Weight Loss Myths Set Straight (Part 2)

When you are trying to lose weight it can seem impossible to sort out the “lose weight fast!” scams and schemes from the healthy tricks and tips, so we decided to address some of the most common weight loss myths with the facts to help sort the mess out a little. Check out our “Weight Loss Myths Debunked Part 1” if you haven’t already! Here are a few more we came across:

Myth: You must have a thyroid problem if you have a difficult time losing weight.
Fact: In actuality less than 5% of the American populous have hypothyroidism, so just because you have a hard time losing weight that doesn’t mean a disorder is to blame. However, if you experience many of the other symptoms of hypothyroidism along with inability to easily shed pounds, you should talk to your primary care doctor or one of our highly qualified DocChat physicians today.

Myth: Carbs are bad!
Fact: Not all carbohydrates are evil, simple carbs such as glucose, corn syrup and refined sugar are made of only a couple sugar molecules and are rapidly digested. They don’t provide much nutritional sustenance and usually comprise ‘junk food’ products that can be bad for our health. However, complex (starchy) carbs like pasta, potatoes and whole grains are essential parts of a healthy diet when eaten in the proper proportions. They often contain goodies such as fibre and B vitamins and can provide you with the energy you need to get through your day and your workouts.

Myth: If you just exercise regularly, you can eat what you want and still lose weight.
Fact: Unless you’re an anomaly to the norm, if you are exercising the called for half an hour to an hour a day but still eating a big bag of chips, dessert after every meal and take-out on the regular, chances are you won’t be hitting your target weight loss goal any time soon. You are burning off a normal amount of calories, but taking in an excess of calories because of a lousy diet, your exercising isn’t going to cover all those added calories. It is almost like swimming against a current, all your hard work will likely just be eclipsed by the chip bag or donut box. In order to achieve healthy weight loss, eating a well balanced healthy diet and exercising regularly are both recommended.

Myth: A calorie is a calorie, they are all the same.
Fact: Our bodies metabolize different types of food in different ways. For example, protein can boost your metabolism by making it work harder as well as keep you satiated for a longer period of time, while simple carbs such as refined sugar are zoomed through your metabolism and stored as fat, working against your metabolism. So protein calories are better types to consume more of than simple carb or ‘empty’ calories when you are trying to stay healthy and keep an eye on your waistline.

Myth: Dairy products are too fattening for weight loss
Fact: As long as you make lower fat dairy choices, dairy can be an important part of a healthy diet and can help you stay or become trim. Dairy contains a surplus of protein, which is conducive to weight loss and healthy eating, as well as calcium and vitamin D. If you have trouble consuming dairy, the protein and calcium in soy products can adequately replace dairy products.

We hope our myths and tips helped you. If you have any questions about healthy weight loss, or obesity or other related illnesses don’t hesitate to sign up today and try a video conference with one of our qualified and experienced DocChat physicians. Thanks for visiting, have a great day!