Top 3 weight-loss myths busted

Busting weight-loss myths

There are thousands of weight-loss myths that pop up online when you start looking for weight-loss tips. Most of these are either unproven or have physically been proven to not work at all.

I’ve collected the top three that need to be debunked …

Myth 1: All calories are equal

Calories are how we measure energy, and while all calories have the same energy content, that doesn’t mean that all calorie sources have the same effect on your weight.

Different foods go through different metabolic pathways which each have a very different effect on hunger and your hormones that regulate your body weight.

If you were to replace your fat calories with whole, complex carbs and protein, you would boost your metabolism, reduce your appetite and cravings, all while optimising your weight-regulating hormones. This would also apply to calories from whole foods, like fruit and veg, compared to the same number of calories from sweets and refined foods.

You are more likely to feel fuller for longer when you eat the whole foods, helping your weight-loss journey continue!

Myth 2: Weight loss is a one-way street

I had this misconception in the beginning too, I used to think that once you’ve lost the weight you need to, you’ll be fine forever. That isn’t the case at all and I know that many people still believe this too.

Weight loss isn’t a linear process and you will see fluctuations on the scale throughout your lifetime, and it is normal. Your weight isn’t going to stay the same forever and you will still have to make an effort to maintain your weight loss once you’ve reached your goal weight.

Myth 3: Fat makes you fat

If body fat is stored fat, doesn’t it make sense that eating more fat would lead our bodies to store more fat? It seems like the logical outcome, right? But it really isn’t all that simple when it comes to nutrition, which is why 'fat' isn’t the enemy.

As it turns out, there is nothing uniquely fattening about fat, except for refined fats and oils, animals fats, and the overly-processed fat used in calorie-rich junk foods.

Providing the calories are within range and you are choosing 'good fat' (avocado, nuts, seeds, coconut) rather than the junk food variety, fat won’t make you fat. So, if you are eating a high-sugar/refined-carb, high-refined-fat, junk-food fest on a regular basis, you will definitely start gaining weight. But it isn’t just because of the fat content of the meals.

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