Weight Loss Myths For Women

For women, weight loss is a highly charged and emotional issue. From a very young age, women have been conditioned to react to their physical self image, very differently from men. So, it's important to look at the information out there and figure out what is truth or fiction.

There are a lot of weight loss myths and when you are looking to lose some pounds, they sure don't help you. In fact, they can confuse the heck out of it all and make you want to throw up your hands and give up. Don't! This article points out a few weight loss myths to steer clear of, so you don't have to feel perplexed anymore.
You can proceed with confidence that you are on the right road for long term, healthy weight loss.

Myth: Weight Gain Is Caused By Snacking

The truth is that eating several small meals a day when you are trying to lose weight can be a good idea. When you eat just a few large meals, they may make you feel tired and sleepy after you eat and very hungry until the next time you eat. Small meals and healthy snacks are one way to keep your body processing, your energy level up, and keep you from getting really hungry and then binging. This has been a very effective method for many women I know, especially if you are over 40.

Myth: If I can lose the weight rapidly, I will be able to keep it off easily too.

You'll find there are lots of ads telling you that you can lose something like twenty pounds in a week. Maybe you can, but this is not a healthy way to lose weight and you haven't made any lifestyle changes to keep the weight from coming right back on. In regards to weight loss, slow and steady winds the race. Think in terms of good health and long-lasting changes in eating habits.

Myth: If I only eat one type of food, I will lose weight quicker.

There are a lot of fad diets out there and you'll find that many of them recommend eating almost exclusively one type of food. This is a poor idea and it can have some very negative consequences in the long run. Eating one type of food or from just one food group means you are not giving your body what it needs. You may initially lose a lot of weight but you might begin to have cravings and end up eating junk food and gaining the weight back.

Myth: The fewer the meals, the more I will lose.

Skipping meals will throw your body into starvation mode where it thinks that there is no food around. This will actually make it even harder to lose weight because it means your metabolism has slowed down. Breakfast seems the most common meal to skip, but eating a good breakfast is important. After you have been sleeping, your body needs calories that will signal it to get going. Instead of skipping meals, eat more frequent small meals or snacks.

Take a moment and think about what makes the most sense for your body and your desire to lose weight. If you take a practical approach of never starving yourself, or skipping a meal, or trying fad diets, or trying to lose 20 pounds in a week, you will then find yourself looking for practical, realistic changes that will give you along term results. Once you get that mindset into your head and you are willing to make the lifestyle changes necessary, your efforts will seem easier and more effective.

Eat healthy while decreasing your calories or increasing your activity level to make weight loss a reality for you. Out line your goals for a month at a time and the 1 (one) positive change you are going to make each week. Then record your weight at the beginning of the month and then at the end. You will be SO happy with the results! And not feel like you were dieting at all.

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