Every regime has its supply of useless folk lore and half-truths that gets passed on down the line from person to person. But I'd put weight loss up against any of them for what has to be the most time wasting and even the most dangerous myths out there.
There is a ton of free advice seen in the media these days and if it is taken seriously, can really set you back on your weight loss endeavours. This can lead to the kind of frustration that makes people think they are "destined to remain fat for life".
This in not true, Have a look at the Weight loss myths below and draw your own conclusions.
Exercise on an empty stomach and burn more fat.
Effective weight loss is the total amount of calories burned during the day, not how or why they were burned. It doesn't matter if it is night or morning, so exercise early in the day has no advantage to exercise later in the day.
Studies show that increased metabolism induced by anaerobic exercise is actually less after a large meal. Which probably means that more energy is being used for digestion than what is being used to repair muscle.
More exercise is better.
Every exercise session is beneficial to each individual, however more is not always better. It depends on what is trying to be achieved. There is a level and frequency required to achieve results.
After this level is reached, additional exercise can have the opposite effect, not allowing the body to recuperate and adapt to the stress induced by the exercise, which can be detrimental to your results.
After stopping exercise muscle will turn to fat.
This in not possible, Muscle and fat are two different types of tissues in the body and you cannot convert one into the other. This is like trying to turn water into milk. If you stop training, the muscles will shrink in size - and do not disappear. The more calories taken in that are not burned off will be deposited as fat.
If your not sweating you're not working hard enough.
Sweating is the body's way of cooling itself down. Many factors contribute to body temperature, including room temperature, types of exercise done, body-fat levels, clothing, and exercise intensity. The intensity for exercise can't be judged by the amount you sweat.
A well-trained person will often sweat a lot because their body can more efficiently regulate heat.
Can I take sugar before exercise to raise energy levels?
Ingestion of sugar will lead to a rapid rise in blood sugar levels. This rapid rise stimulates a release of insulin, which quickly removes the excess sugar from the blood system, often causing your blood sugar levels to drop, sometimes below the level that it started at, leading to faster exhaustion.
Gaining weight is just a part of getting older.
Getting older is not an excuse for gaining weight! As we age and begin a more sedentary lifestyle we start to lose muscle mass.
The efficiency of your metabolism is directly linked to how much muscle you have on your body. The most efficient way of maintaining your body's muscle mass and keeping your metabolism from dropping, is by doing a high intensity strength training workout once a week.
X is the best form of exercise.
Claims like this are usually based on marketing strategy and personal bias. Even when claims are based on factual information, they have little practical value to the average exerciser. The most important thing is to choose an activity that you like, and perform it properly and consistently.
If it's fat free I can have as much as I want.
Unfortunately fat free doesn't mean calorie free. The word fat free is misleading because if you overeat on anything, even fat free foods and you don't burn off those calories, your body will store the excess as fat.
Don't drink water when you exercise or you will get cramps.
By drinking litres of icy cold water in one go while exercising you will probably suffer from cramps. This is why it is important to drink water continuously before, during and after exercising to replace the fluid you've lost and avoid any discomfort.
By not having a personal trainer I wont make gains.
Hiring a personal trainer is one way you can use to reach your goals, but you are an adult capable of making decisions and setting your own goals once you have the knowledge of how to go about it. Following a good exercise program and eating plan does not require someone standing over you and telling you how to do it.
By exercising my abs I will lose my pot belly.
Exercising your abdominals will help to tone and firm the abdominal region, but it will not reduce fat deposits that are responsible for a pot belly. Fat reduction comes from burning more calories than you take in. Fat is reduced uniformly throughout the body there is no such thing as spot reduction.
Gary Matthews is a trainer from "down under" who has been coaching clients from athletes to bodybuilders for two decades. You may contact Gary directly at gary@maximumfitness.com and visit his website at
best cleaning company Highland Park ..Whether coming from a close friend, the nightly news or... Read More
There are certain eating habits that can make you gain... Read More
Success stories on the gastric bypass are everywhere, but how... Read More
Did you know that how and when you eat is... Read More
One of the worst things you can hear in life... Read More
Weight loss plans come in all shapes and sizes. Some... Read More
When you truly consider the weight-loss process, the battle waged... Read More
Cellulite is a condition for which cures are commonly sought.... Read More
This little known secret has been used by bodybuilders for... Read More
How would you like to eat all you want and... Read More
America is a nation of self-disclosers, amiably acceptant of our... Read More
(But What You Need to Know if You Want to... Read More
In the early nineties I had the opportunity to work... Read More
Some of you will not like what I'm going to... Read More
When the DSHEA (Dietary Supplement Health Education Act) was passed... Read More
Here are 7 simple habits that can help anyone enjoy... Read More
Cellulite happens to us for many reasons. Some reasons-- like... Read More
This is the second article in the series, Weight Loss... Read More
Most of us are aware of the AA axiom of... Read More
Every regime has its supply of useless folk lore and... Read More
I am so proud of you and your accomplishments. You're... Read More
Weight Watchers inspired me to change my eating habits, lose... Read More
A healthy pregnancy almost always involves weight gain. But now... Read More
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor; nor do I play... Read More
Low carb (carbohydrate), high protein diets are the latest ... Read More
high-end home cleaning Winnetka ..For years we heard that a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet would... Read More
Don't diet, just eat and lose weight!First, the following "diet"... Read More
America is getting more obese every year. Even our children... Read More
After the post-Halloween sugar surge, everyone coaches you to get... Read More
Twenty years ago, I did not expect to accomplish what... Read More
Do a little people-watching, next time you're in the grocery... Read More
A state of emergency has been recently put on European... Read More
Here are some everyday, helpful hints to get you started,... Read More
While exercising isn't complicated, it's very easy to make mistakes.... Read More
In a culture of blame-shifting we often look for someone... Read More
As I was saying in my past articles, others have... Read More
If you are looking for a way to lose fifteen... Read More
I have had some e-mails come in and everyone is... Read More
Weight Loss is something that many Americans struggle with. In... Read More
The term 'thermogenic' refers to a group of drugs or... Read More
If you want to find a way to lose weight... Read More
We all have aspects of health we want to improve.... Read More
Did you know that what you're eating could be making... Read More
I asked my sister to come to my gym with... Read More
A startling fact is that carbohydrates are not responsible for... Read More
It comes as a surprise to many consumers that the... Read More
At the beginning of December, WeightWatchers.com announced the release of... Read More
Now that the holiday season is here, holiday foods and... Read More
What is a mini tummy tuck? Officially called a partial... Read More
One pound of fat equals 3500 calories. Want to lose... Read More
Weight Loss |