Here are the 8 BIGGEST diet and fitness myths

When it comes to diet and weight loss, we are bombarded with information and statistics on the internet. We tend to believe in these when more often than not they are false and can lead us to take bad diet decisions. We can sometimes feel overwhelmed and confused with all the information. Here is a list of eight diet myths and help you separate them from the truth, so the next time you decide to go on a diet, you can take the right decisions.

Fact: There is no evidence that such foods exist. Even though cold water does lower your body temperature, however, for it to reap benefits, you will have to drink a lot of it. The same is with green peppers or celery. Your body might take a little more energy to metabolize such vegetables, it does not mean they do not have any caloric content. In fact, starving only causes panic causing your metabolism to slow down.

Fact: While sit-ups strengthen your abs, they do not reduce any stomach fat. To reveal your abs, you need to lose weight. For that, you must do high-intensity training like running or swimming. A good exercise for losing belly fat is pelvic tilts. Lay on your back with your knees bent. Now, push your lower back flat and suck in your abdomen. Hold you breathe for five seconds. You can repeat this 50 times and twice a day.

Fact: It is only after years of serious training and diet that muscles build. In fact, it is even more difficult for women to get bulky as they lack the testosterone levels for it. Weight training strengthens your bones and also increase your metabolism. Thus, you burn more calories and also improve your balance and posture.

Fact: This is not true. In fact, if you eat less than your body’s energy requirements, it forces the body to go into survival mode and also slow down your metabolism. You might lose weight initially, however, you will put it back on when you start eating a little more. Eat more lean protein and do not cut more than 500 calories a day. Do not skip meals and include complex carbs from fruit and vegetables in your diet.

Fact: The body starts using fat for fuel the moment there is an energy deficit. You need to create that deficit by exercising regularly and also cutting down o your calorie intake. If you are able to do this, you will burn fat all day long. Your body uses up more energy during high-intensity exercise, so, you should create a routine with short spurts of high-intensity workouts with enough recovery time.

Fact: The simple formula for losing weight is to eat less energy than you consume. It does not depend on the nutrient composition of the food that you eat. In fact, carbs are more filling and thus are better for controlling your weight. Do not confuse high carb foods with high-fat ones as they often do appear together. This is especially true for baked and fried foods. We often crave fat more than carbs.

Fact: More than the age, it is the inactive lifestyle that is the reason for you gaining weight as you age. With a sedentary lifestyle, you lose muscle mass and also burn fewer calories. Your metabolism does not slow down naturally if you remain active. Strength training is the best way to maintain muscle mass.

Fact: Weight gain or loss is only dependent on how much you eat through the day and also how much you exercise. It does not matter what time of the day you eat at. No matter when you eat, your body will store those extra calories as fat. You should refrain from snacking while watching TV or using the computer as these are distracting and may force you to eat more.