Many people ask me, “Isn’t it cheating to use a drug or a supplement to help you to lose weight?” And I always reply, “Of course it is! But why not?”
Let’s face it, battling with weight is difficult enough at the best of times, and we can all do with a little help. Who ever said that we should make life difficult for ourselves, and if taking a slimming supplement is what provides you with the motivation and support to deal with your weight problems, then why not?
Aids to losing weight come in many forms; on the medical front, there are the drugs that prevent the fat that you eat from being absorbed into the body, or that tell your mind that you are feeling full. And on the natural side, you can go for supplements that aid the thermogenic process, known as fat burners, or others that are thought to naturally attract fat in food and help it to pass through the gut. Herbal teas and other drinks are also said to aid weight loss.
But there are certain keys to enjoying permanent weight loss that cannot be ignored, as without them, your are certain to regain weight after a period of time. I always recommend that when you are trying to lose weight, you should be kind to your body and make gradual changes that the body can easily understand. So if one of your problems is that you eat too much, you need to cut down gradually. Going on a starvation diet will only give your body a sudden shock, and its immediate reaction will be to try to hold on to its fatty tissues. Apart from anything else, crash dieting is not good for you and will invariably lead to the yo-yo syndrome of losing weight only to put it back on again.
Exercise should also be approached with caution. Too much too soon can cause stresses and pain that may well put you off trying again. Those who are very overweight or obese should probably consult their doctor first before embarking on an exercise regime, and at the start, it should be one that is easy on the body. Whatever it is that you find that helps and motivates you is what is right so if you want to cheat at losing weight, go on an do it!
Recipe of the Week
Baja Shrimp Salad
Serves 6
Ingredients
680 g cooked shrimp, thawed and drained
1-1/2 cucumbers, peeled, seeded and thinly sliced
18 radishes, thinly sliced
6 scallions, sliced
180 ml white wine vinegar
1-1/2 tbsp sugar
Method
Combine all ingredients in a bowl and toss well. Chill.
Slimming Lifestyle
Fruitful Ideas
Don’ t serve frozen fruit salads only at special holiday events. You can sneak fruit into your everyday meals by including it in easy to make molded salads. Salads containing fresh fruits are a nice change of pace from the standard tossed green ones. Fruit can easily be combined with fresh green lettuce and a little shredded cheese.
Check your recipe books for interesting choices. Try enticing children to eat the fruits or vegetables by adding raisins to cream cheese stuffed celery. Also offer kids dried fruits. Get into the habit of serving fruit or juice for breakfast, but make sure your juice is 100 percent juice and not a sugary substitute.
Ask Alva
Could you tell me if the calories in dry fruits and fresh fruits are the same? When you say “include fruits in your diet” are dried dates, apricots, figs or prunes good enough? My upper arms are very fat, can you suggest some exercise to reduce/tone them. Melinda
A portion of dried apricots has 80 calories, but only 30 calories if fresh. Fresh dates also have fewer calories than dried, but they are both very good for you. There is more sugar in the dried variety. Try to include orange juice and some fresh fruit in your diet. The best exercises for the arms are elbow presses, biceps curls and triceps dips. Do them every morning! You will find these exercises in my Mini-morning Workout, and if you email to [email protected], you can get a free copy. Alva
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