Effective Weight Loss - Bursting the Diet Myths

Posted 19 February 2009

If you're looking for effective weight loss, check out some of the common misconceptions and dieting myths.

Effective weight loss is a simple equation of eating less and moving more. But it's also about losing weight in a healthy way. And that means maintaining your nutrient intake and energy levels so you can lead a healthy, active life. Effective weight loss is about changing your lifestyle, because effective weight loss is not just about losing weight, it's about keeping it off. Eating clean, fresh foods and taking realistic exercise in your day-to-day life is more effective in the long term than a month of fad dieting - leaving you prone to fluctuating weight.

Effective Weight Loss - Debunking the Diet Myths

There are all sorts of diet tips touted in magazines, but many of them are counterproductive to effective weight loss. Consider the following:

Eat popcorn to stave off hunger. Popcorn is fine as an occasional low-fat snack, but for a healthy diet, you need nutrients.

Drink pure fruit juice and smoothies to boost your health. In terms of calories, smoothies and fruit juice are extremely high in glucose and fructose (natural sugars). Drinking such high sugars puts a burden on your insulin levels. The high sugar levels do nothing for effective weight loss - you will gain far fewer calories and far more nutrients by eating your fruit, not drinking it.

Avoid all fats for effective weight loss. The idea of eliminating fats is counterproductive. Fat in food offers high satiety levels, ensuring you are not hungry. Getting rid of fat, or restricting it could lead to you feeling constantly hungry, making it much harder for you to stick to a regimented diet. Effective weight loss is about balancing, not eliminating, fats. There are some fats that are considered essential to our health - including omega-3 fats found in oily fish that can help battle obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease and even some cancers.

You can enjoy 'fat-free' sweets such as Jelly babiesThis isn't true, although there may be no fat in Jelly babies or similar sweets, they are high in sugar. Concentrated sugar has a high insulin-stimulating trigger, which is what you need to avoid for effective weight loss.

Eating lots of fruit.Fruit of course is essential to a healthy diet. But if you simply pile on loads of fruit on top of your normal diet, even fruit can be fattening. For effective weight loss, it's about replacing starchy foods for example with healthier fruit and vegetables.

For effective weight loss, it's not only what you eat but when you eat. Skipping meals is a bad idea as it results in binging, as our need for blood-sugar overrides reasoning. Remember, a healthy breakfast (think porridge) is the most important meal of the day - it triggers a slow supply of blood sugars. It’s also important to eat both lunch and an afternoon snack, as they are recommended to keep you on this steady level.

Dinner should be the smallest of your meals. The phrase 'breakfast like a king and supper like a pauper' is a good rule of thumb.

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Fitbug is a little gadget that allows you to track your calories and steps. This online personal health and well-being coach is a unique system designed to help you achieve your weight, fitness and health goals within your everyday routine. Why not check out the healthy eating recipes on our website and kick start your healthy eating plan? Find out more, call: 0870 228 4949.