She Sweats: Fact Or Fiction: The Truth About Dieting

As people become more aware of their health, new tips, ads, and products are revealed daily. To this day nothing is uniformed and each method is criss-crossed to the point what is factual and what is fiction.

 

Fiction: Low-carb/high-protein/no-fat diets are optimal for weight reduction.

•The truth is that you have to eat fewer calories to lose weight. Fat, out of all the macronutrients, contains the most calories per gram. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that 20 to 35% of dietary calories come from fat, 10 to 35 should come from protein, and 45 to 65% should come from carbohydrates.

 

Fiction: Eating late at night will cause you to gain weight.

•Generally, people who consume a lot of food late at night tend to eat more calorie-dense foods which is nothing but eating lots of calories, leading to weight gain. Whether you eat early in the morning, in the middle of the afternoon, or late in the evening—it will not cause you to put on more weight than what is normal for what you ate and any activity that you have done.

 

Fiction: Skipping meals is a good way to lose weight.

•Skipping one meal is not what harms you. Skipping one meal and compensating for your lost is what hurts you.

 

Fiction: Rapid weight loss can be maintained.

•Many diets advertise that by following their steps you can lose ten or more pounds a week. While this may be true, and you may lose that weight, it will come back and a little extra. Why? With these restrictive diets a large portion of the weight that you lose comes from water and lean tissue, leading to the eventual weight gain after you get off of it.

 

Fiction: You have to stop eating your favorite foods to lose weight.

• There is only one friend that is mandatory if you want to successfully lose weight and keep the weight off: Moderation. A healthy lifestyle allows for any food under the sun as long as it’s eaten in moderation! With moderation and permanent changes that include healthy eating plans and lots of physical activity, you can what you want, when you want.

 

The Truth: Effort and commitment is going to be a big part in losing weight and achieving all of your goals. You are going to have to make permanent changes in your lifestyle and you are going to feel discouraged at times, but do not give up. Get up and get moving and surround yourself in support at all times. Your journey may be hard, but it will be worth it.