Since weight loss is a topic that impacts so many people there will invariably be MANY weight loss myths to filter out in order to stay focused on the fundamental realities of the subject.
This site’s FOCUS is on the “fundamentals” of weight loss (hence “uncluttered” by myth and minutia). No matter what you hear, no matter the credentials of the person saying it, no matter how many experts agree, no matter how many celebrities endorse something else, any technique, advice, supplement, plan, or food that strays much from the basics of EAT LESS and DO MORE is mostly just a weight loss MYTH.
Some of these items may not be all bad, some may be very good for your health in some way, but we’re talking about WEIGHT LOSS here, and at the end of the day (literally and figuratively) at least 80% to 90% of your weight loss (or gain) is simply a matter of your calories in vs calories out. Most “experts” with any true credibility ultimately agree with this claim.
If you believe in these weight loss myths and REALLY believe they contribute to weight loss and overall health, it probably won’t hurt to take them as long as you also keep your calorie count in order.
But ultimately if you come to believe these claims of miracle weight loss products, foods, spices, and so on, they will almost surely distract you from the real way you lose weight.
It can be like the old commercials for “Grapefruit 45” that basically said “take this pill with every meal, restrict your calories, drink lots of water, and you’ll lose weight” (that’s my paraphrase, Click here to see the real thing).
In the same way, take your weight loss myths in addition to a restricted calorie diet, a reasonable exercise plan, etc., and you’ll lose weight. But if you adhere to the weight loss myths thinking they will exempt you from the calorie restriction, then you’ll fail to meet your weight loss goals.
No matter how much “science” one can find that supposedly proves something related to the myth in question, in the end, anyone who ever lost weight by following one of these myths lost it because they ATE LESS.
But if you ATE LESS and took a placebo pill that someone promised you would help you lose weight, you would still lose weight. And if you ate less and drank 8 oz of warm sparkling water 5 times per day, you would still lose weight.
In the end ALL of the following weight loss myths CAN help you lose weight IF you also make sure you end every day with a calorie deficit.
So what are some of these weight loss myths?
Below are a few weight loss myths. You can click on the links to read about them in greater detail. Obviously I consider everything that appears in my list below to be a weight loss myth, but not necessarily completely unhelpful, so be sure to read the linked pages.
Starvation Mode
If you pay any attention to health, nutrition, and weight loss media you’ve heard experts warn about “starvation mode”. Basically it goes like this. If you eat too few calories, your body thinks it is starving, and in order to preserve life it kicks into this “starvation mode” to save you. Basically metabolism slows, fat is preserved, muscle is burned for fuel, etc., etc., etc.
That sounds pretty serious! But is it REAL? Should YOU worry about it?
I answer these questions and more at Starvation Mode.
Lemon Water for Weight Loss
Just do a web search on “Lemon Water” and you’ll see that the web thinks that lemon water is one of the best things you can put in your body. It helps you lose weight, helps “detox” your body, gives you energy, helps your skin, and prevents death. OK, I made up that last one.
You may have also noticed in your web search that MANY popular celebrities endorse lemon water. Doesn’t that PROVE all these claims?
Well, read Lemon Water for Weight Loss to find out more.
Coconut Oil for Weight Loss
You can do the same web search for “coconut oil” (throw “weight loss” into that search text to really narrow the results). You will see similar miracle claims made about coconut oil and how it can ALSO help your immunity, prevent heart disease, aid in healing, and, of course, LOSE WEIGHT.
Read Coconut Oil for Weight Loss to find out how much of this is true.
Cinnamon and Weight Loss
Cinnamon is also described as having an extremely wide range of health benefits, including weight loss. But is it true? Read Cinnamon and Weight Loss to find out.
Vinegar and Weight Loss
Perhaps more than almost any other item vinegar has been used medicinally for thousands of years. It is considered a folk remedy for nearly everything, including weight loss. Something with that much track record can’t be wrong, can it? Read Vinegar and Weight Loss to find out.
Weight Loss from Green Tea
Green tea has been around for a LONG time, starting thousands of years ago in China. Some believe that green tea is the healthiest thing you can put in your body, and that it can help you LOSE WEIGHT. But how much of these claims are true?
Find out at Weight Loss from Green Tea.
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