Top 5 Dieting Myths

1. Cut Out Carbohydrates
Carbs provide the sugar that our bodies use for energy. Weight loss is often seen with reduced carb diets because of a loss of water, not fat. Yes it is true that we can gain weight from eating too many carbs, but that is only because we are consuming more sugar than our body is burning. Eating small amounts of healthy carbs throughout the day ensures that our energy levels stay high without worrying about weight gain.
2. Skip Meals
If you skip a meal, your metabolism will slow down because your body goes into starvation mode. This means that your body isn’t burning calories as it should be, and this way you end up storing more fat. Also, you may over eat at your next meal because you are so hungry. The best way to keep blood sugar levels balanced and your metabolism on high is to eat small, more frequent, balanced meals and snacks throughout the day.
3. Only Eat Fat-Free
We need fat for energy, repair, and vitamin absorption. Decrease saturated fats and trans fats, but keep the unsaturated fats in your diet, from olive oil, nuts, and avocados. Foods that are low in fat or fat free often add in extra sugars to keep flavour, as well as thickening agents such as corn syrup.
 4. Eating Any Fattening Foods Will Cause Weight Gain
 Indulging in high fat foods while on your diet, may cause a slight weight gain, it doesn’t actually mean its increased body fat. You need an extra 3500 calories to gain 1 pound of fat. This means you haven’t necessarily blown your diet if you eat a piece of cake one at a party. What will hurt you is if you continue to eat high fat, high sugar foods on a daily basis.
5. Crash Diets Work Well
 These types of diets (low calorie, fasting, or juice/soup diets) may help you lose weight quickly for the short term, but are not good for long term weight loss. This is because these diets not only make you lose body fat, but muscle as well. The loss of muscle means that your body will burn fewer calories, and need fewer calories each day to function. So once you go off this diet and begin eating more, you will likely put the weight back on.