Food Lovers Fat Loss System Some Common Food Myths Exposed.
With over 10 years of experience helping ordinary people lose body fat behind me, I thought I would take some time to talk about some of the most common "food myths" that have been sabotaging people's efforts for that long (and even longer). Actually, in all that time, I have to say that over 80% of the questions I'm asked by my clients and readers have been nutrition-related.
I think the main reason for this is the fact that the topic of diet and nutrition today is so vast, and incredibly complex, with people being literally bombarded from all angles with information; some of it good, but most of it really bad!
With so much incorrect information out there, people start to believe what they see and read, and, before you know it, we have a full-blown myth on our hands. Unfortunately, it's left up to the rest of us who try to deliver straight-up, common sense solutions about food to the masses to "clean up" these bogus myths, and attempt to get folks back on-track with their nutrition.
So, without further ado, here are the 3 most common "food myths" I've seen, and my answer to each of them. Enjoy!
Myth #1: Fat Free is a Good Thing
Q: When choosing what to buy and eat at the grocery store, isn't it better to get foods that say they are "fat free" rather than "low fat?"
A: There are 3 components to the foods we eat. These are most commonly known as the Macronutrients. They are Proteins, Carbohydrates and Fats. All three of these components are present in almost all natural, whole foods. They are there for a reason: because our bodies need them (all of them) in order to function properly, and also to give us the fuel we need to maintain a healthy lifestyle. When I see a product that is labelled "fat free," alarm bells start going off in my head almost immediately. For example, if you look at something like cottage cheese. First of all, this is not a "natural" product. it has to have human intervention in order to be produced. It does, however, have a lot of good stuff in it that's healthy for us to eat. It has a lot of quality protein for building and repairing muscle, limited carbs for some energy and fuel, and, when it's left in its most unprocessed state, some very healthy saturated and unsaturated fats. When a quality product like this is made "fat free," I always have to wonder what's being put into my cottage cheese to replace those healthy fats? Chemicals? Trans fats? Other stuff that's way too hard to pronounce? Yes. That's exactly what it is. Bottom line? Eat the low fat version, or the full fat version in moderation. You'll get the benefit of the healthy fats, and won't have to suffer through common "fat free" flavor-deprivation! Yuck!
Myth #2: Fruit Makes you Fat
Q: I know fruit is supposed to be good for me, but I read somewhere that eating too much can cause me to gain fat because of all the natural sugars, is this true?
A: I've got two main points on this one. First, I have never heard or seen any conclusive results that prove that people can gain fat by eating too much fruit. Second, the sugars found in natural, raw fruit are used by the body and are harmless. The only thing that I would caution you about is concentrated fruit juices. I've said many times in the past never to "drink" your calories. This is especially true of fruit juices. You see, fruit itself has to be broken down by the body, and provides us with, not only essential vitamins and minerals, but also some much needed fiber to keep things "moving" smoothly. When we drink concentrated fruit juices, the natural sugar is heightened, and there is also no fiber to help offset this increase in the sweet stuff. Bottom line? Eat as much fruit as you want throughout the day. Just make sure it's in its natural form, and that your body is having to work to process it. In my opinion, there are fewer things more perfect for an evening snack than an apple or a pear.
Myth #3: If it says "Whole Grain" it Must be Healthy
Q: I always make sure the bread I eat says "Whole Grain" on the label, but I'm not losing any weight. What gives?
A: I will apologize in advance to all you bread lovers out there, but, unless you've made it yourself from natural ingredients, I'm not a fan of eating ANY bread, ANY time (unless it's on your cheat day). There are so many other "mystery" ingredients in the bread you buy at the store, your body doesn't really care if it says whole grain on the label or not. It's going to convert that bread into one thing, and one thing only... sugar! And we all know what happens when foods are converted to sugar, right? their next stage of conversion is almost always FAT! If you absolutely must have bread to eat, make sure that you read the ingredients list before you buy it. If there's anything listed there that you don't know what it is, or cannot pronounce, I would urge you to stay clear. Here's a challenge for you: Why not try removing bread from your diet for a period of time (maybe for one or two weeks), and see how that makes you feel? I'm willing to bet that at the end of your little bread fasting experiment, you feel better, with more energy and not so lethargic. You see, it's a lot of work for your internal systems to process bread of any type, and when it comes right down to it, a LOT of it is converted directly into sugar! The bottom line? Steer clear of bread, even for a little while, and watch your progress improve!
Bonus! Myth #4: Stop Eating after 7 PM
Q: I get so hungry in the evening, but everyone says you shouldn't eat after 7. Will this mess up my goals for a flat tummy?
A: For this answer, I will have to split it into two separate thoughts. First, I don't feel that it matters when you eat. The important thing to watch is What you're eating, and How Much! The plain and simple fact is that if you eat more that your body is able to burn off and utilize before the next time you eat, there's a pretty good chance that what's left over will be stored as fat. If you remember this, you'll do okay, I promise. Second, whenever you have a "hungry" feeling, no matter what time it is, you must seriously ask yourself if you are truly hungry, or are you simply bored, or depressed, or upset, etc. Getting in touch with your true feelings is very important when it comes to regulating your food intake. Next time you feel an evening "hunger" coming on, go get yourself a big glass of water, drink it, wait 10 to 15 minutes, then see if you still feel as hungry as you did before the glass of water. If you do, fine. Grab yourself something healthy and filling (like a piece of fruit) and eat it, yes, even if it's 11:00 pm! Simply repeat this every time it happens, and I think you'll find that these evening cravings will start to subside. Bottom line? Eat ONLY when you're hungry, not when you're bored!
I hope that this has helped to set straight any of these myths about food and nutrition. Try some of these tips and I'm sure they will help you along your journey towards fat loss, and good health!
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