All of us want to look better and feel healthier, this means that everyone has an opinion on the right way to lose weight. Instead of listening to your neighbour who swears that her evening khari is responsible for her good looks, here are some weight loss facts that will help you on your fitness journey. These facts aim to dispel popular myths that people seem to have and give you a simple answer to effective fat loss.

• Exercising does not mean ignoring your diet

One of the biggest myths that people believe is that exercising allows you to eat whatever you want without gaining weight. This simply isn’t true. If you stuff yourself with potato chips for every meal then no amount of exercise will help burn off that many calories. The simple secret to losing weight is burning more calories than you consume. This can be achieved only by maintaining a healthy diet and at least a light workout routine. 

• Drinking water does help you lose weight

Water is a zero-calorie drink that makes you feel full without actually filling you up. Use this quality of water to your advantage by drinking a glass or two right before you eat. This keeps you full during the meal and stops you from overeating. Just like there are healthy snacks and unhealthy snacks there are healthy drinks and unhealthy drinks. Most soft drinks are loaded with sugar and calories that are bad for your body. Instead of soft drinks opt for a glass of cold water. When you ingest cold water, your body has to work extra hard to match its temperature. This means more energy is spent on this task, thus speeding up the calorie burning process.

• Eating fiber is good for your body

Vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains and cereals are all high in fiber and are good for your body. There are multiple advantages to consuming fiber. Most foods containing fiber are low in calories, keep you feeling full for longer and help with digestion. Fiber does not merely help with weight loss and digestion it is also a good way to control your cholesterol and reduce sugar levels.

The most popular food myth is that fasting leads to weight loss. The truth is that because of the calorie deficit rule, fasting will initially lead to weight loss. However, as your body realizes that it is not getting enough food it slows down your metabolism to conserve energy. 

This leads to not only putting the weight you lost back on, but has a counterproductive effect on your metabolism as it will take longer to burn calories. Fasting itself can lead to dizziness, headaches, low blood sugar, weakness and fatigue. The best way to lose weight and keep it off is by eating healthy snacks and maintaining a regular workout routine.