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The Skinny on 4 Popular Diet Myths that Actually Make You Gain Weight

The Skinny on 4 Popular Diet Myths that Actually Make You Gain Weight

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by March 18, 2020 Health and Fitness

Summer is just around the corner. With the change in season comes our annual obsession with losing weight in time to look good for shorts and midriff-baring shirts, bikinis or swim shorts at the poolside or beach and that slimmer business suit you’ve always been wanting.

Losing weight is easier said than done. Popular diet myths, perpetuated by diet fads that tell you to cut the carbs, cut the fat, cut the (insert food here), don’t help. Here are four popular diet myths that don’t help you lose weight, and what YOU can do to actually see a change on the scale. And if you are looking for some surgical process that can help you in losing weight then, The Boston liposuction plastic surgeon offers several types of liposuction according to your body fat which makes this process quite effective. 

Diet Myth #1: To really lose weight, you have to cut all the calories out of your diet.

What’s the stereotypical problem with diets over the long term? The dieter always ends up caving for his or her cravings. Technically, you would lose weight if you ate half as much as usual. However, realistically you cannot sustain such a diet and will end up making up for it in the future, thereby negating any weight loss you might have gained.

What then should you do if you want to lose weight? First, don’t stop eating or cutting your meal portions. Reducing your calories is a great idea, but only to the amount that will sustain your activity levels and lifestyle in a healthy manner. Don’t starve yourself just to lose weight! It might give you short term weight loss, but not in a manner that will last.

Diet Myth #2: You can boost your metabolism by eating many small meals throughout the day. A higher metabolism will then help you lose weight!

Quite honestly, how much food you eat or when you eat it (including diets that tell you that eating at certain hours is better than others) hardly affects your body’s metabolism rate. Eating 2,000 calories in three meals or 2,000 calories in 7 small meals is still 2,000 calories in a day.

What really makes a difference in how you burn fat is your body composition. More lean muscles boost your metabolism, while higher fat percentages in your body lower how many calories your body burns.

Healthy, efficient dieting isn’t just about cutting calories, but also about working out. Increase your muscles and you will increase your body’s metabolism, leading to healthy and sustained weight loss!

Diet Myth #3: All fat is bad, so you should eat as much fat-free food as you can.

While many people have debunked this myth, many consumers still equate “fat” in food with the fat hanging on your waist. Just take a look at your grocery store’s shelves to find proof that “fat-free” food is still a popular fad.

Instead of cutting fat, focus on healthy fruits and vegetables that are naturally low on fat but also balanced in healthy things like fiber and vitamins. Some fats are even good for you, such as the fats found in nuts and fish.

Of course, you should avoid certain types of fat, including trans fats. However, don’t obsess yourself with the fat content in your diet, but rather focus on eating healthy, balanced meals to lose weight!

Diet Myth #4: Drinking milk or eating dairy can help you lose weight.

The milk industry in the United States has marketed milk as a way to lose weight, as can e seen on industry sites like WhyMilk.com. Not true says scientists (source). Milk clogs arteries and is full of all sorts of unhealthy fats and impurities. While calcium might help you to lose weight, you can easily find healthy sources of calcium in dark, leafy vegetables and soy milk for delicious alternatives to milk.

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