Busting 5 Common Weight Loss Myths

The foundation of maintaining a healthy weight is having the right mindset and information, so today, let’s bust these 5 common weight loss myths.

Myth #1. A low-fat diet is the key to losing weight.

A low-fat diet is not sustainable or healthy for many people. Fat gives taste to food, leads provides essential fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, and E and is necessary for healthy hormones. Eating low-fat or fat-free foods are usually tasteless, thus less satisfying and tend to get overeaten (your body is smart, it knows something is missing!).

Foods labeled low in fat or fat-free are not even even necessarily low in calories. Why? Because food manufacturers have put in additives, salt, and of course, lots of sugar to make up for the lack of taste that fats can give. 

So if your goal is to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight, don’t think choosing foods with the low-fat or fat-free label are the magic bullet.

Instead, include healthy fats in your diet.  These include olives and olive oils, avocados, nuts and seeds, fatty fish, CLA from pastured animal products (ghee, butter, pastured eggs and meats), and coconut oil.
 
Myth #2. Counting calories is a priority.

No, actually. While counting calories can be helpful, you have to consider where these calories come from. Eating 100 calories from junk food is not the same as eating 100 calories from a healthy, well-balanced diet. Foods are not the same, and they go through different metabolic pathways.

So instead of focusing on counting your calories, be conscious of the quality of food that you eat. And yes, eating too much of anything will lead to weight imbalance, so there is truth to calories matter…but focusing on a healthy diet first will help you more easily achieve healthy caloric intake, especially if you are getting plenty of protein in your diet to satisfy you.

Myth #3. Healthy food is more expensive.

While it’s partly true that junk foods are cheap and whole foods are quite expensive, your health is worth the investment. Imagine this: you save on buying processed foods and fast foods but you’ll probably be spending more trying to get your health back when all the chemicals and junk from these foods take a toll on you.

The decisions you might make out of convenience add up over time. They become the new normal. If your mindset is “food has to be quick and easy” versus “my food can be healthy AND pretty quick and easy”, think of what it will ultimately cost you. Your mindset will make or break your big picture health outcome. Stack the odds in your favor with a “can do” attitude when it comes to food choice, planning and prepping. 

Myth #4. It’s okay not to exercise as long as you’re limiting your calories.

Exercise is VERY important for overall health. When it comes to weight loss/maintenance, if you just limit your calories, you’ll end up losing more muscle mass resulting in a slower metabolic rate, which makes you prone to regain the weight you’ve lost. Plus, that approach is NOT good for your bones. So make sure to keep your lean muscle mass and bone density healthy through exercise (strength training and cardio!) and reap the reward of weight loss and maintenance.

Myth #5. Losing weight is just about willpower.

Not true! People may say that losing weight is all about willpower. A certain diet plan that may work for others may NOT work for you…because losing weight is not a one-size-fits-all approach! Your body is unique and different from others.

Plus, though it may seem like it, losing weight is not the ultimate goal. Sustaining a healthy weight is.

So dieting hard for a certain period of time is only a temporary solution. What you need is a permanent lifestyle change that includes a healthy diet, regular exercise, proper sleep, stress management, and embracing the habits and mindset that create vibrant health.

It is my passion to work with people like you whose health symptoms are getting in the way of you living life fully and with a sense of freedom in your body. I can help you to regain your health so you can feel great and free to enjoy life fully.

If you’re ready to discover where your best health has been hiding, I’d love to connect with you!
Apply for a complimentary Unstoppable Health Discovery Session. bit.ly/schedulinghealth (subject to availability).

Until next time, I’m wishing you unstoppable health!
~Rebecca