The Truth About Common Weight Loss Myths
When it comes to losing weight and getting in shape, it seems that everyone has a piece of advice to offer on the best--or quickest--way to do it. These often unsolicited pearls of wisdom may come from well-meaning friends or family members, but they can be wrong--and sometimes even dangerous. Below, I've taken a look at a few common myths, and given you the real deal on each so you can safely and effectively drop pounds and get fit.
The myth: If you have big bones, you'll carry more weight around.
The real deal: Some people do have larger bones than others, but your bone structure should not really dictate how much you weigh. Your weight is determined by a number of different factors, including genetics, how active you are and whether you smoke or use certain medications. And remember, weight is such a unique measurement; it's difficult to pinpoint a specific number when trying to determine what your ideal weight is. So, feel free to use the scale and your BMI as a guide, but I'd also recommend tuning into your body. I find most people inherently know the weight at which they look and feel the best.
The myth: To push past a plateau, you have to really cut calories.
The real deal: While calorie-cutting is often key to getting past a plateau, restricting your intake too much can actually backfire. If you dip below 1,500 calories per day, you probably won't be providing your body with the energy required to keep your metabolism up. Not to mention, you won't have enough energy to work out--which is essential to overcoming a plateau. It can also harm your health: Extremely restrictive diets can cause you to miss out on important vitamins, minerals and nutrients. Cutting as little as 100 calories per day from your diet or slightly increasing the intensity of your workouts is often enough to get you past a plateau. So, pay close attention to your diet and workouts to determine where you need to make small tweaks to get your weight loss going again.
The myth: If you do enough crunches, you'll get amazing abs.
The real deal: Perform a good series of abdominal crunches daily (or close to it), and you'll definitely get strong abs--but it may not be enough to give you those glistening, six-pack abs that you see in magazines. That's because many people have layers of body fat hiding their abdominal muscles. The only way to expose the muscle is to lose fat. So unfortunately, crunches alone won't give you toned abs; you'll also have to lose weight to be able to see the muscles underneath.
The myth: Running backwards can help tighten your butt.
The real deal: Actually, running forward emphasizes your gluteus maximus (aka your buttt) more than running backwards. Plus, there's less chance of running into a tree. Biking is also a good alternative, but most definitely, you should go forward as opposed to backwards no matter what exercise you choose.
The myth: Cardio exercise is the best way to burn calories.
The real deal: For most people, the best way to lose weight (and get in shape) is to combine cardiovascular exercise with strength training. Each form of exercise affects the muscles' calorie-burning abilities in different ways. Aerobic workouts promote the production of the enzymes that boost oxygen consumption, and therefore, the burning of calories. Weight training helps maintain and build muscle; muscle tissue burns more calories than fat, which means the more muscle you have, the more calories your body will naturally burn. Now that sounds like a formula for success!
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The myth: If you have big bones, you'll carry more weight around.
The real deal: Some people do have larger bones than others, but your bone structure should not really dictate how much you weigh. Your weight is determined by a number of different factors, including genetics, how active you are and whether you smoke or use certain medications. And remember, weight is such a unique measurement; it's difficult to pinpoint a specific number when trying to determine what your ideal weight is. So, feel free to use the scale and your BMI as a guide, but I'd also recommend tuning into your body. I find most people inherently know the weight at which they look and feel the best.
The myth: To push past a plateau, you have to really cut calories.
The real deal: While calorie-cutting is often key to getting past a plateau, restricting your intake too much can actually backfire. If you dip below 1,500 calories per day, you probably won't be providing your body with the energy required to keep your metabolism up. Not to mention, you won't have enough energy to work out--which is essential to overcoming a plateau. It can also harm your health: Extremely restrictive diets can cause you to miss out on important vitamins, minerals and nutrients. Cutting as little as 100 calories per day from your diet or slightly increasing the intensity of your workouts is often enough to get you past a plateau. So, pay close attention to your diet and workouts to determine where you need to make small tweaks to get your weight loss going again.
The myth: If you do enough crunches, you'll get amazing abs.
The real deal: Perform a good series of abdominal crunches daily (or close to it), and you'll definitely get strong abs--but it may not be enough to give you those glistening, six-pack abs that you see in magazines. That's because many people have layers of body fat hiding their abdominal muscles. The only way to expose the muscle is to lose fat. So unfortunately, crunches alone won't give you toned abs; you'll also have to lose weight to be able to see the muscles underneath.
The myth: Running backwards can help tighten your butt.
The real deal: Actually, running forward emphasizes your gluteus maximus (aka your buttt) more than running backwards. Plus, there's less chance of running into a tree. Biking is also a good alternative, but most definitely, you should go forward as opposed to backwards no matter what exercise you choose.
The myth: Cardio exercise is the best way to burn calories.
The real deal: For most people, the best way to lose weight (and get in shape) is to combine cardiovascular exercise with strength training. Each form of exercise affects the muscles' calorie-burning abilities in different ways. Aerobic workouts promote the production of the enzymes that boost oxygen consumption, and therefore, the burning of calories. Weight training helps maintain and build muscle; muscle tissue burns more calories than fat, which means the more muscle you have, the more calories your body will naturally burn. Now that sounds like a formula for success!
http://www.thebestlife.com
