Weight Loss Myths - Here's Three of Them

If you've been trying to lose weight for some time you've probably built up a long list of weight loss tips designed to help you reduce your weight. These tips have probably been obtained from a variety of sources - family and friends, your doctor, the Internet etc.

But you probably also know that just because something is passed off as a tip doesn't mean that you should just blindly follow it without thinking about it a little first. Not all weight loss tips are created equal.

Although we may want to believe all of the hype, most of us have been around long enough on this planet to know that all of the products being peddled at any given time by the weight loss industry are not necessarily going to do the job for you. Many of them are just a plain waste of time and money - and some of them could even be dangerous and injurious to health.

The weight loss industry is certainly no stranger to rubbish products and misleading information. Sadly, it seems to be just human nature that where there are desperate people to be found and lots of money to be made as a consequence, you'll find the charlatans out to make a quick buck followed by an even quicker disappearing act.

Let's look at three of the common myths that persistently rear their ugly heads in the weight loss industry:

Myth 1 - If you go on a starvation diet this will lead to quick reduction of body fat. What actually happens when you drastically reduce your calorie intake is that your body switches to emergency mode and actually tries to CONSERVE fat. It burns off muscle instead of fat as an energy source. As soon as you start to eat normally again, you will very quickly put back on the weight you lost.

Myth 2 - Using cardio-vascular exercise on its own will lead to you losing weight. You should certainly include exercise which gives your heart and lungs a good workout as part of a proper, controlled weight loss program, but this has to be allied to a good calorie-controlled, nutritionally-balanced diet. Most forms of moderate exercise on their own will simply not make much impact on the body's fat deposits if you continue to eat in a way that put that fat on in the first place.

Myth 3 - You can target a specific part of the body to reduce fat from. It just doesn't work. It is always best to concentrate on whole body exercise and use this in conjunction with a proper diet that addresses your daily nutritional needs and cuts out the stuff that leads to fat reserves being built up.

As mentioned above, a proper exercise regime should certainly be a part of any weight loss program. The very best form of exercise you can do is weightlifting. Why? Because when you lift weights you not only burn fat during the exercise itself, the fat burning also continues after the workout, giving you a double benefit.

Alan writes on a variety of subjects and has been a guest author on a variety of Websites and blogs. Check out his latest Website at http://www.maclarenstroller.shopforitwww.com which has the latest information and advice about Maclaren stroller.