It so amazing that when we hear things so often we begin to believe that they are true even if there is nothing to really back up the claim.  One could really say that if one hears something frequently enough you will actually start to believe that it is true.  When it comes to weight loss this is definitely true.

Well ladies I can almost assure you that you have heard some weird diet myths while trying to lose weight.  While there are a lot of them out there I just wanted to post a brief list of things that you should really ignore going forward.

Gain More Muscle to Burn Calories

This one almost makes me laugh as when you really do the math is more like one pound of extra muscle will  help you burn maybe 10 calories per day if that.  So that means a woman would need to gain 20lbs of muscle just to burn an extra 200 calories per day!  I don’t really think that most women are looking to bulk up.

The sad truth is that women hear this from trainers and doctor’s so it’s no wonder there is much confusion.  Sure adding a little muscle will help you burn some calories but it is nowhere near what people will have you “THINK” it is.  The harsh reality is that it’s just been accepted as the truth for so many years that everyone believes it.

Check out this article Gaining Muscle- Not the Best Way to Burn Fat

Eat More to Increase Your Metabolism

Have you ever heard this one, “You need to eat at least six times per day to help boost your metabolism”? The fact is there Is no research to prove or validate anything in regards to remotely true.  Sure a lot of people who are in shape or have the bodies you want eat six meals or more per day. There are also a lot of people who eat 1, 2, and 3 meals per day who are just a fit.

The point is you have to get out and exercise, be more active, and be accountable for what and how much you eat.  Your metabolism isn’t going to speed up simply because you are eating 6 small meals per day.  If anything you are probably just eating fewer calories than you were when you at how you normally ate in the first place.

Only Eat Carbs in the Morning & Don’t Eat Late At Night

I never understood this one at all!  With the “only eat your carbohydrates in the morning” to “don’t eat any carbs after 3 in the afternoon”.  None of this really ever makes any since other than most people won’t really eat much of anything if they can’t have some form of carbs.

The not eating late is really at great one its almost a classic.  So many times I hear people say I can’t eat after 7 or 9 but then they go and have a 2000 calorie meal at 6.  C’mon now are we really serious with losing weight or not.

If you eat 3000 calories in the morning it’s the same as you eating 3000 calories at night.  To be honest I prefer eating my largest meals when it’s later so I don’t snack all night. Just remember the number of calories you eat matters more than when you eat them.

Exercising Will Make you Hungry

This one is a touchy subject for me because this is one myth I believe to be true myself.  Years ago I realized that I like many others just assumed this to be true.  Though many people will say that exercising will make them hungry there are studies that show just the opposite to be true.  I would beg to differ that it’s in our subconscious that we think we need to eat because we worked out.

Here is research done on physical activity and appetite control.

Please post some of the myths you have heard over the years that you know to be false or post some that you have questions about because you aren’t sure if they are actually myths or not.