Weight Loss Myths (Part 1)

There are so many weight loss fads and myths out in the world that sometimes you do not know what the heck to do to lose weight. Every source you look at or every 'expect' you speak to can tell you something different. But there are two things that have been working since the dawn of time in weight loss, and that, my reader's is healthy eating and exercise. My writings come from extensive research, books, videos, and most of all, my own personal weight loss journey. I have decided to write 3 part blog entry about very common weight loss questions I get that are myth's and incorrect. Today I am tackling two of the most popular...

1.) I do not eat after 7PM because if I do I will gain weight. WRONG.

I hate hearing this. When I first decided to change my life and lose weight it was in 2008. I did hours of research and reading to find out how to properly eat. I read this somewhere, that I should not eat after 7 PM and I followed it. There were nights that I was so hungry I literally could not sleep. I was miserable. Sometimes I fought it, but often times I gave in and binged (because I was so hungry). That happens in most cases. A lot of times when "experts" suggest not eating after a certain time at night it is because that is when most people over eat. That was absolutely the case with me. I am so busy during the day, that of course, I get hungry, but not as much as I do when I get home at night after work and the gym and can finally rest. However, it is about choosing the right things to eat at night. I always recommend to people to eat lean proteins and avoid the carbs. IF you have carbs ensure they are complex carbohydrates and keep your portion small. The reason I recommend lean proteins is because your body will absorb those faster than carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are better in the morning and afternoon because they take longer to digest and your body uses them as energy. If you sleep on carbohydrates you will not use that energy and it will be stored as fat. However, your body will digest and burn the protein all night long. Egg whites or a protein shake.

2.) I only wait until I am super hungry to eat, that way I can lose weight. WRONG

Do you only eat 1 big meal a day? Or perhaps two? Do you think that is going to help you lose weight? It isn't, and is not a healthy route to take. In actuality eating too few calories actually triggers your body to hold on to fat and burn fewer calories. If you are eating the recommended 6 small meals a day, your body is constantly working and burning. Being hungry is actually a good thing; it means your body is working and using the nourishment you are putting in it. If your body gets used to you feeding it every 2-3 hours, having small meals, it USES what you are putting in. Not to mention, you have energy and you are not as hungry throughout the day. However, eat huge meals and very few times a day and/or wait until you are starving to eat, your body goes into 'survival mode'. It will actually STORE the fats, sugars, etc. because it is not fed enough. Thus you burn more MUSCLE and keep fat stored. Bigger, more infrequent meals take longer to digest. That is why one feels so tired or sleepy, after a big meal (for example: steak and potatoes or a big pasta dish). Your body is using all of the energy to digest that portion of food. Wouldn't you want that energy to go towards exercise instead?