Weight Loss Myths

Weight loss myths are everywhere you look and they can be
detrimental to your health as well as the goals you have set
for yourself.
It is necessary to take the ideas you have about losing
weight and turn them on their side. Put your knowledge to
the test. Don't fall victim to information that is hazardous to
your health.

The sad truth is that Americans are getting heavier all of the
time. This is as true of adults as it is of the youth of today.
As well, those who are already heavy are getting even
heavier.
According to a CDC National Health and Nutrition
Examination Survey, the number of obese adults has
doubled in the past 30 years. It has gone from 15 percent in
the late 1970s to an estimated 31 percent today. This is
frightening.
How many Americans can be defined as being overweight or
obese?

Approximately 64 percent of Americans weigh far too much.
This works out to be 129.6 million people. According to the
2001 Surgeon General's Call to Action on Prevent and
Decrease Overweight and Obesity, the direct and indirect
costs of obesity to society at large, which takes into account
lost productivity at work and medical costs was estimated at
a national level to be $117 billion in the year 2000.
What can you do? Read on for the weight loss myths that
can sabotage your efforts.

Cutting down tremendously on calories
means that the pounds will drop off quicker.
This is not the case! If you consume too few calories you will
actually send your body into a tailspin that can contribute to
weight gain as opposed to weight loss. You will end up in a
mode of starvation.
If a message is sent to your brain that you do not have
enough to eat and are starving, this will cause your
metabolism to slow down a great deal. This does not
facilitate weight loss at all.

According to weight loss experts, diets that are as low as
800 to 1,000 calories per day are dangerous, unhealthy and
will lead to weight loss failure. If your body thinks it is
suffering from a famine, then it immediately kicks into gear
to protect you and will not make it easy to get rid of excess
weight.
If you starve yourself then you can experience plenty of
unfavorable side effects such as lightheadedness, nausea
and problems concentrating. As well, eventually you will
have to give your body what it needs and it is likely that you
will end up overeating to compensate for starving it before.
Don't do this to yourself!