I once heard someone say, “If food had no taste, no one in the world would be overweight.” This is an interesting thought since people would only eat when they become hungry rather than in times when we are stressed, sad or other situations that trigger unnecessary consumption of food. Thus no need for weight loss.
What ever happened to the Food Guide Pyramid? You know, that triangle shaped object that guided how much of what foods we put into our body. Despite its decreased popularity, Health.gov still refers to this as the way Americans should think about consuming foods.
So why do people still fall victim to fad diets like low-carb and sugar-free? With numerous books coming out about how fad diets work it is easy to succumb to the temptations. It seems that people become frustrated and impatient when diets do not work at the speed we want them to, which makes sense. According to numerous sources, including Helpguide.org, healthy weight-loss is between 1-2 pounds a week, which does not sit well with our fast-paced lives.
Unfortunately though, rapid weight loss is appealing – harmful and possible dangerous – but appealing. Starvation, skipping meals, avoiding dietary groups, or simply not consuming enough calories set a person up for yo-yo diets. With this method, there will never be the accomplishment of permanent weight loss which can keep lowering a person’s self-esteem, confidence and self-image because of the continued failures.
Low-carbohydrate diets, which I would rather call high-fat diets, are just that. How can restricting a food group that the body needs for energy help you? It can’t. This means low-carb dieters are loading up on fats and proteins which have been shown through a study reported by Foodnavigator.com that this type of dieting can actually increase the risk of developing kidney stones and bone loss (osteoporosis), which is something no woman can joke around with. Don’t get me wrong, protein is definitely needed for repairing sore muscles, but too much of any food, vitamin or supplement can shock the body in a potentially harmful way. But know that just because there was a book written about a diet does not mean we have to read it.
Frustration can also lead to other types of “quick fixes” like liposuction. This is viewed as a quick fix because in many cases it is only a temporary solution. With liposuction, there is an obvious removal of fat cells from certain problem areas of a person’s body. However, the remaining fat cells do not reposition over the body. This means that if a person has this procedure performed on only the stomach and does not change their eating habits, weight will then be gained in the thighs, arms, face, etc. We encourage a change in eating habits, exercise and the removal of impurities to help reshape not only our body but lifestyle, too. With body wraps and healthy dieting, skin will also become firmer and tighter.
My suggestion: make modifications to your current diet little by little. This way you will learn to actually like healthy food in your own time. Here are some modifications I taught myself:
· Switch to non-fat milk
· Avoid soda, artificial sweeteners, and dilute juices with water to decrease sugars
· Make and bring your lunch from home – saves you money too!
· Snack on fruit, nuts and granola bars instead of things like potato chips and cookies
· Doctor Recommended: Consume plenty of fiber (25-30 grams per day)
· Engage in cardio exercise daily
These are simple and safe and avoid any dangers in weight loss.
Vicki Taylor
Marketing Manager
Simply Beautiful Salon and Spa