Top 10 Diet Myths: Myth 2, Crash Dieting or Fasting Can Make You Lose Weight

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It's true if you stop eating, you will lose weight; no one will argue that fact. However, crash dieting or starving yourself isn't only horrible for your body, the results will only last a short period of time. In fact, it can ultimately be the key hindrance to weight loss.

Why are Crash Dieting and Fasting Bad?

When someone decides to significantly reduce the amount of food being ingested, it is true that fat is removed. Unfortunately, lean muscle and tissue are also lost along the way, contributing to the "quick" weight loss. The bad thing is that fat isn't being burned off in the long run, which is the most beneficial. Lean muscle loss causes a decrease in your base metabolic rate, which is the amount of calories your body needs per day.

What does this mean?

It means that your body needs fewer calories so once you "cheat" your diet and eat, or start eating regularly again, you will gain a TON more weight than you would have because your body thinks you are eating way MORE calories than normal! This is the very reason exercise is recommended. When one exercises a muscle base it built which will maintain the metabolic rate or even allow for a higher caloric intake without weight gain!

Adopt New Eating Habits, NOT CRASH DIETS!

Diets come and go and the only real way to make a change is to make healthy lifestyle choices. Making a decision to permanently cut out foods that are unhealthy or damaging to your weight loss goal is key. Treating yourself from time to time is fine, in fact depriving yourself of foods you enjoy is just plain WRONG! The important thing to remember is to eat fattening things in moderation. A consistent diet that cuts out unhealthy fats and includes exercise as protein and fiber intake is increased has the most probability of success. Don't run the risk of failure, choose wisely, eat healthy and in moderation and the weight will disappear! Unlike crash dieting or fasting however, the weight will STAY off instead of coming back as fast as it went away.

Healthy Choices

You MUST include some kind of exercise regimen if you want to see truly amazing and lasting results. This could mean walking, jogging or hitting the local gym. In the meantime, try some of these food options and permanently introduce them into your regular diet. A combination of healthy foods and physical activity will shed those unwanted pounds before you know it.

• Trade your white bread for healthy whole grain bread. Grains are an excellent source of fiber and will be is a great addition to any diet.
• Choose water instead of sugary sodas
• Stove pop your popcorn instead of cooking it in the microwave. Choosing white popcorn without butter and salt will make a big difference.
• Try skim milk instead of whole milk. If you want to take it a step further try soy milk which is excellent for a healthy heart and it even includes a significant amount of protein!
• Choose nuts or fruit over potato chips!

There are several options available, and starving yourself is NEVER a good idea. It is simply unnecessary. Read on to learn why eating late at night WON"T affect your diet like you have heard before!

Sources: http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/5-18-2006-96614.asp

http://ezinearticles.com/?Crash-Dieting-and-Potential-Effects-on-Health-and-Psychology&id=1360994