Common Dieting Myths Revealed
You may have intended to start a diet many times in the past, only to shy away from it because of some of the things you’ve heard.
Or perhaps you just doubt that you will ever succeed, no matter how hard you try.
Well, it’s understandable that you might feel this way.
So before you do embark on a diet it’s vitally important that you understand there are many myths about successful dieting, and we’re going to expose some of the worst ones today.
- The number one myth people fall prey to is that you can lose weight fast by eliminating as many calories as possible from your diet or by starving yourself. This is an extremely unhealthy way to go about dieting because your body goes into starvation mode, shutting down as much weight loss as possible. Some people only want to lose weight fast because they have an outfit they want to fit into for a special occasion coming up next week. Don’t wait until the last minute to start a diet.
- Another myth we face in our quest for a slimmer waistline is the one that tells us to only eat a certain type of food all day, every day. Grapefruit, pepper-laden water, and even hot dog diet fads have resulted in many binges over the years. Following dangerous fad diets means your body’s not getting the necessary nutrients it needs to fight off illnesses and stay healthy.
- You may have also heard that you can never stray from your diet. If you do, you’ll need to exercise for hours to make up for it. This isn’t true. It’s okay to have that fudge brownie once in awhile. You only need to adjust your calorie intake for the day, and there’s really no need to exercise for hours just to compensate for one little treat whilst dieting.
- One myth you may hear is the one that says you can’t eat before you go to bed, because you’ll get fat in your sleep. This one isn’t true because sensible dieting only means that you’re eating healthy and watching your calorie intake for the day. Having a light snack before bed isn’t going to make a big difference unless it’s a 7-course meal or a full gallon of Ben and Jerry’s Cherry Garcia.
- How about the one that says you can’t eat anything between meals while dieting? It’s better that you do eat snacks. Eat smaller meals throughout the day to keep your hunger satisfied. By eliminating snacks between meals, you’re only going to make yourself hungrier at meal times, which cause you to eat a lot more than you really need just to satisfy your hunger.
- There’s another myth that says you shouldn’t consume any dairy products at all because they’re too fattening. Dairy contains nutrients your body needs, so you should have some dairy – in fact, some studies suggest those who do consume dairy products, have better weight loss success! Just make sure you limit your amounts and go for the low-fat versions.
Whatever you do, don’t fall victim to the myriad of diet myths circulating, and most particularly those you’ll find on the internet. A healthy balance of proper eating (most of the time) and exercise can work wonders for your dieting success!
Copyright © Quinessence Aromatherapy Ltd 2023. Written by Geoff Lyth
