HEALTHY FOOD SERIES

Healthy Food Series – Debunking Weight Loss Myths!

52 Comments

Happy Tuesday y’all! It’s time for the weekly Healthy Food Series!

Well guess what! We’ve successfully completed 4+ months of Healthy Food Series and I am super stoked about the success rate! From talking about “super foods” to actually evaluating the “real food benefits” – This ride has been fun!
Well, carrying on with the ritual of mindful eating habits and living a healthy life, here comes my latest post to a “healthful lifestyle” that not only keeps you appraised with the newest food trends but also helps you lose those extra pounds and (this time) break some myths!

1 OBESITY IS ABOUT WILL POWER, NOT BIOLOGY (HELL NAH!)

It is completely fabricated that weight gain/loss is all about willpower, or making a “choice” to do this or that. In reality – Obesity is a very complex disorder with dozens, if not hundreds of contributing factors. There are numerous genetic variables that have been shown to associate with obesity, and various medical conditions (hypothyroidism, PCOS, depression) that can increase the risk of weight gain. In addition, the body also has numerous hormones and biological pathways that are supposed to regulate body weight. These tend to be dysfunctional in people with obesity, making it much harder to lose weight and keep it off.
For example, being resistant to the hormone “leptin” is a major known cause of obesity. The leptin signal is supposed to tell your brain that it has enough fat stored. When the leptin isn’t managing to deliver its signal, the brain thinks that you are starving. Hence, provoking you to eat! Trying to exert “willpower” and consciously eating less in the face of the leptin-driven starvation signal is extremely challenging, if not impossible for many people.
Understand that, eating is driven by behavior, and behavior is driven by physiology and biochemistry and everything is not as plain as it looks.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that you should just give up and accept your genetic fate! Losing weight is still possible, it is just much, much harder for some people.

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2 “EAT LESS, MOVE MORE” IS GOOD ADVISE (YOU THINK SO?)

Body fat is simply stored energy (calories). To lose fat, more calories need to be exiting your fat cells than creeping in. In other words, if calories out surpass calories in, fat loss occurs. For this reason, it seems only logical that “eating less and moving more” would cause weight loss. It hustles on both sides of the calorie equation.
However, this is really terrible advice for those with a serious weight problem! A major and sustained change in perspective and behavior is needed to lose weight with diet and exercise and simply telling people to eat less and move more isn’t enough.
Telling someone with obesity to just “eat less, move more” is like telling someone with depression to cheer up, or someone with alcoholism to just drink less. Ain’t that simple!

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3 WEIGHT LOSS DIETS ACTUALLY WORK (NOT REALLY!)

The weight loss industry wants you to believe that “diets” work. However, studies show that dieting almost never works in the long-term. 85% of people end up gaining the weight back within a year! Additionally, studies show that people who go on a diet are actually the ones most likely to gain weight in the future. In reality, dieting is a consistent predictor of future weight gain – not loss!
The truth is that you probably shouldn’t approach weight loss with a dieting mindset. Instead, make it a goal to change your lifestyle and become a healthier, happier and fitter person.
If you manage to increase your activity levels, eat healthier and sleep better, then you should lose weight as a natural side effect. Going on a diet and starving yourself probably won’t work in the long-term.

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4 PEOPLE WITH OBESITY ARE UNHEALTHY, THIN PEOPLE ARE HEALTHY (ARE YOU SURE?)

It is true that obesity is associated with an increased risk of several chronic diseases. This includes type 2 diabetes, heart disease, increased risk of some cancers, and others.
However, there are still plenty of people with obesity who are metabolically healthy, and plenty of thin people who have these same chronic diseases. In reality, it seems to matter where the fat builds up. If you have a lot of fat in the abdominal area, around the organs, then this type of fat is much more strongly associated with a metabolic disease and obesity. However, the fat that builds up under the skin (the subcutaneous fat), is more of a cosmetic problem, that can be managed and taken care of easily. Know your facts and conceive “weight loss methods” accordingly.

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So there it is folks! Some famous “weight loss myths” and their “debunking!” Well yes, Healthy Food Series is more than just “super foods”, their history and benefits. There is a lot of bad weight loss advice on the internet. Most of it is either unproven, or literally proven not to work! A fable, a work of a delusional or plain, simple fabrication – it has got many names and many blames.

What is a fact? What is just fiction? It is not that difficult to decide and know once we set out our minds to research and explore the varied food options and common beliefs around them. Read nutritional journals, investigate a fad, scrutinize the claims, but don’t, just don’t follow a cult blindly coz everyone else around is or you read a fancy blog! (Ahem, ahem!) Analyse, consult, inquire – as it is YOUR body and health that we are talking about!

Here’s to a wiser, healthier us! Cheers!

What are some of your favorite weight loss myths that desperately need debunking? Let’s talk!

Love,

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Disclaimer : The facts and information have been collected/collated from Healthline and Google. 

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52 Comments

  4. I’ve tried alot of diets and most if not all of them never worked for me so I resulted to working out and it actually worked
    I love this post it’s very insightful 😃

    Reply

        1. That’s wonderful!😊
          I am hoping to get better soon (allergies!) so that I can hit the Gym asap! #fingersCrossed

          Reply

    1. Haha.. I am sure! Btw, you already look so pretty and fit! (from whatever little that I can make out from your DP) ❤

      Reply

  10. Love this article. There is more the weight loss or gain than many people think. I’ve been watching a series of documentaries and they’ve been really eye opening for me. I’ve always had to work hard at my weight, and you think that some people don’t but I believe that is not true. Some people make better choices than others but it is never easy.

    However if there’s something you want in life, you need to lead that lifestyle from the outset. No sence in leading another lifestyle and hoping that much wanted thing magically appears. Same for being trim or fit, you have to work at fitness regular if you want to be fit …. sitting on the couch won’t make it happen.

    Reply

    1. I completely agree with – “if there’s something you want in life, you need to lead that lifestyle from the outset.”
      Thank you so much for stopping by! ❤

      Reply

  11. eating disorder is a medical condition. i’ve argued this point to dullness and family and friends refuse to listen. it’s good to read it here too, though no one i know will read it . And you’re right, it has nothing to do with will power, though in rare occasions, people with a strong will can work to keep their weight under control.
    this was a great post.

    Reply

  14. Wonderful topic with a pleasantly witty tone. 😁❤️ Everything in balance and mindfulness, self awareness, taking care of ourselves mind, body, and spirit truly does help.😊

    Reply
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