Diets: Lies and Truths

In the desperation to lose weight for that upcoming beach trip, vacation, or wedding, one can fall into deception and lies. The absolute truth about diets is that there are no lasting shortcuts; you must learn how to eat and what is best for your body if you want to drop sizes and stay healthy.   To give you a push in the right direction, here are some myths and realities about the art of weight loss:   Myth: “If I ate well today, I can treat myself to a dessert.” Truth: Wrong! If you really want your diet to work, you cannot mix sweet foods after a savory meal. When the stomach is digesting, it uses the calories you have in reserve, and this helps in losing weight. If you make it easier by consuming chocolate, then that fat reserve remains intact instead of being burned.   Myth: “If I eat less, I will gain less weight.” Truth: That’s not the case; the body needs the energy from five balanced meals a day if you want to lose weight. Denying the body food leaves it without energy and is dangerous for health. Also, remember that the stomach is made of muscles that also need to be exercised constantly to stay in shape.   Myth: “If I eat something after 8:00 PM, I will gain double the weight.” Truth: Of course not. It is true that digestion slows down at night, but that doesn't mean the ingredients magically double their caloric load. The idea is to have a balanced dinner and try to eat well during the day to avoid cravings or excessive hunger at night.   Myth: “The best diet is the one in which I lose weight quickly.” Truth: That’s not true. Quick-fix diets tend to make you lose water and then muscle mass, not fat. This can be dangerous as it decreases body hydration and strength. The best diets are those that include a balanced diet and gradually reduce fats. I know this sounds more tedious, but think of it as an investment; if you maintain muscle and let go of fat, you will stay at your ideal weight for much longer.   Myth: “The less I weigh, the better.” Truth: This is not a golden rule. An example is women who engage in high-impact sports like CrossFit. Their regular routine tends to cause muscle gain and fat loss. Since muscle weighs more than fat, a scale will show an increase in weight when in reality their appearance and health improve. The idea is to focus more on sizes and looks rather than weight; a scale only tells you in kilograms but not in progress.   Myth: “All fast food makes you gain weight.” Truth: It is a reality that fast food has more saturated fats, but it is not a rule that it harms you if consumed in a balanced and responsible way. On the flip side, we can see natural and organic foods; they sound zero-calorie, but it all depends on the type of food. For instance, a salad with chicken from a fast-food restaurant will weigh less than an organic peanut butter sandwich.   Myth: “Beer makes you gain weight.” Truth: No, beer makes you gain weight in excess in the same way that eating ten apples will provide you with too much sugar. In fact, a beer during meals aids digestion due to its components like malt and barley. It’s a matter of quantity and responsibility.   Myth: “Drinking hot water helps with weight loss.” Truth: False, a diet depends solely on how many calories are consumed and how many of these are burned. Although there are ingredients like coffee that speed up digestion, drinking hot water or tea does not help when trying to lose weight.   We recommend the following menus Light Food That Doesn’t Seem Light No one will believe it's a light menu! This menu eliminates all the calories from your plate but includes all the delicious flavors of a spinach soup, breaded chicken, and mashed potatoes. To see the full menu, click here.   Healthy and Low-Fat Food Enjoy this combination of flavors and creativity without including all the calories. Shrimp in a delicious mango sauce and tasty tomatoes stuffed with couscous. To see the complete menu, click here.   To learn about Kiwilimón diets, click here. What diet works for you?