All About Women | Women

Choosing a perfect diet isn't always easy. Here are some pointers that will help you plan a perfect weight loss program for yourself.

Myth 1  Follow a strict diet.
Do not follow a regimented diet. Rapid weight loss causes the basal metabolic rate or BMR to fall. This makes your body less efficient at burning calories and more prone to putting the weight back on as soon as you're on a normal diet.

Myth 2  Starve/Skip a meal.
Do not starve or skip a meal. This is likely to increase weight as you run the risk of snacking. Besides, an empty stomach may cause headaches and irritability.

Myth 3  Eat low fat foods.
Do not get taken in by low fat labels. Low fat does not necessarily mean low-calorie and it is the overall calories consumed that matter. In most cases, low fat foods have more or less the same calories as regular food.

Myth 4  Avoid fats completely.
Do not avoid fats completely - fats do contain a lot of calories but they are also excellent sources of Vitamins A, D and E. Even though they are not recommended in large quantities, they are essential components of a balanced diet.

Myth 5  Totally eliminate snacking
Eat moderately. Do not eliminate snacks altogether. When calculating your total caloric intake, include the occasional snack.

Myth 6  Stick to certain food groups.
Don't stick to specific food groups. Eat a variety of foods. This will ensure you get all the nutrients besides keeping the meals interesting.

Myth 7  Fat is inherited.
We do not inherit fat but we do inherit lifestyles.

Last, but not the least, there are no good or bad foods. Only diets can be good or bad.