Myth: Skipping breakfast aids weight loss
Truth: Research shows that people who have a healthy breakfast tend to weigh less than people who skip breakfast - this is probably because they are less likely to be hungry later in the day, breakfast revs up their metabolism, and it gives them more energy to do their daily activities. The key is to eat a healthy, balanced breakfast and forgo a high sugar, high calorie, high fat morning meal.
Myth: Being fat is in my genes
Truth: The tendency to put weight on does seem to run in families, and some people do seem to find it easier to lose weight. However, whatever your genes are, being overweight is still about eating more calories than you are burning up during the day - while it might be harder work for some people, eating well will help keep the weight off and assist with maintaining a healthy weight.
Myth: Eating late at night leads to weight gain
Truth: Some diets suggest that not eating late in the day helps you lose weight - but a large meal eaten late at night didn't make people store any more fat than a small meal eaten at the same time. Avoiding unhealthy late night snacks will help with weight loss - but only in the same way that avoiding unhealthy snacks at any time of the day will help you lose weight. Not eating late will also help you sleep, and research shows that people who get a good night's sleep are less likely to become obese.
Myth: You gain weight due to intolerance
Truth: Many people think that intolerance to a food such as wheat makes them gain weight, because when they stop eating the food in question, they lose weight. This weight loss is more likely to be because of the self-imposed restriction in their diet and not the intolerance.
Up to 25 per cent of people think they have food intolerance, and some websites claim that this could be as high as 80 to 90 per cent of the population! However, the percentage of people who really suffer from food intolerances is low (probably up to about 7 per cent of the population) and symptoms include diarrhea, nausea, and stomach cramps, which would be more likely to lead to weight loss than weight gain.
Myth: Green tea is the best remedy
Truth: Green tea has traditionally been used for weight loss, and it looks like it might actually work. A study says that the catechins in green tea could reduce weight and waist measurement. But, keep in mind, that no matter how much tea you drink, you won't lose weight if you overeat. Whatever its effects, unsweetened green tea is a low-calorie drink that seems to be good for you. Just remember to use water that is below the boiling point when making herbal tea to avoid bitterness.
Myth: Special diet foods is the best trick to losing weight
Truth: There are many diets that involve eating special foods, including the cabbage soup diet, the chicken soup diet, the grapefruit diet, the apple cider vinegar diet, and any of the diets that involve food replacement shakes, bars, soups or other foods.
These may help with short-term weight loss, but they more often end up being expensive or so tasteless that you don't stick to them, and many do not provide the daily recommended intake of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. In addition, losing weight too fast can increase the risk of health problems, such as developing gallstones. Fad diets and meal replacement diets also don't teach people better eating habits, so any weight lost is often regained after the diet ends.
Bottom line
The only real way to lose weight long-term is to eat fewer calories as part of a healthy, balanced diet, with plenty of fruit and vegetables, in combination with getting more physical activity and burning more calories.
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