REASONS BEHIND WEIGHT GAIN

Do you find yourself wondering why do you gain weight? Besides overeating or unhealthy food choices and lack of exercise, there are other reasons too that can contribute to weight gain. 

Stress

Different people react differently to stress. Some can stress without letting it disrupt their lives. For others adversities, past baggages, demanding jobs, and frustrations of daily life can build up causing a huge amount of stress that interferes with their ability to cope. When that happens, our bodies secrete cortisol, which is a stress hormone. And to make things worse, it increases one's appetite. It's no surprise that people under stress are tempted to indulge in high calorie foods for comfort. And this causes weight gain. And the weight gain takes it toll on the body, slowing us down and even making us unhappy. No person on the already heavy side is happy to gain weight. It's a vicious cycle. Stress-cortisol-high calorie food-weight gain-stress. There are so many ways you can beat stress. One thing I would suggest is to pay attention to your attitude and how you react in difficult or challenging situations.  A small effort in changing our attitude helps  us to cope and accept  things we cannot change or which is beyond our control. Stressful mindset attracts more chaos and more misery. When you keep good faith, you are bound to attract more good.   Stress cannot resolve problems in life.  Share your concerns with a trusted friend or family member.  If you feel you are unable to cope and it's interfering with your life, don't hesitate in seeking help, counsel or advise of an expert. 

Hypothyroidism

Have you been gaining weight, feeling tired, weak, cold? Then it's about time you visited your doctor and got a thyroid test done to ensure you are not having hypothyroidism. If your body does not make enough thyroid hormone, your metabolism slows down which can lead to weight gain. Your doctor would prescribe medication to correct your thyroid functioning. 

Ageing 

As we age, our metabolism slows down, and we burn less calories, which makes us gain weight easily. Refrain from high calorie foods. It's important to ensure that you exercise to help burn calories and maintain a balanced weight.

NINE COMMON MISTAKES THAT AGE YOU

I was going through an article on MSN healthy living - 9 Common Mistakes that Age you. I thought this is something I must share on my blog. 

Do you love ice creams, sweets, pastries, cakes, burgers, shakes and those endless list of tantalizing, easy to buy, easily available, easy to eat foods ? Have you thought how our lifestyle choices, certain foods we eat, if we skimp on sleep or if we work too hard, how it can accelerate the ageing process, and make us unhealthy. We excitedly and joyfully send down a variety of food into our bellies. We know it doesn't end with just chewing and swallowing all that tasty stuff. We hardly bother about what happens in there... A huge complex chemical processing goes on inside.  Are you concerned if the food you ate just now, was it serving you nutritionally, adding to your health or destroying your health in slow steady manner? Are you a workaholic, do you work too hard? Do you feel you live a stressful life? How about exercise - do you do any, do you love it or hate it?  Why should  you apply sunblock? 

I have to restrict my ice creams to just once in a while after reading  what the sugar we consume turns into, the chemical process and what happens. 

We all know what is bad for us. Like a label, good/bad.  But if you knew exactly why certain foods are bad, what it does to you,  why should you avoid it and why is there such an importance being given to 'healthy lifestyle', this must read article on MSN - Healthy Living, that will definitely encourage to adopt a healthy lifestyle.

To read the article click 9 common mistakes that age you

WEIGHT LOSS - POWER OF THINKING THIN

It's been a long while since I posted on 'Weight Loss'. There is a reason. I have not been doing justice to my weight maintenance plan. And I have a lot of work to do. But I also know, that weight loss is achievable. 

How would you define your relationship with food? Do you obsess about food? I was talking to a dear friend and we both agreed, we tend to think about what to eat next, what to cook next, let me try out this recipe, that recipe. Sometimes, we remind ourselves, that we talk so much about food, what restaurant we've been to, or that new restaurant is really good, have you been there...you know, we ordered this and that, oh gosh, it was so delicious..... Whenever we go out, the climax to enjoying the outdoors would end in devouring our favorite foods or trying out some new food in a new restaurant. We have an ocean of restaurants around us that can be so tempting. Thanks to advertisements and tantalizing photographs of food everywhere, we can spoil ourselves tirelessly and mindlessly. I told her, when I return from vacation, we can help each other lose weight. 

