7 myth-busting tips to help you lose weight

In a fit of enthusiasm and determination to lose weight, it’s easy to fall into the trap of setting rules and regulations which may be both punishing and difficult to sustain, and which may inadvertently promote weight gain.

Nutritionist Helen Buchan from Zing Nutrition has given High Life North 7 tips to help avoid some of the common pitfalls.

Don’t count calories
Apart from vegetables, low-calorie foods are often lacking in the quality of nutrients necessary to drive a healthy metabolism, provide us with energy and help to prevent diseases.

Don’t eat low-fat foods
We need fat in our diets, particularly essential fats, to burn our own body fat and to provide important fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K which are so crucial to good health.

Don’t eat too little

Eating too little can result in muscle wastage which can slow and prevent weight loss. It’s also true that introducing an element of intermittent fasting into a weight loss regime can be extremely effective, although you still need to be mindful of muscle wastage. 

Don’t cut carbs from your diet
You need carbohydrates for both physical and mental energy, but it’s also true that as a survival mechanism (which goes way back into our ancestry) the body, in the absence of carbs, can switch to using fat for both physical and mental energy. Keto diets will do just this and alternating a predominantly low GL diet with short bursts of Keto can be amazingly effective in achieving rapid weight loss.

Don’t drink sugar
Fizzy drinks, fruit juices, alcohol, even ‘healthy,’ smoothies can be very high in sugar and will contribute to weight gain. Stick to water and herbal teas as much as you can.

If you need a helping hand, Helen is offering free 30-minute weight loss reviews by phone every Wednesday afternoon. Book your slot here.