A guide to taking off those extra pounds for a better look<\/p>\n
By Claire E. Urwin<\/p>\n
This is the first of a four-article series on The Way to Lose
\nWeight.<\/p>\n
Readers are encouraged to become involved by submitting any
\nrelevant questions, comments or ideas directly to the writer at
\nclareu@attglobal.net, or by sending them to The Jakarta Post at
\nfeatures@thejakartapost.com. The paper will publish a selection
\nof the correspondence with the writer's response when
\nappropriate. Any requests for anonymity will be honored.<\/p>\n
SURABAYA (JP): Trying to lose weight is almost a universal
\noccupation. At any given time, billions of people in the more
\naffluent societies are on a \"diet\". Thousands of books have been
\nwritten and hundreds of reduction plans invented. Yet we are all
\ngetting heavier. Not exactly a success story!<\/p>\n
There are many good medical reasons for losing weight. A
\nreduced risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes and arthritis,
\nfor a start. Obesity is now recognized as one of the most common
\navoidable causes of premature death. However, the issue for most
\ndieters isn't only the prevention of disease. They also want to
\nlook better and feel better.<\/p>\n
Being overweight is a very private and personal matter. Many
\nof us are embarrassed to admit that we aren't content with our
\nsize or shape. We all long to be slim.<\/p>\n
With women it's to do with self-criticism and body image.
\nWith men it's about healthy, virile masculinity. When we are
\noverweight, it makes us feel miserable and somehow like a
\nfailure. Just too fat to quite make the grade.<\/p>\n
Our weight effects our confidence and self-esteem as well. We
\nconsider ourselves weak willed and of little value when the
\nscales go up. Excess kilos and the unsuccessful attempts to lose
\nthem, confirm our shame. So, when another new diet hits the
\nmarket with the promise of a miracle weight loss for little
\neffort, naturally we are tempted.<\/p>\n
For instance, take the currently fashionable, high protein,
\nhigh fat, carbohydrate restrictive diets. Ones such as the Atkins
\nDiet and its spin offs like the Montignac or the Zone.<\/p>\n
These pledge no more calorie counting and generally encourage
\neating high protein, high fat foods, while restricting
\ncarbohydrates such as grains, vegetables and fruits.<\/p>\n
Dramatic weight loss can seemingly occur on such diets.
\nHowever, at what cost? They completely contradict the established
\nnutritionist's opinion about the benefits of eating plenty of
\nplant based carbohydrates. Furthermore, the medical profession
\nstates that a high fat diet is closely linked to heart disease
\nand many cancers.<\/p>\n
Such contradictory advice causes public and private argument.
\nOpposing supporters and pundits accuse each other of lies and
\nunscientific diet bashing.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the average concerned consumer, who genuinely wants
\nto lose weight by a healthy, permanent method, is left on the
\nsidelines, totally confused. What is the \"want to be slimmer\" to
\ndo?<\/p>\n
There are a myriad of ways to lose weight. Naturally, some
\nmethods are considerably safer and more acceptable than others.
\nBut, although we have learned a great deal about health and
\nnutrition in recent years, one fact remains constant about weight
\nreduction. Its not new, or revolutionary, or faddish. Successful
\nweight loss means eating less and exercising more.<\/p>\n
However, there are now ways of making dieting much more
\nagreeable. Recently, knowledge gained about how the body uses
\ntypes of foods and how certain foods can influence blood and
\nbrain chemistry can make losing weight, if not simple, at least
\nless arduous.<\/p>\n
Let's face it, dieting is difficult. Giving up your usual
\neating habits and starting some calorie burning exercise, takes
\neffort. It has to be a real commitment.<\/p>\n
For men the problem is even more demanding. The stomach area
\nis one of the first places the male body stores fat.
\nUnfortunately, trying to cope with an ever increasing girth by
\nsqueezing into too tight trousers and using a belt to hide the
\nbelly, just doesn't work.<\/p>\n
Understanding the link between diet, lifestyle and body shape
\nis especially important for the male population. Excess flab
\naround the gut area is a warning sign. Too big in the belly means
\nan increased risk of colon, prostate and rectum cancer, not to
\nmention cancer of the stomach, pancreas and kidney.<\/p>\n
Such statistics make unpleasant reading. However, carrying
\nthat extra weight around is usually caused by nothing more than
\nan accumulation of bad habits. Furthermore, the problem can be
\nfixed.<\/p>\n
Even though the thought of eating less and exercising more may
\nbe initially depressing, a permanent change is achievable without
\ntoo much pain. Additionally, once you start a healthy lifestyle
\nand see how great it makes you look and feel, this will spur you
\non to maintain a good body weight for life.<\/p>\n
Where do you start? With food, the best way of losing weight
\nis this. Use the most recent knowledge that is available, mix it
\nwith the proven good elements of the latest trendy diets (there
\nare always some!), then blend together with the successful tried
\nand tested methods.<\/p>\n
Exercise is similar. Take all the current information
\navailable about fat stripping activities, add some new ideas
\nabout burning off calories and combine with successful
\nestablished ways of increasing lean muscle tissue.<\/p>\n
This combination of new discoveries, helpful insights and
\ndependable procedures will give the best possible advantage to
\nevery slimmer. You can have the cutting edge in the battle of the
\nbulge. Let's call it \"The Ultimate Diet and Exercise Plan\".<\/p>\n
Next week, part two of this series will detail the \"Eating\"
\nsection and the following week will describe \"Exercise\". Part
\nfour will be about \"Weight Management\".<\/p>\n
One other vital component is also going to help. Harnessing
\nyour brain power. The strength of the mind in achieving goals is
\nimmeasurable. Motivation works better if you work towards
\nsomething positive rather than moving away from something
\nnegative.<\/p>\n
Think about how you want to look. Imagine how you want to
\nfeel. Keep those pictures clearly and constantly in your mind.
\nLet them inspire your determination and success.<\/p>\n
At the same time, prepare to have some preconceived ideas
\nabout weight loss challenged. For instance, modern scientific
\nstudies now show that the much hyped theory of a high
\ncarbohydrate, low fat diet was a fraud.<\/p>\n
Devouring large bowls of pasta and packets of low fat
\npretzels, thinking they were slimming, was a total nonsense.
\nIt's no wonder we all became even fatter!<\/p>\n
Look forward to the future. Some encouraging insights include
\nthe fact that hunger is no longer necessary for losing weight.
\nCravings aren't compulsory either. How about the fact that eating
\nthe right food at the right time increases your will power? No
\nmore bingeing, ever.<\/p>\n
Equally, with exercise, did you know that strength training is
\njust as important as aerobic activity in fat reduction? It can
\nimprove your metabolic rate by 15 percent.<\/p>\n
Be optimistic and confident about your impending weight loss.
\nBig changes mean big results and you will feel great from the
\nvery fist day. It doesn't matter if you have a few, or many kilos
\nthat you want to lose.<\/p>\n
You can and will lose weight by eating nourishing, satisfying
\nfood, by practicing stimulating physical exercise and by being
\npositive. Good luck.
\n-- The writer is a nutritionist and health advisor based in
\nSurabaya.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/a-guide-to-taking-off-those-extra-pounds-for-a-better-look-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}