I am no fitness or health guru, but I have learnt a couple of tips from reading and research and trials which actually work (for me).I wish that I am one of those lucky people born with model-like fit bodies, but the hard truth is that I need to work reasonably hard in order to achieve and stay on the slim side. I constantly get it from people, that I diet to stay slim. That depends on what you view diet as. My idea of a diet has absolutely nothing to do with starvation or skipping meals, or replacing meals with dietary supplements to lose weight, or living on purely water and carrot/celery sticks throughout the day - tried that and never works for me because I would end up stuffing myself with all the sinful carbs and calories by the end of the day!
I love food! Enough to prevent me from ever putting my body and stomach through the agony of starvation. Besides, it is true that you have to actually eat more to keep your metabolism up. Starving may trigger your body to store fats as your body will not be able to differentiate between the time when you actually diet or when you are in danger of running out of food, hence it goes into an auto-defensive mode. Crash dieting is also very unhealthy as your body does not get the proper nourishment and nutrition at the proper time.So, try eating smaller and healthier meals 4 up to 6 times a day, keeping the intervals between each meal/snack about 3 to 4 hours. Healthier meals do not mean excluding all the carbohydrate. We actually need a balance between each group. Just try to steer clear from all the empty calories from junk food, carbonated drinks and alcohol. Drink plenty of water throughout the day as it flushes out toxins in your body and prevents water retention. Dehydration also misleads your body into thinking you are hungry when you are not.
I (try my best) to stick with the Blood Type diet. My mom got me this book, Eat Right 4 Your Type by Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo. It works and is proven. Lucky for me, most of the highly beneficial food for my blood type happen to be my favorite, and most of those to avoid happen to be those food that I initially do not fancy.Exercise and staying active greatly contribute towards staying fit and healthy. There is no such thing as spot reduction of fats, so do not buy into those ideas of using slimming belt for the tummy and thighs or diet pills claiming to burn those fats off at your targeted problem areas. As little or as much as some of these products may work, I still do not believe you can count solely on all these to lose fats or weight without exercising or just getting your butt off that couch! Ladies, I know our problems are the things which go into our mouths most probably end up around our hips and thighs (as we get older). The only way to solve that is to stop complaining and get moving! Seriously, the reason you get big bottoms and end up very pear-shaped is because you sit too much in a day, period. Try standing or walking around, especially after a huge meal. Yes, it is that simple, if you really do not have time to work out. Walk those extra inches away!
If you want to lose fats and get in shape fast, you really got to work it. The most effective way to lose fats is to do interval training - combining cardio workout with strength training. You do not necessarily need long hours at the gym to do that. Try searching on YouTube for Interval Trainings. I came across one, combining skipping and moving about, all in just 10 minutes, but phew, what a workout!You cannot just do cardio alone. I know of people who claim they jog and control their food intake every day, but they still cannot achieve the ideal weight or shape. That is because if you only do cardio, you burn your muscles instead. You need muscles as they help speed up your metabolism. Include weights or strength training like 2 to 3 times a week between the days of cardio. It can be just doing squats, crunches, push-ups, etc.
Get adequate amount of sleep during the night - 7 to 9 hours will be sufficient for adults. Lack of sleep leads to obesity, just as stress make some people put on weight.
For those pregnant ladies, eating for two is a myth! You just need more of certain nutrition than you usually take in everyday for yourself. You do not need to double the portion on your plates. Stay active throughout your pregnancy, just avoid over- working out and heavy tasks. There are ways to ensure healthy pregnancy and that you have an easier delivery and recovery, but that will be another topic.
And for those of you who are eager to lose those extra kilograms fast, perhaps for an upcoming event, here is a bonus.
I was googling for ways to lose weight/fats fast when albeit all the healthy-eating and interval trainings, those last 3 stubborn kilos 10 weeks post baby just would not come off! ( I was going to attend a friend's wedding also at the time)
So, I stumbled upon the 3-Day Military Diet.
Day 1
Breakfast
- Tea/Coffee
- 1/2 Grapefruit or Juice
- 1 Toast
- 1 Tbsp Peanut Butter
Lunch
- 1/2 cup of Tuna
- 1 Toast
- Tea/Coffee
Dinner
- 3 oz. any lean meat (about 2 slices)
- 1 cup green veges + carrots
- 1 Apple
- 1 cup regular vanilla ice cream
Day 2
Breakfast
- 1 Egg
- 1/2 Banana
- 1 Toast
Lunch
- 1 cup cottage cheese or tuna
- 1 hard boiled egg
- 5 regular saltine crackers
Dinner
- 2 beef franks
- 1 cup broccoli or cabbage
- 1/2 cup carrots
- 1/2 Banana
- 1/2 cup regular vanilla ice cream
Day 3
Breakfast
- 5 regular saltine crackers
- 1 slice cheddar cheese
- 1 Apple
Lunch
- 1 boiled egg
- 1 toast
Dinner
- 1 cup tuna
- 1 cup carrots
- 1 Banana
- 1 cup regular vanilla ice cream
When I first saw the menu, I was relieved that it consists of food easily acquired at the supermarket and it is not another diet which limits your food choices (in other words, more or less asking you to starve), though I was skeptical when I saw beef franks and vanilla ice cream.
I altered some of the food choices for myself. I replaced Peanut butter with Cream cheese because I do not like peanuts. As I do not take coffee and do not fancy sugared English tea, I had green tea instead. For the first day, I actually replaced vanilla ice cream with vanilla yoghurt, but later figured there will be no harm in trying ice cream.
And after the third day, I lost over 2 kgs and the weight managed to stay off since. Wee~!
I read that for those who wish to lose more, they can do this diet for a course of a month or more - meaning 3 days on the diet, and the next 4 days off (but with moderate food intake), and then the next 3 days on and 4 days off, repeating accordingly. I have only done it once on a course of 3 days and am satisfied enough to recommend.
So, there you go. All tips given here have been tried and proven. I am still working my way to being toned and fit, which reminds me - I have a spinning class to attend later!
