| Weight loss advertisements are generally deceptive. It is easy to get confused and mislead. Hence it is important to help clear up confusions about weight loss, nutrition and physical activity. A registered dietitian or a qualified health professional will be able to advise a healthy eating plan and how to lose weight safely and more importantly how to keep it off. |
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There is no single method for weight loss that can be completely relied upon. Weight loss, which is healthy and consistent, requires to be continuously monitored and will be more successful when followed only in combination with one or more methods.Even a weight loss surgery can be termed successful only if it is followed by a healthy eating plan.
With the present trend to be slim, several myths on weight loss are gaining popularity,particularly in women. A proper judgment of these and understanding their scientific background is advised. A few such myths are explained here.
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Fad diets work for permanent weight loss: Diets that limit food choices or avoid certain food types are unhealthy as they deprive your body of important vitamins and nutrients and lead to tiredness or anemia. Your body will be low on energy, causing you to crave high-fat and high-sugar foods. This type of diet becomes very boring and is difficult to sustain. Crash diets are unlikely to result in long-term weight loss. In fact, they can sometimes lead to longer-term weight gain.
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High-protein/low-carbohydrate diets are a healthy way to lose weight: A balanced diet is not achieved by eating only high protein foods like meat, eggs and cheese. If the body is not sufficiently supplied with carbohydrates, the body accumulates partially broken-down fats in the blood. This leads to high levels of uric acid, causing problems like gout (a painful swelling of the joints) and kidney stones. This becomes more complicated in pregnant women and people with Diabetes or kidney disease.
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Starches are fattening and should be limited: Certain starchy foods like rice and potatoes are low in fat and calories and work as energy source for the body. Eaten in the right quantities starch and carbohydrates will not cause weight gain; however, they are low in fiber and it is advisable to consume somegreen vegetables or whole pulses to add fiber into a refined carbohydrate meal,containing rice and potatoes.
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| Certain foods, like grapefruit, celery, or cabbage soup, can burn fat and make you lose weight:This is highly impossible as foods by themselves can not burn fat.Certain foods high in Caffeine can increase the rate of metabolism. In order to lose weight, the calorie intake maybe reduced and physical activity is to be increased—in other words, one has to create a negative calorie balance. |
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Herbal weight-loss products and slimming pills are safe and effective:All such marketed products even with the herbal tag are not necessarily tested or safe. Some of these can cause serious health risks and may even prove fatal. It is important to understand the role of these products and to check on their scientific evidence. They should only be used when prescribed by a doctor.
Low-fat or fat-free means no calories: The so-called processed low-fat or fat-free foods have just as many calories as the full-fat version of the same food. Added ingredients such as sugar, flour or starch thickeners which improve flavor and texture often add extra calories. Hence reading Nutrition Facts on foods may be enlightening. |
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Skipping meals is a good way to lose weight: Skipping meals will result in tiredness and poor nutrition. You may end up to snack on high-fat and high-sugar foods after a skipped meal. To lose weight and keep it off, reduce the amount of calories consumed or increase the calories burnt through exercise.
Eating after 8 p.m. causes weight gain: The physical activity carried out during the day determines whether you gain, lose or maintain your weight. The body tends to store extra calories as fat. So a careful observation on any extra calorie intake should be made. However distractions while eating like television,playing video games or using the computer will often lead to overeating. |  |
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Cutting out all snacks can help you lose weight: Many people need a snack in between meals to maintain energy levels, especially if they have an active lifestyle. Fruit or vegetables instead of chips, chocolate and other snacks will be harmless.
Drinking water helps you lose weight: Water does not cause weight loss, but it keeps the body hydrated. Sometimes thirst can be mistaken for hunger;causing a person to eat more. Around 2 liters of fluid intake a day is ideal. |  |
Some fancy exercise “machine-of-the-month” burns more calories than any other exercise: Caloric expenditure is directly related to the amount of effort an activity requires.In general, the more difficult it feels, the more calories you burn. Fat can not be reduced from a specific part of the body by doing an exercise for only that part of your body.
You burn more fat if you exercise on an empty stomach:Exercising on an empty stomach might leave you without any energy to complete the program.It is helpful to drink a glass of juice prior to workouts, particularly in the morning. | 
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Finally, believe in yourself and be consistent without getting side-tracked by every new crazy diet or exercise gizmo. Instead concentrate on healthy eating habits and daily exercise.
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