1. You have to starve yourself to see results.
This couldn’t be further from the truth! Significantly restricting calories can make your body think it’s starving and therefore it may actually begin STORING fat. Fasting can then lead to muscle loss, your metabolism will slow down and your body can go from being healthy to looking frail and sickly! Eating very little will cause your blood sugar to spike and it will result in low energy levels and lethargy.
2. Carbs are bad and need to be eliminated.
Only the WRONG types of carbs need to be eliminated like sugars, pastries, white flour, etc. The body works best on a balanced diet, plus a low carb diet is a hard diet to stay on! When most people get off from a low carb diet they gain all of the weight back and then some. Follow a balanced program that you can live with to get results and keep them!
3. Eliminating all fats is necessary to lose weight.
This is terrible advice. The body needs essential fatty acids like the Omega 3’s in order to function. The body doesn’t produce these naturally so we need to consume them. Therefore, a tablespoon of flaxseed oil per day or a serving of salmon will cover this need for most women while a couple of tablespoons will cover the need for most males. If you don’t consume enough fat, it will be hard for you to lose body fat.
4. Lifting weights will make you (a woman) look bulky and manly.
This is actually nearly impossible unless you are taking steroids! Women do not naturally have enough testosterone in their bodies to build the amount of muscle most people consider “manly”. Even if you lift very heavy you cannot develop enormous muscles without the aid of testosterone. Lifting weights is crucial to achieving that toned look you’ve always dreamed of. Further more, increasing your muscle mass will actually cause your body to burn more calories even when at rest!
5. Too much water makes you gain water weight.
The opposite is true. The more water you drink, the more you will eliminate, thus making water retention a non-issue. Make sure you drink at least your lean body-weight in pounds times 0.66. This gives you the approximate amount in ounces of water that you need to consume per day.
6. High protein diets are for men, plus too much protein can damage your kidneys.
EVERYONE needs protein! It’s necessary to build and maintain muscle mass and to stay healthy. And there are no studies that show protein damages healthy kidneys. We do know that for people with kidney problems, too much protein could have negative effects - however for people with healthy kidneys, a medium to high protein diet is not damaging to the kidneys. Do ensure that sufficient water is consumed in order to help the kidneys process the protein.
What should I expect on a B4B nutrition plan?
I believe in a balanced nutrition plan for losing weight. This includes a good mix of protein, carbohydrates, and fats. All are essential to staying healthy and shedding fat so it’s important to get the right mix of each. On my plan you will probably eat MORE than you ever have before – it’s counterintuitive to most of the “general beliefs” circulating among Americans today. Many women think it’s necessary to starve to lose weight, but the truth is actually the exact opposite! In order to speed up your metabolism and shed fat you must provide your body with the fuel it needs – that means you have to eat, and eat often! On my plan you will generally eat 5-6 meals a day, and when combined with a steady workout plan you will really start to see your body change! The goal is to decrease fat but retain the muscle you have (and maybe even build more muscle!) all while staying healthy. What’s the point in looking good if your health and mood suffers??
So if you’re interested in losing weight and staying healthy please take a look at the services I offer. If you don’t see a program that’s right for you, please give me a call and we can discuss what will work.
