Everyone has their opinion on diets. Every magazine, book or newspaper has a new theory about ways to shed those extra pounds. This time, I'll try to clear up a few of these diet myths for you.
We all probably know what we should and shouldn't eat or drink. When we start a new diet plan we heavily restrict "off limit" foods which are usually among our favourites. Once a craving strikes, we avoid that food like the plague. Denying a strong craving is not always a good idea. In fact, often we will try to satisfy that craving with other foods resulting in us consuming more calories than if we had just had a small portion of our "off limit" food in the first place.
Not only do we think that giving into our cravings is a sign of weakness, we also believe that eating after a certain time is bad news as well. Trust me; our bodies don't process calories differently because it's dark outside. It is the type of calories typically consumed late at night, not the clock, that pack on the pounds. Try choosing high quality snacks at night rather than high calorie pop and chips. Remember, it's calories in versus calories out, not sunrise and sunset that determine our weight.
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Well, they are all important, but breakfast sets your metabolism's pace for the day. Many people think that eating breakfast makes them hungry all day but in fact, it's not the meal that leaves you hungry, it's the type of food you're eating. Simple carbohydrates will leave you hungry less than an hour after you eat them. And they typically give you a sugar high that ends with a crash, leaving you tired and hungry. Try consuming whole grains, protein and complex carbohydrates to keep you full longer. Things like eggs, cereals made from whole grains or fruit.
Another myth about dieting is that snacking will destroy your diet efforts. Again, often it is the type of snack food you choose. Eating every three to four hours is ideal as long as you are eating the right things. Plan ahead and bring snacks with you. Eating between meals helps us avoid over eating at meal time because we aren't over hungry by the time we get to the dinner table.
One of the biggest misconceptions during dieting is that fat free foods are good for you. Just because a food is labelled or promoted as fat free does not mean it is calorie free. Be a conscious label reader. Often fat free foods will contain even more calories than regular items because sugars replace fat for flavour and consistency.
The amount of calories you eat, minus the amount of calories you burn in a day determine how many calories you either retain (weight gain), or how much of a deficit you have (weight loss). It's simple math. Try not to believe everything you hear about diets. Remember, if it sounds too easy or too good to be true, it probably is!
Say it! Mean it! Do it!
