Wednesday 19 February 2014

Myths About Weight Loss

All of us today are interested in looking slim and thin. But being slim doesn't mean that you are fit at the same time. Having a fit and healthy body calls for a proper healthy diet plan and not just dieting and ceasing food intake. There are several diet plans that are available these days but what is important is to realize that what would be suitable to you and practically possible for you to follow.

Every other person you meet can give you a page’s lecture about diet, types of diet, time of eating, what to eat and when.....and it can go on for forever. But there are certain myths related to weight loss and diet. It is important for you to know them before you start any diet plan or take up those advices.

ONE: DO NOT EAT AFTER 8 PM

Time of eating is not important – quantity and quality of the food is important. However, eating early in the evening aids in digestion of the food and keeps the gut relaxed during sleeping. Its important that you finish your meal at least 2-3 hours before you go to bed. Moreover, late night eating is often associated with bingeing on foods that are far from good calories and may lead to unnecessary weight gain.

TWO: CARBS ARE BAD

Not all carbs are bad. There are some Good Carbs though. The bad ones (simple and refined sugars) are rapidly digested and absorbed resulting in blood sugar increases, lipid profile derangements and weight gain. Good carbs however, are rich in fiber and help to remove extra cholesterol and sugar from the system. Since they take a longer time to get digested and absorbed, they increase the metabolic rate and help in calorie burning thus preventing weight gain.

THREE: GRAM MEASUREMENT OF FOOD IS EQUAL

All grams of food stuffs are not equal. Also the calorie provided by different grams of foods is different. 1 gm of carbs provides 4 kcal; 1 gm of proteins provides 4 kcals and 1 gm of fat provided 9 kcals. Also there would be a difference in the calories provided by 20 gm of wheat flour and 20 gm of cooked rice. Limiting the number of grams of fat and carbs you consume each day makes it easier to stay in your caloric budget (and your skinny jeans).

FOUR: WEIGHT LOSS PRODUCTS CLAIMS ARE EFFECTIVE

A food product claiming to be “low fat or low calorie” may not necessarily be healthy. Not all diet pills claiming to reduce fats and all therapies claiming fat loss may be safe. The drug/ food/ therapy needs to be approved and certified by FDA.

FIVE: SWEATING IS INDICATIVE OF WEIGHT LOSS

If you are not sweating probably you are not working hard......is a total myth. There is absolutely no relation between perspiration and weight loss. During perspiration, one is losing water with electrolytes and NOT FAT. The sweating capacity of every individual is different and sweat is an indicator of the cooling mechanism of the body.

SIX: HUNGER ALARMS TO EAT

Rather you should be eating according to your time and meal pattern. If you are eating according to your hunger pangs, you will end up eating more as the feeling of satiety occurs late. You should try and not skip meals so as to avoid over-eating. Moreover, when you are over-eating, rarely there is a chance that you would eat healthy foods. So do not wait for your hunger alarms.

SEVEN: WEIGHT LOSS IS A BEHAVIOR

Weight loss is a behaviour rather than numbers. Numbers are not that important as they may not be true representative of weight. There are several factors that affect the weight and all of them are not under our direct control. So weighing every single day may not be very helpful.

Weight loss goal requires modification in your complete routine, leave alone diet. Dietary modifications may not be completely effective if there is no proper routine for exercise, inadequate sleep and long sitting hours. Impractical goals are not only difficult to achieve but demoralizing at the same time.