Metabolism Myths You Think Are True
Wonder why you aren’t losing weight?
You’ve probably stumbled over some wrong information (surprise, surprise). And with Jillian Michaels halfway to unemployment, you certainly can’t trust what she says in Master Your Metabolism. Good thing you’ve got us to set you straight!
Check out these common myths regarding your body’s fat-burning furnace. I bet you didn’t know they aren’t true!
Myth #1: Losing weight means your metabolism is increasing.
Fact: Weight loss of any type SLOWS metabolism. The less you weigh, the fewer calories your body needs to sustain itself. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can eat more as you lose weight; you actually need to eat less.
Myth #2: Eating 5-6 small meals per day speeds metabolism.
Fact: Frequent eating may result in greater weight loss for some, but it’s only due to increased satiety and reduced overall caloric intake. There is no solid research to support the claim that consuming five or six meals per day yields any increase in metabolic rate. When calories and macronutrients are equal, the total thermic effect of food is the same whether you eat six times a day or three.
Myth #3: Low-carb diets are more metabolic.
Fact: According to Alan Aragon and other reputable nutritionists, the “metabolic advantage” you may have read about actually occurs due to the accompanying high-protein intake of the low-carb diets used in the studies. Protein is the most satiating macronutrient and carbs are more metabolic than fats. So in the presence of caloric deficit, an optimal fat-loss diet includes sufficient protein and favors carbs over fats.
And finally…
DOUBLE SECRET BONUS MYTH #4! : Using super high reps (i.e., 50-100) and no resistance in your workouts burns calories AND rebuilds muscle into a longer, leaner shape.
FACT: This is complete crap. Exercising this way burns very few calories during your session and has even less of an effect on post-workout metabolism. More importantly, you need EXTRA calories to build muscle, and its shape is determined by genetics.
Please help spread the word about this last one. With the recent release of a certain ridiculous DVD series, the rumors are traveling faster than Toyota cars.
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I knew that Panda looked familiar!