Sunday, March 26, 2000		Fitness

Smile your way to a slim you
By Anup Deb Nath

MOST of us have our own preconceived ideas of how we would like our bodies to look, what hairstyle we like, what colours we feel complement our skin tones, and what clothes suit us. To these preconceived ideas, then, we also add in what we feel we should weigh on the scales or then at least look like.

Not all of us are happy with the weight we have, some of us feel we are too thin, while others feel they are overweight, there is a small minority of people that actually feel they are fine. In this small minority there is a further classification of those who actually are fine, while there are others who may feel they look perfect and believe it as well, but in reality are anything but perfect.

Diets are the most popular way to lose weight. Despite the numerous diet plans available in health books and magazines or from your own doctors, many people complain about diets just not working for them. Diets, though not miracles, if done correctly certainly work, though there are reasons why diets fail.

Going on to diets that are fad oriented- Many people select diets which ask you to eat only one type of fruit, or food item and then eat only that for the duration of the diet. Popular among these is the grape diet, the grapefruit diet and the watermelon diet. Diets such as these are not a successful way of losing weight. Even when you are on a diet you need to eat a balanced meal which should include food from all the basic food groups. These food groups are: 1) milk and cheese 2) bread, rice and cereal 3) fruit and vegetables 4) meat, poultry, fish, nuts and beans 5) fat and sweet.

Diets just don’t work when you expect to lose weight too fast. Health experts tend to agree that weight that is lost slowly and steadily tends to stay off rather than weight lost very quickly which is mostly gained back just as fast. Diets that make you lose weight rapidly also tend to be strict and lack basic nutrition that is needed by the body.

Trying to lose weight by eating weight-loss pills is another reason you just can’t seem to lose weight for a longer period of time at all. It is best to combine a sensible diet and an exercise routine.

Choosing a diet that makes you give up food you are crazy over: it’s never a good idea to try to give up something that you consider as your favourite food, as you will crave for them more and more as the days go on without them. The best is to eat them once in a while and in moderation to keep the craves and the calories away.

Diets that make you eat only one or two meals a day versus the regular three meals: Many people tend to skip breakfast or lunch in the hope of reducing their calorie intake and thereby losing weight. This never works, as most such people then tend to eat more than enough to compensate for the skipped meal at the one meal they do eat. Eating small and frequent meals is now being recommended by doctors as the preferred way of eating to stay healthy.

Trying to lose weight just by dieting and refusing to exercise: Regular exercise is the only way to lose weight and keep it off and works best when combined with a sensible eating plan. Even just by going for a brisk walk everyday combined with a controlled diet you will find yourself losing weight and keeping it off and increasing your energy as well.

Don’t choose a diet just because your friend lost a lot of weight because of it. Not every diet is going to work for everyone. If this diet was perfect for your friend you could just as well find it doing nothing for you at all. It is best to select a diet that takes your individual needs into account. A diet that is structured around food you like and timings that suit you and your lifestyle is often the one you wind up sticking with, and it ultimately works for you.

The best of diets or the most structured exercise routine can fail if the wish to lose weight does not come from within you. So, delve deep into yourself, and see if losing weight and getting fit really mean all that much to you, then you will know whether the diet was wrong or just your own mind not keen enough.

Don’t try to set a target of losing weight. Many people say: "I have to lose weight in time for my sister’s wedding next month." Statements and reasons such as these mean that even if you do lose weigh for your sister’s wedding you will probably put it all on again once the event is over and the motivation gone. The best bet is to want to lose weight-that’s all and then you might set out to do it and keep it off permanently.

Trying to work your way to a fitter, slimmer body need not be paved with despair. Try to find the right eating pattern for your body, give it the exercise it needs and the sleep it de serves and in a short while you will begin to see the results.