Lean Lies: Don't Believe These Weight Loss Myths

We debunk the biggest diet and lifestyle fads.

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Don’t Believe the Hype! - Losing weight and getting healthy isn’t easy. It can actually be the hardest thing that we may ever do in our lives. But what also makes it hard is the gang of misinformation out there about how to lose weight properly. Watch us debunk the top weight loss myths. —Kellee Terrell(Photo: Getty Images/Image Source)

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Myth: To Lose Weight, I Have to Give Up Everything I Love - No, you can’t gorge on fried foods and fast food every day and expect to lose weight. You have to make sacrifices — cooking differently and eating  differently — but that doesn’t mean that you can never have pie or fries again. It’s all about moderation. (Photo: Picturenet/GettyImages)

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Myth: Cardio Is All I Need - Cardio is great for your heart and burning fat, but it isn’t all you need. Lifting weights and/or doing strength training are good for building muscle and toning, which also can burn fat and calories while you are resting. (Photo: Diane Collins and Jordan Hollend/Getty Images)

Myth: Weight Loss Pills Work - While Alli is the only FDA-approved weight loss pill on the market right now, most of the over-the-counter shakes, pills and drinks are not safe or effective in losing weight. Most of them contain ingredients that can really harm you. We recommend healthy eating and exercise to lose weight.(Photo: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

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Myth: Weight Loss Pills Work - While Alli is the only FDA-approved weight loss pill on the market right now, most of the over-the-counter shakes, pills and drinks are not safe or effective in losing weight. Most of them contain ingredients that can really harm you. We recommend healthy eating and exercise to lose weight.(Photo: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Myth: I Can't Eat Carbs - Eating a low-carb diet may shed pounds in the short term, but eating less than 130 grams of carbs a day can cause health problems. You need good carbs such as brown rice, whole grains, oatmeal and fruits and veggies to have a balanced and healthy diet. FYI: Try cutting out carbs made of white flour. (Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

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Myth: I Can't Eat Carbs - Eating a low-carb diet may shed pounds in the short term, but eating less than 130 grams of carbs a day can cause health problems. You need good carbs such as brown rice, whole grains, oatmeal and fruits and veggies to have a balanced and healthy diet. FYI: Try cutting out carbs made of white flour. (Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

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Myth: Everything Low-Fat Is Great - Cutting down fatty foods is important to losing weight, but beware of foods with low-fat labels. Most times they are loaded with extra sugar and sodium to make up for taste, so make sure to read those labels. (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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Myth: Everything Low-Fat Is Great - Cutting down fatty foods is important to losing weight, but beware of foods with low-fat labels. Most times they are loaded with extra sugar and sodium to make up for taste, so make sure to read those labels. (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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Myth: You Need a Trainer to Lose Weight - I lost 25 pounds all by myself. I did a lot of research on eating better, strength training moves and worked out five days a week. So no, you don’t need an expensive trainer to have real results. But if you are someone who has little fitness literacy and need someone to push you, a trainer might be a good idea. (Photo: St. Louis Post-Dispatch/MCT /Landov)

Easy (and Healthy) Soul Food Recipes - In honor of Byron Hurt’s new documentary, Soul Food Junkies, debuting on PBS on Jan. 14, PBS.org has come up with some healthy recipes to adopt in the new year. Try their Smoked Paprika Chicken or their Citrus Collard Greens With Raisins. You can even send your own recipe in.  (Photo: Grand Rapids Press /Landov)

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Myth: Skipping Meals Will Help - While cutting calories is important to losing weight, skipping meals is the not the way to go. Doing this can trick your body into thinking its starving and trigger hormones that can make you actually gain weight. To lose weight, you have to eat three balanced meals and 2-3 snacks per day. (Photo: Grand Rapids Press /Landov )

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Myth: Trendy Diets Keep Weight Off for Good - Fad diets like Atkins, the cabbage soup diet, going gluten-free, etc., may help you lose weight now, but it won’t last. It’s not about going on a diet, it’s about having a balanced diet consisting mostly of lean proteins, whole grains, fruits, vegetables and healthy oils. That never goes out of style. (Photo: agcuesta/GettyI mages)

You Are Self Medicating - Drinking, smoking, eating or gambling might make you feel better in the short term, but they won’t solve the problems that are driving you to escape, and might even make them worse.  (Photo: Camarena/Image Source/Corbis)

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Myth: You Cannot Eat Past Eight - It doesn’t really matter what time of day you eat. It’s all about how many calories and what kinds of food you are eating. So if your 9 p.m. dinner is relatively healthy, that’s all that matters. But it’s recommended that you don’t eat right before bed, only because you won’t have a chance to burn any of those calories. (Photo: Camarena/Image Source/Corbis)