Facts and fables about losing weight

Many different claims are made on the subject of losing weight. So many, in fact, that it is difficult to determine which ones are true and which ones are not. Because of this, we have listed a number of myths and facts about losing weight. Read on quickly!

Myth: 'Eating after 8pm will make you fat'

This is definitely a fable. The reason people say you gain weight by eating after 8pm is because you often eat unhealthy snacks in the evening. Whether you eat chocolate at 8am or 8pm, you get the same number of calories. The time you eat has little else to do with it. When losing weight, it's all about what you eat and how much you eat.

Myth: 'Fat is bad for you'

Fat is not necessarily bad for you, only if you eat too much of it. It is not wise to omit fat completely from your diet because your body needs it. This is because your body gets vitamins A, D, E and K from fat. These vitamins are needed for building cells and tissues and making hormones and bile. Even though it might be tempting to stop eating fat to lose weight fast, it is not very healthy.

Fact: 'It's important to vary your diet while losing weight'

It is definitely important to have a varied diet. You also want to get the important nutrients, such as carbohydrates, while losing weight, proteins and fats. You also want to take in plenty of vitamins and minerals; a varied diet helps with that.

Myth: 'While dieting, I can't eat anything unhealthy'

This is a myth, because it is fine to eat an unhealthy snack or meal now and then while losing weight. One snack will not make you gain weight immediately. Of course, you shouldn't make exceptions too often, as this can cause you to lose weight in a calorie deficit. If you occasionally eat some 'unhealthy' things, there is nothing wrong.

Fact: 'Frozen vegetables are as healthy as fresh vegetables'

Many people think fresh vegetables are healthier than frozen vegetables, but this is not true. Sometimes frozen vegetables even contain more vitamins because they are frozen immediately after harvest. The important thing is that you eat a lot of vegetables; whether they are fresh or frozen that does not matter much else.

Myth: 'When I finish losing weight, I can live like before'

While losing weight, you are creating a new lifestyle. A lifestyle that, in principle, you should be able to maintain throughout your life. If you don't, you will experience the yo-yo effect, whereby you remain in a cycle of losing and gaining weight. So the idea is not to fall back into your old lifestyle after you have achieved your goal.