Poor digestive system. What must be happening inside our body when we eat all those food to entertain ourselves?. Who shall we blame when we get lifestyle illnesses, but us, for our careless food habits and overindulgence.  Don't we all engage in some sort of gluttony except for those really enlightened ones who is mindful of everything that they eat, because they know, what long term effect those sweets and fatty foods can have on their health and they consciously restrain from pleasing their taste buds and abusing their bodies. They care about themselves, they care about their health. That's called being responsible for your well being. They care about their liver, pancreas, heart, kidneys and they know how food has a direct effect on our brain, our moods, thinking and clarity of mind. And how being obese or overweight puts their knees, spine and hips under tremendous pressure. What happens when a machine is overworked, overused and not maintained according to specs? Breakdown right? That is what will happen to our bodies. Breakdown and refusal to do it's part because it has been abused, overworked and not maintained. So follow those specs of healthy eating and exercising, you can turn into an enlightened being too!. 

We are hard wired to think about food, because food was always ingrained in our subconscious as the ultimate celebration of all events, everything happy from childhood. When food lovers are stressed they go for chocolates, cakes, pastries and carbs and fattening foods. These foods release serotonin the feel good hormone. Like a drug addict or alocholic getting his kicks, we depend on the temporary feel good element food can provide us. The other day, I picked up a 5 kg rice bag from the supermarket.  It was so heavy. Well I could carry it, lift it and keep it in the trolley. My husband asked me, that's heavy, how did you lift it?. Imagine, all I did was just lift a 5 kg rice bag and place in my trolley. What if I didn't keep the bag in the trolley and instead walked around for an hour with that bag, how about two of those five kg bags? I would have collapsed, well I would have given up after a little while. I would not last for an hour. Same way, if we are overweight by 5 kg or 10 kg, we are actually struggling each day for 365 days a year to carry about that extra weight. It's as if a 5 kg or 10 kg rice bag has been strapped on to us.  It is actually weighing you down, tiring you out, limiting you from experiencing and enjoying life to the fullest.  If you are overweight, or desirous of losing weight, next time you go to a supermarket, try lifting a 5 kg rice bag and hold it for a short while, and put it down,  you will know what I mean. Imagine the strain and difficulty if you carried two of such bags! So you see, if you weighed 5 kg less, how much lighter and better you would feel. You would be flying around like an acrobat.

Food is for nourishment, not for stuffing or abusing the body. The ego is always on an uncontrollable journey of extremes, believe it or not. Most of the time, we act out of habit rather than logic. The ego says, I want that now, I want this, let me do this, let me eat this,  the ego cannot think of consequences, or whether a choice is right or wrong.  There is something beyond the ego, beyond your conditioning and your learned habits. Your true essence. What if you stop entertaining your ego and stop giving in to your unhealthy eating habits, and turn to thinking thin? 

Thinking thin is a commitment. Stop thinking of all kinds of food that's not good for you for a month. Make a healthy meal plan and stick to it. Think thin. Write down all the foods you need to avoid,  in journal under title 'Not Good, Unhealthy' and names of all the food that would help you become thin, under 'Thin and Healthy'. Now you know what foods to stay away from and what foods you should eat. Imagine yourself shedding weight each week and you will. Early morning or before you retire to bed, write an affirmation or mantra in your journal. Write a whole page. For example, "I shall only eat healthy food and stay away from all kinds of food that's bad for me". "I will do what it takes to lose weight by eating healthy and exercising". Be committed to get through the first month successfully and continue the same for the next month and the month after, until you reach your target. 

Eat healthy for a month, and you will be so happy with the result that you will experience a re-birth with your new awareness, with your improved state of health and shedding of weight. You will forever want to follow 'Think thin', a permanent journey of good health.  You my friend, will be astounded and thrilled at your weight loss. Think thin ! Oh one more thing, no crash diets, no yo-yo diets, no weight loss pills,  please. They are harmful. 

