5 Things You Need to Know About Weight Loss Myths

1. Carbohydrates Are Bad

"Cut out the carbs and lose the weight," is heard often, but not all carbohydrates cause weight gain. Unprocessed carbohydrates that come from whole grain are a necessary part of a healthy diet. In fact, they are more filling and consequently cause a person to eat less. The trick to weight loss is to eat good carbohydrates and other foods in moderation.

2. Don't Deprive Yourself

Most people trying to lose weight deprive themselves of something like sweets, cheese or bread products. Deprivation will not lead to sustainable weight loss, because the body will rebel and crave that very food. Instead of depriving the body of something it wants, use that sweet tooth to your advantage. Reward yourself for eating well during the week and have a hot fudge sundae on the weekend.

3. WIll the Weight Return?

Does this statement sound familiar? Studies show that 95 percent of people who lose weight will regain it and additional weight in time. According to Psychology Today, the basis for this myth is a study conducted in 1959 that incorporated only one hundred participants. A more recent study conducted in 1994 included 2800 respondents and found that on average they lost sixty-seven pounds over a five-year period and a majority kept the weight off. Therefore, permanent weight loss is not only possible but also probable, if a person is committed to changing their exercise and eating habits for the better.

4. Lifestyle's the Key

Don't think of weight loss as short-term. Weight loss by whatever means has to integrate permanently into a person's lifestyle. Radical changes in eating habits will most likely result in only temporary weight loss. To properly lose weight, healthy habits, whether going to the gym or decreasing the consumption of fast food, should become part of a person's daily routine. Think hard about what you do every day and how that contributes to your weight, and then alter or eliminate that activity.

5. It's All Willpower

People think that they cannot lose weight because their willpower is not strong enough to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Weight is not only about willpower; it is a complicated cocktail of genetics, metabolism, psychological and cultural factors. While self-control does play a role in weight loss, it is far from the sole determinant. So think positive and realize that weight loss is an attainable goal.