Weight-Loss Myths

1. Non-vegetarian diets are unhealthier than vegetarian diets and it is very difficult to lose weight --- Actually it is not vegetables or meat, but total number of calories consumed daily that determines weight-loss or weight-gain. However in a strict vegetarian diet you lose essential vitamins and minerals and can become protein deficient.
2. Extra calories are burnt when you perspire and you lose more weight --- Intense workout where you breathe hard and the muscles ache is when you are burning extra calories. But walking for 30-45 minutes daily burns more calories than short-term strenuous exercises.
3. You can lose weight by fasting for 1-2 days --- When you fast, calories are burnt at a much slower rate and it is unlikely that you lose weight. And when you resume eating, most of the calories get stored in fat cells and you gain weight.
4. Lifting heavy weight can burn more calories than lifting light to moderate weights --- Lifting heavy weight can cause muscle tear and other tendon injuries and may lead to high B.P., and this activity cannot be continued for along time. Strength training exercises using light to moderate weights can be continued for along duration.
   It leads to steady burning of calories and aids weight-loss.
5. The best way to lose weight is to carry strenuous aerobic exercise or run --- Strenuous exercises burns carbohydrate and then fat, they are dangerous too. Walking and moderate exercises on the other hand burn fat initially and then carbohydrates. So you are burning more calories.
6. A morning workout burns more calories than any other time of the day --- It is the type and duration of the exercise that determines how many calories are lost and not the time of the day.
7. You are inactive in the evening and when you are asleep. So if you eat anything then you will turn fat --- It is the total number of calories consumed vs. the number of calories burnt daily that determines weight-loss and weight-gain. Our body doesn’t differentiate between calories eaten during the day or in the evening.