Have you been trying to lose weight? Are you constantly lost? The good news is that you’re not alone. Most people starting on their healthy journey feel lost. The general idea of eating healthy and exercising seems easy enough. It’s when you start to go on the details that you get lost. There’s so much information out there. There are many different health magazines and websites giving tips and tricks. How do you know what to follow?
The important part is to go through to as many as possible, especially the respectable ones. Find the rules they all seem to agree on. Information is more trustworthy when it’s backed up by multiple credible sources. You should also consult with a doctor. The doctor will put you on the right track. He may not be able to give you all the information you will need since a good portion of the journey has to be done according to your lifestyle and goals.
It’s also important to be able to recognize false information. Some opinions about health have been repeated so many times that society tends to take them as fact. However, they are still myths, and they can stop you from achieving your goal. They can make the journey harder than it should be. Here are some myths that many people believe about the weight loss journey that you should know to avoid.
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Only eat gluten-free foods
First, most gluten-free foods taste terrible. Most of the nutrients have been taking out from these foods, and only a bland shell of them 
remain. Although they would seem healthy because they have less fat, their lack of other necessary nutrients makes them an unhealthy choice for you. They’re are not there to help you lose weight. Gluten-free foods are meant to be consumed only by people with gluten sensitivity or those with celiac disease.
If you can consume gluten, it’s best to try other food groups. Gluten-free foods are not doing you any favors. Instead, they may cause you to overeat since they’re not always filling.
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You have to exercise for a long time for it to count
If you’re afraid of those long sessions at the gym, the good news is that you’re not obligated to do them to lose weight. While more intense workouts for about one hour per day will get you to your goal faster, it’s not always doable. That’s understandable since you have many other responsibilities as a busy adult. Don’t stress over not going to the gym or only spending twenty minutes there. Those minutes add up over the week.
The US Department of Health and Human services recommend a minimum of 150 minutes per week which is about three hours. You can stretch those numbers out over the week. Exercising count as long as you do some moderate intensity activity for a few minutes per day. You can simply do a brisk walk, take the stairs at work or a small workout during your break.
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The vegetarian diet is the healthiest option
A vegetarian diet is generally healthy. It encourages people to eat more fruits, vegetables, and grains while staying off meats. Studies have shown that it can help to lower risks of heart diseases. It can also lower blood pressure levels and obesity. However, not all vegetarian plans are the healthiest option available. Some vegetarian diets include consumption of foods high in sugar, fats, and calories. Even if you start a vegetarian diet, you still need to make choices about the foods you eat every day. There are unhealthy vegetarian options. Some will be less filling and push you to consume too many calories.
While you can start a vegetarian diet if you want, it’s not necessarily the greatest to lose weight. You can lose weight while eating meat and other animal products. The trick is to know how to balance. Losing weight entails a healthy balance of all the necessary nutrients and lower calories.
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It’s a linear process
The fact about the weight loss journey that discourages people is that it can fluctuate at any time. It’s not a linear process and doesn’t believe anything that tells you that it is. There will be days you step on that scale and realizes that you’ve gained instead of losing. It’s discouraging, but you have to keep going and continue to make a healthy choice. The fluctuation depends on the type of food you eat, the amount of water you’re retaining, and how you weigh yourself. Some scales may add a few pounds on their own. The weight loss journey constitutes a downfall line with many spikes and plateaus.
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All fats are bad
This myth has been here for a while, and many people still hold on to it strongly. However, not all fats are bad. There are two types of fats – unsaturated fat and saturated fat. Saturated fat is the one you should avoid. Unsaturated fat (HDL) is actually good for you. It can lower cholesterol levels and reduce heart diseases. You should try to include it more in your diet plan instead of avoiding it. You need to strike for about ten percent of unsaturated fat per day. Like all other nutrients, the goal is not to overdo it. Stay at the daily percentage value, and you’ll be all right.
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You should eat more “diet foods”
Manufacturers market their “diet foods” by producing them with fewer calories. However, calories are the not the only thing to consider when choosing the best food option. Diet foods may also contain added sugar and unhealthy oils that are worse for your health than calories. The best choice is for you to read the nutritional labels instead of picking up the ones that are marked diet. A good weight loss journey will increase your overall health, not destroy it.
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Avoid grain products like rice, bread, and pasta
The grains are not the problem, but it’s the type of grain. Although refined grains are not that unhealthy, they do lack many necessary nutrients. Their main characteristics are a nice taste and stomach filling. They’re not providing your body with any nutrients it needs which is why you should opt for whole grains instead of refined grains. Whole grains have all the nutrients you need with the same number of calories as the refined ones. So, don’t be afraid of having a sandwich for lunch, just make sure it’s made with whole grains instead of refined grains.
Weight loss myths can cause more troubles than necessary. Consult with a doctor before you start on your weight loss journey to know the facts and create a healthy plan for you.
