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Showing posts with label crash diets. Show all posts
Showing posts with label crash diets. Show all posts

Wednesday, 27 May 2015

The Big Fat Lies

You want to lose weight to stay  healthy? Just re-frame the question..do you want to gain health to stay happy? Most people today  Google  for the former issue more!



                              If it was just this easy to lose weight 'online',then believe me nutrition and dietary sciences will never have any existence.But when the weight-loss bug bites in the battle begins with a lot of homework on what to eat and not, then a series of exercise routines. There are also some great believable crash diets that promise more than they can in reducing the extra flab. All continue until, they hit a road block with  a point of no return. 
                     Most of them gain more weight than before.Some just have fallen off the cart with more burden on their health.So let us see some 'Big' fat lies that seems to be cheating all. 

Crash Dieting:
Simple, a crash diet is nutritionally imbalanced. It will lead you into troubles more than one. Eating one of those diets with only fruits, vegetables or juices can be detrimental to your health. You might lose some kilos here and there but it drains you of all the reserved energy and nourishment.

Missing meals:
The most common myth is that missing meals can reduce weight. But it is actually other way round. It puts on weight and leads to you into obesity. If you miss one meal you then you tend to binge the next but might not burn the food you ate that is converted in to more fat. Always remember break-fast is a must. Every big meal should comprise at least 2 servings of complex carbs.

Dieting with ‘Sugar-free’ foods:


The most dangerous myth about dieting is to go on Sugar-free beverages, sweets and artificial sweeteners  for weight loss.But all these contain Aspartame which can kill your heart’s health and in the long run invite Lifestyle disorders affecting you. It is better if you could use healthier sweeteners like Palm sugar, Agave sugar or honey instead .

Going without fat:
A little fat is good for you. A total fat-free diet cannot reduce kilos in a big way. It is important to have foods with good fats like omega fatty acids and MUFA. Nuts like walnut, Avocado and olive oil are sources of good fats.

Curbing cravings
Another weight loss myth is to resist cravings .Whenever you are tempted to eat your favourite food, just go for it. But have small portion of the same. If cravings exceed too much then it will surely have a bad effect on your weight loss program.

Eating Diet pills/One meal supplements:
There is no single food or magic potions that will lead you to weight loss. All are either gimmicks or quacks setting you up. Never go on them. A healthy lifestyle with sensible eating can do the wonder! Food supplements are very dangerous in the long run. They can lead to hormonal complications in your body. Never go for short –cuts.

Keeping yourself away from favorite fast foods:

Well not works always.But fortunately most fast foods are not part of our culture.So the only threat is o of craving for these foods as an alternative or a change.Just learn to make wise choice on menu cards and share a plate with your friend.

All carbs are bad:

Never think that all carbs are bad.Unrefined cereals and legumes are best form of healthy carbs.But it seen that people avoiding all types of carbs to reduce weight.It is importnat to note that when a diet is devoid of carbs you lose some amazing nutrients that help you  to lead a healthy life.

Magic foods to burn the calories:

There is no magic bullet foods that can burn extra calories.Nothing works best other than exercises.
So never fall prey to such products.


So don’t just go ga-ga about fad-diets and get carried away by quick-fix solutions. What you need is a weight-loss plan that is sustainable and gives you the desirable results on a long-term basis.

 Always remember the 3 Ps-Prepare, Perspire and Persevere.

 Prepare yourself well, work-out is a must and be patient in achieving your weight loss goals.

Try to strike a balance between your food style and lifestyle.So gain health not just lose weight.

Saturday, 9 May 2015

Chips to Cherries story 2- A mom changes!!


It was back in 2006 when I had entered corporate healthcare.I was working with a team of medicos who would trot between IT companies to provide counselling services.
          During one such visit is when I met Naina. A young sprightly girl in her early 20s who was a fresher from college and as joined as a software professional.With dream in her eyes she wanted to live her life happily. First time she cam to me was when she had completed 8 months with the com[any as her growing weight became a concern.She had gained almost 10 kgs with in short span of time.She wanted to reduce weight as also her family was in search of a suitor for her soon.
                               The reason for weight gain was very clear .There was so much of junk and fat laden food she had to eat because she was staying alone and was not equipped enough to cook on her own.With absolutely no time for any physical activity she had but no other go but kept accumulating lot of fat in her body.
                  I transformed her diet a bit,taught her to choose right when eating out and guided her with simple exercises routine.Importantly told her the weight loss would be a long process yet a  sure shot one and she might get back to her old weight in next 4 to 5 months.
                      But the real problem was that she was not ready to wait.She resorted to crash diets that are blatantly floated on many sites on internet even today.I cautioned her.But in vain.Anyway,she did reduce and got married too .
                      It was over 2 years now.One day she came to me.She looked very sick and tired.She showed all signs of under nutrition.She complained of lack of appetite and fatigue.She showed signs of severe anemia and was in initial stages of hypothyroid .I was more shaken when she revealed that she had conceived but her doctor has warned that unless she changes her eating ways and mend her well,she might not be able to withstand the pressures of pregnancy.She had severe Gastritis,Insomnia and didn't have any hope of getting back to normalcy.No medicine really helped her and in the process was determined not to harm her baby.
                   Now her dream was just to have a healthy child for which first she had to become healthy and happy herself first.It was tough for some one like her who had forgone breakfast for almost a year .She had only salads for lunch and dinner was the only meal she ate.She couldn't give up much on her junk food habits either.She was under the impression that her lunch sacrifices she made will help her in overcoming this.But she was all WRONG.
                        I was happy to see her back for now. I was sure she would follow my advice. The next 2 months we worked up to the challenge.A healthy diet, right exercises and a few changes in her thinking changed her life for good.She delivered a health baby girl and back on her feet .Blessed are both are now and she is  still in touch with me .
                       She was a truly inspiring story of a mom who would do anything for her unborn baby even before she could become one fully.Such captivating is mother hood.
                             Just to add that she is enjoying her life,being foodie not missing much still has learnt to live a healthy life.

What should I say? Change to health and HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

(The name has been changed to guard her privacy.But she wanted her story to be shared as she didn't want anyone to undergo what she did.Thanks to her!!)