If you are on a diet you should avoid red meat at all costs.
Myth or Fact: Myth
You don't have to swear off red meat. Red meat, in moderation, is a great source of protein and iron.
Capitalize on the facts: Choose lean cuts of meat -- sirloin tip, flank steak, extra lean ground beef -- and then trim away all visible fat. And portion control is key. "Try to cut down your red meat intake to once every week and a half," Borden advises. "Your portion should be approximately the size of your palm and the thickness of your palm � not your boyfriend's palm or Shaquille O'Neal's palm!"
Next: If it were only that easy�
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Over-the-counter weight loss products that are labeled "natural" or "herbal" are safe and effective.
Myth or Fact: Myth
This was a gimme, right? Ephedra ring any bells? Just because you can buy something in a health food store doesn't mean it's healthy. Unless and until a product's claims have been evaluated by the FDA, you should be skeptical. And, in any event, it's worth consulting a physician before taking any drugs.
Capitalize on the facts: While there is no magic pill, there are FDA-approved diet drugs and appetite suppressants (over-the-counter and prescription) that, when taken in conjunction with a reduced calorie diet and an exercise plan, can help you lose weight. One example is Alli, an over-the-counter medication approved by the FDA, which blocks fat absorption by about 25 percent. But Alli, like all weight loss drugs, is not recommended or appropriate for all dieters. Again, before taking any drug, you should talk to your doctor.
Next: What's the deal with grams?
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All grams are created equal
Myth or Fact: Myth
Remember the old riddle: What weighs more -- 100 lbs of brick or 100 lbs of feathers? They, of course, weigh the same, but the size of the feather pile would be much bigger than the stack of bricks. That analogy kind of helps when you think of grams of food: a gram of protein has four calories; a gram of carbohydrates also has four calories; but a gram of fat has nine calories.
Capitalize on the facts: The difference in calories per gram is the reason why one food may have way more calories than an identical serving size of another. It's also the reason for the proliferation of low-fat and fat-free products. Limiting the number of grams of fat you consume each day makes it easier to stay in your caloric budget (and your skinny jeans).
Next: It's not (all) your parents' fault
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Your body has a biologically pre-determined set weight and all attempts to change it will fail.
Myth or fact: Myth
Blaming your grandparents for the yo-yo-ing you see on the scale isn't going to fly. "While our genetic heritage does play a role in our body composition," Simpson explains, "we can still have control � by leading an active lifestyle and eating well." And if you're pre-disposed to be skinny (lucky bee-och -- er -- duck?), you still ought to be eating right and exercising -- for your health.
Capitalize on the facts: What is pre-determined, is that if you change nothing, nothing will change. So � exercise and watch what you eat! And know that you will hit plateaus on the way to your weight loss goal. The trick is to persevere and to switch things up. And once you've reached your goal, be careful not to slip back in to old bad habits.
Next: When should you eat?
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You should wait until you are hungry to eat.
Myth or fact: Myth
People who skip meals or eat erratically have a tendency to overeat to make up for the food they missed. And eating too few calories actually triggers your body to hold on to fat and burn fewer calories. "Hunger is a great indication that your metabolism is turned on," says Borden. "If your metabolism is turned on, you should feel hunger every three to four hours." Bottom line: Being hungry is a good sign, it means that your body's working the way it's supposed to, to burn off calories and keep running smoothly. On the other hand, starving yourself to the point where your body thinks it needs to conserve calories for the long haul is both unhealthy and works against your weight loss goal. So don't be afraid to eat when you're hungry -- just make wise choices.
Capitalize on the facts: Eating smaller meals and healthy snacks throughout the day is far preferable to starving and bingeing. And your mother was right: Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. A healthy one fuels you up and gets your body energized and ready for the day. Don't skip it.
Next: Is sweat all it's cracked up to be?
There is a lot of information out there about weight loss diets and exercises -- perhaps too much -- especially since a lot of it is conflicting. In the news, one week protein is king; the next, carbs have ascended the throne. In the supermarket checkout line every magazine's cover suggests that the solution to your weight loss woes is to be found in its pages. At the gym, well, of course, everyone's an expert.
So, what do you think? Do you know your weight loss stuff? Or could you be sabotaging your own weight loss and diet goals?
Some weight loss diet myths are ridiculous constructs we make up ourselves simply because we want to believe them. Ever find yourself not "counting" those pieces from broken cookies, the mac and cheese scarfed off of your kid's plate or anything you eat while standing up as having any caloric value whatsoever? Mmm-hmm. Join the club.
But what if what you actually believe to be fact is also a fantasy? We asked fitness and lifestyle consultant Ashley Borden and celebrity nutritionist Paula Simpson to help us wade through some of the dizzying information that's out there. We'll help you separate myth from fact and, better still, help you capitalize on the facts as you pursue your weight loss goals.
