Number
one reason why you should not think about "quick weight loss"
is your own body. That's very general, I know, but think about
it. Many diets will have you almost starve, or eat foods you do
not care for, or even cut out a type of food (for example, carbohydrates)
from your current diet. Why is that bad for you? Your body is
designed to intake a certain amount of each food group on a daily
basis. On a daily basis, you need 5-8 servings of vegetables,
about 5 servings of fruits, 2-3 servings of protein and so on
(see The Food Guide Pyramid). The Guide is not a strict diet,
but if you cut out the carbohydrates completely, your body will
have a reaction of "starvation" of the nutrients necessary
from this food group. The same works for any other food groups.
As an example, if you are a vegetarian, you're not eating red
meat, chicken, eggs, and most likely you have also cut off fish,
however, you must be replacing those items for soy meat, soy protein,
or a protein supplement. If not, you'll be anemic very soon.
Basically,
you need certain amount of servings of each food group on a daily
basis. If not, what's the worst that can happen? Well, you'll
lose a few pounds, and when the diet is over and you're back eating
carbohydrates, your body will store every bit of it, because it
now does not know when it will be receiving that nutrient again,
resulting in weight gain, and stretch marks (from losing and gaining
weight quickly).
Do
not starve your body. It takes you wherever you want to go, it
does what you need it to do, treat it with love! My favorite quote
of all times is: "Your body is your temple", simply
because there's so much truth behind that statement. If you love
your body it will love you back, if you abuse it, it will mistreat
you back, and so on.
Embrace
yourself, and know your body and mind. There is no one better
in this world to tell you what your needs are than yourself. Listen
to your body talk to you, and provide what it needs.
I
personally know how hard it can be at times to give up that slice
of cake, or that milk shake, but when you feel the urge to intake
anything your body does not need, think of how you can look and
feel better by being healthy and fit.
I
want to make sure you're not getting the wrong impression. I am
not telling you that you should torture yourself and never eat
those cookies, or cake. I am advising you to simply eat all the
junk moderately. Once a day, or every other day is ideal, in 1-2
servings the most. Honestly, this is all for your best benefit.
No one expects a super model out of you (neither do you want to
become one, trust me), but you can be fit, healthy, and most of
all happy at the same time!
So
don't worry about quickly losing weight, yet worry about giving
your body the time it needs to adapt to any changes you are willing
to make in your diet. If you currently eat 10 cookies a day, you
can cut it down to 5 cookies a day this week, 2 cookies a day
next week, 1 cookie a day the week after that, and so on. This
way you will be helping your body as well as your mind, while
achieving results physically. Meanwhile, replace those cookies
with healthy sweet snacks such as dried fruits and raisins, or
even better, fresh fruits!
© Copyright 2002 Health Exposure
