Say No To Crash Diets.... Only Eat Sensibly!

Recently Pooja joined a slimming centre to reduce her post pregnancy weight. She gained around 15 kgs during her pregnancy and was finding it hard to lose. The entire saga started with lots of enthusiasm as she started dreaming herself in her favourite ball gown that she had to shun due to the bulges specially around her tummy. She was on a restricted calorie diet and survived on juices, salads and soups. A week or so, she lost around 3 kgs but she didn’t feel the same zeal and passion. It was getting harder to follow such a strict regime as days passed by. She craved for normal roti, dal, chawal and secretly binged on to all the junk available around. Her energy levels were low and she suffered from bouts of mood swings. Forget about the weight loss, her peer group started taunting her on her dull and wrinkled looks.

There is so much hype about weight loss these days, that people have started looking at it as a fashion rather than a necessity. They are ready to drain their wealth and spend a good amount on the pills, machines, meal replacements and on all the shortcuts available to lose that “5 kgs in a month”.

People look for short term methods rather than long term lifestyle management and end up depriving their bodies of essential nutrients by following a crash diet. “Crash Diet” is a restrictive diet, lacking in basic nutrients, undertaken to achieve short term rapid weight loss. It does not give sustainable results and the lost weight may bounce back with course of time. These nutritionally unbalanced diets slow down your metabolism and may lead to muscle loss rather than fat loss. When you lose muscles, you are actually losing a major component that aids in burning calories. This is the reason that rather than receiving compliments on your lost weight, you are criticised for looking aged.

Depriving yourself of your favourite foods may actually lead to episodes of binge eating, followed by feeling of guilt and self punishment. Weakened immunity is another potential hazards mainly due to restriction of essential nutrients. Some studies also indicate that crash diets may increase your risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, gall bladder stones etc.

As per Mayo Clinic, the only clinically proven method to lose weight is by adopting healthy lifestyle. In short, you will achieve your weight loss targets by simply burning more calories than you consume. Talk to your health care practitioner to find out the right balance of meals and exercise. Don’t rely on google knowledge as it is full of myths and fads and it may have adverse effect on your health. Search for research based studies and cross check any piece of info with a professional. Love your bodies and be patient in terms of losing weight. Slower the weight loss, better the maintenance. Follow a healthy lifestyle including a balanced diet and improved activity levels.

While deciding upon a diet pattern, ask yourself:

• Will I be able to follow this pattern for life?
• Does this diet plan include all the major food groups?
• Does this diet fit my budget?
• Does this diet focus on activity to burn calories?
• Does this diet take care of my medical conditions?

Healthy food is made to relish and best part is you derive pleasure and satisfaction from eating good food. So don’t deprive yourself from pleasures of eating. Eat sensibly !!