With the number of dieting practices and suggestions that we get from television, from different dieticians or from our friends, we cannot blame ourselves when we happen to try one or two that we realize in the end is totally ineffective. Sometimes, some people are so desperate to lose those extra pounds that they would try anything just to help them lose weight.

So if you want to make it right this time, read on and get the real score of the four most common dieting myths we usually hear today. Are they truth or just mere fiction? Let's go and find out!

Myth # 1: High fat food can make you gain weight faster.

• The verdict: FICTION

• Naturally, just like losing weight, gaining them is also a slow process. So if you have eaten a lot of high calorie foods for this meal, you don't have to feel guilty for the rest of the day. It would need you 3500 calories to be able to gain a pound of body fat. So the only way you can gain weight is if you take high calorie meals for a prolonged period of time. And if you do not pair this with the vegetable and fruits in your diet and regular exercise, then you will definitely see yourself gain weight over time.

Myth # 2: Metabolism slows down at night so one should avoid eating late in the evening.

• The verdict: FICTION

• Eating larger meals during the day and smaller meals at night does not necessarily mean more fat is burned or vice versa. The only amount that matters is what you eat within a 24 hour period. What you need to keep in mind is that eating irregular meals can increase your appetite beyond the normal and thus help you gain weight even more. So try not to skip meals and take them in equal amounts to avoid unexpected hunger pangs and food cravings that will cause you to eat more than the usual.

Myth # 3: Fasting can help you lose weight fast.

• The verdict: FACT

• Yes, fasting can definitely help you lose weight. BUT BEWARE. Crash dieting can lead to serious health problems. When you barely eat during the day, you deprive your body of essential nutrients and minerals that it needs to maintain its function. No food means no energy. Crash dieting is a very dangerous way of losing weight and should never be an option

Myth # 4: The amount of food you take in could affect your rate of metabolism.

• The verdict: FACT

• This is one of the most important things dieters need to keep in mind. Your body is a very intelligent machine. When it is only given a very limited amount food, it slows down its metabolism rate in order to conserve what little it is receiving. So that means, if you eat very small and unhealthy amounts of servings per day, then this is not actually helping you lose weight. As your body adjust and slows down, even small amounts of food will take a long time to be consumed by the body.

In order to effectively lose weight, you have to be as informed as you can about your body and what you are eating. So dieters, keep all of this information in mind so that you will never have to be misled again.