5 Healthy Weight Loss Myths...and Why You Shouldn't Believe Them!

How many diet books have you read that promised a new, miraculous way to help you finally shed your extra pounds? Maybe it's a little pill that is supposed to suppress your appetite or a fancy new piece of exercise equipment that people buy into because they are looking for an easy way out. The reason these fads never work is because cheaters never prosper in life, and you simply cannot have a healthy weight loss and keep it off for good overnight.

No matter how they masquerade it, the core of any successful healthy weight loss program always comes down to the same philosophy: live a healthy lifestyle. Proper nutrition combined with exercise on a daily basis is the winning combination. And yet, we still manage to screw it up. In an attempt to cut through all the obstacles, here is a list of the most common myths people believe that sabotage their healthy weight loss goals.

Healthy Weight Loss Myth #1: It doesn't matter what you eat, as long as you eat less.
If all foods were made the same, we would all be living on chocolate chip cookies and root beer floats. Unfortunately, the human body is complex and needs a variety of nutrients to work at its best. When you begin a diet by eating less calories than your body is used to, proper nutrition is a must. This becomes even more important when you add exercise into the mix.

If you want to achieve a healthy weight loss, your body needs to function as well as it possibly can. Taking a soy-based meal replacement shake and daily vitamin in addition to an healthy food choices and fitness regimen is how I not only lose 70 pounds 15 years ago, but I also was able to get off all my asthma medications. The body can perform miracles when you provide it with proper nutrition.

Healthy Weight Loss Myth #2: The less you eat, the better your results.
If you are not getting enough calories, your body will use fat as fuel, but it can only do so much of this before serious breakdown happens in your muscles.,so you really need to stay above 1,200 calories. Since your body is complex, it kind of has a body has a mind of its own. If you deprive it of food long enough, it is going to panic and hold on to its emergency fuel supplies (fat) in hopes of riding out the difficult period of starvation.

Healthy Weight Loss Myth #3: High Proteins And Fats Are A Healthy Way To Lose Weight.
Reducing your intake of carboydrates can be okay in moderation, but when you eliminate them completely you are cutting off your primary fuel source. Athletes and active people cannot function properly on this sort of a diet. So unless you plan on spending your time lying on the sofa watching tv, this approach won't work. Exercise is extremely important and there is never going to be a way around that. Without it you might be able to lose weight but you will not look as healthy.

Healthy Weight Loss Myth #4: Fruits And Vegetables Are Bad
This thought process comes from the whole glycemic index (GI) craze. GI proponents say that most fruits and vegetables are low in fiber but high in sugar, so they should be avoided. This is complete nonsense. First of all, eating fresh fruits and vegetables is what man evolved on for millions of years, and people were never fat until recently. Why would these natural foods all of a sudden be bad for you?

Too much of any one food can take it's toll on the human body, but you don't have to be a certified nutritionist to determine that a handful of grapes is 1,000 times healthier than a handful of potato chips. Fresh produce is loaded with vitamins and minerals, not to mention fiber. Go ahead and try to find an overweight person whose biggest indulgence is a banana. (Not dipped in chocolate, of course!)

Healthy Weight Loss Myth #5: Fat Free And Sugar Free Products Are Healthy
Any fat free or sugar free version of your favorite junk food is nothing but a sneaky marketing ploy designed to cash in on another diet craze that did not work. Fat free does not mean sugar free and vice-versa. Cotton candy is fat free but people can not lose weight on it. Butter is sugar free but you would not want to eat it by the spoonful as part of a healthy weight loss program. A little common sense is required in order to lead a healthy lifestyle. Never judge a book (food) by it's cover (package).

As soon as the next diet craze reveals itself, there will surely be another set of myths to dispel. There is no mystery behind healthy weight loss anymore, no matter how the next so called expert tries to repackage information you already know. For a truly healthy weight loss and maintenance thereafter, focus on creating a daily diet of a soy-based meal replacement shake, smart meal and snack choices that include fresh fruits and veggies, whole grains and lean protein...and of course, exercise.