It still amazes me at the variance of weight loss beliefs and the sheer conviction many people have in what they believe.

Most of these beliefs are not founded on anything more than a vague intuition or outright nonsense. A lot of it doesn't make any sense at all, and that is the reason why my dietitian friend has crafted a narrative around prison time when asked about her profession.

These weight-loss myths come from years of propaganda, false claims, mainstream media, family, community, religion, and everything in between. Although these beliefs still astound me, I understand where they come from and why they exist.

Social Conformity

As humans, we are hardwired to fit in. That is why we think junk food is "normal" and healthy food is "abnormal." We think going on a diet is a temporary endeavor until we succeed and get to return to our normal dietary eating patterns, or most likely, we fail and get to return to our normal dietary eating patterns. Most people worldwide struggle with weight, and most are willing to join the crowd.

Appeal to Experts

Following the nutrition expert in today's landscape is a frivolous exercise without some time in the trenches learning and unlearning the foundational principles. We generally fall into traps based on personal preferences or what we already believe to be true about nutrition. If you think carbs are bad, the Liver King's core message may sound less crazy to you than it would to others.

"You should, however, keep in mind that some of the worst advice in our field has been given by people with some of the best bodies, and experts are not always correct." — Tom Venuto

Many simply believe someone with a great body knows what they are talking about. However, they probably just know what works for them and their specific environmental, social, and physiological factors. This is why the best coaches look to co-create a solution with their clients because each person brings to the table a unique set of circumstances and requires a unique solution based on the foundational principles.

Anecdotal Evidence

Similar to how we appeal to experts, we often fall for anecdotal evidence, which can be nothing more than hearsay. "My friend lost 40 lbs. using a low-carb diet" is something you may commonly hear. "My friend is one of the best trainers in the area, and he says that you should always do cardio before lifting weights." Most likely hearsay but anecdotal at best. Tom Venuto, the real deal expert that wrote the book on body fat, notes that anecdotal evidence is commonly used as testimonials, which is a powerful persuasion tool.

"Anecdotal evidence in the form of endorsements or testimonials is used in almost every advertisement because it's such a powerful persuasion tool." — Tom Venuto

Tom also wrote about the prevalence of "fakes" in the industry, common in commercials and miraculous transformations. Don't fall for the sensationalization of certain products, methods, or "secret" sauce techniques. Sometimes trainers have great energy and personalities that help to build connections and foster adherence. It's the great personality that helps to produce success, not a pre-packaged secret formula or never-seen-before underground technique. Be on the lookout for all-or-nothing training and nutrition plans or absolute thinking, which is unnecessary for weight loss and difficult to sustain long-term.

Appeal to Tradition

If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you always got — a simple lesson in the power of tradition and how we fall into these habitual cycles. Tradition is a powerful life shaper and should not be ignored regarding weight loss. Unfortunately, many traditional foods are unhealthy and come from a time when food was less prevalent and activity was higher overall. Traditional foods are delicious, full of starch, sugar, and fat. They also bring back great memories and make us feel more wholesome (comfort food). It's important to recognize our patterns of thinking and to question some of our deeply held beliefs.

Key Message: We are all susceptible to all or any of these weight loss myths. The only way to overcome them is to remain vigilant and put relentless pressure on becoming better at the skill of nutrition.

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