Diet Fallacies

1. Calories Don’t Count – Untrue! Calories matter a lot in weight-gain and weight-loss program. You must reduce your intake by 3,500 calories to lose 1 pound of weight.
2. It is totally untrue - that for weight-loss program a crash diet is the best way to begin. Due to these diets there is rapid fluid loss, protein can be lost which can be harmful to the kidneys and fat doesn’t seem to come off. And there maybe rebound weight gain when these diets are stopped.
3. In weight reduction and control Exercise is unimportant – False.
   Regular physical activity and exercise plays a major role in weight loss and weight maintenance program. It has also appetite-regulating effect on the brain.
4. Certain foods like grapefruit can burn up calories. Untrue.
5. It is better off smoking than being fat. Weight gained initially by decreasing or stopping smoking can be lost through diet and exercise program.
6. Calories are reduced in toasted bread - Only the breads texture and taste is changed when you toast it. The calories however remain the same.
7. As far as appetite or weight-gain is concerned, eating slowly or quickly doesn’t make any difference. Chewing food thoroughly and eating meal slowly reduces the body’s appetite-regulating center in the brain. Subsequently your appetite is satisfied with less food.
8. There is no weight gain through meat, as it is high in protein! Every gram of protein is made up of 4 calories and fat is made up of 9 calories. Since meat is also high in fat content it causes weight gain and a greater portion of fat is deposited in the body.
9. If you take vitamin supplement daily, it doesn’t matter what foods you eat or drink. Vitamin supplements will not provide all the daily requirements of carbohydrates, proteins, minerals, amino acids and fatty acids that the body needs.
10. To lose weight skip breakfast and lunch and just eat a large supper! It is only the calories that matter and not time. Whether you eat 1,200 calories at a meal or eat 400 calories 3 times a day, it is the same. Skipping meals only over-stimulate the appetite later in the day.
11. A bedtime snack will not be digested properly and there will be weight gain. – False