Most people appreciate the dangers of becoming fat, and certainly in the Gulf, most want to look slim, healthy, and beautiful. Weight gain creeps on slowly, with some women putting on most weight between the ages of 15 to 19, and men gaining most in their late 30s. Poor eating habits begin in youth and a quick-fix low calorie diet is unlikely to reverse gradual weight gain. Indeed 95% of people who lose weight on low calorie diets gain it all back, and more in the so-called yo-yo diet phenomenon.
We all know that losing weight is only half the problem — the really tricky part comes after the diet is over. The body feels that it has been under siege after being denied food and demands the weight back. Psychologically we feel that we deserve to relax a bit after having lost weight — don’t we deserve just a little treat or two? But before we know where we are, we have returned to our old eating habits, the weight piles back on, and we are left with a terrible sense of guilt and failure. Certainly in the Gulf, the high-achievers tend to set goals for themselves and look for quick fix solutions to problems. However, this simply does not work with weight loss.
The good news is that you can lose weight without resorting to quick fix diets. Many people have lost weight by gradually changing their eating and exercise habits for life, so start today. Give up one treat and exchange it for a piece of fruit; or if you are having a chapati with your curry, skip the rice.
Recipe of the Week
Athenian Pasta & Chicken
Serves 6
Ingredients
non-stick cooking spray
6 boneless skinless chicken breast halves, cut into 5x1 cm strips
680 g pasta accents garden herb
620 g recipe-ready crushed tomatoes
50 g black olives, sliced
43 g Feta cheese, crumbled
Method
Spray a heavy skillet with non-stick cooking spray and place over medium high heat until skillet is hot. Add chicken and cook 4 minutes, or until it is no longer pink. Add frozen vegetables and pasta, tomatoes and olives. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer 7-9 minutes, or until vegetables are crisp-tender and chicken is fork tender and no longer pink, stirring occasionally. Sprinkle with cheese before serving.
Ask Alva
I am suffering from diabetes, high cholesterol, and high pressure. I have recently had a hysterectomy, I weigh about 75 kilos, and my height is 1.5 meters. Could you tell me what food I should have, since I constantly keep feeling hungry? Nancy
Your body has been through quite a lot and so you need to be thinking about your health as a priority, and not crash dieting. There are two types of diabetes and anyone with diabetes should be regularly monitored and counseled by their doctor; so any of the following notes are only for general guidance and you must seek your doctor’s approval before you make any changes to your existing regime. One of the best things you can do is to speak to your doctor about losing weight. You need to eat a healthy diet. This means eating three balanced meals a day. Check with your doctor whether you need regular snacks to keep you blood sugar stable.
Try to do some regular, moderate exercise such as walking every evening when it is cooler, as this will strengthen the circulatory system and will help lower your blood pressure. You might be able to do some gentle stretching exercises for each part of the body to keep it supple, and if you are insulin-dependent, you must discuss with your doctor the need to eat carbohydrates before exercise to avoid hypoglycemia. After exercise, have a healthy snack such as banana and yoghurt. So, take the next step by discussing this with your doctor and then set small achievable goals for yourself each week. Try and do some exercise for each part of the body for at least 10-20 minutes every morning.
My mini-morning workout is ideal for this purpose and you could get a free copy by emailing to [email protected]. Alva
