Losing weight is one of the hardest things you will ever do. At least, that is what it seems like at first. However, this is not necessarily true. There are many fallacies and myths that surround weight loss. The first part of losing weight on a long-term basis is to implode these fallacies and start on a clean slate.
Myth # 1: Weight Loss is Hard, if Not Impossible.
This is perhaps the most persistent myth of all, and that is partly because it is a half-truth. It is true: dieting is hard. But part of successful dieting has to do with changing the way you look at food, or even changing the way you look at the world. If expect that your diet will fail, it probably. What many dieters don't understand about successful weight loss is that it has to do with setting yourself up for success. If you enter a diet with the idea that it will be difficult, or just pure torture that is probably precisely how it will feel. Change your perception and you will find that weight loss will get a whole lot easier.
Myth # 2: Carbs are Bad and Should Be Avoided at All Costs
The popularity of low carb diets has drilled the following consensus into our brains: carbs are bad. Carbs should be avoided. But should they? The truth is always more complicated. It is true that the American diet often relies to heavily on carbohydrates. But these are mostly bad carbohydrates, such as sugary drinks, starchy foods and fatty breads. These foods are certainly not good for your health and they tend to result in fast weight gain. However, there is also another side to carbs-a much friendlier side. There are many complex carbohydrates that your body needs to work at its optimal best. These are to be found in whole grains and fiber-rich foods.
Myth # 3: Your Genes Run Your Destiny
It is true that many people are genetically predisposed to weight gain and obesity. But don't let your genes control your destiny. While it is very true that some people have a much easier time losing weight than others, this does not mean that weight loss is not possible. Weight loss can be challenging no matter what your genetic predisposition, so do no bemoan the fact of 'bad' genes.
Myth # 4: A Low Fat Diet Is All You Need
It can be tempting to assume that all you need to lose weight is to eat a low fat diet. Of course, a low fat diet is a good start, but it is certainly not the overriding rule of any diet. Cutting out all fats simply won't cut it. A low fat diet is useless if you have not established other healthy habits, such as regular physical activity. Also, you should not be cutting out all fats from your diet. Our bodies need fats to stay healthy, especially essentially fatty acids that are to be found in fish and nuts.
Myth # 5: Strict Dieting is the Only Way to Lose Weight
It may seem that strict dieting is the only way to lose weight. The truth is that almost no one can sustain a very strict diet for long. Strict diets often lead to feelings of frustration. If you are constantly avoiding temptation, your eating life will gradually be ruled by a sense of what you can't eat. Feeling constantly hungry and tempted is the best way to ensure that you will not be able to follow through. Be flexible with your eating choices. Eat everything you want-in moderation.
Myth # 6: Some People Just Can't Lose Weight
So you say that you eat well and exercise, and you still can't lose weight? This is true for many people, but recent studies indicate that many dieters eat more than they actually think they do. Keep a food diary to figure out where all those extra calories are sneaking in.