The Whole Truth: Weight Loss Programs Half-Truths

If you listen to the authors of fad diet books and the creators of weight loss programs, you may hear so-called secrets that sound partially true. Maybe you have tried to lose weight before and some of what you hear resonates with you because it half worked.

The following four weight loss myths and half-truths can help you get back on track on the reality train so you can make real progress and meet your weight loss goals.

Half-truth No. 1: You need to eat a low-calorie diet.

You have probably heard this weight loss half-truth if you have ever joined the Jenny Craig or Weight Watchers weight loss programs.

Counselors at the Jenny Craig clinic put many people on a 1,200, 1,500 or 1,700 calorie diet plan without any consideration for the individual's lean muscle mass. Without knowing how much lean muscle mass you have, it's impossible to know how many calories you need to consume every day.

Weight Watchers encourages people to count points based on their overall weight as opposed to determining their metabolic rate.

While it's true, you should fewer calories every day than you burn, you can't make a wild guess or clump different people into the same category.

Half-truth No. 2: You should eat less even if it means you have to skip exercise for the week.

While it's important to eat a few hundred less calories every day than you need, most of your caloric deficit should be as a result of staying active and exercising.

If you are too tired to exercise, you are probably consuming way too few calories.

Don't be fooled by weight loss programs that encourage you to lose weight by dramatically cutting back on calories. Be suspicious if they say, "Let's lose the weight first and then start exercising."

Half-truth No. 3: If you stop eating at night you can eat all day.

If you stop eating after 5 or 6 p.m. you are doing yourself a tremendous favor. Your digestive system needs a break. You burn fewer calories at night because your body is preparing for sleep.

At the same time, just because you aren't giving into the late-night munchies does not mean you can eat anything you want all day long.

Half-truth No. 4: Eat all the protein you want

Protein is important for your body because it is used to rebuild muscle cells. At the same time, protein contains just as many calories as carbohydrates.

Eating too much protein is not healthy and can lead to kidney damage.

If you want to figure out how much protein you should eat, talk to a physical fitness trainer. Your trainer will recommend you eat protein in four or possibly five meals a day along with a balance of fruits and vegetables.

All Article Text on this site is copyrighted© 2006-2007 weightcontrolroom.com All rights reserved. Do not copy.
The info on this site is for informational purposes only and not medical info in any way, see disclaimer.