Even the most dedicated dieter can be led astray by some common misconceptions and errors in their approach to healthier eating.
WebMD reported Sept. 12 that common dieting mistakes include:
- One-food wonders: Going on an extreme grapefruit- or cabbage-only diet or the like is just “setting yourself up to be very hungry and then bingeing,” said dietician and American Dietetic Association spokesperson Marjorie Nolan. “Even when the diet works…it doesn’t teach you how to maintain your weight loss. It’s just a gimmick to restrict calories.”
- Misguided vegetarianism: Vegetarian doesn’t necessarily mean low-fat or low-calorie: cheese and pasta are vegetarian, for example. “If you’re eating carbohydrate- or starch-rich foods, calorically, you might be eating more,” said Nolan.
- Too much of a good thing: Nuts, olive oil, avocados, red wine, and even chocolate can have health benefits. But only in moderation. “There is no such thing as a superfood,” said nutrition expert Sari Greaves. “The benefit of the food is only going to be as good as your entire diet. Different foods work synergistically for your entire health.”
- Snubbing carbs: Cutting down on carbohydrates — such as eating less white bread or white rice — is a good thing. Cutting out carbs completely is not: carbs are our primary energy food.
- Fat-free fallacy: “Fat is a component of every cell in our body. In order to be as effective as possible metabolically for our cells to do their jobs, we need to have fat in our diet,” Nolan said. The key is to choose healthy fats — unsaturated fats from plant sources — and using them in moderation.
- Diet martyrdom: Eliminating your favorite foods only sets you up to fail in your diet plans. Instead, eat them in moderation.
- Gorging on grazing: Eating small meals at two- or three-hour intervals throughout the day can help you lose weight, but make sure than your “mini-meals” are no more than 300 calories each.
- Unsustainable approaches to weight loss: When choosing a diet, ask yourself if you can eat this way the rest of your life. Make small changes rather than a radical diet overhaul. Add more fresh fruits and vegetables. Start every day with a healthy breakfast. And exercise more.
Related posts:
- Make Monounsaturated Fats Part of a Heart Healthy Diet, Researchers Say
- Losing Weight with … Carbs?
- Little Changes That Add Up to a Healthy Diet
- Aging Requires a Change in Eating Habits
- Common Health and Diet Myths Dispelled