THE RELATION BETWEEN YOUR FOOD AND YOUR MOOD

The real reason of you being depressed, negative, angry, unwell or just not right could actually be what you eat! - Lissa Coffey

NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER - GRAIN BRAIN : HOW CARBS ARE DESTROYING OUR BRAIN

Renowned neurologist David Perlmutter, MD, has written book on how carbohydrates are destroying our brain. Even the healthy carbs like whole grains can cause dementia, ADHD, anxiety, chronic headaches, depression, and lot more. Dr. Perlmutter explains why your brain thrives on fat and cholesterol, and how you can spur the growth of new brain cells at any age. The book covers in depth at how we can take control of our "smart genes" through specific dietary choices and lifestyle habits, demonstrating how to remedy our most feared maladies without drugs. GRAIN BRAIN teaches us how we can reprogram our genetic destiny for the better in a four week plan.

WEIGHT LOSS - ONE UNIVERSAL STATEMENT, MAKE IT WORK FOR YOU

T-shirt at Centrepoint, Salmiyah

With all my recent illness, my diet and health both were on a continual roller coaster ride and I despised every moment of it. 

Every one who has lost weight or is trying to lose weight knows how important it is to be consistent with food choices to promote weight loss and to exercise faithfully. And yes we have our days or even phases when there is a total relapse and food habits go haywire. And when that happens, we assure ourselves with the universal statement, 'I shall diet tomorrow'. We don't mean to fool ourselves with that statement. Somewhere deep inside, we truly wish to keep that promise, but the action plan keeps getting postponed for either genuine or lame reasons. Does this feeling sound familiar? It does, doesn't it? 

It only 'seems' hard to get back on track if you've strayed from your path in your journey of weight loss. I used the word 'seems' because, honestly, what is it, that you cannot do, if you were to put your mind, heart and soul into your goal? Right, you see what I mean, so keep that promise and get back on track, eat less, eat healthy, stay away from refined flour products, sweets and fatty foods and you are on your way. Every time I go on a weight loss plan, I feel like a tortoise, the weight loss seems like a very slow affair. But you know what, don't worry about how slow it is. The important thing is you are on the right track and don't give up and in a couple of months, you will be see amazing results. 

Start now to sculpt a new amazing healthier, slimmer you by 2014. The New Year is only 3 months away!

WEIGHT LOSS - AWARENESS OF WHAT YOU EAT

Have you have been struggling to lose weight and return to old eating habits because 'dieting' seems hard, tiring and boring? 

Does losing weight eventually seems like a far fetched dream? 

Do you fool yourself into saying, 'I'll diet tomorrow', so that you can 'enjoy your favorite calorie rich food' today? 

Is your food laden with fat, sugar and salt? 

Do you binge all the time? 

Do you overeat during meals? 

If you answer yes to the first question and any one of the rest of the questions,  let me assure you weight loss is definitely something you can achieve. Only on one condition, by making it easy on yourself. And how you do that?  Be good and extra loving and caring to yourself. Make that one decision you have been afraid or reluctant to make. And make that decision soon. I know it's seems hard and tough to follow through once you decide to lose weight. The easy way out is living in denial and eating all that you desire. But the not so easy part about it is suffering silently from being overweight. So many people have taken the decision to lose weight by making healthy food choices and are living testimonies today after successfully reaching their target weight, even if meant months or year(s) of sincere efforts. And that's guaranteed to change into a healthier (and happier) person.  I must admit sometimes, we are very much aware of what we eat and how much we eat. It's just that, we don't care enough to make healthy choices and let temptation and habit take over. 

If you feel you are eating in moderation and still find it hard to lose weight, make a journal and write down what you eat, is your food high in calories, are you eating and not exercising? The calories expended should be more than the calories consumed for you to lose weight. Don't compare yourself with those who eat and not put on weight, because some of us are genetically hardwired to put on weight. Yes, some of us have to eat less than our 'skinny' friends who eat more and don't put on weight. Eating less does not mean we should starve. Make healthy food choices, eat less carbohydrates and wheat based food, refrain from eating junk, and high calorie foods. You can have a small treats in moderation once a week so you don't get tempted. No matter how boring you find exercise or if you 'don't have time' for exercise, there is no better solution, except to 'make time' for exercise. 

