Health Options Institute

Losing weight is something many of us wish to do. It can prove quite difficult for those who try and do not have the knowledge or tenacity to get real results. The reason this happens is because there are so many misperceptions and misnomers about what will actually cause a person to lose weight. Here are the top 3 stumbling blocks that will keep you from getting the weight loss results you have been dreaming of.

Misperception #1: “I Can Eat as Much “Good Fat” as I Want and Still Lose Weight”

This is totally untrue. The difference between a good fat (such as the essential omega fatty acids found in olive oil, nuts, leafy green vegetables, etc.) and a bad fat (such as the saturated fats found in processed snacks, burgers, etc.) is in how good or bad they are for your body.

For instance, a good fat is going to have a positive impact on your cardiovascular (heart) health. A bad fat could help attribute to heart attacks and other health conditions.

The only correlation between the types of fats you consume and weight loss is that good fats can still be consumed in moderation while losing weight. Bad fats will not only prevent immediate weight loss, they will also make weight loss more difficult when you decide to try to lose the weight. This is because bad fats that are stored in the body are more stubborn to leave once they are there.

Misperception #2: “Starving Myself Will Help Me Lose Weight”

Another lie that people tell themselves is that if they just stop eating, everything will work out. This doesn’t work for multiple reasons. One is the fact that the body will go into “starvation mode” if it notices that you are not eating. That means that it will hold on to every bit of fat or other energy source that you have consumed and any little bit that you do. In other words, it will refuse to let go of fat.

The other reason starving yourself doesn’t work is because it won’t last. Eventually, you will become so sick and depleted of energy that you will need to start eating regularly again. When you do, the body will stay in starvation mode for some time thereafter and you will potentially end up gaining more weight than you had in the first place: totally counter-productive.

Misperception #3: Eating Foods Marketed as “Healthy” Causes Weight Loss

Sadly, many people fall prey to foods marketed as being healthy and do not actually check the nutrition facts. For example, a typical salad “should” be healthy, but most of the ones served at restaurants come with high fat dressings, fried chicken strips and other no-no’s. Just because something looks healthy on the package or on your plate does not mean it is in fact going to help you lose weight.

In order to lose weight through diet, you must learn what the nutrition facts on the label mean, and learn what foods have what types of content in them. Learn what foods are low in fat and high in protein, and consume them. Learn the difference between total fat and saturated fat (saturated fat is worse for you). Control your portions (especially of foods that are known to be bad for you). Be consistent and remember that will power is the most powerful weight loss tool you are going to incorporate into your endeavor.

Also, be sure to become conscious about how the average person’s overabundance of sodium intake and insufficient intake of water affects weight loss. Water retention can be a real weight loss killer.