Google “how to lose weight” and you’ll find yourself flooded with a sea of information from experts and those posing as experts. It can get so confusing that you may end up just starving yourself or throwing your hands up in frustration and heading for the nearest Häagen-Dazs. Before you sabotage your mega-mojo, let me help you! It’s hard to separate the facts from the fiction, so here are six false statements that are important to be aware of when you’re trying to lose those extra pounds.
1. You have to eat breakfast.
Your mom may have told you that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but it’s possible she was only a little right. Although eating breakfast can get your energy and blood sugar moving in the right direction, studies have shown that it does little to move the scale.
Some researchers have concluded
that eating breakfast has little to no effect on weight loss, and in some cases has caused people to actually gain weight.
2. Carbs are the enemy.
The truth is that only some carbs are the enemy and not all carbs are created equal. White flour and sugar (complex and simple carbs) may be devoid of nutritional value and have empty calories, but other carbs—such as whole grain rice, quinoa, and farro—have a lot of nutrients, keep you feeling full, and stabilize your blood sugar. The key is to eat complex carbs responsibly by switching up the types that you eat (rotating them to get a variety of micronutrients) and sticking to their suggested serving size.
3. Fat is the enemy.
Fat does so many good things for your body. It nourishes your skin, delivers vitamins, and also helps you feel full (to name just a few). In order to experience the great benefits of fat, however, you must eat the right kind and eat it in moderation. Unsaturated fats found in foods like avocados, olives, and fish can help you be healthier and thinner and live longer!
4. As long as you’re drinking, you’re hydrating.
Being properly hydrated will keep your body full of energy, help you to not overeat, and keep your bloat in check. But it’s important to know that not all drinks are created equal; some drinks are diuretics and can cause you to lose all of the important water you’ve been storing. Coffee, tea, alcohol, pineapple juice, and coconut water can cause you to lose water, so it’s important that you keep drinking water and other nourishing liquids.
5. You can’t eat late at night.
False! If you’re consuming the appropriate number of calories for your body weight each day, it really doesn’t matter when you consume them. Putting total calories aside, though, if you have a tendency to overeat cake and ice cream while watching SNL (thus causing your caloric intake to go crazy), you may want to avoid the kitchen after 9 p.m.
6. As long as it’s low-fat or fat-free, it’s good for you.
You can first refer to No. 3 on this list and then read on and know that sugar—not fat—is a dieter’s enemy. Consuming sugar raises your blood sugar, causing your insulin to spike. When your insulin spikes it trips your body into storing fat. Low-fat or fat-free foods are often made to taste better with the addition of excess sugar, which is counterproductive to your weight loss journey.
Losing weight can be hard and confusing. These tips should help you on your path to success!