9 Weight Loss Myths You Must Know About

Weight Loss myths are prevalent in all cultures across the world. Some myths are so plausible that you might be convinced that they are true, whereas in fact, they are indeed myths.

I once read somewhere that if you drink water at night that you are going to gain weight or that if you scratch your head too often you are going to lose your hair. Hilarious!

Here are some of the weight loss myths that you should be aware of if you are contemplating a fat loss program.

Weight Loss Myth # 1: The more weight that I have to lose the more intense my exercise routine should be

Weight Loss Truth: Although having an intense workout routine is great, there are a few things you should consider, the first being that everyone is at a different level when it comes to their fitness and how much intensity they can actually handle.

If you have been physically inactive for a few years, an intensive workout program could go a long way in helping you to lose fat.

After you walk that half- mile you may notice that you are sweating and that you are tired.

But for someone who was for many years physically active, walking half a mile is possible, without breaking a sweat.

Everyone has a different definition of what "intense" is.

You may be challenged for time, but even a 20 minutes a day workout could go a long way to establishing your fat loss.

It might not necessarily be classified as "intense", according to your definition, but those little cardio moments will have positive health altering effects.

Weight Loss Myth # 2: Stress and weight gain are not related.

Fact: Stress, especially chronic stress, directly causes your body to switch to fat storage mode. There are many studies now connecting the hormonal and stress chemicals in your body, to fat storage. Reducing your stress levels is a major factor in switching your body to fat burning mode.

Weight Loss Myth #3: What I eat does not cause me to become overweight.

Our lives are governed by natural principles or laws of nature.

You can sit on your couch and imagine and visualize that a ball will staying afloat in the air if you throw it up, but natural principles teach us that it will come down.

The same applies when it comes to gaining weight. This is one of the most common weight loss myths out there - that food choices do not have anything to do with weight gain.

It is illogical to believe that health and weight, will be in balance if your diet consists mainly of Twinkies, donuts, chips and fizzy drinks.

Sure you can burn it off by exercising, but most people whose diet consists of mainly junk food are probably not disciplined enough to stick to a workout routine.

I know people who look good from the outside, they look in good shape, but have high cholesterol.

Weight Loss Myth #4: Eating fewer meals in a day helps with weight loss

Numerous studies now show that people who tend to skip meals and only eat 1 or 2 meals a day have a higher risk for gaining fat.

The body needs carbohydrate fuel every 3 and a half hours. If you delay in eating a meal, your brain thinks that you are starving and the next time you eat a substantial meal, your body will attempt to store this as fat.

Weight Loss Myth # 5: You can lose weight by not eating at night.

This is not true. Your body needs some calories at night. However, eating sugar rich or snack like foods at night leads to a higher calorie load to the body. Since you won't be active whilst sleeping, these excess calories will be stored as fat.

You should have a light meal at night and try to avoid snacking after 8pm. Fruit or fruit smoothies may be a good idea if you need something to snack on.

Weight Loss Myth #6: The way that you think others view you is based on your view of yourself.

To become emotionally fit is essential before becoming physically fit. Self- limiting emotions can cause you to have a negative self-image which creates the belief that you are fat.

Many people need external validation of their shape and size and this drives their motivation or lack of motivation in the effort of fat loss.

Once you accept yourself for who you are RIGHT NOW and realize that you are already good enough in the eyes of God, you will not feel like you are not acceptable because of your weight.

Weight Loss Myth #7: You need to cut out all calories in your diet to lose weight.

Reducing calories is important in weight loss. However cutting out all calorie rich food only gives temporary fat loss. You body uses carbohydrate as a fuel source. Eliminating carbohydrates totally from your diet only causes you body to go into starvation mode and you will rapidly put on weight once you begin eating normally.

Weight Loss Myth #8 : Weight gain is genetic.

Your body structure such as bone mass and muscle mass are determined by your genetics, so you might be bigger and heavier than another person. This does not mean that you are overweight.

Fat gain is not genetic. Lifestyle, dietary eating habits and fitness habits play a major role in becoming fat.

What runs in families is most likely bad eating and lifestyle habits. But everyone has the option to make changes based on some knowledge.

Weight Loss Myth #9: Sleeping less will cause you to lose weight.

Not true. Sleep deprivation is perhaps the #1 reason why people put on weight. Lack of sleep is interpreted by your brain as being "under attack". The "flight or fright" mechanism is triggered and cortisol, the stress hormone is secreted into the blood. This causes hormones in the fat cells to be released, which in turn switch your genes to fat storage.

If you are starting out on a weight loss program or not succeeding in one already started, consider the myths above - they may make the difference in your success.

Rajen Cooppan is a physician who specializes in Wellness Medicine.
He is the author of 3 books on different aspects of Wellness.
To get access to accurate information to help you burn fat and get a lean body again go to http://www.fatbustertips4u.com/truthaboutabssqpage.html