10 diet rules that are proven wrong!

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Replies

  • AutumnisBSB
    AutumnisBSB Posts: 131 Member
    Let's just all do what works for US.
  • challenger9509
    challenger9509 Posts: 286 Member
    1.) Of course you CAN skip breakfast if you want to but it's better to eat breakfast because, as the name says, it breaks your fast. Breakfast is quite an important meal but if you want to skip it, by all means feel free.
    Doesn't that really mean that the first meal one eats then is break fast? Mines after 12pm.
    4.) There are CERTAIN carbs that are good for losing weight, for example lentils are good because they are a complex carb.
    In the end, all carbs are broken down to glycogen for the body. Some carbs have better nutrient value, but GI doesn't matter that much when it comes to weight loss.
    8.) Don't fast. Fasting for religious reasons? Fine. Otherwise? Please don't.
    Fasting for 24 hours isn't harmful to the body. If there is I'd like to see it.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    Agree!!
  • pattyproulx
    pattyproulx Posts: 603 Member
    Hmm... they may be "proven" but if they are they must show me that facts.

    Because I surely am not going to try to eat more saturated fats? I think almost everyone gets enough of those to keep their kidneys healthy.

    Vitamin d3 is a fat soluble vitamg thisin (meaning if you have to much you will not just pee it out like you will with vit b&c) so I would suggest anyone addin "weight loss pill" to their diet to talk to the doctor first.

    The snacking I totally disagree with. So this diet rules say that I be be fine getting all my calories in at lunch & dinner. No way! Skipping all my snacks and breakfast would be so silly and wouldn't help me what so ever.

    I recommend you re-visit your stance on saturated fats. Before recently, saturated fats were a staple in our diets and CVD and obesity were nowhere near it's current levels. Only in the 1950s and 1960s did people start replacing their butter with margarine and other vegetable oils.

    You disagree that snacking doesn't boost your metabolism? I think that's been proven. It's not saying not to snack; it's saying that snacking "to try and keep your metabolism running" is a waste of time (and I remember thinking this years back and packing myself a huge lunch full of snacks because I didn't want to go too long without eating. What a pain in the *kitten* that was).
  • pattyproulx
    pattyproulx Posts: 603 Member
    ]

    5.) Vitamins in pill form are not worth buying. The best way to get vitamins is through your diet. When you take vitamin in pill form, you don't absorb enough of it to be worth taking. While it may say there's x amount in each capsule your body only absorbs a very small portion of that.

    Actually from my experience as a nurse and having multiple patients on and off Vitamin D with weekly and monthly labs to prove whether it is working or not this is incorrect. I have personally seen it work in too many patients. Not to say that happens with all.

    That is actually very interesting. Thanks for the information.
  • I think that this information is not ok for everyone. I can't skip meals or I will pass out as I have low blood sugar and can even die. I know for my health I need to eat small meals a lot during the day and I must eat slow burning carbs from all natural sources. Organic equals raw foods grown without chemicals how can you not lose weight on fruit and veggies? Protein over consumption from meat causes high cholesterol, increased weight and can lead to lots of other health issues. I avoid meats and processed foods and I have lost over 120 lbs in less than a year without passing out or even having a problem with my low blood sugar. Beware of these things because they are from studies on certain types of people and certain age groups. Remember every body like every person is different so really this is meaningless. If you are unsure how to eat contact a dietitian or your doctor not a health mag.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    Assuming "diet" means eating for fat loss, there really is only one proven diet rule. Consume less than you burn.

    Actually fat loss is affected by ones diet. There are certain amounts of certain foods to be eaten that affect fat loss. You can find general "rules" in Diet for Dancers (I'm a ballet dancer which is why I say that book but I'm sure there are others out there) but of course these "rules" should be tailored to each persons' needs. Also when I say diet I mean what you eat because that's your diet.

    And these are 'proven' to increase fat loss above and beyond calorie deficit? By how much?
  • Morgaath
    Morgaath Posts: 679 Member
    SHAPE magazine did the article. My news station reported on it. So i guess you could check out shape online to find the article.