Daily awareness of what and how much you eat will help you lose weight. 

WEIGHT LOSS - SIR PETER JACKSON WEIGHT LOSS SUCCESS

A few years ago, Sir Peter Jackson, New Zealand film director, producer, screenwriter made headlines when he lost 70 pounds in just one year and looked ten years younger. He looked like a totally different person. He told the Daily Telegraph,  "I just got tired of being overweight and unfit, so I changed my diet from hamburgers to yoghurt, muesli and soup,  it seems to work,". Jackson's amazing weight loss success and his huge transformation was the result of  his resolve to completely make a lifestyle change towards healthier eating. 

Sir Peter Jackson, is known for his timeless classics like The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit adapted from the novels by the same name by J.R.R. Tolkien.  His other films include King Kong, Heavenly Creatures, The Frighteners, Forgotten Silver, Dead Alive/Braindead, The Lovely Bones. He has produced District 9, West of Memphis, and Adventures of Tintin: The secret of the unicorn. 

When we look at overweight people who have been totally successful at losing weight and looking healthy and fabulous, it's an inspiration for those aspiring to lose weight. Their story  is a promise that weight loss would take time, but it's definitely possible if you make a firm resolve to make a life style change and eat mindfully and exercise. 

WEIGHT LOSS - YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE SUPER SKINNY

Super skinny models in magazines and even super skinny mannequins in shop windows make normal women look fat. I personally know a few people who are obsessed with being skinny.  They struggle everyday - they literally starve, purge, take laxatives and the weighing scale determines their happiness quotient. They don't care if their body is denied of nourishment and nutrients. 

Somehow it's in built in us to compare ourselves with others, including appearance. When women look at pictures, or advertisements of super skinny models and or look at super skinny mannequins in shop windows who are a size 6 or even less (what's that, like a small child size body?!, I don't know...), it dampens their self esteem. It's important to think differently about your body. You don't have to be super thin to feel beautiful. You just have to be kind and caring towards your body by eating healthy, living a healthy lifestyle, get some exercise and have a healthy attitude towards life without following fad diets or taking extreme measures. It's important to have a body weight in proportion to your height mainly for health reasons and of course healthy weight will make you feel good in every way and keep illness at bay. 

MOISTURIZING AND ANTI CELLULITE JEANS FROM WRANGLER

Wrangler's Denim Spa  has introduced a line of  skinny jeans with  "moistuizing and "slimming ingredients". It's reported that proven skincare ingredients rose hip oil, retinol, caffeine and shea butter are integrated directly into the fabric and dried in an oven. These are called "cosmetotextiles". When these skinny jeans are worn, they will make the skin silky smooth and allegedly reduce cellulite. The three different finishes in skinny jeans by Wrangler are infused with one of three ingredients: "Aloe Vera" to soothe sensitive skin, "Olive Extract" to moisturize or "Smooth Legs" with special formula of algae extracts, retinol and caffeine to combat cellulite. 

These moisturizing and anti cellulite ingredients in the jeans are claimed to last for 15 days (four to six washes). Not to worry, spend some more money and reload sprays are also available, which can be sprayed on the jeans to maintain the fabric's potency. The jeans sell for $150 on asos.com . Wrangler is said to have road-tested the jeans on 160 women. Apparently after 4 weeks,  69%  of them reported that the "state and appearance" of their thighs had improved. Lizzie Jagger, 28 (Rock star Mick Jagger's daughter), who already has good genes and slim legs modeled the brand for Wrangler's campaign ad. "After a day wearing Denim Spa, my legs feel great. They come out feeling more silky than usual," said Lizzie Jagger in the promotional video.

Dear weight loss aspirants, you can wear slimming outfits, sure it would aid you to look a bit slimmer, it's your choice what clothes you wear, but the absolute truth is you still have to make that lifestyle change, eat less, eat healthy and exercise to lose weight which will also help you get a healthy radiant skin. Personally I enjoy splashing a beautifully fragrant moisturizing body lotion on after a shower. 

