The last time I wrote for TLS was about six months ago. If at that time you had made a commitment to start a healthy eating plan with no excuses, then you quite possibly could have been 20-30 lbs. lighter today than you were then.

Let’s focus on some general misconceptions and myths about dieting, healthy eating and other related topics.

Science vs. emotion

Too many of us want to be told what to do, when to do it and how long we need to do it, instead of learning why you need to do it. I like to call it science vs emotions.

Why do we need to drink 8-10 cups of water daily?

Why is it so important to eat a lot of fruits and vegetables?

How and what does the body convert to fat for storage?

What’s wrong with snacking even healthy foods throughout the day?

What difference does it make if I don’t eat all day and then eat my calorie allowance at night?

What’s so wrong about eating after 9-10pm?

There is a science to how the body functions and how the body functions properly. If we would take the time to understand how the body works in regards to the foods that we eat and when we eat it, If we would understand that it is more than just calories but also hormone balance, regular metabolic rhythm, and optimal cell function, then you would be able to make the proper choices without having to deprive yourself of certain food groups.

me ask you a question, would you would try to fix your computer without having a good understanding of how it works? If the answer is no, as I suspect that it is, then why would you go on an eating plan without understanding the how and why of the program and what long term benefits there are (or aren’t) to following such a program?

Fact vs fiction:

Fat equals fattening.

Carbs are the enemy.

The less calories I eat the better.

Cholesterol in food equals the cholesterol in the body.

“I just can’t lose weight no matter what I do”.

All of the above statements are or were conventional wisdom at one point or another. However, as time has gone by, and we have gotten a better understanding of the science behind nutrition and more importantly, a better understanding of how nutrition works in conjunction with hormones and other functions of our bodies, a lot of these things have become fiction rather than fact.

Let’s discuss some of the fact vs fiction that I mentioned above:

Fat equals fattening:

We used to think that all fats are bad. Now we know that fats play an important role in our metabolism and body function. There are different types of fats and all or most serve a nutritional purpose. The reason why fats are considered “fattening” is because they are calorie dense. For example, a tablespoon of oil may have 120 calories so eating a lot of oil does add to your daily calorie count and calories, or the amount of calories you consume daily plays an important role in nutrition and weight loss. Now, the body will use these fats that you consume for nutritional purposes and not store them as excess fats if eaten in the right quantities. However, the body will convert sugars and highly processed foods into fat for storage. So are you better off eating a healthy chip which may have some fat in it, or eating a hand full of jelly beans that have no fat in it but are loaded with sugar?

“I just can’t lose weight no matter what I do.”

This in my view is a cop out and an excuse to make someone feel good about why they are overweight. It gives them a reason not to try.

Everybody is different and therefore every eating program has to be tailored to that persons schedule, habits, etc… But it also takes a commitment to find what works and to give it time to work. You didn’t gain the 50-100 lbs. overnight so why expect to be able to lose it so quickly. In addition, a person needs to go through a good stretch of time where they stick to their plan no matter what. Of course adjustments will need to be made throughout the process, but you can’t be going off the eating plan every week for another reason and then expect to see results. You don’t get better performance out of your car after putting in one tank of supreme gasoline or cleanser, so why expect long lasting results after a week of sticking to a plan.

Let me leave you with this

1) Make a commitment to get on a healthy eating plan and stick to it for several months at a minimum.

2) Find a health coach/ nutritionist to help guide you and motivate you throughout the process.

3) Seek to understand how/why/ when about the plan that you are following so that you have a good understanding of how things work, which will help you over the long haul keep to what works for your body.

4) Be open minded about, and adaptable to, modifying your schedule if need be, change your attitude about food, exercise and stress and be willing to try new things.

5) Finally, constantly review what is working and what is not working and adjust accordingly. Your body may react to something in the beginning and then get used to it and not react later on which would require an adjustment on your part.
Good luck!

Ezi Levi is a certified health and diet coach and is the director of the Men’s Weight Loss Center. The center works with men and teenage boys who are committed to losing weight in a safe and natural way by learning how to make healthier choices in their primary and secondary foods. To find out more or to schedule a free, no obligation health consultation please call (732) 903-4129 or Email at [email protected]