The weight loss world is filled with a lot of questions, myths, lies and deceptions as most self acclaimed weight loss gurus are more interested in enriching themselves than telling people the truth and sadly this has adversely affected so many ignorant, gullible people seeking to lose weight. Today let's take sometime and debunk some of this crazy but widely believed myths. We clearly cannot debunk all the myths in one post so from time to time we'll revisit. Enjoy the read.
MYTH #1:
I CAN EAT WHAT I LIKE AND LOSE WEIGHT BY EXERCISING
I have encountered people who believe they can eat all they want and lose weight by going to the gym/exercising, well, that's absolutely impossible since you can NEVER "work-off" as much calories as you consume. To lose weight, you MUST use up more energy than you consume. *raised brow*. Here are some practical instances-
Now note that some days some of us consume much more than all the foods listed in the diagram above, now calculate the total number of hours needed to burn them off...*iCan see your brain turning* ha-ha... that's the point. Hopefully you now see the stupidity of this myth. *wink*
#FACT:
Weight loss is 75% diet and 25%exercise. You can lose weight by controlling your food consumption (calorie reduction) but if/when combined with exercising you lose weight faster and more effectively.
MYTH #2:
I CAN LOSE SIGNIFICANT WEIGHT WITH DIET PILLS AND POTIONS
No, you CANNOT lose any significant, sustainable weight by filling your body with pills and potions. Firstly, MOST of the weight loss pills are a scam and do not do even half of what they claim to do and what you lose over time is water weight which all comes back with much more weight when you stop taking the pills. Secondly, long term use of the pill can lead to all kinds of medical risks, including heart and liver, lung and kidney problems. Thirdly, diet pills are not designed to teach or encourage healthy lifestyle changes in users.
#FACT:
Most diet pills contain fat blockers that can hamper the body's ability to absorb nutrients and this can lead to several stomach problems. Relying on diet pills for weight loss is a risky, futile attempt as you can lose your life instead of losing any meaningful, significant, sustainable weight which is impossible outside of dieting and exercising regularly.
#MYTH #3:
I CAN LOSE WEIGHT BY STARVING AND/OR SKIPPING MEALS
This is a common belief but it is so false. The minimum caloric recommendation for a healthy adult is 1200calories-MINIMUM!-. The less you eat the more tendency you have of gaining weight so perish the thought that you are doing yourself a "weight loss service" by skipping meals and/or "eating air" as this unhealthy method often leads to longer term weight gain. Starvation can also cause your body to get low on energy, causing you to crave high-fat and high-sugar foods that lead to weight gain.
#FACT:
Studies show that extreme calorie restriction (starvation, skipping meals, eating too little) can cause a shift toward a higher percentage of body fat, which increases the risk for metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.
MYTH #4:
I CAN LOSE WEIGHT BY DETOXIFYING
This sadly has become popular and is being used by so many so called weight loss experts to fleece ignorant, gullible weight loss enthusiasts of cash. What is being popular touted as detox diets especially on pill, potion and tea forms are dangerous killers that cause "water weight loss" from stooling, urinating, vomiting, etc, however, this is extremely dangerous and come with the risks of dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, etc. Studies show that losing fluid is very risky and when combined with fasting can be fatal.
#FACT:
Except you are plagued by underlying medical issues, your body is naturally equipped to detoxify and excrete toxins. Artificial detoxes and cleanses are therefore unnecessary and can lead to serious complications by not just tampering with your system but can lead to eventual death. (Stay with us for a full discussion on this topic).
MYTH #5:
I CAN LOSE WEIGHT BY GETTING FAT REMOVAL MASSAGES AND BATH
Actually, I find this more laughable than annoying. If you are fooled into thinking you can lose weight by getting the ridiculously named "fat removal massage, or by having the "fat removal sauna bath" at your local spa, or wearing a "fat sucking device" around your belly, arm, thigh, etc, then you need a reality check...YOU CAN NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER!!!!!
#FACT:
Studies show that "you cannot bake, sweat, or steam fat off. Sweating without exertion causes only temporary water loss, not fat loss. Any water weight lost will be quickly regained as soon as you eat or drink. Also note that sauna suits, rubber belts, and nylon clothes designed for you to wear to "suck fat" only make you sweat and can actually damage your health.
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