5 Diet Rules to Forget

So many different strategies to lose weight overwhelm us at times, it's hard to make the right choices. Make sure no misconceptions take over your diet strategies. Learn the whole truth behind some popular diet advice and improve your approach and your progress.

The ideas on the best ways to achieve your weight loss goals are in constant change. Just when thinking that the options we currently embrace are the most functional, a shift in paradigm comes and changes it all and thus confusion settles in. The so called 'rules' of dieting often prove incomplete or are misused and corrections are often necessary. Here are a few rules you might want to rethink:

Ditch white sugar for natural sugar

The concern with natural foods has also expanded towards sweeteners. The common belief is that because the natural sources have more nutrients they are better for you even when dieting. However, overusing them will have the same diet busting effect. While this doesn't mean that you should go for the artificial kinds which make you crave more sweets, the rule go by is to use as little as possible to feel satisfied regardless of the source you use.

Substitutions will help you lose weight

There's absolutely nothing wrong with making your favorite foods more diet-friendly. In fact, it is one of the best ways to avoid major diet slip offs and avoid losing enthusiasm for the changes you're making. It is important to realize that substitutions make sense only when the diet alternative is equally satisfying. If you're just as happy with frozen yogurt as you are with ice cream, then by all means go for it.

However, if the substitution is unsatisfying, you will end up consuming more calories to fill the craving void and achieve a similar degree of satisfaction which is why a smaller amount of your favorite treat might sometimes prove a better solution.

Go gluten free

The gluten free craze has reached impressive proportions lately as even those without Celiac disease are thinking about making the switch. However, like any hype, it's not all that's cranked up to be. To create a similar taste, ingredients such as sugar and fat are used to make up for the loss in flavor. If you're not having gluten intolerance problems, a better way of adjusting your behavior is to simply fill up on natural wholesome foods and lean protein and of course, reducing empty carbs as much as possible.

Abs are made in the kitchen

A common approach to weight management is to simply opt for dieting or exercise, depending on what the individual prefers. It's become a common belief that when it comes to vanity areas such as abs, the best way is to watch your food choices. However, in order to get lasting change you need to focus on both exercise and diet. Why? Because simply creating a calorie deficit isn't enough. You also need to optimize your hormone level to avoid getting back to where you were and to be able to sustain the change on the long term.

No midnight snacks

Ideally, you should give your digestive system plenty of time to rest. However, life gets in the way and we can't always avoid eating late. The good news is that you don't necessarily jeopardize your efforts if you eat late. However, what you eat definitely counts a lot more than when you do it. Experiment with different-sized meals to see what are the options that satisfy your hunger best.

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