Tag Archives: diet misconception

3 Surprising Ways People Get Weight Loss All Wrong

diet obstacles

Sponsored post by Retrofit Weight Loss

There’s no question about it: Losing weight is hard. Whether you’re trying to shed baby weight, get back in shape after an illness, or just get rid of a few extra pounds, there are many things that can stall a diet. Here are the top 3 most common things that people get wrong when they are trying to lose weight, and advice for overcoming these frustrating obstacles.

1. You lose weight too quickly.
Shedding more than 1 to 2 pounds per week should raise a red flag for dieters, according to the National Institutes of Health. Yes, the results might be encouraging, but those pounds are more likely to come back. “Losing too much at one time is a sure sign of a fad diet,” says Amy Margulies, lead registered dietitian at Retrofit Weight Loss. “That kind of weight loss means the dieter is likely depriving their body of nutrients and will risk gaining the weight back as soon as they revert to old eating habits.” To avoid rapid, unsustainable weight loss, Margulies recommends that dieters make two small changes:

  •  Set up a consistent eating plan of three meals and two snacks per day.
  •  Measure your breakfast so you know just how many calories you are consuming.

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Laughter is the best medicine

A friend recently forwarded an email to me with common misconceptions about dieting and losing weight. I laughed so hard that I assume a few calories were burned, and thought you could use a laugh too. What’s the point of working so hard at exercising, giving up foods and steadfastly sticking to a diet if you can’t enjoy a good laugh at ourselves once in a while?

Q:  I’ve heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life; is this true?
A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that’s it. Don’t waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that’s like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer?  Take a nap.

Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?
A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat chicken.  Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable.) And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.

Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?
A: No, not at all. Wine is made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine, that means they take the water out of the fruity bit so you get even more of the goodness that way.   Beer is made out of grain.  Bottoms up!

Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?
A: Well, if you have a body and you have fat, your ratio is one to one.  If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.

Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?
A: Can’t think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No Pain… Good!

Q: Aren’t fried foods bad for you?
A: YOU’RE NOT LISTENING!  Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil. In fact, they’re permeated with it.  How could getting more vegetables be bad for you?

Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger. You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.

Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
A : Are you crazy?  HELLO!  Cocoa BEANS? Another vegetable!  It’s the best feel-good food around!

Q: Is swimming good for your figure?
A: If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.

Q: Is getting in shape important for my lifestyle?
A: In shape? What kind of shape? “Round” IS a shape.

Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets.