10 Weight-Loss Myths You Should Stop Believing

[LedMatrix]

These are popular myths people tend to believe. #4 is my pet peeve because of the amount of bad advice I see here. People need to realize that you can lose weight and/or be at a "good weight" but STILL be very unhealthy due to the terrible "diet" someone recommends. 500-1000 a day and detox diets spring to mind.

That being said, here are 10 Weight-Loss Myths You Should Stop Believing

[LedMatrix]

@divedragon - I appreciate the offer, but I couldn't be less interested.

[OCDOC]

I don't think anybody would suggest LCHF or IF for 'everybody'. Healthy people with normal insulin responses and sensitivity can eat 3 squares (or more) of basically anything and stay mesomorphic.

However, serious obesity is a serious problem, and decades of 'eat less exercise more' have failed..at best there is a 3-4 month 'improvement', then things rebound..often worse than before. Insulin resistance is the main issue. Years of over-flooding the body with crappy carbs (and excess protein) wrecks the normal homeostasis. 'Eat less exercise more' is insufficient to correct the underlying hormonal imbalances, even with months of ELEM.

There are indeed clinics where carb control (ie carbs in the form of healthy veg) combined with carefully planned IF are the mainstays of therapy. Over time, the weight comes down AND the Insulin response and sensitivity normalizes. Some people get 'cured' of their T2DM.

Again, nobody would ever suggest that LCHF/IF is for everybody. However, obese people with messed up Insulin homeostasis are trying it, and many are having amazing results. I won't be surprised at all if this becomes 'standard' treatment for obesity/T2DM within 10 years. 

PS I remember the hullabaloo when researchers first suggested that peptic ulcers were caused by bacteria (H. pylorii). Ridicule, outrage, etc. Now it is 'common knowledge'. 

[Corney]

I would like those who believe in fasting and/or IF to think long and hard and tell me why they started it, how long they have been on it, do they think it will make them healthier and/or fitter, if so why?

[divedragon]

Sure.  I've been actually doing it since 1 Oct 15 after a couple of weeks of study.  I started it for a combination of reasons.

1) Weight loss - mine had stalled.

2) Evidence it slows and/or prevents age related cognitive disease.

3) Reduced insulin/ increase insulin sensitivity

4) Increased growth hormone production

5) increased stem cell production

6) Increase autophagy

7) increase HDL and larger partical size LDL.

😎 lower blood pressure

For all of these reason, I believe it will and has made me healthier and it hasn't hurt along with exercise in making me fitter.  My mood since I've been doing it has been more consistent, especially in light of the status of my current work situation which is a very high pressure time.  I had IBS when I began IF and it has completely resolved.  I had acid reflux which also has completely resolved.  In the gym, I'm lifting 35% more volume than I did when I started and jogging further and faster.  When I do eat, the food taste so much better!!!!

The research into this has become a hobby, so in the evenings I spend time searching for additional information.  I've just found another protocol which Mimicks the effects of fasting and its termed Fast Mimicking Diet.  It was developed by a team at USC's Longevity Center by a Biochemist, Dr. Valter D. Longo and just completed clinical trials and they are seeking additional approval from the FDA as a medical protocol.  The essence of the diet is for 5 days at a time done either monthly or quarterly, you eat no more than 700 calories comprised of 9% protien, 45%fat and 46% carbs.  This will give the same benefits as a water fast and is easier to maintain since you get some food.  This protocol was NOT designed for weight loss, but rather for health and includes all the benifits I listed for my reasons to try it.

They also tested this on cancer patients undergoing chemo and found they tolerated the treatment much better.  They cannot say yet, legally, if it may actually prevent or help in the actual treatment of cancer and that is part of what they are seeking from the FDA based on the clinical trials.  It does; however, make sense given what I know about cancer.  It feeds on glucose so fasting removes most of the glucose and replaces it with ketone which are not well tolerated by cancer cells.  The process of autophagy would help to elimnate the damaged cells that are cancer, now weakened.  Other cells go into a stress induced, non-replicating state, making them stronger.

So in my research, I am finding more and more to collaborate the findings of others and these finding are all clinical, not corralations.  New studies are underway or just being completed and even the preliminary results look promising.  I'm excited and even only 25% the benefits indicated happen, it's well worth it.

---

@Corney wrote:

I would like those who believe in fasting and/or IF to think long and hard and tell me why they started it, how long they have been on it, do they think it will make them healthier and/or fitter, if so why?

---