Barry Jay

Three Fat Burning Myths



Posted: Sunday, April 19, 2009

by Barry Jay
My Barry's Bootcamp

There are millions of people in the world trying to lose weight and failing miserable. Why do you think that is? Sure, you could probably say that a handful of them aren't trying hard enough, but what about the rest? I've seen countless people trying so hard to lose weight that they lose sleep over it. What gives? Well, part of the problem is that the diet industry is forcing bad principles down people's throats. Then you have TV shows teaching people that you have to punish yourself constantly in order to lose weight. They also try to have you believe that you can lose 40-50 pounds overnight! This just isn't realistic and honestly it isn't fair, so in this article I want to spend some time busting some of the myths that prevail in the fitness industry. It is time that we level the playing field.

Fat Myth #1 - Depriving yourself of meals will help you burn fat. We all know that this isn't true, yet somehow we refuse to believe it. The truth is that when you starve yourself, your body goes into preservation mode, which means that it wants to hold on to every fuel source it has. This includes fat, which explains why you never lose weight when you starve yourself. Even if it did work, it just doesn't look healthy!

Fat Myth #2 - Depriving yourself of carbohydrates will help you lose weight. Sure, you might lose weight, but most of it will be muscle. When you go without carbs, your body runs out of fuel and it turns to muscle to maintain its energy. You might lose weight in the short term, but in the long run you are creating a serious health condition that will cause your energy levels to fluctuate and your body to starve.

Fat Myth #3 - Eating just salad will help you lose weight. While you might lose weight, you won't be getting enough protein or carbohydrates, which means you can't build or repair muscle. Your body won't have enough food to feed itself and again while you will have a caloric deficit, you will lack the energy you need to get a good workout. As a result, you'll find yourself eventually caving in to your hunger and gorging on foods that aren't good for you. Do yourself a favor and eat healthy foods throughout the day, but don't starve yourself. You'll be motivated with the energy that a nutritious diet provides.

These are just some of the fat myths that still prevail in the weight loss industry, but there are plenty of others. Use your best judgment when starting a diet or exercise routine and remember that if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. The best way to lose weight is to eat 3-5 small meals per day, get plenty of rest, and try to exercise 4-5 times per week. Use that recipe for success, and you will not only feel great, but you'll be losing weight in no time.

Barry Jay is the creator of the Barry's Bootcamp, a unique workout based around focused interval training (FIT).  For more information please visit: http://www.MyBarrysBootcamp.com

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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)
» left by Brianna Popsickle 3 years 34 days ago.
121 fans.
There's almost too much information out there today for people trying to lose weight, it's confusing. It's taken me a while but I've learned 'everything in moderation' works for me, smaller portions and lots of exercise  (which can be fun by the way). Thanks Barry, great article.
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