Weight Loss Myths

Getting in better shape is a great way to improve your health and help you feel better. If you want to achieve your health goals, it is important to do it in a healthy way—especially if it involves losing weight. Losing weight can obviously be great for your well-being, but it can also be bad for you if you do it in a dangerous or unsustainable way. Knowing more about common weight loss myths will help you avoid some unhealthy or unproductive pitfalls.

Counting Calories is All that Counts

When working to lose weight, you need to expend more calories than you take in. However, counting calories is not the only thing you need to do. One common weight loss myth is that if you count calories, you can eat what you want. That just isn’t true! For healthy weight loss, you need to get the most out of your calories by eating good food like vegetables and lean protein while avoiding things that are bad for you (think sugar!).

Food that Tastes Good is Bad for You

On the flip side of counting calories and eating what you want is the belief that anything that tastes good is bad for you. The very thought is just depressing. It really comes down to mindset. There are plenty of things that taste amazing that are great for you. It might be hard at first to cut out sugary treats and processed food, but once you start enjoying delicious healthy recipes, your tastes will change for the better.

You Have to Avoid Carbs to Lose Weight

While cutting carbs can help you lose weight, it’s really the types of carbs you want to avoid. Sugar is the major culprit. It just isn’t good for you, especially refined sugar in processed treats. Whole grains, on the other hand, are part of a healthy diet. They also give you fiber, which is important for your health.

Fat Makes You Fat

While this one seems like a no-brainer, it really isn’t as cut and dry as that. Once again, it is the types of fats that you eat. There are healthy fats like avocados, extra virgin olive oil, and lean meats and fish that are good for you. In fact, they can even help promote weight loss.

To Lose Weight, You Have to Go Hungry

You do not have to starve yourself to lose weight. In fact, you should never starve yourself in order to lose weight. If you are exercising with a great set of workout friends and leading a healthy lifestyle, you need fuel to keep you going and that means eating healthy foods.

Focus on eating whole foods that have not been processed. It might mean getting used to doing more cooking from scratch, but the healthy rewards will be worth it. Next time you go to the grocery store, try to stay along the outside edges of the store. Typically, that is where you find the vegetables, fruits, lean meats, and often grains. Most of the food items found in the middle aisles are processed, full of additives, and best avoided.

For more advice on healthy eating and exercise, follow our blog and join a Legends Boxing gym near you. Our team will help you reach your health goals and feel great!