    One second with Goole gave me:
    http://www.shape.com/weight-loss/weight-loss-strategies/10-unbelievable-diet-rules-backed-science

    Now if only there was a single link to a peer reviewed study in the article, or the name of such a thing. Instead we get "a study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research" and " Research published in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism"... Didn't they bother to note the name of the study, who did it, etc, or is there to much worry that a month or two from now something might be questioned?
    You said your news channel...not sure if that means the one you watch or if you work for it, but really, is this what is allowed in journalism now days? My high school teacher would have given me an F if I had turned in something like this.
  • MsMimidoll
    MsMimidoll Posts: 249 Member
    And next month, there will be an article in another magazine with vague "scientific" backup that says all the above are right.
    this
  • michail71
    michail71 Posts: 120 Member
    I'm actually impressed Shape magazine published this. Though it's a shock article to rile the false "conventional wisdom" that people cling to.
  • Crochetluvr
    Crochetluvr Posts: 3,288 Member
    Depends on the person. I can't exercise on an empty stomach..... I end feeling sick. I also can't skip breakfast for the same reason. Every person should do what works for them.
  • celadontea
    celadontea Posts: 335 Member
    Disagree on at least half of these.
  • BlueBombers
    BlueBombers Posts: 4,064 Member
    I always workout out on an empty stomach first thing in the morning and it has worked for me.
  • michail71
    michail71 Posts: 120 Member
    Disagree on at least half of these.

    On what evidence? There wasn't anything shocking or unknown in the list. It just points out fallacies that people collectively believe because they have heard them so many times.

    The biggest controversy is probably the breakfast one. However, most of the breakfast studies have had very poor controls of the variables. You can however, show that fasting/skipping the morning meal is of no consequence and has other benefits.
  • geebusuk
    geebusuk Posts: 3,348 Member
    In the end, all carbs are broken down to glycogen for the body. Some carbs have better nutrient value, but GI doesn't matter that much when it comes to weight loss.]
    Indeed - my usual response to 'OMG, processed? You die!'...
    http://www.simplyshredded.com/the-science-of-nutrition-is-a-carb-a-carb.html
  • ItsCasey
    ItsCasey Posts: 4,021 Member
    This thread is hilarious.

    I read that article a while back when it first came out. Saw it floating around the Internet yesterday. I knew it would find its way to MFP eventually. Most of the stuff on that list is completely legit and hardly ground-breaking, but because it defies conventional wisdom (and because it's in Shape Magazine), people "disagree" with it.

    Nobody is saying you HAVE to skip breakfast, or even that you NEED to. The article is simply saying that it's not true that you MUST eat breakfast in order to lose weight. The point, similar to the notes about eating a big dinner being perfectly fine and snacking not improving your metabolism, is that meal timing and frequency are irrelevant, except as they relate to individual preference/adherence. If you like eating 12 "meals" a day, if that helps keep you on track with your calorie and macro goals, go right ahead. But if you think there's some magical weight-loss benefit to eating first thing in the morning or every hour, on the hour, you're wrong.

    There's nothing inherently bad about saturated fat.

    There's nothing wrong with intermittent fasting or training in a fasted state (I do it every day).

    It's perfectly fine to eat all your calories in one meal (I also do this every day).

    What this all boils down to is that weight loss is a function of calories in < calories out. It doesn't matter what, when, where, how, or why. Find a plan that is sustainable for you, and stick with it.

    And for the love of sanity, if you are diabetic or have some other kind of medical condition that places more stringent demands upon your dietary habits, stop assuming that the average diet article is aimed at you. It isn't.
  • grantwashere
    grantwashere Posts: 171 Member
    All I have to say is that I would never listen to Shape magazine in terms of a reliable fitness and nutrition source, considering they are funded primarily by ads advocating diet pills and full of articles that feed the diet industry, as a whole. Steer clear of trash magazines like this... :-)

    I'm a big fan of learning from the people on MFP who have actually done what I'm trying to do. The docs/guru's/magazines/authors/etc all have money on their mind. The successful people on here are a MUCH better source of info (for obvious reasons) IMHO.
  • SnicciFit
    SnicciFit Posts: 967 Member
    Because I surely am not going to try to eat more saturated fats? I think almost everyone gets enough of those to keep their kidneys healthy.

