6 Lies About Dieting

When it comes to losing weight there are a lot of do's and don'ts. Many of these guidelines are good, sound advice. But a lot of what you hear about weight loss is just a myth. We will take a look at some of the common dieting tips that really won't make a difference in your weight loss journey.

Lie #1 - A Calorie is a Calorie. Many people would have you believe that as long as you stay under a certain number of calories you will lose weight. True, you want to keep your calorie count down. However you will get more nutrition out of a baked potato and some sliced fruit than you would out of a candy bar, and they have roughly the same amount of calories.

The bottom line is find the most filling and nutritious food for your calories. You will feel full longer and that will help avoid binging later. Plus, you will be getting nutrients instead of just empty calories.

Lie #2 - Don't eat after 6 p.m. I am sure many of us have heard this idea. Supposedly your body won't burn the calories if you eat late. This is simply not true. It is the total amount of calories you eat in a 24 hour period that causes you to gain weight. However, eating late can cause problems with heart burn and gas. This can cause you to have an unpleasant night, but it will not cause you to gain weight.

Lie #3 - Stay away from bread and nuts. Carbohydrates are the foundation of the food pyramid and they are essential to a healthy diet. However, if you load up on white bread and pasta you aren't getting the full benefits of whole grains. Eat bread just make sure it is made from the whole grain.

As far as nuts go, more and more research is finding that nuts are a great source of Omega-3 fats which are beneficial for your heart. Nuts are so good for you that you shouldn't cut them from your diet. Just eat them in moderation.

Lie #4 - Clean your plate. Okay this is more of an idea that is carried over from childhood than a diet myth. But, many people still live by this idea. Remember how your mother used to drill into your head about the starving children on the other side of the world that would love the scraps on your plate? Well that thought has done something to our minds when we eat. We are compelled to clean our plate! If this is a problem for you, use a smaller plate and fill it with smaller portions. You will still be making your mother happy by cleaning your plate, but you will still be eating less!

Lie #5 - Skipping meals will boost your weight loss. I have no idea where this thought came from but the truth is when you skip a meal you get even hungrier. So what happens at your next meal - you binge! It is far better to eat small meals and snacks throughout the day. This will keep you satisfied and prevent you from grabbing a candy bar.

Lie #6 - If you blow your diet just forget it and start again tomorrow. How many times do we think this when we fall off our diet? Oh well, I might as well eat everything I want today and start again tomorrow. Have you ever said this to yourself? The truth is you can still salvage your diet even if you messed up. Remember that the bottom line is how many calories you eat in one day. So if you grab a 300 calorie candy bar just eat right for the rest of the day. Do blow it even further by eating even more calories. You will be further behind in your diet goals if you do this.

You don't need to believe these myths to lose weight. The bottom line in dieting is to eat sensibly. Make sure you are getting adequate nutrition and add exercise to your daily routine. If you keep it simple and ignore the silly diet rules, you will be able to make a lifestyle change that will keep the weight off for life.

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