Weight Loss Myths and Facts
Many of us would like to lose some weight…but often don’t get around to it.
This is mostly because losing weight is just plain hard…especially as you get older.
It doesn’t help that our heads have been filled with myriad myths and misinformation about weight loss. The confusion that ensues can discourage people from even trying.
So, what are the primary myths related to weight loss?
Myth #1: Being Overweight is Caused by Being Lazy
This is nonsense. While a sedentary lifestyle will make it easier to gain weight (and harder to lose it), the reasons behind the difficulties with losing weight vary widely and can include:
- Genetics
If your family tree is full of overweight people, there’s a good chance you will be programmed to gain weight more easily. This doesn’t mean you can’t maintain a healthy weight…it just means you may need help to do it. - Hormone Imbalance
Low testosterone can make it harder to maintain the lean muscle needed for burning excess body fat. Estrogen dominance makes it easier for your body to gain fat, and it makes it harder to lose it. Thyroid deficiency will cause your metabolism to be sluggish. And excess cortisol production from long-term stress can cause weight gain, particularly around the midsection. - Medications
Antidepressants, steroids, antihistamines, and other medications can cause weight gain as a side effect. - Medical Conditions
Depression, insomnia, and other medical conditions can contribute to weight gain. - Aging
With age, your metabolism is likely to slow. As a result, your body will burn less food for energy. If you don’t reduce your food intake or take steps to improve your metabolism, weight gain is likely to result.
Myth #2: You Can Lose Weight Through Exercise Alone
Weight loss amounts to a simple math equation: you have to consume fewer calories than your body burns.
The problem? It takes a lot of exercise to burn through the glycogen your body uses as short-term fuel. Only then can you start to burn fat.
As a result, most people can’t exercise long enough or intensely enough to burn much fat. However, if you reduce your calorie intake in combination with exercise, you’ll have an easier time achieving long-term fat loss.
Myth #3: Fad diets and Weight Loss Pills Are a Good Way to Lose Weight
Unfortunately, there are no short cuts when it comes to weight loss.
Fad diets and “cleanses” may result in temporary weight loss. However, this is for the most part due to fluid loss, not fat loss. Sometimes these fad diets will result in fat loss, but this is generally because they include calorie restriction. Also, fad diets are typically not designed for more than temporary use. Once you go back to your regular diet, you’re likely to put the weight you lost back on.
Weight loss pills and weight loss supplements, on the other hand, will curb your appetite and may give you some extra energy. But they don’t usually provide lasting results, and they can have serious side effects.
Myth #4: Eating Fat Makes You Fat
Dietary fats don’t automatically get stored as fat on your body.
Rather, they are broken down into fatty acids within your intestines. These fatty acids are used for a variety of bodily functions. It’s only excess fatty acids that can be stored as fat.
Depending upon how it’s eaten, fat can be helpful with weight loss because it takes longer to digest, and it helps you to feel full for longer. This is in part why the keto approach to eating (i.e. high fat/high protein/low carb) can be successful for many people. However, the kind of fat consumed matters, and keto won’t work if carbs aren’t kept to a minimum.
Myth #5: Fasting Slows Your Metabolism
There’s ample evidence to suggest that intermittent fasting, particularly when paired with the keto approach to eating, can dramatically reduce total calories consumed while simultaneously improving metabolism.
Don’t Believe in Myths
The reasons for weight gain are varied.
A common culprit, particularly as people get older, is imbalanced hormones. Renew Youth can help with that. We’re experts when it comes to doctor-supervised hormone replacement therapy. To learn more, call us at 800-859-7511 or use our contact form to set up your free 30-minute consultation.
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