Fact or Fiction? 5 Weight-loss Myths Busted

It’s difficult to keep track of what the latest recommendations are for weight loss — one friend tells you she doesn’t eat carbs after noon, another tells you she skips breakfast.

Here are 5 common weight-loss myths busted.

Myth 1: Eat three meals a day.

Some people like to eat three meals a day and two snacks. Others like to eat six mini-meals throughout the day. Generally speaking, both are fine for weight loss. It comes down to personal preference, and what fits in someone’s lifestyle. Just make sure you aren’t eating fewer than three times a day.

Here are some healthy snacks for weight loss.

Myth 2: Carbohydrates make you fat.

It’s not the carbs that make you gain weight, it’s the calories in your daily diet that make you gain or lose weight. If you eat more calories than your body needs, you gain weight. If you eat fewer than your body needs, you lose weight. Carbohydrates get a bad reputation because so many “snack” or “junk” foods are filled with carbohydrates. Practice good portion control, count calories and you can eat carbs.

Myth 3: Never eat at night.

Again, it’s not when you eat, but how much you eat and how those calories factor into those you’ve already eaten throughout the day. It’s okay to have a sweet or snack after dinner, but don’t overdo it and make sure you count those calories towards your overall daily requirements.

Myth 4: If I exercise, I can eat.

Too many people overestimate how many calories they burn during a workout. Unless you are exercising for more than one hour a day or running a marathon, you shouldn’t need to eat more to compensate for calories burned during exercise.

Here are the best calorie-burning exercises.

Myth 5: Weightlifting will make me gain weight.

While it is true that muscle weighs more than fat, it takes more energy to maintain muscle mass. So the more muscle you have, the more your body burns at rest to keep those muscles healthy. Frequently, people who start weightlifting programs report they gain weight. This may actually be water weight. As muscles grow, they retain water. A new weightlifting program may show an initial weight gain, but that weight is lost as time goes on.

Do you have any weight-loss myths to bust? What weight-loss tips work for you?

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