Is it that difficult to lose weight? Nutrition experts: 7 misconceptions that hinder weight loss

Is it difficult to lose those extra kilos? The answer is yes, especially if you have the wrong ideas and expectations about losing weight. Although there is a lot of weight loss information that conveys the idea that losing weight is not difficult, Karen Ansel, a well-known nutritionist in New York, said that the first thing you have to recognize is that if you want to lose weight, you definitely need perseverance and principles. The weight number reflects a person's various lifestyle habits. Many factors lead to a person's weight and body shape today. Therefore, it is almost impossible to achieve an ideal weight simply by eating less or just making simple changes. Even if you really reach it, it is difficult to maintain it. If you want to make good progress towards your ideal weight or figure, experts say don't do the following:

Calorie Myths:

Ansel mentioned that the most common mistake people make when losing weight is that they mistakenly believe that all healthy foods are low in calories. It is true that most natural healthy foods contain fewer calories than junk foods, but this does not mean that they should be consumed without restraint. On the other hand, if one blindly reduces calorie intake without considering whether the diet is nutritionally balanced, although weight will decrease, it is equivalent to exchanging health. Low-calorie diets can also seriously affect mood. People who usually adopt low-calorie diets will fall into negative emotions after the first few days, and are prone to rebound effects due to excessive restrictions, and will instead want to eat junk food or binge eating. At the same time, extreme calorie restrictions can also have long-term negative effects on the immune system.

Being overly obsessed with giving up certain foods:

"I have lost several kilograms since I stopped eating carbohydrates", "I heard that the girl in the next department got a great figure after she gave up milk and cheese!" You may have heard a lot of "rumors" like this. Many people who are losing weight are also keen on methods such as giving up starch and sugar. In fact, most nutrition experts do not think it is right to blame weight problems on a single type of food. "Many people are too obsessed with eliminating a certain type of food and ignore that their weight may be caused by a bigger problem, such as eating too much overall, irregular work and rest, eating too late... In addition, people who always adopt the method of eliminating a single food to lose weight, because they have repeatedly changed their eating principles, are also likely to face the dilemma of not knowing how to eat properly after returning to a normal diet.

Taking fitness too seriously is also a mistake:

As the trend of exercise becomes more prevalent, many people who want to lose weight and improve their body shape have begun to seek help from exercise. Usually in the initial stage when it is easiest to get too enthusiastic, many people will stretch themselves too much and increase the exercise time and intensity too much in order to see results as quickly as possible. This not only easily overloads the body or causes injury, but it is also likely that they will give up because they cannot persist. The right way is to establish a sports method that suits you.

Thinking fat is bad:

If we look at fat from the perspective of weight loss, many people will think that fat is useless and will cause obesity. However, in reality, fat is essential for the body to function normally, and fat can also bring a sense of fullness; therefore, even during weight loss, you cannot avoid eating foods containing fat. If you completely give up fat, it is likely that you will feel that you can never be full no matter how much you eat, and therefore consume too much carbohydrates or other types of nutrients.

Expect immediate results:

Although there are many opinions advocating that losing weight is not difficult, it is unrealistic to expect to achieve results quickly once you actually start losing weight. When it comes to weight loss, the body's natural mechanisms will automatically activate and protect the body against this process, so losing weight is not easy; many people think that losing weight is too easy and set inappropriate target timelines for themselves. When the results are not as expected, they are easily frustrated and give up. Instead of doing this, you should establish the correct concept from the beginning and set yourself a weight loss method that is time-consuming and can be implemented for a long time.

Don’t go too extreme:

It is easy for people who are losing weight to think of obesity as a sin, and to severely discipline themselves in a way that is almost like punishment, for example, they require themselves to get up at 5 a.m. to exercise, not to have meals with friends, not to eat after noon... As mentioned in the previous points, an ideal weight loss plan should not be short-term or too intense, but should be long-term, healthy, and actually implementable. In addition, it is very important that a weight loss plan should not deprive you of the joy of life. Instead of extreme measures, you can try to start with simple changes in your lifestyle habits, such as walking instead of taking the bus, quitting sugary drinks, and changing the way you eat and drink with friends.

Don’t eat before exercise:

Before exercising, you need sufficient physical strength to perform well and to be able to devote yourself to the exercise without any worries. Never exercise on an empty stomach for fear of poor absorption. Doing so while feeling light-headed, weak, and unclear will not only prevent you from achieving the expected results, but will also greatly increase the risk of exercise. As for what to eat, the detailed diet content can be determined according to personal habits, provided that healthy food is chosen as much as possible.

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