nuts, fruits, seeds, and whole grains. For the most part, single-ingredient carbs are good carbs.
You Must Eat Breakfast to Lose Weight
It is true that studies show breakfast skippers tend to weigh more than breakfast eaters but that is because people who eat breakfast are more likely to have a healthier lifestyle than those who skip breakfast. Eating breakfast or not does not have a direct effect on your weight loss nor does it boost your metabolism. If you want breakfast, eat breakfast, if you don’t, skip it. Eat when you are hungry and stop when you are full.
Fast Food is Always Fattening
Many people are trying to eat healthier, therefore, fast food restaurants are creating new, healthier meals. Obviously, you want to limit your fast food intake to lose weight, but try the grilled nuggets at Chick-fil-A or stop by and get a bowl of meat and veggies from Chipotle.
