Common Weight Loss Myths

With so much media attention and expert opinion on the subject of weight loss, it is sometimes difficult to tell truth from myth, particularly when theories often contradict each other. Here are the most well known myths associated with weight loss.

Eating in the evening will make you fat.

No, eating more calories than your body needs, or can burn will make you fat. Your body burns calories 24 hours a day; this doesn’t stop at night, although the rate of calorie burn may be less.

If you don’t exercise, you will become overweight

Extra calories cause weight gain. Exercise alone cannot make you slim. It will only help to burn these excess calories. If you are eating the right amount of calories, you will not gain weight, regardless of whether you exercise or not.
Your metabolism slows down as you age
Untrue. Age is associated with a slower metabolism because people commonly lose muscle tissue as they get older, which slows the metabolism. There is absolutely no reason to believe that your metabolism will slow down if you are maintaining muscle mass through weight bearing exercises.
Carbohydrates are bad for you.
A common misconception encouraged by weight loss plans such as the Atkins Diet. The truth is, complex carbohydrates will successfully fuel your body and will keep you satisfied for longer. Carbohydrates are only fattening if you eat too much of them. This is true of all the food groups.
Low fat foods contain fewer calories.
Unfortunately, low fat does not always equal low calorie. Quite often, low fat foods have added sugars, salt and starch to get the same flavour that fat provides. Adding these ingredients can mean adding extra calories to the food. This means that your low fat meal may in fact be just as high in calories as the full fat version.
Skipping meals can help with weight loss
Definitely not true. Skipping meals will result in you becoming hungrier later in the day, increasing your chances of binge eating and potentially lowering your metabolism as your body your body tries to store fat and burn less energy/

If you want to lose weight, you have to cut out deserts, snacks and treats
Yes, deserts and treats do contain a high amount of calories, but depriving yourself of these foods completely can actually be detrimental to your weight loss plan. By denying yourself of everything you enjoy, you are more likely to give up and binge, perhaps consuming far more than you would have if you let yourself have a little. Everything in moderation is the key.