WEIGHT LOSS - BEGIN YOUR WEIGHT LOSS IN THE KITCHEN

The kitchen is the food haven, where cookies, chocolates, cakes, chips, coke are kept within easy reach. The refrigerator and freezer too can contain food that taste great and are high in calories. For an weight loss aspirant, the availability of high calories food within one's easy reach is a curse, only if you allow yourself to eat them. So what do you do? The power to choose and decide is within you. Your past eating  habits and temptation can force your mind to play games with you. Will you command your hand to reach out and place the calorie rich food in your mouth - the main doorway that actually leads you to weight gain? Or are you going to say, no matter how badly my mind tempts me to reach out for what I shouldn't be eating, I will go for the healthy stuff? 

AVOIDING WEIGHT GAN IN CHILDREN - WORKSHOP AT SIX SENSES SPA

There will be a free workshop by Trudy Collins for parents on the importance of avoiding weight gain and promoting healthy eating in children. The seminar will be held at Six Senses Spa, Hotel Missoni, Salmiyah on Wednesday, 13 February at 10 am. If you are parent and have young children, do attend the seminar as it's important to introduce healthy eating patterns in children from a young age.

For reserving your seat at the Worshop, contact Six Senses Spa at  25770077

WEIGHT LOSS - EVERYONE HAS WILL POWER BUT ARE YOU READY TO CHANGE?

When I came across this quote, I thought, 'My God, this is so true'. There was a time when I used to think not everyone has the will power. To be specific, when I used to try to lose weight around 10 years ago, my problem was will power. I thought I didn't have enough will power to follow through a weight loss plan. I used to get tired, impatient and fed up after a few days of dieting and then go back to regular eating habits. Couple of years later, about 8 years ago to be precise, when my doctor encouraged me to lose weight after a hip injury, I had no choice, but start a healthy diet plan to reduce my weight. With much resistance and struggle  between my mind and body, I overcame and cast away all old eating habits and began to enjoy eating healthy.  The happiness in seeing the weight drop, encouraged me to continue. I realized something very important that time. Losing weight had nothing to do with my will power. I had plenty of will power. I was 'willing' to lose weight. But I wasn't ready to change. I started to shed weight, as soon as I 'changed' my eating habits and let go of the foods that are fattening, ate less, made conscious food choices and exercised. In the process, I changed as well for the better. It was my readiness to change and stick to that change, that helped me lose weight. 

So don't ever think you don't have enough will power. Yes you do. You just have to be ready to change your thoughts and choices and habits revolving around food. In order to change your eating habits, you have to make a decision. When you start eating less, eating healthy, stop eating all the high calorie laden foods and exercise 5 times a week, you will lose weight. And if you follow through this plan, you are guaranteed to lose weight and feel wonderful about yourself and your achievement. 

HOW TO GET YOURSELF TO EXERCISE AND STOP GIVING EXCUSES

Have you felt like this? You want to exercise, really intend to. But then when it's time to actually exercise, as if under some spell, you start making excuses until the urge to exercise goes away. And you tell yourself, okay, I am going to really start or go back to my exercise regime 'tomorrow' or 'next week', giving yourself false promises, followed by a false sense or relief. Somewhere inside, you feel bad for a while and then give up and go back to a sedentary routine and once in while remind yourself, 'oh I should start exercising' and the desire remains somewhere at the end of your wish list.

Well, you know what you have to do? Go against your mind and body's lethargy. Don't live under the umbrella of procrastination. Don't listen to those excuses that crops up whatever they might be. Block them. Defy them. And "just start" exercising for at least 10 minutes a day, 5 times a week. Its' not a huge amount of time. In a few days to a week,  you will begin to feel comfortable exercising and look forward to those special 10 minutes. Do you know why? It's because you begin to feel good, vibrant and more energetic as exercise releases good hormones into your blood stream. You get to enjoy physical and psychological benefits you never experienced before. Gradually increase it to 15 minutes and then, a little more. In a few weeks, increase it to half an hour and then gradually in few months, exercise for 45 minutes to an hour. 

Make exercise a compulsory and essential part of life and enjoy a multitude of health benefits. 

EXERCISE TO LOOK AND FEEL GOOD

Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going. - Jim Ryan.

