Dieting myths may cause you to have a diet experience that could have been more successful or gone better if  you didn’t fall for the myth in the first place. So it is clear that in order to have an effective diet journey that you have to identify and avoid myths. But most of these myths disguise themselves; it makes it difficult to recognize them. To help you to do that, we will look at the top 10 dieting myths:

1. There has to be a severe calorie restriction

Severe calorie restriction will give you quick weight loss, but that weight loss is almost always short lived.

2. The diet has to be very low in fat

Diets very low in fat can leave you forgetful and cranky. All you need a diet that is low in fat – you still need a fair amount of good fat in your diet.

3. The only good protein is tofu

Any good quality, lean protein can be included in a weight loss diet and it isn’t limited to just tofu.

4. The diet must work in less than 3 weeks

The length of the diet doesn’t influence the success you will have with it. Although diets where you lose the weight slower, tend to keep the weight off longer.

5. You should avoid eating after 6

Eating after 6 won’t make you gain any weight, it is the total amount of calories that you have consumed that matters.

6. Carbs are the enemy and should be avoided

Carbs are not the enemy; it will give you all day energy and will also help keep you full. The trick is to know what carbs to eat and what carbs to avoid and also to stick to the right portion sizes. For help with portion sizes, use a digital electronic scale – it will make it so much easier.

7. When you diet you don’t have to exercise

It is true that not all diets recommend exercise, but with a normal balanced diet exercise will only do you good. Invest in some discount home fitness equipment – you can even make your own home gym and get a great workout at home.

8. The best way to lose weight is by eating only once or twice a day

Doing that will slow down your metabolism and a slow metabolism will make it difficult to lose weight.

9. Vegetarian is one of the best ways to lose weight

You can lose a fair amount of weight on a vegetarian diet, but I wouldn’t say that it is the best way to do so.

10. I have to feel hungry on a diet

Lots of successful diets keep you full all day while you also lose weight, you just have to find the right one for you.

Hopefully you are now armed with the right ammunition to stop diet myths in their traps. If you do, they will no longer have a hold on your diet success. You will have a happier and a more effective diet journey with no myth in sight.

Eating out healthy doesn’t have to be bland or boring. You can enjoy your dinner away from home while also getting in a meal that is healthy and waistline friendly. The trick however is to know what to choose and what to ditch. Here I will give you great examples as to how you can do that.

When you are ordering red meat

Choose: Fillet Beef (200g), Vegetables or salad an/or baked potato, and/or a non creamy low-fat sauce (like soy or peri-peri)

The cut of meat makes a big difference toward the fat content. Fillet steak is lower in fat than most steaks and combining it with vegetables or salad ensures that you get all your vitamins in while keeping you full.

Ditch: A huge rump steak with potato fries and a creamy sauce

Rump is one of those cuts that are higher in fat and combining it with a creamy sauce and fries will increase the fat content even more.

When you are having Pizza (Italian)

Choose: Thin based pizza with vegetable toppings

Choosing a thin base pizza with vegetables will cut back on fat, carbs and calories – ensuring that you stay (or get) lean.

Ditch: Thick base meat and cheese pizza

If you go for the thicker base with meat and cheese toppings, you will take in a lot of fat and carbs. So if you are watching our figure, limit the meat and cheese.

When you are having Seafood

Choose: Lean sushi or steamed/grilled seafood

Steaming and grilling food makes for a much lower fat content and choosing sushi is always a good idea as it is some of the healthiest and leanest meals there is.

Ditch: Deep fried fish, with lemon butter or a creamy-mayo dressing

Deep frying food increases the fat content drastically and adding lemon butter will o even more so. Rather opt for something grilled or steamed and skip the creamy sauce.

And when you feel like pigging out and eating that cheat meal at the restaurant, just counter it with lots of exercise like weight training or cardio. Weight training is most helpful because it burns fat and build muscle. If you are using a gym, do a free weights workout. And when you are training from home, use the powerblock adjustable dumbbells.

So you can see that eating out can both be very healthy and delicious while being friendly on your waistline. It is just a matter of knowing what makes for better food choices. Luckily or you the recommended meals will give you a good idea of what to order for dinner tonight.