pseudo science and weight loss BS

saraht131

What's some of the most ridiculous pseudo science stuff you've heard/read/believed about weight loss, nutrition and exercise?

The egg yolks being bad for your cholesterol is one that springs to mind.
That you can turn your fat into muscle.
Eating fat makes you fat.
That you can "tone up" without losing fat.
Eating sugar makes your blood acidic and can erode your vital organs.

I'm sure there are more, I just can't think of them!

jg627

I've got a friend that thinks if he buys the most expensive protein shakes and power bars, he can build muscle without lifting heavy. He's a 6' 2" 145 lb mountain of muscle. Don't dare tell him he might be wrong though. He made his boyfriend some grilled beets for dinner recently and he puked it all up. His words were, 'it must have been too healthy for him'. I couldn't help myself and busted out laughing. Man, I don't care how healthy beets are, they're still nasty.

saraht131

Oh yes, I often puke up the healthiest of foods! :-p
Grilled beets? Oh man. *boke*

miranda_mom

I've got a friend that thinks if he buys the most expensive protein shakes and power bars, he can build muscle without lifting heavy. He's a 6' 2" 145 lb mountain of muscle. Don't dare tell him he might be wrong though. He made his boyfriend some grilled beets for dinner recently and he puked it all up. His words were, 'it must have been too healthy for him'. I couldn't help myself and busted out laughing. Man, I don't care how healthy beets are, they're still nasty.

I think I'm going to throw up now. That's disgusting!

I would add the idea that fat can be "flushed out" by eating something specific.

Sidesteal

What's some of the most ridiculous pseudo science stuff you've heard/read/believed about weight loss, nutrition and exercise?

The egg yolks being bad for your cholesterol is one that springs to mind.
That you can turn your fat into muscle.
Eating fat makes you fat.
That you can "tone up" without losing fat.
Eating sugar makes your blood acidic and can erode your vital organs.

I'm sure there are more, I just can't think of them!

Here are some:

Eating carbs makes you fat.
Eating past 8pm (insert time here) makes you fat.
Eating breakfast kickstarts your metabolism
Eating frequently increases your metabolism
Drinking juices removes toxins from your system
You must drink protein immediately after your workout or your muscles will fall off.
Skipping meals slows down your metabolism
Short term fasting (intra-day or single day) puts you in starvation mode

Kennkaru

...that great one about eating after 9 p.m. magically making you fat.

TheKitsune6

You can lose weight by getting rid of toxins via.... colonoscopy. :noway:

jg627

Coffee just came out my nose when I read, 'or your muscles will fall off'.

ariant23

Abstaining from any one (or multiple) specific foods will make you svelte and sexy
high-fructose corn syrup is evil
"toxins" can be flushed from your body by drinking obscene amounts of water
-- corollary: you must drink eight 8oz glasses of pure water a day, the inclusion of any flavor in that water negates its hydrating abilities

it's because the average person can't handle the basic concept of move more, eat less. :-/

ETA: I can't believe I forgot my corollary to the first one: Eating one specific food will magically "melt the fat away"
and yes that "blood type" thing is beyond reproach. I can't believe the people that are willing to try that, and feel sad that no one taught them to identify a snake oil salesman.

Nataliaho

What's some of the most ridiculous pseudo science stuff you've heard/read/believed about weight loss, nutrition and exercise?

The egg yolks being bad for your cholesterol is one that springs to mind.
That you can turn your fat into muscle.
Eating fat makes you fat.
That you can "tone up" without losing fat.
Eating sugar makes your blood acidic and can erode your vital organs.

I'm sure there are more, I just can't think of them!

Here are some:

Eating carbs makes you fat.
Eating past 8pm (insert time here) makes you fat.
Eating breakfast kickstarts your metabolism
Eating frequently increases your metabolism
Drinking juices removes toxins from your system
You must drink protein immediately after your workout or your muscles will fall off.
Skipping meals slows down your metabolism
Short term fasting (intra-day or single day) puts you in starvation mode

All of these!!!!

My favorite catch-all which isn't really pseudo-science but plain BS.
"I do XX exercise and eat YY therefore that is the only way that everyone should live."

Captain_Tightpants

The blood type diet and bodywraps have to be my two most common facepalms.

saraht131

That's another thing that grates on me. Toxins. That you need to "detox". That's what your kidneys are for and those highly evolved organs are much more effective in removing "toxins" than you eating nothing but spinach juice and wheatgrass shots for a week!

What toxins do people expect to get rid of?! The whole thing is a complete myth! Nothing but a multi billion dollar industry exploiting people who will believe whatever you tell them.

Sidesteal

The blood type diet and bodywraps have to be my two most common facepalms.

^ These are great ones too. LOLBloodtype diet.

Steve Troutman found a facial recognition diet, it's linked to his Pareto article I believe. Hilarious stuff.

ElizabethRoad

"toxins" can be flushed from your body by drinking obscene amounts of water
-- corollary: you must drink eight 8oz glasses of pure water a day, the inclusion of any flavor in that water negates its hydrating abilities

And many people say that if you drink only 64 ounces of pure water, you will be dehydrated.

BrianSharpe

cleanses & detox

Aperture_Science

Aspartame is a huge conspiracy in which the FDA were paid off to turn a blind eye to the fact that it gives you cancer and causes you to gain weight.

Aperture_Science

Bananas make you fat

Aperture_Science

Zaggora pants, fat suits will sweat you skinny.

I you just lie on a toning table it's as good as going for a run or lifting weights, similar for vibration plates.

Those slender-tone thingies that you stick on your stomach will give you a 6 pack.

belgerian

bump for later

Arthemise1

"If I can do it, everyone else can too."

Excuse me, not everyone's body is built the same way, so don't presume to know what my body is capable of.

jg627

You can lose weight by getting rid of toxins via.... colonoscopy. :noway:

Tried that... every good time starts with dulcolax, miralax and gatoraide. Let the good times roll.