5 Worst Myths About Weight Loss

The weight-loss specialists at Cōpare Weight Loss ™ in Vienna, Virginia and Rockville, Maryland know how hard it is to find a diet that really works and all too well about the misinformation and myths about weight loss. Knowing what doesn’t work when it comes to losing weight may help you get on the right path for lasting success.

1.Carbs Make You Fat

Carbs have been on the naughty food list for years. But carbs aren’t the reason you’re having a tough time fitting into your favorite pair of jeans. It’s more likely the types of carbs you’re eating.

Cōpare limits overall carbohydrate intake, but focuses on healthy carbs from vegetables. Carbs from fruits, beans, and grains are also healthy sources of carbohydrates, but are not permitted until maintenance.

Don’t ditch the carbs when you’re trying to lose weight, but make sure most of your carbs come from healthy sources.

2. Fat Makes You Fat

Like carbs, fat has also been blamed for widening waistlines. But fat is an essential nutrient and an important part of any healthy eating plan, especially one geared towards getting you to a healthy weight.

However, fat is a more concentrated source of calories than carbs or protein, 9 calories per gram of fat versus 4 calories per gram of carb or protein, so you need to be mindful of portion sizes. It’s also important to include healthy sources of fat such that from olive oil. Saturated fats, found in butter and marbled red meat, and trans fats, found in baked goods, are linked to heart disease and should be limited for overall good health.

3. Certain Foods or Drinks Boost Your Metabolism

Despite all the claims, there’s no magical food or drink that can melt the fat away. This includes foods such as chili pepper, cinnamon, celery, and lean sources of protein, as well as green tea, coffee, and water. While there is some research that shows that some foods, such as chili pepper and green tea, may give your metabolism a bit of a boost, it’s not enough to lead to any significant weight loss.

It’s also true that your metabolism slows down as you get older. However, that’s mostly due to inactivity and loss of muscle mass. So, if you really want to give your metabolism a boost to help with weight loss, find ways to add more activity to your day, such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator, pacing when you’re on the phone, or doing jumping jacks during the commercials of your favorite TV show. Adding more calorie-burning muscle also increases your metabolism. Use free weights or body resistance exercises such as squats, push-ups, and sit-ups to add more muscle to your frame.

4. You Need a Jumpstart to Lose Weight

When it comes to losing weight, most people want it off fast. But whether you’re skipping meals or following the “jumpstart” plan of a weight-loss diet, fast weight loss doesn’t always mean fat loss. The Cōpare program often has clients who lose 2-3 pounds of body fat per week.

These types of low-calorie diet plans wreak havoc on your metabolism by causing you to lose calorie-burning muscle. They also leave you feeling hungry and irritable, which might put you at risk for overindulging at your next meal and making poor food choices.

The diet plan at Cōpare Weight Loss ™ isn’t geared towards fast weight loss, but slow and steady so you lose the fat and not the muscle.

5. You Can’t Eat After Dark

Time and what you eat both matter. Cōpare recommends having your last meal or snack 2 hours prior to bedtime. Eating too close to bedtime can interfere with healthy hormone activity. This can lead to weight gain.

That being said, when it comes to healthy weight loss eating regularly spaced meals and snacks keeps hunger under control.