To Your Health: 174) FINAL FIVE MYTHS ABOUT WEIGHT LOSS

We have finally come to the end of the weight loss myth series. In total, there are twenty-five myths. Are you are still gagging on the last twenty? Don't forget to chew and swallow.

You may not be able to squeeze into your new skinny jeans if the remaining five is not put out. You just have to suck it with a straw and close the full cup up! Just kidding....

MYTH # 21 THE SCALE IS YOUR NUMBER ONE ENEMY

Without a GPS, can you honestly say that you can locate your new client's address? Can any business grow without keeping a proper accounting system to crank out the net profits or losses?

You will be surprise to know that there are some people who believe that they can effectively achieve their weight loss target without having to know how much they weigh during the process.

FACT

You need the scale more than ever. When you are dieting to lose weight, your body weight does not exactly drop in a straight line. It will fluctuate and goes up and down but with an overall downward trend.

If you step on the scales every day, you will notice these periodic "ups", and this may discourage you or even sabotage your initial enthusiasm. So do not weigh yourself every day but wait for a longer interval, i.e. once a week which is necessary for you to lose weight more effectively.

MYTH # 22 A GREAT WAY TO LOSE WEIGHT IS TO STARVE YOURSELF

We have often heard somebody saying, "I'll not eat because I want to lose weight." It is obvious, they believe that by cutting calories drastically they will lose weight.

FACT

Starving oneself to lose weight is never healthy. Calorie restriction is necessary for weight loss. But, be aware of two things.

1) Calories restriction limit

Go any lower than 1,000 calories a day for an extended period of time becomes unhealthy. Starving lowers your metabolism, i.e. the rate energy burns in our bodies. Going on a crash diet does make you lose weight but when you start eating again, you will gain weight much more easily because you are not burning calories as fast as you used to prior to starting the crash diet.

2) Risk of malnutrition

Severe calorie restriction can cause an imbalance in nutrition. Following a crash diet does not ensure that you are taking the necessary nutrients at the same time. To safeguard nutritional balance, moderation and careful planning is required for calorie restriction.

MYTH #23 SLIMMING PILLS FOR SUSTAINABLE WEIGHT LOSS

The weight loss pills are designed to either increase your metabolism, reduce your hunger or block fat absorption. You may lose some weight but what about further down the road?

FACT

You can't be popping slimming pills forever. Drugs do have side effects, and all those health supplements are just to help boost your body but cannot rescue you from lack of exercise and an unhealthy diet.

You just have to learn how to eat properly and exercise.

MYTH# 24 HEALTH FOOD IS EXPENSIVE TO EAT

Most of us equate health food to high cost. Well, this is a misconception.

FACT

The type of health food that cost more are organic foods. Healthy regular food need not have to be organic. Therefore, it can be pretty economical. For example, you can buy cookies that are crammed with trans fat and sugars or get healthy ingredients such as oats, brown sugar and eggs to make your own healthy cookies at a much cheaper price.

MYTH # 25 CUT OUT SNACKS BETWEEN MEALS

My friend said that she put on weight because she snacks a lot. But is it true that snacking makes you gain weight?

FACT

Actually, snacking is good. The difference is what you snack on. At 4 pm in the afternoon, you have a choice of eating a 440 calorie apple pie or a 180 calorie granola bar with oats and honey. Which will you choose?

My next topic for discussion is, "ARE YOU DYING TO FIT IN?"