1. You Can Target Specific Parts of the Body
Spot reduction is a lie. One argument for an exercise like sit-ups is that it will burn the fat on your hands, back, and legs. No matter how much of one exercise that is done, there is no way to target just one single portion of the body.
2. All Calories Are the Same
Yes, “calorie” is a unit of measurement, but not all calorie sources will have the same effect on weight. Each food has a unique metabolic pathway and will interact with hunger and hormones differently. As an example, a fat calorie, carb calorie, and protein calorie are all different in their makeup and affects the body differently. Here’s a hint: when you replace fat and carb calories with protein calories, you will have a reduced appetite, lower cravings, and a boosted metabolism.
3. It is Bad to Eat at Night
Eating past a certain time of evening will not determine whether or not you will lose weight. It is healthy to eat in the evening, more so when the food is rich in essential amino acids and omega-3s—these nutrients help the body repair itself.
4. It is Possible to Lose Weight Fast
It is only possible to lose weight in a healthy way by shedding 1 to 2 pounds a week. Any more than that and you will risk serious health problems. Anything that promises rapid weight loss will not be good for your body.
5. If You Lose Weight Quickly, You Will Inevitably Gain it Back Again
Once the weight has been lost, you just need to ensure that you maintain your new lifestyle to continue to feel healthy as well as happy. This does involve commitment, but when you stick with it, you’re on the path to maintaining your target weight. It’s not a given that you will gain all that weight back again.
6. One Method of Weight Loss Works for Everyone
Lifestyles will determine where on the spectrum of eating fewer calories and burning more fat each person will fall. Whether you do one or the other or even both, the result will be burning more fat- resulting in weight loss. In this same light, the same diet and exercise will not work for everyone. There are many resources online for workout plans if you are not sure where to start.
7. Meal Replacement Shakes Are the Only Way to Lose Weight
While these products do help to block hunger because of their high protein and other ingredients, you cannot depend on them. Many times, the ingredients include refined sugars, high fructose corn syrup, and harmful preservatives so may actually be less healthy for you.
8. Drinking a Lot of Water Will Help You Lose Weight
Drinking an adequate amount of water on a daily basis is vital to a healthy body, as it becomes part of the blood and cells that help the body to function. But upping water intake will do nothing but make you need to use the restroom more often.
9. Fat Can Turn to Muscle
This myth can be confusing to some people because there are products that claim to be able to do so. It is possible to burn off 5 pounds of fat and build 5 pounds of muscle, but they will never be interchangeable. The chemical process for both is very different and detailed, including the fact that they are guided by different hormones.
