the 3 most common false beliefs that prevent you from losing weight, according to a dietitian

In his book Happy Diet, the caring method for building a balanced dietthe dietitian nutritionist Claire Trommenschlager shares his tips for losing weight without dieting. With a very caring approach, she explains the basics of nutrition and the keys to creating balanced dishes. The expert also shares a wide series of recipes and menus, very simple to make, for lasting weight loss.

The dietitian also reminds us that certain preconceived ideas can slow down weight loss; notably poor knowledge of nutritional intake. Because, let’s remember, to lose weight it is essential to be in a calorie deficit, that is to say, to spend more calories than we consume through food. And, in most cases, weight loss is hampered by a lack of knowledge of your real caloric intake: “In most cases this is a poor estimate of your contributions and/or your expenses” underlines the expert. Daily caloric intakes which can be inflated by the consumption of certain foods, deemed “healthy” or “healthy”. Here are some examples.

“Healthy” foods are not always low in calories

As the dietitian-nutritionist reminds us, a “healthy” food does not mean a low-calorie food. A healthy food is “a raw, minimally processed food whose composition provides health benefits”.

Some of these healthy foods are very high in sugar or fat and must be eaten in reasonable proportions. This is particularly the case of avocado, oilseeds, honey or peanut butter. If you consume this type of food (although very rich in vitamins and micronutrients of interest to the body) in large quantities, you will inevitably gain weight.

Not all plant or vegan foods are dietary

Vegetarian and vegan foods are increasingly present on supermarket shelves. These are often meat and cheese substitutes but also plant-based drinks, whose packaging and slick marketing can give the impression that they are lighter, lower in calories and better for your health. But it’s not always the case. “Many of these products are ultra-processed and havereduced in fat and/or sugar” underlines the dietitian-nutritionist.

To avoid pitfalls, monitor the composition of the vegetarian and vegan products you buy in supermarkets, and in particular the balance between the different macronutrients. Pay attention to the quantities of lipids and carbohydrates, sometimes higher than the protein content of the product! As a reminder, many plant-based and unprocessed foods are very rich in protein, such as lentils and certain grains.

Organic foods do not make you lose weight

“The amalgamation is quickly made between organic, light and healthy foods” explains the expert. Although a diet consisting of organically grown foods will always be better for your health, this does not mean that it will make you lose weight. Organic foods, if consumed in too large quantities, will make you gain weight in the same way as a burger or a pizza.

A study also reveals that our relationship with food is not the same when we eat organic or “healthy” food: “It has been demonstrated that we tend to overconsume a food considered healthydue to a form of guilt and an impression of less nourishing food as shown by a 2015 American study published in the Journal of Consumer Research”.

Head of beauty/fitness/nutrition sections

After working for the Marie Claire and Prisma Media groups, Inès arrived at aufeminin in April 2022. Responsible for the beauty, fitness and nutrition sections, she likes to decipher the latest…