Weight Loss Myths

Common Myths About Weight Loss

There is so much talk about how to lose weight that it can be sometimes a little difficult to decide which the facts are and which is pure fiction.  Here are a few of the most common myths about weight loss.

You Need To Exercise!

The only way to lose weight is with a radical exercise program - myth. The best way to lose weight and maintain your healthy weight is to make small changes to your diet and lifestyle which you can adopt for the future. Losing weight begins in the kitchen not in the gym. By all means you should incorporate some activity into your life but you've still got to watch what you eat. Eat less, move more, lose weight and feel great.

It Is To Expensive To Buy Fresh Food.

Healthy foods cost more than unhealthy foods; I can't afford to lose weight - myth. The truth is that it is often cheap to eat a healthy diet than it is to buy pre-packed, processed foods. You will pay a lot more for a ready meal which is high in salt and fat than you would have to pay to buy the ingredients fresh and make it yourself.

A Crash Diet Can Work.

The best way to lose weight is by starving yourself - myth. The fact is that you are unlikely to sustain any weight lost due to a crash diet, as soon as you start eating again you are likely to pile the weight back on again plus a few extra pounds. Crash diets are so difficult to maintain that as soon as you start to eat again you often eat more than you actually need. The best way to lose weight is to adopt a healthy eating lifestyle whereby you can lose weight slowly and keep it off without ever feeling hungry.

Snacking Is The Enemy.

You must stop snacking to lose weight - myth. It isn't the fact that people take a snack that's the problem; the real problem is what they choose to snack on. Lots of people need to snack between meals to keep their energy levels up, particularly those people with an active lifestyle. Many snacks are high in sugar and fat so avoiding things like chips, cookies and chocolate and replacing them with things like fruit or vegetables means that you can enjoy a snack without gaining excess weight.

Water Can Help!

Drinking lots of water will help you to lose weight - myth. Although this one is almost true! What happens is that the water keeps you hydrated (very important for your health) which stops you from getting the urge to snack. People who are thirsty can often mistake the signs for hunger and reach for something to eat when in actual fact a calorie free glass of water would have done the trick.

There are many more weight loss myths which I'm sure you've heard of, this is just a snapshot of some of the most popular misconceptions which people have about how to lose a few pounds. Remember that adopting a healthy eating and exercise program is really the only way to lose weight healthily and maintain the new you.

Your Teenage Daughter and Weight Loss

Helping Your Teen to Lose Weight

You probably remember what it was like to be a teenager. You probably felt awkward, embarrassed and weren't sure how to feel about your developing body, especially if you were a girl. That is why it is important for you today, as a parent, to do what you can in order to help your daughter if she wants to lose weight. Here are some ideas you can use to make sure that you help her lose weight while remaining supportive.

Make Yourself a Resource for Your Teen.

The first thing you want to do is to make sure that she knows that weight loss isn't your idea. It can be very damaging to a teenager for her parent to feel that she is "fat". You have to make sure that she views you as a supportive person in her life, not as a taskmaster or someone who finds her unattractive. Make sure she knows that you love her at any size, and that you are there to help.

You definitely want to have a talk with your family doctor, to rule out any health conditions which could cause extra weight. This is also a good time to ask about calorie requirements and whether any supplements are acceptable, in case your daughter wants to use some.

Monitor the food in your house and any diet changes by your teen.

Next, you have to help her get her diet under control. If one person in your home is trying to lose weight, it is only considerate to make sure that you and everyone else try to eat as healthy as possible as well. Losing weight does not mean that you have no appetite, just that the food you eat is nutritious and nourishing. Therefore, try to cook in a more healthy way as much as possible.

This is also a good time to mention that you need to make sure that she does not develop an eating disorder. Anorexia nervosa and bulimia are very dangerous disease that millions of girls succumb to every year. Don't let your daughter be one of them. Keep your eyes on her actions as much as you are able to. Impress upon her that she needs food to function in her life.

Impress that a good amount of physical activity is necessary.

After you help with her diet, you need to get her exercising. Most teenagers don't like exercise unless they're athletes. The only time they run they are in gym class. Therefore, it's important that you talk with her about what physical activities she enjoys. She may want to try rock climbing, or she might like dancing. Physical activity is something that will help her whittle away the pounds.

Help her to set goals, and reward her for them. This can be a fun thing that just the two of her do. Let her dictate her own goals, within reason. And then, be her cheerleader, ready to celebrate when she meets her goals. Remember, don't reward with food.

Finally:

Weight loss is a journey, so soothe her when she feels disappointed. Use the advice in this article to make sure that your daughter loses weight in a safe way that leaves her very happy.

The Hidden Dangers of Rapid Weight Loss

Yes, There Are Dangers To Rapid Weight Loss.

Weight loss is a big issue for an important part of the American population. Even from young age we are subject to temptations such a fast food, sweets and carbonated soft drinks, which are poor in nutrients but rich in sugar, preservatives and empty calories. Once an individual passes a certain weight limit, controlling it becomes practically impossible. This is where the diet struggle begins.

Experience shows that many overweight people want to shed their pounds as fast as possible. The most determined ones will starve themselves, hoping they will regain the looks they once had. Those persons ignore the fact that by starvation, the body is deprived of those nutrients that are needed to support life. This is how they can develop severe anemia or other nutritional illnesses. When this happens, they resort to doctors who put them back on real food. Soon, they return to their unhealthy eating habits and the pounds return, many times even in bigger numbers.

What is it considered rapid weight loss? Traditional diets state that everything that's more than 2 pounds a week is considered rapid. The calculation is based on the conversion of pounds into calories. If a weight loss program assumes a calorie deficit bigger than 1000 calories per day, it will be very hard to compensate with exercise, therefore the person won't be able to secure the minimum amount of nutrients the body needs.

It's funny what people would do to lose a few pounds as fast as a couple of days. They have short term objectives. For instance, a person might want to lose a three-four pounds from Monday to Sunday, because they are going on a date or to a party and they want to wear a certain outfit they love. For that matter, the person would starve them-self for five days, without considering the harm to their body or metabolism. If they do not make sure to drink enough water, they might also experience dehydration. This is a big price to pay for simply fitting into a piece of clothing.

A long term low protein diet will cause malnutrition. It will also lead to diminishing the muscular mass because the body will consume its own protein when it doesn't find it in the food. Protein is found in muscles. When you lose weight, you want to get rid of the fat, but keep your muscular mass intact. This is why you need a minimum protein intake no matter what diet you choose.

Experience shows that rapid weight loss significantly increases the risk of developing gallstones. This risk occurs whether or not the weight loss is intentional. If it is unintentional, a visit to a physician is recommended as soon as you notice it, even if you were overweight, so losing weight without doing anything for it seems awesome.

There might be situations when rapid weight loss is actually needed and recommended by a doctor. Weight loss surgery, for instance, may require the patient to lose a significant amount of weight in order to become eligible. However, such cases will always be closely monitored by doctors, so the risk of developing secondary conditions is minimized.

If you were just thinking to start some rapid weight loss diet, consider talking to your doctor first. Your body will thank you.