Did you know google processes 8.5 billion searches A DAY! A day! No wonder people are confused about diet and fitness. There’s almost too much information available to you. It’s hard to know what to do to get lean and feel better in your body. As a Certified Coach, I hear it from so many clients. They are confused and overwhelmed by the conflicting fitness and nutrition information. Plus, they are tired. Really darn tired of feeling sick and tired. 

How about you? Can you relate? 

The truth is, we’ve been following outdated nutrition and fitness advice that isn’t helping us get lean and healthy. Instead, it’s making things worse. Four in 10 Americans are considered obese. And obesity rates continue to climb nationwide. 

Here are 5 myths you need to ditch to fight obesity. 

Myth: Eating fat causes you to gain fat. 

Fact: Fat is one of the three essential macronutrients your body uses for energy. Would you believe that people used to eat more fat than they do now? And obesity rates were so much lower! You need fat in your food plan. Fat is necessary for hormone production, helps your body absorb essential vitamins, and is vital for cell growth and development. Not to mention, eating fat helps you feel full and satisfied. The truth is if you are gaining weight, you need to look at your overall consumption of food, not just fat. 

Myth: Carbs make you fat. 

Fact: You can probably guess it’s not the carbs per se that are causing that fluff around your middle. Again, you need to make sure you aren’t eating too many overall calories. You need healthy carbs, especially if you are a busy mom who’s exercising. Carbs are another energy source for your body. Carbohydrates fuel your muscles, help your brain function, and, goodness, are pretty tasty too! Now, refined carbs like candy and sugary drinks aren’t your friend. It’s easy to overeat these processed foods, which aren’t adding much nutritionally to your diet. Best to eat them only on occasion. But girl, you don’t have to fear all the carbs if you want to get lean. You just need to know how to consume them strategically. Check out my guide on Fasting and Carb Cycling to learn more.

Myth: Do more cardio if you want to lose weight.

Fact: Do you have visions of your mama in her hot pink leotard and neon green leg warmers running off to jazzercise class or sweating in your living room with Richard Simmons (on DVD)!?! Or maybe you were a runner through college and could quickly drop a few pounds if you upped your activity level. Cardio IS good for your heart. Moving more does help with mobility and flexibility. But, if you want to slim down, you need to hop off the treadmill and begin doing more resistance exercises. Muscle burns more calories than fat, up to three times more. Your muscles are fat-burning machines. The more muscle you have, the more calories you’ll burn. Adding weight training can boost your metabolism by up to 5 percent, according to one study! Not sure where to start? Check out my at-home workout guide. 

Myth: Eat small, frequent meals for good health.

Fact: Studies show mixed results, and it’s unclear if eating more frequent meals helps you lose fat better. Again, we’re back at the TOTAL number of calories you consume as the indicator if you gain or lose weight. Some people can unintentionally overeat if they are eating multiple times per day. Plus, there’s research that FASTING from time to time is beneficial and can improve your health. 

Myth: You need to be perfect to be fit and healthy.

Fact: Perfectionists, beware. Your all-or-nothing mindset is getting in the way of your success. Have you ever started a diet only to make a mistake and think, “Oh well, I’ll just start again on Monday.” Oops, do you see? The break you took because you weren’t perfect actually stopped your progress. To be fit and healthy, you need to chase imperfect action instead. Decide to be just a little bit better than the day before. Some days will be better than others. You’ll reach your goal if you just don’t quit on yourself. 

If you want to cut through the online noise and have a step-by-step plan with proven strategies to improve your nutrition and fitness, join my next 6-week bootcamp!