4 Fitness and Weight Loss Myths

1.      Dieting will eliminate fat.

The human body cannot differentiate between starvation and intentional calorie deprivation. By reducing the calorie intake drastically the body changes to a protected mode that slows down the rate of metabolism and holds onto fats thus burning muscles instead. Thus, at the start of the diet you will lose considerable calories though this won’t be fat loss but what we call lean muscle tissue and water weight. This is exactly opposite of what should happen.

Harsh diet will not only decrease the metabolism rate but will also cause your initial weight loss to be brought to a gradual halt thus causing an effect termed as rebound. This rebound effect will cause to become fatter than even the time you started the diet. Rebounding will not only make you put on more weight but also will increase the percentage of body fat thus leading to a yo-yo condition that most dieters experience.

The best way to shake off the fats in your body is by burning more calories and increasing the rate of metabolism by using a precise exercise routine and correct nutrient ratio.

2.      Pills, powders and shakes can make you skinny.

You must be aware that the people who get the most out of diet pills, fat burners and nutritional supplements are the sellers and the manufacturers. Even though some of these products have food extracts they cannot be substituted for eating right. Still, some of those “miracle” weight loss products you hear being advertised are dangerous to the body and you should believe in the at all.

Some of these products might bring positive results to at first but with time they will have far reaching effects to your body. Indeed you will get no long term benefits.

3.      A regimen of aerobic exercise will burn the fattest.

Some women spend 4 days a week, 40 minutes a time exercising on a treadmill, stair stepper or bicycle but they still don’t lose weight. Men too can run for 6 miles every day but they lack muscles and have rolls of fats around their waists. Maybe you have been made to believe that the only way to lose weight is by having regular aerobic exercise but the truth is there is more that can be done on top of that.

For you maximize on the number of calories you burn you need to control and monitor your cardiovascular intensity. Aerobic exercise should be properly combined with resistance training for you to realize faster weight loss.

4.      Resistance training (weight lifting) doesn't burn fat.

This is not far from the truth. You must know that muscles are metabolically active tissues unlike fats. The former is an energy source to the body but some people have more of that is needed. Unlike fast which is used as energy muscles uses a lot of energy. It is thus true that if you have more lean muscles you will burn more fats. This is how important resistance training is and everyone should incorporate resistance training in their fitness program.