7 Weight Loss Myths

It seems these days, everyone's an expert on what works and what doesn't when it comes to weight loss. The truth is weight loss doesn't have one simple formula. Everyone's body is different and you need to find what works for you.

Some of these may shock you and some you may already know. But we wanted to bust these myths once and for all to help you understand weight loss on a fundamental level. 

1. Do a million sit-ups and you'll loss that belly fat: Wrong, by doing as you say 'a million' sit-ups will strengthen you abdominal muscles but they won't shrink your belly. Exercise doesn't target areas for weight loss, it targets muscle areas to strengthen.

2. Breakfast is the key to lose weight. Wrong again, it's not completely black and white. Evidence is quite contradictory. What we know for certain is sleep acts like a fasting period overnight, breakfast or breaking that fast helps rev up your metabolism as you start the day.

3. No carbs allowed. This couldn't be more wrong. Healthy carbs are an essential food group for a healthy diet. Not eating bread isn't going to magically shed tons of pound but changing the type you eat is another story. Sprouted grain or rice breads break down in the body differently and are not based in white flour. Whole grain is a great choice too as it is high in fiber. 

4. All fat is bad. Heard of healthy fats? Yes they are real. Unhealthy dietary fats include saturated fat and trans fat.  These fats are commonly found in animal food sources.  Saturated fat raises blood cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL or “bad” cholesterol) and can increase your risk for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. We've spoken about the Mediterranean diet which is high in good fats like nuts and avocados and can help you lose weight. 

5. Hardcore exercise is the key. Not true. A healthy and successful weight loss plan is mostly focusing on the foods you consume with a health exercise regimen. 

6. More veggies, less fat. Not true either. It's true, fruit and vegetable consumption is up but obesity is still up as well. The truth is if you eat cucumbers followed by a grilled cheese, you're canceling out the healthy benefits of those cucumbers because your body has to focus on breaking down the grilled cheese, which it will stored most of it as fat. Bottom line, eating healthy foods doesn't mitigate the unhealthy ones. 

7. Drink water to lose weight. Drinking water doesn't make you lose weight. It keeps your body hydrated and energy levels up which is good for overall health. Being thirsty may cause you to snack more; drinking water can make you feel full. It's more the indirect benefits of water that affect weight loss than the mere act of it.