When it comes to fat loss the information out there is plentiful but it’s not always accurate.
Not knowing the difference between what is true and what is not can mean the difference between losing fat or keeping it on!
Read on for some myths and facts about losing fat.
Water Does Not Equal Weight Gain
There are people that believe that drinking a lot of water will cause them to be fatter.
This is not so because water is not composed of any calories. In fact, water is instrumental in dissolving fat in the body.
Water is good for all parts of the body and works to suppress the appetite. If you weigh yourself after drinking water and the number on the scale is higher that does not mean that you have put on any added pounds.
Once the water exits your body hours later, your weight will stabilize.
Water will not make you fat!
Not All Fat Is Unhealthy
Another commonly held belief is that fat is bad for you–all fats. Period. While consuming too much fat AND the wrong types of fats is not healthy, we all need fat to a certain extent to promote good health.
Fats known as omega-3 fatty acids can be found in many different kinds of fish and are vital to good health. As well, fat gives food that added flavor that makes it more appetizing.
The unsaturated fats (such as mono unsaturated and polyunsaturated) are the good fats while saturated fats and trans-fatty acids are the bad ones. For cooking purposes reach for mono unsaturated fats such as olive oil or canola oil which are lower in cholesterol than are such things as vegetable oil, lard or margarine.
Late Night Eating
Many people fear that if they consume food later in the evening that this will make them gain fat. Those who work shifts and must eat later at night need not fear because the truth of the matter is that it does not make a difference when you eat during a 24 hour span.
The same basic rule applies regardless of the time of day – if you take in more calories then you burn off then the extra calories will be stored as fat.
A light healthy snack can sometimes facilitate a good night’s sleep. A good snack to try is some yogurt, a whole grain muffin or a small portion of cheese and whole wheat crackers.
Finding the balance between eating too much before bedtime and going to bed hungry is integral. A heavy meal will not be easy for your body to digest if you go to bed right afterwards. It could lead to heartburn or cramps.
Fat Chooses its Own Ways
Have you ever seen people who are thin everywhere with the exception of their large belly?
Many believe that it is possible to just drop fat in the areas you want to lose fat. It would be nice if this were the case but it is not. Just as we cannot determine where we will put on fat, the same can be said when we lose it.
Everyone has a different type of body structure and therefore fat is deposited in different places. However as a general rule, fat comes off in a more or less orderly fashion. First the face and breasts show a drop in fat, and then the hips and the belly.
The upper arms and thighs take the longest to lose fat and for some people, this is a constant battle to lose fat in these areas.