Belly Fat Myths

If you’re trying to get in shape, you have a lot to compete with. Your primary opponent is, of course, yourself. You need to kick your own butt, you need to get up the will, the perseverance to really go for it, and you need to try your best. But beyond just conquering yourself, you also have to compete with a LOT of misinformation. In bodybuilding, there’s the myth of “expanding the rib cage”, and in weight loss, there’s probably more misinformation (some of it quite dangerous) than in any other subject when it comes to getting in shape. Here are 5 belly fat myths that people can’t seem to get enough of perpetuating.

All Protein Dieting Works

It really doesn’t. In fact, not only does it not really work, it can put your health at risk. There are no miracle diets. There is proper dieting, sure, there is drinking more water, working out and putting the pedal to the metal when it comes to crunches and sit ups, but any radical diet should be discussed with one’s physician, and they’ll probably tell you to just follow the pyramid.

Colon Therapy Does The Trick

Colonics are really no different from enemas. If you have a lot of blockage, if you don’t eat enough fiber, this can help you get rid of the compacted waste in your colon, but it’s not the miracle alternative to working out that some people seem to think. If you just eat enough fiber and drink plenty of water, you shouldn’t need colon therapy in the first place, so, again, just follow a proper diet, because an enema is a health TREATMENT, not an alternative to exercise and healthy eating.

It’s Just Water Retention

Okay, there is such a thing as bloating, but nine times out of ten, you’ve got a bit of a tummy because you don’t drink ENOUGH water, not because you drink too much. Belly fat is belly fat, bloating is bloating. Bloating will be accompanied by discomfort, gas and indigestion, it doesn’t just add ten pounds to the scale.

You Should Do Crunches Every Day

Well, some people can do crunches every day, but the fact is that for most of us it’s better to do them every OTHER day. After a hard workout, your body needs no less than forty eight hours to recuperate. It’s actually during this time that you become stronger as your muscles rebuild themselves after the tearing and stretching of the crunches. You should really push yourself when you do your crunches, but on every other day you should try running or biking to work out the other muscle groups, instead.

And Finally: You Can Sweat It Off

Sweating means that you’re working out, but it doesn’t mean that you’re losing weight. Sweat suits don’t really do you any favors if you’re not actually doing the work. How does your body get rid of extra fat? Well, first, it eats it up during the work out, since fat is where extra energy is stored, and then, you pee it out. After that fat is burned away, what’s left goes straight to the bladder.

If you’re interested in losing belly fat, check out these two programs that teach you how to get those six pack abs, Truth About Abs  and The Belly Fat Cure.