Bust those dieting myths

BUST THOSE DIETING MYTHS !

Plan to lose some flab? Then get into the programme with the right kind of info!

No matter how well you follow your diet or fitness routine, there is usually some cheating and lying involved — and not just fibs you tell about what you’re really eating when no one is looking. Most of us have tried at least one quick fix to drop weight for good — fasting, or eliminating certain foods and nutrients from our diets — only to gain the weight back, often packing on even more pounds. So here more on how to bust those dieting myths.

Unfortunately, myths about how you can lose weight can sabotage even the healthiest relationship between you and your treadmill. It’s a great rule of thumb to be suspicious of quick and easy weight loss solutions.

The biggest misconception is that doing something in the short term will have long-term results. While you may want a magic bullet more than anything, fad dieting and gimmicks can actually do more harm than good when it comes to losing and maintaining your weight.

Win the battle of the bulge armed with these facts

Myth: Snacking Is Always a Bad Idea

The good news is you don’t need to starve to lose weight. The idea that you shouldn’t eat between meals is a myth. When you're stomach starts rumbling, you probably hear a little voice in your head telling you not to ruin your appetite. But having snacks in between meals might actually help you eat less, and stave off the urge to overeat or binge later. In fact, dieticians often recommend that you have five smaller meals a day, instead of eating your calories all in one sitting. One of the main reasons snacking has a bad rap is because of the choices we make. Chips, cookies, chocolates are fattening treats. If you tend to dive into a bag of chips when you’re hungry, try having nutritious foods instead — think moderate amounts of fruits, vegetables, and nuts, for example — and try to eat things you don’t normally have during mealtime. Try a bit of cheese and yogurt.

When you go out to eat:

Get a salad as a starter

Choose the grilled items over fried ones. Go for steamed foods, low on the masalas. Keep the fattening sauces on the side or scrape off as much as possible.

Myth: All carbs are bad

But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to learn from low-carb diets. Carbs are not all created equal, and you want to avoid processed carbs that are often high in sugar and white flour. Instead, enjoy beans and whole grain breads — and don’t forget fruits and vegetables, which provide a host of nutrients and fibre, are low in calories, and can help reduce the risks of several diseases. The body also uses carbs as fuel during exercise to burn body fat, another great reason to keep the bread basket on the menu.

Myth: Certain foods make you burn calories

There is conflicting information about whether or not certain foods can increase your metabolic rate, making you burn more calories. While different foods offer different health benefits, people are often left wondering if calories vary from one food to the next. There are no foods that increase your metabolic rate, or help you burn calories, she says. Even if certain foods do increase your metabolism, the amount is too insignificant to make it a magic bullet. Eat foods with a high water and fibre content because they stay in your system longer, a plus for taking off the pounds.

Myth: If you eat and exercise consistently, you will never gain weight

You need to be willing to make lifestyle changes and dietary adjustments as you age, change, and grow. The fact is, your metabolism slows down as you age. As a result, you often have to either eat less or exercise more to avoid gaining weight. Your metabolism will continue to slow down more gradually over the years, so always keep your food and exercise plan flexible. When it comes to diet and exercise, the only thing that you can really be certain of is that there will be new weight loss schemes with every new day. By keeping informed — and raising your eyebrow when in doubt — you will be better prepared to navigate the never-ending supply of conflicting weight loss advice.