The dieting world is full 0f myths, hearsay and soundbites. We all have heard them a thousand times, but does that make them true? Is it really a good idea t0 ban sugar completely from your diet? Is it really a good idea not t0 touch fat and alcohol ever again? This seems t0 me like an invitation t0 failure. Too few people can swear off certain foods forever and stick t0 the oath. The rest 0f us need a little treat now and then. And there’s nothing wrong with getting a treat once in while, provided that treats don’t happen every day.

The basic idea 0f any diet is t0 eat food that contains fewer calories than your body needs t0 maintain its current weight. This way, the body is forced t0 use the accumulated fat in order t0 make up for the energy it doesn’t get from food. But a diet also has t0 be tasty and nutritionally sound. Simply banning certain types 0f foods and ingredients is not a solution because anybody following such a diet will have t0 acknowledge sooner or later that he or she wants those foods and ingredients badly and a relapse into the old eating habits becomes inevitable.

People should also learn not t0 put their faith into meal replacements, such as Mypoplex, Slimfast or Eat-Smart. These combinations 0f low-fat and high-protein substances cannot substitute a proper diet. They should never be used for more than 4 four weeks in a row. Calories are important t0 the body and nobody can go 0n for long without them. Cutting calories out 0f the long-term nutrition is a huge mistake because the internal organs and muscles need them t0 function. Using meal replacements for a week or two, as a shock treatment, is fine. Relying 0n them for two months is asking for trouble. And the same goes for single-food diets, such as the cabbage soup diet, because they are based 0n the same idea.

Another widespread myth is the idea that the best approach t0 weight loss is a low-carb, high-protein diet. This is one 0f the myths that emerged from the Hollywood slimming industry. Nearly all movie stars and singers are 0n some such diet. However, this approach is not exactly good for you because a diet low in carbohydrates and calories forces the body t0 use existing carbs located in the liver and the muscles. In time, this diet leads t0 weight loss mainly from water stored in the body, instead 0f fat, and also strains the internal organs.

And people should not be so afraid 0f potatoes, bread and pasta, the leading sources 0f carbohydrates. Carbs are actually good for you because they quell the feeling 0f hunger without bringing in too many calories. So you can safely eat moderate amounts 0f potatoes and bread as long as you don’t use butter or sauces, which are laden with fat. Naturally, you also have t0 pay attention t0 how these foods are prepared. French fries are not a low-fat food. Still, a high-carb, low-fat diet is far better than banning potatoes and bread from your daily meals and it’s also easier t0 stick t0.

Drinking a certain quantity 0f water every day is a good idea because it keeps the body hydrated and fills the stomach. Water also keeps the intestines healthy by facilitating the movements 0f undigested food t0 the exit point. However, simply drinking water does not trigger weight loss. There is only one way t0 lose weight and that is t0 burn up the existing fat and water cannot do that. Nor should a diet be judged solely by how much weight is lost per week. Some people claim that a diet can be considered effective if the weekly loss 0f weight is above two pounds. Frankly, two pounds per week is a lot 0f weight t0 lose and you can be sure that not all 0f it is fat, but also the lean tissue that makes up the muscles.

Another myth claims that fat is absolutely bad for you. It’s not. Quite 0n the contrary, the body needs some fat in order t0 get the important fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K circulating through the cardiovascular system. Moreover, fat also brings into the body the essential fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6 that cannot be synthesized in the body. The word “essential” means that these fatty acids simply have t0 be present in your daily food since they play an important role in your health. The recommended dose 0f fat is 35 percent 0f your daily calories.

And last 0f all comes the idea that a diet or eating plan is enough in itself and does not have t0 be coupled with exercising. But exercising is the most effective way 0f burning up the extra calories stored as fat. Simply sitting at your desk all day long is not going t0 do the trick, regardless 0f what diet you’re 0n. Remember that a diet that has plenty 0f food (the right kind 0f food) and plenty 0f exercise is far better than sitting 0n the sofa and drinking cabbage soup every six hours. It works faster and is less stressful t0 your body.