The ManicaPost
Ann Ruthenburg —
WHY do diets not work? It is because diets need to have a purpose that is more than just losing weight. Diets need to be balanced. If you do not follow a balanced diet, eventually your body will start craving something you have cut out of your diet (which your body needs), and you will inevitably end up craving junk food to replace that which your body is lacking.
The other day I was having a wonderful chat with a lady at work. She and I were discussing which diets work and which do not. After-all most people diet to lose the weight so that they can wear all the fashionable outfits. Another reason for dieting is to clear one’s body of junk to aid in clearing the skin and growing the hair and nails.
There are hundreds of diet fads out there, that people just try out not knowing that many of these are not a sure thing. Whether you choose to try a diet for a few days or a few weeks, the point is the same, you need to make sure that the food you are eating at the time is giving your body adequate nutritional value.
A good thing to also remember is that reducing one’s food intake on its own, is not sufficient. You have to take up some form of exercise too, so that you firm your body by working out the muscles. But that is not my discussion today. Today I want to help you all work out your diets this year so that you put your body into shape.
Do not compare yourself to someone else who is dieting. Dieticians will tell you that people can differ in weight considerably, yet be on similar calorie intakes, and have a similar build, occupation and interest.
First you need to know is that not every diet suits every person. Sometimes it is unnecessary to go on a diet, maybe you have to simply reduce one or two foods, and that alone will help you shed some kilo’s.
For quick and healthy diets, the best is a liquid diet (Smoothies), where you put your choice of vegetables or fruit or both in a liquidiser and drink the mixture. This however is not sustainable, because inevitably the body will crave solid food. But you will lose quick weight daily. Three days is the limit.
Variety is the spice of life. No one will succeed in following a bland diet. You need variety, colour and different tastes in your diet.
Find the root cause of you weight gain first. Be realistic with yourself. If you are large boned, chances are you will not be able to lose weight below a certain figure without looking ill. Are you ready to handle your diet financially.
Some diets will cost you a lot more than you are able to spend, which will make you cheat on your diet and once you cheat, it’s over. If you are an emotional eater, you need to deal with the emotion behind that by going for therapy before starting the diet.
Make sure your diet has all the nutrients your body needs at that time.
The food consumed in the daily diet must be capable of providing an adequate supply of energy for the body’s physical needs. It has to also permit the growth and maintenance of tissue, in its body building capacity, and be able to regulate body processes to maintain health.
Basically all the things needed for a healthy and successful diet fall into six groups, the first four making up the things needed for a healthy existence. Unfortunately these are the same ones most people drop from their diet, making the diet irrelevant after a few days or weeks.
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Carbohydrates – essential for energy (the more energy you have, the more fat you burn)
Fats – essential for heat and energy
Proteins – vital for growth and repair of body tissue especially when exercising
Water – forms 70 percent of the body weight, assists digestion and circulation.
SECONDARY INGREDIENTS
Mineral Elements and Vitamins – Vital for good health
Looking at this list, already you can tell why so many diets fail. Most people follow diets that cut out one or more of the main four Carbohydrates or Proteins or Fat.
Problem is after a while your body starts eating into its energy reserves to survive, and when there are no more reserves, it starts craving junk food that has stuff in it to give it energy. The result is you end short tempered and stressed all the time, you get headaches, or ulcers, the shakes and other unnecessary symptoms, then you end up cheating on your diet, putting all the weight back on again plus more. Then you will say, diets do not work with you.
The advice which I can offer that has worked for me is to watch your portions of food you know make you pick up weight. For instance, if you eat six slices of bread a day, for a woman this is not acceptable. Bring it down to three slices a day.
If you put avocado on that bread, stop it. Rather eat one or the other at different times, not together. That is an overload of protein on your body. Now if you cut out bread all together of avocado’s all together, you miss out on necessary fibre and protein and natural fats. It’s just an example, but the same goes for all the foods we eat. That is it from me folks, until next week God Bless!
Fashion Diva can be messaged (not called) on 0772 933 845.
