Weight loss advice
If there’s one thing that society is full of, it’s weight loss advice. You see it pretty much everywhere, from TV, to books, magazines and all corners of the internet. Everybody has something different to say, and the annoying thing is that the bulk of it is just myths and best guesses. Many diets have little to no scientific evidence backing their claims, and commonly fad diets do more harm than good. Scientifically, there are certain foods, when eaten in certain ways that can help raise your metabolic rate, dissolve fats faster and aid in weight loss. Though the most important factor in a weight loss journey is all about our own self-control, self-respect and motivation.
I’m mostly against weight loss books because the majority of them don’t work, especially for the long-term. However, I’m not writing off the good ones just yet, and there are some great ones out there. One of the best weight loss books that I’ve ever come across is the Dr. Phils 20/20 Diet. Simply for the amount of effort and research put into it’s creation. If I had to pick a book, a diet or a method, that one would be my pick. I’m not being sponsored or getting anything out of mentioning this publication by the way, it’s just my personal opinion based on the results. I think the good things in life should be shared so everyone can benefit from them, so take a look at the book here.
1st myth: Skipping breakfast will actually make you fatter
Eating breakfast has always been seen as the most important meal of the day, and for some people that may be the case. However, not everybody’s body functions in the exact same way, and if you’re not hungry, there’s no good in forcing it. Taking myself as an example, some days I wake up ravenous and eat a good hearty breakfast fairly soon after waking up, other days I don’t want to eat anything until 3 or four hours after waking, and on either day it feels like the right choice.
Focusing on the cues your body is giving you is a crucial component to mindful eating, just be sure you’re not allowing for sugar levels to drop too low which can result in binging later on in the day. Keeping energy levels steady with healthy options is all that matters, and if you don’t want to eat breakfast that day because you don’t feel like it, it’s not a crime, and you won’t get fatter.
2nd myth: Snacking is bad and will lead to weight gain
On the contrary, healthy snacking will actually keep your metabolic rate high, your energy levels up and do your body good. If you’re hungry, you don’t need to wait until the next planned meal time. Fruit, nuts, a whole-wheat sandwich, sliced veggies and low-fat dip are all great snack options. There’s a tonne of snack combinations you can try and enjoy without feeling guilty that your bumping up your calorie count. News flash: our bodies need calories! We’re not trying to starve it, and that’s what’s annoying about a lot of these diets. Be wary of weight loss advice that leaves you feeling low on energy, that’s just bad sense.
3rd myth: Forbid yourself fast food
When it comes to food, the word ‘forbid’ will most likely backfire. Here’s something people need to understand about humans: Telling them not to do something always makes them want to do it more than before. Telling someone, or yourself, that they can never again enjoy something that they really like, may work in the short-term, but eventually they will go back to old habits. I tried cutting donuts out once. It didn’t work out well, but now I rarely indulge, because I’m no longer denying myself. The thing with fast food, is it doesn’t have to get crazy. You don’t need to supersize your orders, or get a double stacked cheeseburger to have a good time. Ordering the occasional soft taco, chicken wings or small whopper on the other hand, won’t destroy any progress you’ve been making and gives you both freedom and control.
Sometimes, it’s just convenient, cheap comfort food that we want, and it’s not going to kill us, or make us obese when had on occasion. Life is for living, and if you want to live it with some “finger-lickin” chicken, well that’s just fine. As long as it’s not every day, obviously.
4th myth: Cut out carbs to shed pounds
Carbohydrates are actually super important to keep us properly energised. Our brain literally lives off the sugars that our body makes from carbohydrates, so we don’t ever want to cut them out entirely. Of course, certain carbohydrates are much better for us than others. Processed carbohydrates are often high in sugar and white flour, and should be consumed in moderation. Whole grains, brown rice, baked potatoes, parsnips, corn, and beans on the other hand, are carbohydrates that are extremely good for us and important for maintaining a healthy, balanced diet.
Sources: Women’s Health Mag
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