There are some women who just seem to stay slim effortlessly and just stay the same shape. What are their secrets?
For some very young girls it is fairly down to good genes — there is no real art to it. But for women in their thirties who have had babies, keeping weight stable and staying in shape is definitely an art — but it is an art we can all learn and yet still enjoy our food. I am not talking about a celebrity type figure; celebrities these days seem to vie with each other to see who can look the thinnest. I don’t think that the underfed, bony look is healthy or attractive – it is more a statement – “Hey look at me, I’m really, really slim!”
I spoke to several women and asked them their secrets.
Dianne is slim and attractive with three children. She eats cereal for breakfast with plain yoghurt — then she has a salad and protein sandwich for lunch with soup. Dinner will be a sensible serving of whatever the family is having. She says that she will have a snack or a cake if she wants it, but not every day — mainly she snacks on fruit. She also goes to dance classes because she enjoys them, and would not overeat because she feels it important to be healthy and able to look nice for herself and her husband.
Fatima says she knows her body really well. She likes the feel of her body when she is slim and can tell if she has put on weight. She loves snacking but makes sure that she only eats small portions at meal times so that she can enjoy three snacks a day.
Getting active
Fitness is for life
Working out and eating correctly are not short-term projects. They are things that should be as natural to us as brushing our teeth. Make fitness a permanent part of your life and you’ll lead a better and more fulfilling life. Commit to trying a new exercise discipline within the next month because different forms of training hit different places! For example a Pilates class will teach you how to build core training into your exercise principles, and show you how to hit your abdominals in ways that are not possible with conventional sit-ups. Why not try a kickboxing or Tae Bo class instead of the usual step or aerobics?
Recipe of the week
Grilled chicken kebabs
Serves 6
Ingredients
90 ml water
45 ml soy sauce
45 ml lemon juice
1 _ tbsp honey
_ tsp garlic powder
_ tsp ground ginger
6 boneless skinless chicken breast halves,
cut into 4 cm pieces
skewers
1 _ green bell peppers\cooked, seeded
and cut into 4 cm pieces
1 _ onions\cooked, quartered
12 large mushroom caps
Method
Combine first 6 ingredients in a glass baking dish. Add chicken and turn to coat. Cover and marinate at least 2 hours in refrigerator. Prepare grill. Remove chicken from marinade and boil marinade 10 minutes in a saucepan. Alternate chicken and vegetables on skewers. Grill 15 cm from medium-hot coals 15-20 minutes, or until done, turning and basting often with marinade.
Ask Alva
Can you tell me if my weight is OK for my age? I am 18 years old, 5’ 5” tall and weigh 59 kilos. My midriff is out of shape too. Also, my skin is dull. It doesn’t glow and my hair is falling too much. What should I do to make my skin glow and stop my falling hair? Samrah
I am happy to tell you that your weight is perfect! I expect that you need to do some exercises to tone up your tummy and if you send an e-mail to tumsan180 @naturalhealthlines.com. I will send you my Tummy Toners. My best advice to you is to ensure that you eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables every day. I can also really recommend Permea Plus tablets as they will make a difference to your complexion and will also reduce hair falling. Falling hair is a natural phenomenon, but the Gulf climate does exacerbate it. Many people rinse their hair with bottled mineral water when washing it, and you might like to try doing the same.
