Science is always evolving, and the science around dieting seems to hold the most fluid, argued-about conventions of any kind of science we encounter every day. It's easy to get caught up in the dos and don'ts handed down by previous generations, but here are five weight loss conventions that dietitians say you should ignore.
This seems obvious: Skip the sweet, calorie-filled part of every meal and watch the weight fall off, right? Well, not really. Eat This, Not That! reported that treating sweets as a culinary category reserved for special occasions can actually prevent dieters from overeating (and curb cravings in the process). "Instead of eating cookies alone on the couch, take the time and effort to go to a coffee shop and enjoy one there with a cup of green tea," said nutritionist Dawn Jackson Blatner to the popular diet blog. Finally, a dieting decree that's easy to get behind.
Sure, portion control can be a game-changer for those seeking or maintaining a particular weight, but simply cutting calories for the sake of the scale can lead to the dreaded plateau.
"The biggest weight loss mistake is skipping meals," said Rahaf Al Bochi, a registered dietitian in Duluth. "Many people think by skipping meals they eat less and therefore will lose weight."
From that irresistible bread basket at the beginning of a big meal out to the convenience of pizza on a sleepy night in, it's nothing new that certain carbs can be a killer when counting calories. However, dieters shouldn't count all carbs out completely.
Registered Atlanta dietitian Nicole German Morgan said she always advises against the Atkins Diet, which focuses on low carb foods. "I have seen the negative effects of what eating low carbohydrate can do to the body over time," Morgan said. "An extremely low carbohydrate diet can also lead to diminished thyroid function, fatigue and other ailments."
At first blush, this is an easy adage to understand: if tons of calories are going into the body right before the body stops moving, you'd think that those calories would be more likely to linger as pesky extra pounds. No, eating a bowl of ice cream or working on your night cheese isn't going to help the inches fly off of your waist. But according to research published in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, there is evidence to suggest that consuming dairy products before bed can improve your body's overnight recovery after exercise. Try mixing up a smoothie or turning to a glass of milk for something light to reap the benefits.
Different meal times work for different people, but scientists haven't seen a significant difference in weight loss between those who eat three square meals and those who opt for a grazing approach. While this advice is rooted in the idea that more regular snacks keep metabolism at a higher rate,
The New York Times reported that metabolism remains constant as long as the nutritional intake does, too. So if you love dividing your big meals into little snacks, keep at it, but don't sacrifice the eating schedule that fits just because of this weight loss rule.
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