Frequently Asked Questions
Questions and answers regarding Weight
Q: Why do my muscles get sore?
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Q: Low-fat vs low-carb? Major study concludes: it doesn’t matter for weight loss
A: A year-long randomized clinical trial (DIETFITS) has found that a low-fat diet and a low-carb diet produced similar weight loss and improvements in metabolic health markers. Furthermore, insulin production and tested genes had no impact on predicting weight loss success or failure. Thus, evidence to date indicates you should choose your diet based on personal preferences, health goals, and sustainability.
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Q: Can hypothyroidism lead to fat gain?
A: Yes, a less active thyroid will reduce metabolic rate and can cause some weight gain. It is not a lot of weight gain though, and a subactive thyroid is not an excuse for obesity (if hypothyroidic, please see a doctor for medication; it burns fat)
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Q: My muscles are not sore after a workout. Am I working out hard enough?
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Q: Does aspartame increase appetite?
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Q: How do I stay out of "starvation mode?"
A: Marasmus is a disease of caloric restriction, but you most likely don't have it. Your metabolic rate can definitely slow down during weight loss, but it will never slow to the point where it causes you to gain weight; in this sense, starvation mode is a myth.
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Q: Measuring body fat percentage: It's an accuracy thing
A: Comparing DEXA versus Bod Pod for people with different BMI.
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Q: Is my “slow metabolism” stalling my weight loss?
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Q: Does eating at night make it more likely to gain weight?
A: While the evidence is mixed, depending on who was studied and what the diets were, there does not seem to be a major inherent weight-gain effect when eating late at night. Individual results may vary, and other factors such as circadian rhythms should be considered as well.
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Q: Will doing chest exercises make my breasts look "perkier?"
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Q: The lowdown on intermittent fasting
A: We analyze the research on intermittent fasting and how it impacts your health.
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Q: Does diet soda inhibit fat loss?
A: It does not inhibit fat loss at all, and may actually suppress appetite that could help fat loss (although it does not induce fat loss per se either). Diet soda, in regards to body fat, is a carbonated inert beverage
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Q: What are the benefits of resistance training?
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Q: Detoxes: an undefined scam
A: Detox diets and cleanses promise to 'eliminate harmful toxins' and basically cure what ails you. Yet detox diets are not supported by either toxicological mechanisms or trial evidence, and can occasionally be dangerous.
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Q: How do I get a six-pack?
A: You eat less food to reduce body fat. There will be abdominal muscles under the fat, and adding some muscle to this area (resistance training) can make them appear more aesthetic; fat loss is the main predictor, however
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Q: Will my breasts shrink with weight loss?
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Q: How does protein affect weight loss?
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Q: What should I eat for weight loss?
A: When it comes to weight loss, the most important factor is eating less. When you consume less calories than you spend you will lose weight and the diet that helps you lose weight best will be the one that allows you to consume less calories without causing much distress or lethargy.
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Q: I am a female. Will lifting heavy weights make me bulky?
A: While lifting weights will increase muscle, the rate is slow enough and androgens limited enough to not make you appear too 'bulky'.
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Q: Will lifting weights convert my fat into muscle?
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Q: Is weight lifting bad for kids?
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Q: How do I lose fat around my belly?
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Q: Does high-protein intake help when dieting?
A: We analyze a study which suggests that a higher protein-intake while dieting can help you lose more fat.
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Q: Whey vs soy protein: which is better when losing weight?
A: Whey protein stimulates muscle protein synthesis rates more than soy protein, but supplementing with ~25 grams per day of either has similar effects on body composition over two weeks of dieting.
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Q: How important is sleep?
A: Sleep is incredibly important, and can be considered crucial alongside diet and exercise. Proper sleep habits help sustain many biological processes, and bad sleep can cause these processes to be suboptimal or even malfunction.
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Q: Will my breasts shrink if I lift weights?
Read full answer to "Will my breasts shrink if I lift weights?"
Q: How to minimize fat gain during the holidays
A: Holiday season is when most people gain weight (and then struggle to take it off). Overfeeding on protein could be your solution in helping minimize the fat gain.
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Q: Does resistance training work for the elderly?
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Q: I have lost significant weight and now have loose skin. How can I tighten up my skin?
Read full answer to "I have lost significant weight and now have loose skin. How can I tighten up my skin?"
Q: Is it really that bad to skip breakfast?
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