Weight loss is difficult. It's challenging, and nearly everyone who has ever attempted to lose weight has struggled at some point.
Some people might be more genetically prone to struggle than others, but the reality is that it's just not easy to drop pounds and keep them off. This doesn't mean that you can't lose weight. Many people have lost weight and managed to keep it off for good.
There are quite a few misconceptions about weight loss floating around out there. Many of these ideas may seem logical and make sense on some level; however, they're inaccurate and often prevent people from losing weight the right way.
Understanding Weight Loss
To lose weight, you first have to understand what it is. What does it mean to be overweight or obese? And what does it mean to be healthy?
For one, being overweight is not the same as being obese. Simply put, if your BMI falls between 25 and 29.9 (overweight) or 30 or higher (obese), you may want to consider losing some weight. Many misconceptions exist about what people can weigh and still be considered healthy.
For example, a person might believe they need to lose 20 pounds for their doctor to deem them healthy. This couldn't be less true!
The standard measure of someone's health is whether they have normal blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and glucose levels, among other things; a person doesn't need to be at an unhealthily low weight for their doctor to consider them healthy!
The most important thing when it comes to weight loss isn't how much you weigh; instead, it's reaching a point where you feel good about yourself and live a healthier lifestyle overall.
The Biggest Mistake People Make When Trying to Lose Weight
One of the biggest mistakes people make when trying to lose weight is not monitoring their caloric intake. There are many reasons for this, but the most important reason is that weight loss comes down to math.
If you're eating more than you're burning, you won't be able to lose weight. Conversely, if you're burning more than you eat, you will steadily drop pounds until your body reaches a healthy equilibrium.
Regardless of what diet plans or supplements promise, weight loss boils down to calories in versus calories out. If you want to lose weight, restricting foods will only lead to binging later on and sabotaging your progress.
Instead of cutting out certain foods or food groups entirely, focus on how many calories they contain and how often they can feasibly fit into your day-to-day life. If it turns out that too many of your favorite foods have tons of calories and don't fit easily into your routine, then consider making substitutions until you find a way for them to work for you.
Calorie Counting Is the Only Way to Lose Weight
One of the biggest weight loss myths is that calorie counting is the only way to drop pounds successfully. This may seem like a logical step to take, but what many people don't know is that calorie counts are rarely accurate.
For example, numerous studies have been done on fast-food calories and how they differ from the nutrition facts listed on their menus. The difference between reality and what's on paper can be as high as 50 percent, meaning you could consume double the amount of calories you were expecting.
Furthermore, nearly 300 junk food items show up on nutritional sites with false information about their caloric content. This means that if you eat these foods believing they are low in calories, you might feel cheated later on down the line.
While eating healthy might not always seem enjoyable initially, it's important to remember that your body will thank you in the end.
Exercise Is the Key to Weight Loss
This is a big misconception. Many people spend hours working out and are still not losing weight the way they want to. This is because exercise alone just doesn't cut it. You may see some weight loss from exercising, but you'll not likely lose as much as you would if you combined meal planning with your exercise routine.
The other issue is that people often overestimate how many calories they burn during a workout. That's why some people eat more than they usually would after a workout, thinking that all those extra calories burned were worth it.
However, the truth is that most exercises only burn 200-400 calories over the course of an hour, which isn't much considering what most people eat in one sitting.
Additionally, if someone doesn't have a lot of weight to lose, they may feel like their hard work isn't paying off as it should be. If this sounds like something you're regularly experiencing, you should consider following a meal plan.
Certain Foods Are “Good” and Others Are “Bad” (For example: believing that only certain foods can make you lose weight)
Eating healthy isn't about avoiding certain foods. Plenty of "healthy" foods can make you gain weight if you eat them in excess. A key component of healthy eating is moderation.
Strict Dieting Is the Only Way to Lose Weight
One misconception about weight loss is that it requires a strict diet. This means that the only time you can eat is when you are eating your meals and snacks.
This may make you feel hungry, irritable, and tired all the time. In reality, there's no need to go on a strict diet to get results from weight loss.
This is why my meal plans consist of tasty foods that will get you full. They will help you lose 1-2 pounds per week without depriving yourself of any food or lifestyle pleasures.
By following a meal plan, staying hydrated, including 30 minutes of daily activity, and joining our Facebook Group at Fine Fit Fitness_ you will be well on your way to healthier relationships with your mind and body.