All fat is bad. Eat low fat to lose weight.

Eating certain fats is essential to our diets. Especially fats we get in fish oils- the "good fats" which contain Omega 3s. The "bad fats"_ which are saturated as okay in moderation. Steak contains quite a lot of protein which helps build muscle mass.Also, a certain amount of fat makes us feel fuller so we eat less overall.

To lose weight you should heavily restrict your calories
This is totally false. The best way to lose weight is to consume a few hundred calories less than what you're currently eating. This will much easier to maintain. If you reach platuea, then consume even a few hundred less than that. But never go below 1500 calories if you are male, or below 1200 calories if you are female. You will mess up the natural metabolism, and your body will not allow to lose weight , and might even start storing fat from everything you eat. Our bodies were designed to be efficient at storing fat during times of famine.

Exercise doesn't matter when losing weight
This is false. If you merely use "diet" to lose weight- you will lose weight. However, you will also lose muscle, and quite a bit of water. You will not necessarily lose all fat. The goal is to lose fat, not weight. Exercise helps build lean muscle and it also helps your metabolism process food more quickly. It is not quite the "miracle" people might be saying it is. For example, don't expect you can eat exactly whatever you want because you spent and hour on the treadmill. Exercise does help fat loss, but its more to tone the body and build muscle which helps the body refutiate the storage of fat tissue. Exercise also strengthens the heart and lungs and increases oxegyn, helping to lower your blood pressure.

You can't eat anything with sugar
You can eat sugar, but you must limit your sugar. If you deprive yourself of your favorite treats, you may desire them more- causing a binge. Have a cookie, but just eat half of it, and save the rest for later. Have a delicious piece of chocolate cake, rather than depriving yourself. All foods can work into a "healthy" diet. Sugars and fats just need to be no more than 10% of your total caloric intake. Treat soft drinks as if they were dessert as well. You can have cokes, just make sure that they are dessert for you and not your main beverage. Water is number one.

Diet Coke is better than Regular
Many diet drinks contain things such as "splenda" and nutrisweet. In the long run, these "fake sugars, can wreak havock on your health- going as far as causing heart palpitations, stomach troubles, and feelings of anxiety. Go ahead. Have a regular coke. Just limit how much you have a week. If you're eating out, go with the 2 is enough rule. No more than 2 cokes for special occassions. Have regular coke no more than two times a week. And remember that a 42 oz coke is almost the equivalent of a "Big Gulp" with a whopping 70 grams of sugar and 240 calories. This is the rule for all soft drinks.


Losing weight is easy
Losing weight is difficult. Thats the plain truth. You have to really set your mind that you want to lose weight. Otherwise, you set yourself up for failure and dissapointment. In other words, -its a full time job! That doesn't mean its impossible. But anyone who claims losing weight is easy, is not telling the whole story. It may be easier for some, but a majority of people have slowed down their metabolism and after years of "dieting" have left feeling frusturated . The main thing is that diets do not work. You must learn the proper amount of calories your body needs a day, and stick to a healthy meal plan that works for you.
Also, exercise is very important to losing fat and getting in shape. Nutrition is only half of it.


I wish all of you the best of luck in getting in shape! I hope some of my helpful hints will encourage you to look at losing weight in a new way.