3 Common Misconceptions About Dieting

Myth: To lose weight, you shouldn't eat very much.

Truth: This is true in a sense; portion control is a huge part of any weight loss program. However, it doesn't work to reduce calories simply by not eating. When you don't eat, your body can go into 'starvation mode', which means it holds on tightly to every little bit you eat because it 'thinks' that that is the only way it will get the nutrition it needs. As you can imagine, this makes it difficult to lose weight. If you want to lose weight, you have to eat!

Also, extreme dieting/food avoidance can cause health problems such as hair and tooth loss, an irregular heartbeat and other things that are far more harmful than being overweight! In addition, your body needs a certain amount of fats and carbs-things previously taught to be anathema to dieters-to function. There is a such thing as a 'good' fat or 'good' carbohydrate. An effective and healthy plan should never require you to excise an entire food group from your diet. Your doctor will tell you what you should eat and how much.

Myth: X diet plan worked for Y celebrity, so it should work for me too.

Truth: Fad diets are often the worst things you can do if you want to lose weight in a healthy way. What the tabloids don't tell you is that X celebrity probably has a personal trainer, dieticians, nannies to care for their kids and all sorts of other things that us 'regular people' can't afford! If you've ever priced exercise machines, you've seen that the ones that work the best can be very expensive! Even the simpler things like a standard exercise bike or cross-country skier (like the Gazelle) can still run afoul of your budget. For instance, the Gazelle sitting right behind me cost $100 from Target, bought with a gift card I got as a wedding present. Imagine how much a machine that has, well, machines would run.

Each person is an individual; what is healthy for one person might not be for another. if it's a generally 'approved' diet put out by a doctor (Atkins, South Beach, etc), you should still consult your own doctor before beginning a diet and exercise plan.

Myth: Slim-Fast/diet pills/'flushes' are a good way to lose weight.

Truth: Nope. It might get rid of the weight but, if you go back to your old habits when the weight comes off, you'll just gain it back again. Long-term weight loss requires an adjust in lifestyle such as healthier cooking, portion control and general mindfulness.

Even if a pill does work, it's not a 'magic bullet'. Alli, currently the only FDA-approved over-the-counter weight loss pill, keeps some of the fat you eat from being absorbed. While it helps you to lose up to 50% more weight than dieting alone, note that last phrase. You still have to monitor your overall fat and calorie intake, as well as exercising and any other activities your doctor has prescribed for you to lose weight. You still have to do your part.

For more information, visit http://weightloss.about.com/od/DietMistakes/Avoid-Diet-Mistakes.htm. As always, check with your doctor to make sure a diet plan is right for you.

How To Spot A 'Bad' Diet Plan

As anyone who has read a magazine or watched television in the past few years knows that obesity is a big problem here in the US. Even if you aren't overweight, though, a lot of us find ourselves wanting to shed a few pounds to fit into that little black dress we wore a year ago. It's very tempting to try those weight-loss pills you see on TV, but the truth is that it's not that simple. Not only do those pills and fad diets not work, some can be harmful to your health. So that you won't have to learn this the hard way, here are a few signs of an unhealthy diet.

-A diet should never rule out entire food groups. There's a reason meats and carbohydrates are on the food pyramids we learned about in school-they include nutrients our bodies need to function properly. Instead of banning these things outright, a healthy diet will teach you how to incorporate them into everyday living. Speaking of which-

-A diet shouldn't be a 180° turnaround from what you're doing now. While you will definitely have to make some changes to your lifestyle, something that is too different will be very hard to stick to. It's better to make small but ongoing changes such as getting sauces on the side or cooking with butter-flavored sprays.

-A diet should not focus on a particular product. I'm sure you've been bombarded by ads for 'dietary supplements' that will make you lose 30 pounds in five weeks by popping a pill twice a day. When it comes to healthy weight loss, however, there's no such thing as a 'magic bullet'. If you look at the fine print on the back of the bottle or bottom of the TV screen, you'll see that the claims the ads make have not been evaluated by the FDA. In other words, they've been put on the market without having been checked for safety and efficacy. Contrary to popular belief, the terms 'herbal' or 'natural' do not necessarily mean 'safe'.

-On the 'magic bullet' tip, products or fad diets that promise extreme amounts of weight loss in a short amount of time should be avoided. Yes, we all want to lose weight quickly, but it's not healthy to lose more than 1-2 pounds a week.

-If your diet can't be adjusted to 'real life', it's going to be very difficult to stick to. Pre-packaged meals might be good for learning portion control, but you need to be able to eat with the rest of the world.

Overall, your diet needs to include a lifestyle change. Even if you lose the weight quickly with products like Slimfast or Dexatrim, you still need to learn healthier ways of cooking and eating if you want to keep the weight off. Without a change in the way you think about food, you may find yourself back where you started. This might not be easy, but it is worth the effort.