LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
CAMP Fitness |
by Rick Moore |
Don't Believe These Diet Myths
Didn't you just hate it when you were little and your mom always told you, "Put that down or you'll poke your eye out," or "Get down before you break your neck," or "You keep doing that and you'll go blind!" Of course, these were little sayings that were supposed to be for your own good. But deep down, you knew they weren't true. Now that we're all older, we still have those little warnings to heed. But do we need to question them now that we "know better?" You bet. Here are some old dieting myths that are about to be broken. Do any of these sound familiar? Myth: You can munch away on as many low-fat snacks as you want and still lose weight. Fact: No way, Jos. People are lulled into thinking that they can eat more, more, more of these low fat snacks. But it's all about the calorie intake, not just the fat. Low-fat snacks really are lower in fat, but the lost flavor is made up by substituting more sugar. Sometimes the difference between a regular snack and the low-fat version may be only 5 calories. So if you eat a lot of them, you may be taking in more calories than if you ate the regular version. Read the label and compare. Myth: Skipping breakfast will help me lose weight. Fact: No, not at all. You've just slept 6 to 8 hours and now you're going to pass on breakfast? The body needs nourishment to get it started in the morning. If you persist in this habit, you'll slow down your metabolism and your body will hold on to anything it gets, making weight loss that much harder. It is trying to brace for starvation. Eat a good morning meal for energy. Myth: Bananas, grapes, beets, and carrots are bad for you because they have a high sugar content. Fact: When did these little lovelies become bad for you? They're not. These fruits and vegetables are actually low in sugar and calories. A banana may have 90 calories and 15 grams of sugar, and carrots have just 30 calories and 5 grams of sugar. Besides, these great nutritional items are loaded with fiber, potassium, folate, and carotenoids. Hey, didn't you at one time think that carotenoids were robotic mechanical carrot people? Myth: Obesity is the result of eating too much sugar. Fact: No. The reason most people are obese is that they consume too many calories in total, often consisting of mainly sugar and fat. Add to that a lack of exercise and no way to burn it off, and there you have it. You need to stop chowing-down so much food, stop being so lazy, and get yourself to a fitness center. Myth: If you eat a salad for a meal every day, you should be OK. Fact: Well, yes and no. We Americans love our salads drowning in dressings that are high-fat, loaded with bacon and croutons, and sprinkled heavily with shredded cheese. We think that if we put down a bed of lettuce on a plate, that it will somehow negate the fatty, sugary toppings we put on it. But we're only kidding ourselves. But if you make wise salad choices, you'll be better off. Myth: If I train abs with 500 sit-ups everyday, then I will lose weight and get a 6-pack. Fact: I don't think so. First, there's no such thing as spot-reducing. It just doesn't work. Also, you shouldn't exercise a body part every day, no matter what part it is (well, SOME parts should be exercised daily). Do you train arms, chest, back, legs, etc. every day? Of course not. Training a body part every day will eventually result in over-training, or even an injury. And this idea of doing 500 repetitions for abs? I'll repeat my statement: do you do 500 reps for back or chest? I thought not. Abs are a muscle group like any other in the body. Why should "more" be "better?" I see those professional models on TV doing high-rep ab workouts. But I try to remember, they're on TV to try to sell me something. They have to look that way. Do you think Nathan Lane could be the spokes-model for the Ab-Flexor? I didn't think so. Myth: Foods like pizza and pasta have to be avoided if you want to stay thin. Fact: These are considered "fun foods." But you can enjoy them within reason. How many of us eat more than one slice of pizza when we eat out? Let's seeeverybody does! Well, how many eat almost the entire pizza by themselves? Be honest! We Americans tend to "supersize" our food. Pizza places that have offers like "buy one pizza, get one free," don't really help out as far as portion control goes. It only tempts you to dig in. Believe me, you didn't get that second pizza for free, because you will be paying for it later. You can have a slice or two of pizza as long as you don't load it up with sausage, extra cheese, ground beef, and the kitchen sink. The same goes for your order of pasta. Moderation is the way to go. Myth: Diet sodas will help me lose weight. Fact: I really like this one. Don't you feel totally guilt-free when you order a diet soda with your triple cheeseburger and supersized cheese fries? Gosh, all those calories you are saving! Actually, studies have shown that many people who drink diet sodas make up the saved calories with other foods that have more calories. Who are we kidding? Having a diet soda with your bag of Oreos isn't going to cut the mustard. (Mustard hardly has any calories at all.) Save money and switch to spring water. Rememberdon't get caught up in diet myths and fads. If you have a question, do some research before you believe a diet myth to be true! Rick Moore is a personal trainer certified by American Fitness Professionals & Associates. Visit his club, Rick's Fitness & Health, in Milton, Delaware or www.ricksfitness.net, or call 302-684-3669. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 11, No. 7, June 15, 2001 |