Fat is the new villain and weight – loss is the new hero in town. Wherever you turn, there are advertisements showcasing self-proclaimed nutrition experts and instant weight-loss formulas. The Keto diet, Atkins diet, GM diet… Right from teenagers to the elderly, all ages pounce upon these fad programs for an instant fix, without realizing that the body is a very delicate system, and such drastic measures taken over a short period of time do more harm than good.
Body weight is primarily composed of water, bones, muscles, and fat; 70 percent of the body is composed of water. Bone and muscle weight contribute to the maximum amount of weight, and the rest is compensated by fat tissue. Fat is a concept that is very clearly misunderstood by most. About 60 percent of brain tissue is made up of fat and is essential for brain functioning.
THREE WEIGHT-LOSS BLUNDERS
Usually, quick-fix weight-loss regimes focus on instantly reducing body weight, which will be readily reflected on the weighing scales. This is achieved by the process of accelerated water loss from the body, either by fasting over long periods of time or by excessive sweating. Some even resort to pills which flush water out of the body, better known as diuretic pills. Water is the basic ingredient for body metabolism, and lack of water hampers the essential metabolic functions of the body, leading to a lower basal metabolic rate. The balance of all electrolytes in the body is maintained because of water movement, and the resultant electrolyte imbalance could even affect the functioning of major organs like the heart, liver, and kidneys, and can even be fatal at times. Water is the primary thermostatic agent for the body, resulting in temperature regulation. Lack of water may further lead to excessive body heat and can even impact brain functioning.
Another very dangerous approach is making the person believe that by completely avoiding fat (ghee, oil, butter) from the diet, one can achieve fat loss and accelerated weight loss. Fat also forms a part of a healthy balanced diet. Fat is extremely essential for brain functioning and for the lubrication of joints. It is necessary for the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (vitamin A, D, E, K).
Thirdly, a recourse taken is abusing the body for long hours daily by subjecting it to funny and repetitive exercises. This, done over a period without the right nutrition, ensures that you lose muscle and bone strength. When muscles and bones are not complemented with the right nutrition, it results in the attrition of these body components. This ensures weight loss on the scales but leaves you with an unhealthy, creaky body with aches and pains. It will also reflect as accelerated aging in the body due to the accumulation of free radicals.
THE GOLDEN RULE
The Golden rule is, never believe anybody or anything which guarantees instant weight loss. It is not the loss of weight that you are signing up for, it is the loss of health. The focus should be on being healthy and not skinny. Every individual has a particular body type that remains constant. Do not jump into any weight-loss regime based on misconceived perceptions of self or others alone. It is important to understand your body, its specific limitations, and requirements and based on that, work on a plan to stay healthy and fit.
Look for sustainability while choosing a regime and adopt a practice that you can assimilate into your routine. This rules out all the instant-fix regimes, be it diet or aggressive exercising. Give your body sufficient time to adapt and improve. As a simple marker, if your body has been neglected and is out of health for a period of 10 years, at least give yourself 10 months to get it back to a state of health.
GHEE IS GOOD
Ghee has been portrayed as a villain these days. Trust me, there is no food which is more magical than the ghee derived from the milk of a desi cow, which has been raised organically, on a hormone-free diet and whose calf has not been weaned from mother’s milk. Ghee ensures good absorption of fat-soluble vitamins. Ghee has this special property of weight-loss by mobilizing stored fat from the periphery and bringing it into circulation. Ghee also markedly increases your basal metabolic rate and strengthens the brain and spine.
MIND YOUR LIFESTYLE
Anyone desirous of health has to pay attention to the needs of the body and ensure it is well taken care of. For example, our body needs an adequate amount of water for optimum functioning, so it needs to be ensured that you consume ample water throughout the day. Also, our body prefers fresh home-cooked meals over packaged and processed foods, divided into 6-7 meals a day to ensure a steady supply of nutrition. This further avoids hunger pangs and resultant bingeing by keeping you satiated.
It is advisable to keep your food intake more towards the beginning of the day and reduce the quantities as the day progresses. Hence the saying, breakfast like a King and dinner like a pauper. Exercise should include a combination of aerobic and anaerobic exercises to keep your muscles and bones healthy. I have found holistic practices like yoga to be extremely beneficial for a balanced body and healthy mind.
WEIGHING SCALES DO NOT MEASURE HEALTH
When you plan a healthy lifestyle, it is not essential that you have weight loss, because when you start eating healthy along with optimum exercise, the fat from the peripheral areas of the body reduces and there is an increase in the bone and muscle density. This balances out the weight loss as a result of fat loss but results in a healthier you. So, scales are not the only benchmark to assess health. A healthy body should be able to function properly. If your appetite is good, you sleep well and wake up fresh, and the processes of voiding and defecation are smooth and unaided, then you can be assured that your body is in a state of health.
In a nutshell, choose health over weight loss, especially when the latter is served in small, sweet attractive capsules. Those can adversely affect your health in the long run and the damage may be irreversible.
