Weight loss gets so confusing that sometimes you just feel like giving up. There are so many new rules and discoveries that you have no idea which are steeped in research, and which are more fad than fact. Let’s take a look at some of the things that confuse you about weight loss:
1. Water weight: It’s true that speedy weight loss is mainly water weight. The number on the scale measures more than just your body fat and muscle, it also accounts for your bones, organs, bodily fluids, waste inside your digestive you’re yet to eliminate and glycogen (back-up carbohydrate fuel, which is stored with water). Although the last three on that list will always fluctuate, they can drastically shift when you change your diet. It’s far more difficult to shift fat. Still, while it’s easy to get caught up in the numbers, this won’t do your wellbeing any favours. You should go by how you feel and how your body looks as, after all, that’s more important than a number on a scale. A lean, toned, hydrated and well-nourished body – which is vital to your wellness – will weight more than one that’s thin but flabby, undernourished, and dehydrated. Focus on a long-term strategy that allows you to safely and sanely lose fat.
2. Brown vs. white fat: You may have seen in the news recently that brown fat is the supposed saviour of the obese. While there is certainly intriguing research into how brown fat may help fight obesity, there are still many unanswered questions. Still, wellness experts know there are two types of fat in your body; white fat and brown fat, which is richer in blood and calorie-burning mitochondria. Up until now, it was thought that your brown fat diminishes with age, but researchers have recently revealed that adults still have brown fat, albeit some more than others. If you have an extra three ounces of the fat, you can burn hundreds of calories more a day, which may explain those annoying friends you have who seem to stay slim without trying. However, there’s no way to determine how much brown fat you have or how white fat gets converted to brown.
3. Negative calorie foods: Odds are that someone has told you celery or carrot sticks are worth “negative calories” because they trigger your body to burn more calories than the foods themselves contain. Or you might have heard that metabolism-revers like hot peppers and green tea do the same job in a different way. While there is a nugget of truth in this, don’t think you’re going to drop three dress sizes just because you’re munching on a few jalapenos. Most of these foods might drag the calorie count down a bit, but they won’t quite tip it into the read. Including a few of these foods as part of your weight loss plan can help things along, but negative calories foods as a sole weight loss strategy just doesn’t pan out.
4. Set point: The theory goes that your body has a certain “set point” determined by your genes – thanks Mum and Dad – which means it will fight to stay at this comfortable weight, either by releasing hunger hormones to make you add on pounds, or anti-hunger hormones so you shed them. Although research shows a clear genetic aspect to your waistline, the set point theory is at odds with our current obesity epidemic. Plus, a larger component to your weight is due to environmental factors; if there’s a chocolate bar on your desk, you’re more likely to eat it than if it’s hidden in your bag.
