Diet & Fitness Myths

There are many different advice out there regarding diet and fitness. Here are some of the most common myths and the truth about them – by Catrin Morgan. 

  Skipping breakfast helps you lose weight

After a whole night without food your body needs to top up your energy supplies making breakfast the most important meal of the day. There are many reports that suggests skipping breakfast makes you gain weight so just by getting up a little bit earlier in the morning and having just a quick bowl of cereal or a piece of fruit can help you with your weight. Eating breakfast also kick starts your metabolism.

Foods high in fat or sugar will make you gain weight

A gram of fat contains twice as many calories than protein or carbohydrates but it’s the total number of calories consumed each day/week, whether it’s from protein, carbohydrates or fat; the fat itself does not make you fat. Carbohydrates can lift your mood, charge up your brain and help you feel fuller for longer
therefore aiding your weight loss.

 You can choose a particular area of your body to lose fat from

If you want to lose weight in a particular area, like your stomach, just doing sit ups and crunches won’t do it. You can do those but you need to focus on cardiovascular exercises like running and consume 500 fewer calories than your body needs per week. This will burn fat all over your body, not just a particular spot.

Vegetarian diets are better for you

With proper research vegetarian diets can be very healthy but it doesn’t mean it’s any healthier than a properly researched normal meat involved diet. Meat provides minerals, vitamins and proteins. Too much or too little of either can be harmful and lead to illness so it’s best to understand the basics of nutrition.

Women who use weights will become very muscular

Women don’t produce enough testosterone to build muscles like you’d see in men or female body builders; female body builders use a dangerous mix of steroids to achieve their muscles. Lifting weights actually helps tone and sculpt your body, burning many calories.

Diet drinks are better for you

Drinks such as Diet Coke etc. are marketed to convince you that they are a healthier option than their previous drink such as Coco Cola but even though they do have slightly less calories, these diet drinks actually have artificial sweeteners, sodium and phosphoric acid which could be potentially harmful. Diet drinks are also thought to lead to weight gain by making our brain think that sugar is being delivered without sending any therefore setting off our cravings.

 Exercising everyday will make you lose weight quicker

Overdoing exercise can make weight loss stop to a halt. By working out every day you will burn a lot of energy which will increase your appetite which increases the likelihood of comfort eating. It is best to work out every other day so your body gets the rest it needs and to change up your routine moving from cardio to weight training etc. and gradually increase the amount of time you spend working out over time.

 Skipping meals helps you lose weight

Just like skipping breakfast, skipping meals in general has the opposite effect. When you skip meals your body holds on to the calories when you do eat and slows your metabolism which can make you likely to overeat, eat more high sugar foods and snack. If you’re hungry between meals and have to snack, try something like fruit or smoothies.

 Fats are bad for you

Not all fats are bad for you, unsaturated fats such as avocados, nuts and fish which help support proper cell function and protect against some diseases. Saturated fats which are worse for you are found in diary, eggs and meat.

Stopping smoking makes you gain weight

Although some people do gain weight after giving up smoking, this is not true for everyone. Everyone is different. Smoking does increase your metabolism making smokers feel the need to eat less than others but severe weight gain will only happen if ex smokers replace food with cigarettes. Eat healthy snacks to help stop your cravings, exercise also helps and stops weight gain.

Late night eating make you gain weight

There is no set time to stop eating in the evening but the quality and quantity of the food that you eat during the day is what counts. If people skip meals during the day and then overeat in the evening this will cause weight gain. If you eat breakfast and meals in the day you’ll be less likely to overeat in the
evenings.

Organic food is healthier than non organic food

Non organic foods are grown using pesticides while or
ganic food is grown naturally. Although it is better for the environment it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s
better for your health. Organic cakes and yogurts are loaded with as much sugar, fats and salt as non organic products which shows organic doesn’t mean
less calories. 

No eating before you exercise 

By not eating before you work out you won’t work as hard and will burn fewer calories. Though this doesn’t mean you should eat big meals before a workout; try a small meal or snack like fruit or a yogurt.

Skipping meals then drinking alcohol will help lose weight

Not only does alcohol contain calories but the more you drink on an empty stomach the hungrier you’ll become. This might cause you to eat on the way home from a take away later that night which then fills your body with the calories you were trying to avoid earlier.