Healthy food not necessarily boring

Question:

Hi Clare,

I had a total hysterectomy some five years ago and have gained eight lbs from my usual weight of 112. I am aware that once the ovaries are gone, burning fat would be a problem due to the absence of hormones. (My doctor advised me against HRT).

I am a snack person and would rather eat small snacks than big meals. But this is changing. I now enjoy eating meals PLUS snacks! My appetite has gone haywire.

As for exercise -- I power walk or jog at least three times a week for about 30-40 minutes, and am also a member of a sports club. However I join the aerobic classes once in a blue moon. If I don't do any exercise for a week, I go up three or four lbs.

I know that I have to watch what I'm eating (which is usually junk) and go for more fruits and veggies (I did try "Fit for Life" and it really works, but the thing is, I got tired of it). Could you please share some ways I could be more disciplined and keep my hands from putting food into my mouth constantly.

Thanks,

-- Suzy

Answer:

Dear Suzy,

Many people will sympathize with your problem and would love a self-discipline pill to be invented; especially where eating too much is concerned. It also seems rather unfair that you are gaining weight (albeit a small amount), even though you have a good exercise habit.

Nevertheless, some good news for a start; one of the common side-effects of taking HRT is weight gain. So your not using it, avoids that predicament at least.

But metabolism does slow down with age. We lose approx. five lbs of muscle every decade, which can lead to a metabolic decrease of about 2-5 percent. In turn, this means about a 15 lb gain in fat every ten years if we don't exercise.

Consequently, keep up with the power walking and jogging Suzy. However, you must try strength training too. As well as helping to improve the definition of your body, adding some muscle tissue, (not bulk), will have a crucial affect on your weight management success.

Muscle helps maintain your metabolism. You can actually eat more without gaining weight if your muscles are strong. Try to start attending your sports club twice a week, not for aerobics, but for strength training.

Suzy, the problem is your junk food. It's now time to take yourself in hand once and for all. Junk food doesn't satisfy you, it's nutritionally bankrupt and is doing absolutely nothing for your health and energy. Eating bad fats and sugars make you crave more of the same and so the cycle goes on forever.

Constantly wanting to put food into your mouth, as you amusingly noted, may well indicate that you are malnourished. By that I mean you are not getting enough of all the necessary nutrients which make up a good healthy diet. Your body will keep demanding food in the hope that it finally gets those right nutrients. This will never happen if you continue to eat junk!

So be determined, resolute and fair to yourself for one month. Eat only good unrefined natural food during that time. The less it has been messed about with by man, the better. Have pulses, whole grains and lean protein with lots of vegetables and fruit.

Healthy food does not mean boring, with everything looking and tasting like cardboard. In Indonesia we are very lucky. Try various herbs, spices, and chilies; great seafood, fresh vegetables and wonderful seasonal tropical fruits. Be adventurous and use your creativity.

Within a month of eating like this, the rewards will be obvious. You will feel really good and full of energy. Cravings for junk food will have stopped and I am sure you will never get tired of your new menu range. A self-discipline pill will not be necessary either. Good luck.

-- Clare E. Urwin

Question:

Hi Clare,

I am looking for your kind advice. I seem to have a problem with these black circles under my eyes. They have always there even though I have enough sleep at night. I am not too sure what causes this and definitely want to get rid of them once and for all.

I swim every morning, eat at regular hours, don't have any serious health problems according to the general check up statistics every six months, so, I am totally lost. Wonder if you could help on this? Hope to hear from you soon.

Cheers,

-- Anton

Answer:

Dear Anton,

My apologies, but I don't think I will be able to give you any advice about permanently removing those dark circles around your eyes. However, explaining what they are and what causes them, may help.

There are a number of things that can produce a ring of darker looking skin around the eyes of some people, and happily none of them are serious.

Certain families just tend to have an inherited tendency towards thinner and more delicate skin around that area. This makes the blood vessels underneath and around the eye more obvious. Also, as you get older, the skin covering and surrounding your eyelids thins out.

The darkness may result from swelling in and around your lower eyelids. When you are sleeping, gravity sometimes causes fluid to collect in this part where your skin is very soft. This puffiness may cause temporary shadows.

Sorry Anton, I know of no cure or treatment other than covering them with make-up. Unfortunately, that's something that would make them rather more obvious in your case!

So, my advice is to continue with your healthy lifestyle and just try and forget about the dark circles. We all tend to be very self-critical about our own facial features and I am sure other people hardly even notice them. Good luck.

-- Clare E. Urwin