Winter is when people tend to eat more. Summer is approaching in two months and it's time to get rid of the excess weight you might have put on during winter or even through time. Motivate yourself to get started. Make exercise a part of your daily routine, an essential habit. It will make you look and feel good, improve your health and uplift your spirits. 

This photo was taken at Adidas outlet, Birmingham. 

POWER OF WEIGHT WATCHERS MEETING - SARAH JACKSON LOST 86.5 POUNDS

I was reading about this amazing weight loss journey of Sarah Jackson from Coventry, West Midlands on Daily Mail. Her  video of weight loss which you can click to watch below, has become a you tube sensation and a huge motivation for those who want to lose weight. Read her success story here at Daily Mail . Sarah Jackson was a size 24 before and she is a size 10 now and aspires to lose more weight. Before she lost weight, she used to spend 4000 pounds a year on junk food and she ate food that would be normally eaten by 4 or 5 persons! The meetings she attended at Weight Watchers and the group support she received along with a healthy life style helped her lose all the excess weight.  She has now become a Weight Watcher's Leader after successfully shedding all the extra weight. 

It just got me thinking. I was telling my husband, when an obese person looks at a regular thin person, she or he hardly finds any motivation to lose weight. One would go, 'she/he is lucky to be thin, I will never be able to become that thin'.  But if an overweight or obese person were to read or look a videos of actual success stories of people who were once like them, who went through the same food addictions, struggles, disappointments and somehow found the encouragement and a great will to lose weight, now that's a huge motivation to lose weight. A weight loss aspirant can actually identify with the person who was in their situation and follow guidelines and tips that worked for them and incorporate all the practical advises and experience the joy of weight loss. All this proves 'yes, it is definitely possible to lose weight'. Anyone can!

Sarah Jackson Weight loss - Before and After photos 

WEIGHT LOSS SUCCESS

If you are on a weight loss regime and find it difficult to stick to a calorie controlled meal plan or regular exercise, it can be frustrating, disheartening and bit of a mind war. And you end up looking at the thin friends or people around you and secretly wish you could be like them and seal your fate by thinking, you can never do it. And you continue to carry the burden of your weight, and you and only you know how tired you are it. Everyone who has been on a weight reduction plan, has experienced this. There could a be a lot of reasons for this. Let's explore some of them and what reinforcing and positive action plan you can take

* You cook for your family and you are tempted to eat what you cook for them

Action - Start small by making minor or small changes. Eat whatever you cook for them but in less amount using a small plate. Avoid the fried items and sugary stuff. Slowly introduce more of salads, fruits, and grilled lean meat, chicken into your diet and eat less of what you cook for your family. Slowly give up junk food and all those hight calorie sweets by realizing they really do you no good except harm. Within one or two months, women can go on a 1200 calorie diet, gradually moving to a 1000 calorie diet. Men can go on a 1500 calorie diet and move on to 1300 calorie diet. Use less oil while cooking. During this process prepare healthy meals for your family. Get them into a healthy eating plan.

* You hold a party or attend a party and you are tempted to eat all that you prepared or offered

Action - Temptation can be overcome by two important actions - understanding and self restraint. You can restrain from eating whats fattening by understanding what food groups will help you lose weight and what food groups will increase your weight. What do you choose? You dont want to sabotage your diet by consuming foods that's not necessary for your body right? Go for the salads or any foods that have lesser calories in them during a party. Don't fill your plate. Eat in managed amounts. Don't go for a second helping. Enjoy the interaction and companionship of your friends rather than stuff yourself with food.

* At a buffet

Action - If its just you and your immediately family, you can opt for an a la carte menu rather than a buffet so you reduce your temptation and inclination to overeat. If you are invited to a buffet by relatives or friends, its natural you can't refuse the invitation just because you are trying to lose weight. There will be a variety of tantalizing food which you'd be eager to try. Look for low calorie foods in the buffet, avoid the fried and sugary items. Go for the soup or have lots of salad with least dressing. That should fill you up. Take your own time to finish the soup or salad, so you feel full already. Wait for a while and go for a small main meal comprising of one of two items, whatever is least in calories. By all means, skip the dessert - don't even look at it! Enjoy the company of your family or friends giving the least improtance to food.

