Hands up if your new years resolution was to shift a few pounds? Don’t be shy, me too! Back in December, in the midst of a never ending winter with the thought of ever seeing sun again feeling as likely as flying to the moon, stuffing your face with mice pies and Maltesers seemed like a great idea, after all those extra pounds might help fend off the cold, right? But now there is a faint glimmer of a holiday in the sun in the not too distant future, and so the mad cyclical panic begins again to get a bikini bod. And this year you ARE going to do it! But before you launch yourself onto some militant regime, make sure you have fully understood the implications of embarking on your chosen diet.
A few years ago loosing weight meant cutting down on fried foods, existing off some unappetizing limp salad leaf and battling with the concept of wearing Lycra down in the gym. But now, well it’s a whole different ball game isn’t it? Because not only do you have to work out which diet you want to do (there’s the maple syrup diet favoured by Beyonce, or of course the blood group diet that Cheryl Cole swears by to name but a few) you need to have a whole new “work out” wardrobe too. Apparently women don’t go to the gym in half bleached baggy clothes any more, oh no you have to have co-ordinated outfits. Well we might not be able to sort you out on the sartorial front, but we can give you a few hints on diets that might suit you.
There are hundreds of diets out there, whether they cut out sugar, carbohydrates, refined foods, processed foods, it is a very confusing world. Concerns have been raised however, over “fad diets” that have led to severe self imposed dietary restrictions. In worrying about the purity of the food to such extremes, dieters have been cutting out entire food groups which comes at a cost to their health. This new obsessive mentality has led to a rise in Orthorexia Nervosa in women in their mid thirties. This condition is not only causing health problems but also putting strains on relationships, where the person refuses to eat out. If however they are obliged to, they then ring ahead to order steamed plain food. Whilst we are are of course organic food’s biggest ambassador, this kind of behaviour can be extremely dangerous since limiting your food choices so severely will mean that you are depriving your body of vital food stuffs.
A common misconception with dieting is that less is more, that if you starve yourself, you will obtain the desired figure you want. There in lies a huge flaw. In depriving your body of food, your metabolism starts to slow down, fatty deposits are left untouched to protect organ function and so when you start eating again you put on more weight than when you started. Apart from the fact that this doesn’t help you achieve your goal, it is also very bad for your liver.
We have all heard of the Atkins diet. The one where you are allowed to indulge in gloriously fatty cheeses and meats, the only restriction being that under no circumstances can you eat carbohydrates. Sounds idyllic right? Sadly eating foods so high in fat can have serious consequences on your heart, in fact Mr Atkins himself died from coronary problems. Diets that are high in fat can lead to a higher risk of blood clots that may lead to strokes.
Whilst many diets opt for bigger protein portions over eating carbs, there are flaws to this argument. Eating more protein can lead to calcium excretion which can in turn cause kidney and liver damage. Meanwhile diets that include wholegrain can help lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of diabetes.
Diets such as the “Blood Group scheme” and sugar busting regimes do appear to have some viable points. Cutting out sugar from your diet is never a bad thing, and tailoring a diet to your personal needs is hugely beneficial. We each metabolise things in different ways, some are able to loose weight more easily than others, and just because your best friend managed to loose weight on one scheme, doesn’t necessarily mean that it will work for you.
So where does this leave you? Unfortunately there are no quick fixes. When it comes to weight loss it’s a long term thing. You might be able to loose the initial weight rapidly, but the second you start eating your normal regime, the pounds are piled on again. Far better to eat three or four small/medium sized portions of fresh food per day. With no snacks. Don’t eat processed foods, avoid ready meals and sugary foods. Always eat organic where you can. Drink plenty of fluid and instead of eating white carbs switch to wholegrain alternatives, try even wheat free substitutes. If you fancy the odd pizza, go for the odd pizza, but why not share it with a friend, and supplement it with a salad? Try to avoid eating large carb heavy meals in the evening as this can lead to bloating.
Why not have a look at the Viva Mayr diet ? This is based on the principle that by eating like a King for breakfast, a Queen for lunch and a pauper for dinner, you utilise the energy that you are supplying your body with most effectively. It makes sense. After all most of us have our biggest meal in the evening and then go to bed, when you use least energy. Another regime that might be worth glancing over is “The 4 hour Body”. This lengthy piece has years of research behind it, and enables you to still eat tasty wholesome meals, unlike so many diets that have you living off sawdust like foods!
It goes without saying that a key ingredient to keeping trim is to stay active. If the thought of the gym and those perky bummed senoritas in perfectly teamed outfits who never seem to break a sweat terrifies you, why not go for a brisk walk in the park? Or now with so many virtual alternatives, a wii- fit?
For being simple and straightforward, they all look pretty good to me! And, quite frankly, any breakfast made by someone other than me is really good. I like to concentrate my efforts for meals later in the day.Hmmm, let me think about your favorite mo.v..i..eit's mine as well. And we've seen it on stage several times. Pretty good there as well. "Christmas Story". Do I win something? Like a Red Ryder gun. I'll be careful with it.Best,Bonnie