The topic of weight loss is a confusing one. Every day, a new diet - TopicsExpress

The topic of weight loss is a confusing one. Every day, a new diet pops up, making new claims, telling us to eat (or not to eat) a certain food, drink certain things, exercise in a specific way, all of them “promising” massive amounts of weight loss. Yet, with all of these claims and diets, people are still trying to find the “magic diet” that works best for them. So, what does this tell us? It tells us that a lot of what you’re seeing, hearing and reading out there about diets just isn’t going to help, or that you’ll lose large amounts of weight in a short period of time which is unsustainable and therefore likely that you’ll gain all the weight back pretty quickly. Let’s take a look at some of the top weight loss myths and break them down a little more. Myth #1 – “Low-fat” or “fat-free” means it’s better for me. This is definitely not the case! Often, when fat-free foods are created, something else is added in order to make up for the taste shift that occurs. Often, the caloric intake increases in low-fat foods and if not, other chemicals are often added, such as artificial sweeteners or artificial colorings and flavorings to enhance the taste. All of these allow for a low-fat product, but one that isn’t actually good for you due to the additional harmful ingredients. We also don’t want to avoid eating those healthy fats which are essential for key body functions. It all comes down to choosing the right fats, so don’t take them out altogether! Myth #2 – All carbohydrates are bad for you. The most common and perhaps most popular weight loss diets involve eliminating carbs, sometimes almost entirely. The value really lies in choosing the right kind of carbohydrate. Our body needs carbohydrates as a source of fuel; we just have to make the right choices. Complex carbs, starches and fibers, such as fruits and veggies, are better options than simple carbs, which we find in candy, chocolate and other unhealthy snacks. Studies find that restricting a complete macronutrient group IS NOT successful in achieving weight loss, UNLESS caloric restrictions are applied. What does this mean? As long as you eat within your necessary caloric range, it’s okay to eat those nutritious carbohydrate-dense foods. We have three macronutrient groups for a reason – make sure you get them all in the right way. Myth #3 – Snacking is bad. False! You don’t need to starve to lose weight. If you’re hungry between your meals – EAT! Have a snack; just make it a healthy choice. Often, when we’re hungry, we don’t want to “spoil our meal”. Actually, if you wait too long, you get too hungry and end up over-eating and making poor food choices in order to satisfy your hunger. It’s always best to eat five small meals during the day. It’s also a great way to get in your fruits and veggies! Over 70% of North Americans use snacking as their method of incorporating veggies into their day. Carrots and hummus, anyone? Myth #4 – A calorie is a calorie. Well, not exactly! Many people assume that to lose weight, you have to cut calories. Period. It’s a bit more complicated than that. It’s true that caloric restrictions must be applied when attempting to lose weight; however, food choices make a big difference. Weight loss results, as well as an overall sense of well-being will be affected based on the types of food you choose. Studies find that in calorie-restricted diets that restrict food groups, individuals may feel lethargic, suffer from depression and actually develop adverse health conditions. Conversely, those who restrict calories, but include all key food groups in balanced proportions, will experience greater weight loss, improved energy, mood, focus and overall sense of well-being. So, next time you’re looking for a snack, skip the 100-calorie chocolate thins or Oreo packs, and try something a little more balanced. You’ll see and feel a big difference! Looking for a little extra weight loss support? Try Truestar’s weight management supplements to get you there faster and to maintain those hard-earned results. Try TrueBASICS with Lean Extreme, TrueTHERMO and TrueCARB Blocker to get you to those results a little faster and a little healthier. You can even try TrueGLUCO Control to keep the blood sugar steady and to manage those food cravings.