* When you are offered juice, cakes, pastries, savouries, cookies at the office or friends' places

Action - If its fresh juice without added sugar, you can go for it. Say no to everything else, even if its home made. You are not going to offend anyone. Tell them you are avoiding all this as a part of your healthy eating plan and change in lifestyle. Avoid artificial juices. Be polite and firm while declining. Don't subject yourself to pleasing them by eating what your body does not require.

* You are surrounded by kids or siblings or family who munch on snacks or eat chocolates and you get tempted

Action - Leave that room. Say no if you are offered these snacks that have lots of calories. Slowly talk them into eating less of those which are not good for them either.

* You dislike exercising

Action - The truth is a lot of people dislike exercising. The bigger truth is we are not built to be sedentary. As humans we are not supposed to be sitting in one place for a long time. We can't help it if we have a 8 to 5 job that requires a lot of sedentary work. Then come home and sit in front of computer t.v. makes it worse. Exercise makes the body release good hormones that makes us feel good, reduces stress, creates more clarity of thought, helps burn calories and keeps us fit. A lethargic life is not what we are meant for. Start slow, start small. Exercise for 10 minutes, gradually increasing it to half hour in two weeks. After a month or two, try to exercise for an hour, for 3 to 5 times a week.

* You feel you can never reach your target weight

Action - Remember, it took you a long time, perhaps years to gain all the extra weight. Losing all that will take time. Its important to be patient and not worry about 'when' you would reach your goal weight. Concentrate on each day. What you do each day is more important. Be true to yourself. When you follow a low calorie diet the entire week, it can get boring. So allow yourself a cheat meal once a week. A piece of chocolate, a tiny burger, or a scoop of icecream or a tiny piece of cake. The important thing is not to go overboard by  overeating or overindulging during a cheat day. You have the power within you to eat in moderate amounts what you desire staying within the 1000 to 1200 calorie range. Read as many weight loss success stories as possible. It will make you realize, how so many overweight and obese people managed to lose weight within 6 months to one year. It does not matter if its take even more than a year. What counts is you don't give up and strive to carry on.

* Stress eating

Action - Sometimes we feel like eating when we are worried, sad or stressed. All the fats and sweets give us a temporary sense of comfort. But at the end, you'd be feeling worse for having indulged. All this perhaps in utter secrecy - the pain of which is only known to you and no one else. No amount of overeating or indulging has solved any problems or issues. So whatever action you need to take or need not take regarding the problems or issues, please don't go to seek comfort in food. No one has felt any better for long after doing so.

* Hard to lose weight because you eat out or at the canteen/cafeteria during lunch

Action - Take a little trouble. Prepare low calorie food for yourself the previous night and carry your lunch to office. Or choose foods that have least calories from the restaurant menu or cafeteria. The former is the best option so there is no room for excuse.

* When you look at thin people, you feel you can never be like them

Action - Everyone is unique and so are you. Your features, looks, body shape, even weight is determined by your genetic makeup. You certainly don't share your friend's genetic make up. You dont have to be like anyone and you cannot look like anyone else, well except by mere coincidence. You might have a pear or apple shaped figure, while a friend might have an hour glass figure. You can exercise those areas that require extra toning. When you lose overall weight, you are going to look fanstastic.  Losing weight is for your own good, for your health, so you don't lose out on life or become ill due to excess weight. Your sincere everyday efforts and patience will pay off. You will lose weight and the thin person hidden inside of you will come out. It shouldn't matter if you are an hour glass, apple or pear shaped (which you are genetically predisposed to). What truly matters is a healty weight and healthy lifestyle free of disease. Be happy with the person you are. With every little effort and ceaseless determination to lose weight, you will be a witness to  fabulous results each month.

WEIGHT LOSS - WHAT WOULD YOU CHOOSE?

I stumbled upon this short but profound statement....

