Ogunrinde Abdulrahman

Nutritional Myths You Should Stop Believing as A Flexible Dieter Should I eat seven meals a day to lose weight? People often ask this types of questions when they are trying to lose weight or achieve a dietary goal. But most of these beliefs are in the realm of myths; superstitious claims that only end up in frustration and failure for those who follow them. If you have been paying attention to these types of vibes, it’s a road that leads to nowhere. Here are some of the nutritional myths you should stop believing if you count your macros. You Need 5-7 Small Meals Every Day to Lose Weight Imagine trying to squeeze seven meals into your hectic schedule when you don’t even have time for three? The proponents of this fallacy believe that frequent meals will help keep your metabolism active throughout the day, leading to increased calorie burn and enhanced weight loss. But is there any scientific basis for these claims? No! The formula is based on conjecture and a failure of the adherents to appreciate how cramped the life of a 21st-century adult can be. Let’s assume the diet works, and you can lose X amount of pounds per month by eating seven small meals spaced out throughout the day; how do you plan to achieve it when you have to go to work, cook, take care of your kids, help with homework, get stuck in traffic, hit the gym, and God knows what? Frequent meals may help you curb a galloping appetite, but it won’t help you lose weight. Losing weight is about eating the right foods in the right amounts while making lifestyle changes and exercising. Eight Glasses of Water a Day Keeps the Doctor Away Really? Where did this come from? How is it possible to provide a blanket guideline on water consumption without considering the fact that individuals require different amounts of water based on their needs. If you work in a cool environment with minimal physical exertion, your body may not need more than four glasses of water each day to function properly. On the other hand, a professional athlete who is always busy on the tracks and the gym may gulp upwards of ten glasses. And here you are, trying to give yourself a pot belly by following this fundamentally flawed advice. Drink water as much or as low as your body’s requirement. You will know when you've had enough. Fad Diets Will Help You Become Slim Unfortunately, the success of losing weight with fad diets is almost always short-lived. Our body needs certain essential nutrients to function optimally. If you are not getting your macros and micronutrients, you will lose weight but also lose your health. You hear proponents of fad diets say that sugar is evil, carbs are evil, don’t go near fat, milk is for baby cows, and all sorts of things. But it’s not sustainable in the long term to eat kale and egg for breakfast every morning or cauliflower rice and cheese for dinner every passing day! You will break after some time. IIFYM encourages eating whatever food you enjoy without going overboard. It’s about getting a caloric balance and ensuring your macros are not in the deficit. Don’t Eat Before Bed The taboo of late night eating is one of the most popular nutrition myths. But will you become overweight by eating an hour before bed because you came home late from the office? It’s not possible. The myth of not eating late at night is based on the premise that your metabolism slows when you sleep, and your body stores the food up because it wasn’t used for energy. This is not completely true as your metabolism doesn’t shut down when you sleep. You continue to burn calories, although at a slightly lower level than during your waking hours. However, comfort eating is entirely wrong and can quickly add weight in all the wrong places. When you need to eat late at night, oblige yourself but do so responsibly. Remember it’s not when you eat; rather, it’s what you eat. If it fits your macros, absolutely go for it! Don’t Eat at Fast-Food Restaurants Really? How many of us have time to cook healthy delicious meals? While fast food restaurants can be notorious for sugar and fat-heavy meals, they also provide a large variety of healthy meals if you know where to go. The convenience and affordability offered by fast food outlets are what keeps many people going despite their frenetic schedules.