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Heartline Magazine July - September 2007
TEN POPULAR DIETING MYTHS compliments of SAGICOR
There are many weight loss myths included in
diet tips, so take a look at the ten most popular and see what
we think of them.
1. Skipping breakfast
is a good way to lose weight
Skipping breakfast will make you feel tired
and hungry during the morning and encourage you to reach for
high-fat, high-calorie snacks. In fact, people who eat breakfast
are more likely to maintain a healthy weight that those who
don't.
2. The stricter the
diet the more successful it will be
If you eat nothing but grapefruits or
oranges all day long for a week you will, of course, lose
weight. But fad diets that drastically cut calories will quickly
become boring and won't be effective in the long run. It's not
necessary to starve to lose weight. Making small changes that
you can stick to is the key to long-term success.
3. You have to give up
your favourite foods
Depriving yourself of all the foods you
enjoy won't work. You'll eventually give in to temptation and
abandon your efforts. There is no harm in allowing yourself a
treat now and again.
4. Eating at night
makes you gain weight
It doesn't matter when you eat if you are
eating too much - a calorie is a calorie at any time of the day!
It is healthier for your digestive system not to eat a heavy
meal before you go to bed but a later dinner will not make you
any fatter than an earlier one.
5. It is possible to
spot reduce, or to lose fat in one part of your body
As unfair as it may seem, we can't pick and
choose where we gain or lose weight from. When the body loses
fat, it is lost throughout the body. Focusing on one area of the
body
when exercising may develop better muscle tone in that area but
it will not remove more fat.
6. Certain foods, such
as grapefruits or celery, can burn fat
No foods can actually help you to burn fat.
Some foods with caffeine may speed up your metabolism slightly
for a short time but they won't cause significant weight loss.
7. Carbohydrates-rich
foods such as bread and pasta, are fattening
It's calories that count, and gram for gram
carbohydrate has less than half the calories of fat. But
carbohydrate-rich foods can be fattening because of the fillings
and toppings commonly added to them - such as creamy sauces on
pasta and butter or cheese on baked potatoes.
Some carbohydrate foods, especially wholegrain versions, are
packed full of fibre which can keep hunger at bay. For example,
wholegrain pasta is more filling than white pasta and will keep
you satisfied for longer.
8. You shouldn't snack
between meals
Eating healthy snacks between meals can
actually help you to control your appetite and keep your blood
sugar level steady. Fruits and vegetables are a great choice.
 9. Low fat means low
calorie
Replacing fat with other ingredients can
still result in a product with a high calorie content. Don't be
fooled - check the label. Quantity is also important - you won't
cut back on calories if you eat twice as much of a low fat
product as a full fat one!
10. You have to
exercise intensively to burn fat
Even low intensity exercise will burn fat.
Walking, gardening or doing housework will help you to burn
calories and lose weight
Adapted from The British Heart Foundation’s
newsletter
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