Marie Rodriguez

Weight loss facts and fiction

We’ve all heard the saying, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn’t.” So why do people still fall for those “lose weight fast” ads on TV? If we could really lose 30 pounds in three weeks by working out three minutes a day, we would all look like Hollywood movie stars.
      The fact is that in order for you to lose weight, you need to burn more calories than you eat. This means watching what you eat and how much. It also means you need to exercise.
     Also, you probably don’t want to lose too much weight too quickly. That can be unhealthy. Usually a safe and reasonable weight-loss expectation with a healthy diet and exer- cise is 1 to 1.5 pounds a week.
     One of the biggest myths out there is that certain exercises can “target” area fat. There is no exercise or gadget that can specifically get rid of belly fat. Doing abdominal exercises will increase your endurance and strength in that area, but they will not “burn” fat.
     The only way to lose belly fat is to get rid of overall body fat. And that goes back to eating a healthy diet and calorie-burning exercise. The best way to do this is by combining cardio, strength training and flexibility exercises.
     Another myth is that making yourself sweat more while working out by wearing a special suit or by using special rooms for sweating will help you lose weight more quickly. This only causes you to lose water weight. You also end up losing electrolytes. This is not a healthy way to lose weight!
     Don’t try to lose weight by starving yourself. This deprives your body of essential nutrients. And you end up losing muscle before you lose fat. When you deprive your body of food, it goes into “starvation mode” and begins to protect itself by storing fat.
     Another myth is to avoid fat and carbs. Carbohydrates (fiber) are necessary for a healthy diet. They do not make a person fat; often it is the fat and sugar in processed carbs that do that. And you need some fat in your diet.               Our body was designed to be in motion. We need exercise to feel good and stay healthy. A walk through the woods is exercise. Playing ball with the kids is exercise. Walking the dog is exercise. Just get out there and be active.
     Dieting does not mean starving the body.
A healthy diet will make your body feel good. Eat a variety of vegetables and fruits. Drink plenty of water. Choose whole grains. Read food labels and know what you are putting into your body.
     Don’t just focus on losing weight. Make up your mind that you want an active and healthy lifestyle, one that will make you feel good and enjoy life.