    Not if they are eating egg whites only, using margarine in place of butter, drinking skim milk, eating a plethera of "fat-free" foods and only eating chicken & fish, then no they probably aren't getting enough.
  • I have to site sources? Um nope. Just passing on an article of misconceptions ppl fall for. Was trying to be helpful. One person said they'd rather hear from ppl on MFP that have lost weight successfully....well I've lost 30 lbs doing just these things.
    1: I skip breakfast most mornings.
    2: I usually have more calories at dinner than any other meal.
    5: Vitamins do work. You don't get enough of vitamin D3 through food or sunshine. Check out dr mercola for info on that if you want.
    6: I almost always work out on an empty stomach. If you can't then don't. Nobody's telling you too.
    7: I do eat saturated fats.

    Like I stated, these don't work for everyone. They worked for me, but you have to do your own trial & error when losing weight. That's common sense.
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    Ridiculous the comments. I have to site sources? Um nope. Just passing on an article of misconceptions ppl fall for. Was trying to be helpful. One person said they'd rather hear from ppl on MFP that have lost weight successfully....well I've lost 30 lbs doing just these things.
    1: I skip breakfast most mornings.
    2: I usually have more calories at dinner than any other meal.
    5: Vitamins do work. You don't get enough of vitamin D3 through food or sunshine. Check out dr mercola for info on that if you want.
    6: I almost always work out on an empty stomach. If you can't then don't. Nobody's telling you too.
    7: I do eat saturated fats.

    Like I stated, these don't work for everyone. They worked for me, but you have to do your own trial & error when losing weight. That's common sense.

    You just said to check out Dr Mercola. That just ruined your credibility, as Mercola is one of the worst sources of information out there. All it takes is about 30-60 minutes of sunshine a week to get enough vitamin d3. Only people in extremely northern or southern areas of the globe have problems getting enough sunshine to make d3.

    Also, exercising on an empty stomach has been debunked. It offers no advantage to average people (although it does offer slight advantages to elite athletes.) Alan Aragon has an excellent write up on the topic.
  • michail71
    michail71 Posts: 120 Member
    Because I surely am not going to try to eat more saturated fats? I think almost everyone gets enough of those to keep their kidneys healthy.

    Not if they are eating egg whites only, using margarine in place of butter, drinking skim milk, eating a plethera of "fat-free" foods and only eating chicken & fish, then no they probably aren't getting enough.

    That describes the way everyone was eating in the 80s.
  • michail71
    michail71 Posts: 120 Member
    Ridiculous the comments. I have to site sources? Um nope. Just passing on an article of misconceptions ppl fall for. Was trying to be helpful. One person said they'd rather hear from ppl on MFP that have lost weight successfully....well I've lost 30 lbs doing just these things.
    1: I skip breakfast most mornings.
    2: I usually have more calories at dinner than any other meal.
    5: Vitamins do work. You don't get enough of vitamin D3 through food or sunshine. Check out dr mercola for info on that if you want.
    6: I almost always work out on an empty stomach. If you can't then don't. Nobody's telling you too.
    7: I do eat saturated fats.

    Like I stated, these don't work for everyone. They worked for me, but you have to do your own trial & error when losing weight. That's common sense.
    You just said to check out Dr Mercola. That just ruined your credibility, as Mercola is one of the worst sources of information out there. All it takes is about 30-60 minutes of sunshine a week to get enough vitamin d3. Only people in extremely northern or southern areas of the globe have problems getting enough sunshine to make d3.

    My son, mother and myself have tested out low on D3 and we live in South Florida.
  • bob_day
    bob_day Posts: 87
    SHAPE magazine did the article. My news station reported on it. So i guess you could check out shape online to find the article.

