Weight loss can be confusing. Ads for different types of programs fill television and radio airwaves, and you can't walk into a store without seeing a book or magazine claiming to reveal weight-loss secrets. This information overload makes it hard to know whom to trust. But by keeping your eyes peeled for certain weight loss myths, you can sort out helpful tips from mere advertiser froth. Consult your doctor before beginning any new weight-loss program.
Weight-Loss Myth No. 1: You Should Avoid Certain Foods to Lose Weight
Many popular diets, from vegan diets to low-carbohydrate diets, are based on the idea that certain foods are uniquely fattening and, by avoiding them, you lose weight. In reality, no single food type is responsible for weight gain. No matter what you choose to eat, you will gain weight if you eat more calories than you use, the Mayo Clinic explains. To lose weight, you need to eat fewer calories, burn more calories through exercise, or do both.
Weight-Loss Myth No. 2: Certain Foods Cause Weight Loss
This myth states that certain foods, usually low-calorie foods such as celery, green tea or grapefruit, take more calories to digest than you get from them, and therefore burn fat. Medical experts disagree; there is simply no such thing as a food that burns fat, reports the Weight-Control Information Network, a service of the National Institutes of Health.
Weight-Loss Myth No. 3: There's One Perfect Way To Diet
It seems you can't turn on the TV without hearing advertisers loudly proclaiming that their diet program or product is "the one," the perfect weight-loss plan that will work where all others failed. The truth is that there isn't one "right" way to lose weight. Harvard University's School of Public Health explains that the key to weight loss is finding a plan that works for your unique needs. For example, if you enjoy cooking, you might want a plan that allows you to make your own meals rather than one where you eat prepared foods.
Weight-Loss Myth No. 4: You Have to Spend Lots of Money to Lose Weight
Despite what advertisers would have you believe, you can lose weight without spending a cent. The Internet is filled with free resources you can use for calorie counting, planning healthy, low-calorie meals, and designing an exercise program. That's not to say, however, that you should never spend money on weight loss. Investing in a good pair of walking shoes or low-cost exercise equipment such as jump ropes or fitness balls can often pay off. Just use common sense, and remember that if a program seems too good to be true, it probably is.
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