We learned last week that one of the top diet myths is to only eat when you are hungry, which can cause the metabolism to slow and result in a lack of weight loss. In some cases, you can even gain weight despite your best efforts. This week we will cover another myth for losing weight that can prevent you from reaching your goal. Read on to learn Diet Myth Number 3 in our set of 5 Diet Myths you need to know.
Diet Myth Number 3: All Exercise Counts for Weight Loss
It is important not to take the title the wrong way, because if you go from never exercising at all to exercising any amount, it definitely helps. Whether it assists in weight loss or simply helps achieve better health, all movement is good. However, we are discussing weight loss itself and the myth that moving some will help you lose weight.
There are articles and television shows that offer up tips for squeezing in a little exercise, such as taking the stairs or doing crunches during the commercials of your favorite TV show. While all extra movement is good and can keep your body in shape, not all exercise will actually cause weight loss, and the belief that skipping the elevator every day and taking the stairs instead will achieve weight loss often results in disappointment.
A Better Option
Just because not all exercise will result in weight loss doesn’t mean you should skip those opportunities for movement. You can potentially firm and tone your body through this type of exercise, and it will contribute to your overall health. But to achieve real weight loss, the kind that you will notice and feel proud of (the kind that has you only snacking on low carb, low calorie snacks), you really need to break a sweat. For some people, sweating starts the instant they hop on a bicycle or start doing sit-ups. For others, the sweating doesn’t begin until 10 or 15 minutes into any form of exercise. Whichever the case may be for you, counting exercise time from the moment you start sweating is a better way to monitor your own weight loss expectations. For many people, looking at it this way results in more overall exercise time, which essentially equals more time sweating the fat off their bodies.
Busting the Diet Myth
Although it is a myth that all exercise can help you lose weight, it is still important to squeeze in as many extra steps, crunches, etc. as you can. Over time, even those toning moves will help contribute to overall weight loss because muscle burns calories faster than fat. In the beginning, however, mistakenly believing this diet myth can result in a lack of weight loss, even after weeks of months of eating healthy foods and changing daily habits. Get in as many of those sweat-causing workout sessions as you can, eat on a healthy eating plan, and toss in extra exercise at every opportunity as the magazines/shows suggest. The combination of these things will ensure that you aren’t disappointed at a lack of weight loss.
Thanks for reading our article! If you are ready to stock up on great low carb low calorie snacks to ensure your workout efforts don’t go to waste, visit us at ThinSlim Foods! And be sure to watch for Diet Myth Number 4 next week!