    I tracked down the Shape magazine article. Here's the link:

    http://www.shape.com/weight-loss/weight-loss-strategies/10-unbelievable-diet-rules-backed-science/slide/
  • A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    Nice signature but it hardly explains all those pounds you had to lose in the first place...
  • SnicciFit
    SnicciFit Posts: 967 Member
    Because I surely am not going to try to eat more saturated fats? I think almost everyone gets enough of those to keep their kidneys healthy.

    Not if they are eating egg whites only, using margarine in place of butter, drinking skim milk, eating a plethera of "fat-free" foods and only eating chicken & fish, then no they probably aren't getting enough.

    That describes the way everyone was eating in the 80s.

    Word. But some (ok quite a few) people are still in the 80s. Thanks to their doctors still being there.
  • toutmonpossible
    toutmonpossible Posts: 1,580 Member
    10 diet rules that we had wrong (backed by science & featured in shape magazine):
    1: You CAN skip breakfast if you want.
    2: It's OK to eat a big dinner. (you have a calorie limit. if you don't go over, then it doesn't matter when during the day you have more calories for a meal.
    3: Snacking does NOT affect metabolism. (no evidence of improved weight loss by eating smaller, more frequent meals)
    4: Eat carbs to get lean. (avoid processed carbs. get them from whole foods such as fruit & veggies)
    5: There is a weight loss pill worth buying. Vitamin D3.
    6: Exercise on an empty stomach.
    7: Eat saturated fats. (cholesterol is important for healthy kidneys)
    8: Consider fasting for better health. (a study found if people fasted 1 day a month, they were 40% less likely to suffer from clogged arteries)
    9: Going organic won't help lose weight. (yes it helps avoid pesticides & toxins which is important, but not all organic foods are weight loss friendly. high calorie or high sugar is still bad whether organic or not)
    10: There is no such thing as too much protein. Just keep an eye on calories.

    Just to be clear, are these the rules we should be not doing, or what Shape magazine tells us we should be doing?

    Incredibly confusing.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    10 diet rules that we had wrong (backed by science & featured in shape magazine):
    1: You CAN skip breakfast if you want.
    2: It's OK to eat a big dinner. (you have a calorie limit. if you don't go over, then it doesn't matter when during the day you have more calories for a meal.
    3: Snacking does NOT affect metabolism. (no evidence of improved weight loss by eating smaller, more frequent meals)
    4: Eat carbs to get lean. (avoid processed carbs. get them from whole foods such as fruit & veggies)
    5: There is a weight loss pill worth buying. Vitamin D3.
    6: Exercise on an empty stomach.
    7: Eat saturated fats. (cholesterol is important for healthy kidneys)
    8: Consider fasting for better health. (a study found if people fasted 1 day a month, they were 40% less likely to suffer from clogged arteries)
    9: Going organic won't help lose weight. (yes it helps avoid pesticides & toxins which is important, but not all organic foods are weight loss friendly. high calorie or high sugar is still bad whether organic or not)
    10: There is no such thing as too much protein. Just keep an eye on calories.
    For you.
  • michail71
    michail71 Posts: 120 Member
    Because I surely am not going to try to eat more saturated fats? I think almost everyone gets enough of those to keep their kidneys healthy.

    Not if they are eating egg whites only, using margarine in place of butter, drinking skim milk, eating a plethera of "fat-free" foods and only eating chicken & fish, then no they probably aren't getting enough.

    That describes the way everyone was eating in the 80s.

    Word. But some (ok quite a few) people are still in the 80s. Thanks to their doctors still being there.

    I think that's why so many of us who were children back then have hormonal issues today. Diets that were low fat, high carb, hydrogenated oils, etc.
  • michail71
    michail71 Posts: 120 Member

    Incredibly confusing.

    Basically:

    Meal timing and frequency do not matter.
    Weight is Calories in minus Calories out.
    Fat isn't bad
    Keep you macronutrients balanced