Life is hard. You just have to choose which hard you want - obesity or transformation 

(Bellyfit Club)

I couldn't agree more with this statement. You know, reading this statement took me way back to 2004, when  I was on the heavier side. I was getting treated for a severe hip injury.  My doctor told me all sorts of scary things that can happen if I wasn't going to lose weight. I was at a turning point in my life, where I had to decide whether I chose illness or good health. My doctor literally forced me to lose weight.  The only magic that happened really was changing my attitude and mindset towards food, exercising restraint against cravings, a healthy low calorie diet and plenty of exercise and giving priority to my health and wellbeing. It took me around 8 to 10 months to reach my target weight ideal to my height. And at the end of it all,  I was so happy, relieved and I cannot express how good and lighter I felt. Over the years, I had to manage my weight and like all people, I do get tempted, and I do have a tendency to put on a few kilos if I don't watch my diet or exercise. I know weight management is  a life long process. But it's not a hard thing, as I have understood why it's so important to eat right and eat healthy. So I've grown to be aware of what I eat and drink.  At times I do allow myself to eat some of my favourite stuff in managed amounts that would not obstruct my calorie intake.

If you choose transformation then you also know what you have to let go, and what you have to do to lose weight. It's simple, eat less, eat healthy and exercise. It's just a matter of changing your old food habits to an improved one. The transition from unhealthy eating habits and sedentary life style to a healthy one might seem hard. It's only temporary phase and you will get through - be hell bent on transformation! And believe me, you have all the power within you  to lose weight. Just don't go back to your old eating and drinking habits and say no to junk food, overeating and binging.

Visit my previous posts on healthy weight loss, go to the title 'Labels' on the right column of my blog page and click on  'weight loss'.

DO YOU SUFFER FROM GAS AND BLOATING?

I have a relative, he's is in early sixties now. Many years ago, although he was a slim person, he had this unbelievably huge stomach and he suffered from gas and bloating and discomfort after having food. Finally after years of suffering, he visited a doctor, who put him on a healthy wholesome diet that brought about unbelievable results. His stomach became almost flat. When you change your eating habits, understand what foods your body can digest and cannot, you will find enormous changes in your body and you will actually feel healthier and relieved.

Do you experience bloating, gas, belching, reflux, heartburn, burning in the stomach, constipation, or a heavy feeling in the stomach after eating?. This is due to the fact that the stomach is unable to make enough acid for the digestive process. And usually we mistake the symptoms for high stomach acid. Relying on antacid tablets are not good for the body and will not solve your problem on a permanent basis. When the stomach does not produce enough acid for digestion, the food stays in the stomach and starts to ferment, which causes gas to be released. The gas is released by burping or it can get trapped giving terrible, sometimes excrutiating pain in various parts of the body like under the shoulder, shoulder blade, around upper or lower spine, in either of the arms, around the ribs, or aches in upper or lower back. Sometimes while the gas escapes, some of the stomach contents, which are acidic, travels into the esophagus. This is what causes "heart burn".

I've listed various reasons that cause tiredness or lethargy after eating, gas, bloating, heartburn, belching, pain in chest or back.  You can avoid them to prevent indigestion. Try to eat less and light at every meal. Have plenty of fruits and vegetables. Include salads, vegetable proteins, lean meat and fish.

* Overeating
* Consuming high fat, fried and sugary foods
* Wheat based items (breads, pasta, pastries, cakes etc.)
* Stress (and eating when upset)
* Alcoholic beverages

* Too much salt in the diet (causes water retention and bloating)
* Eating too fast
* Eating large meals
* Overconsumption of protein
* Dairy (some find it difficult to digest milk, butter, cream, cheese. However, consuming low fat yoghurt is okay)
* Smoking
* Constant binging on high calorie snacks

* Eating too  many processed foods, juices and drinks

* Consuming too many nuts (although nuts are healthy - to some people they cause indigestion, bloating and gas)

* Too much fibre (Although fibre in diet is a must, some cannot digest fibre)

Through years of unhealthy eating patterns, whether on a meat based diet or vegetarian diet, people carry within their bodies anywhere from 10 to 50 pounds of accumulated toxic waste . Majority is stored in the colon. The fermentation and putrefaction of undigested food become toxic waste in the large intestine. These toxic waste sticks to the walls of the large intestine and becomes a breeding ground for many diseases. They not only cause disease, but rob you of your vital energy and your power to concentrate.

The treatment that helps remove toxic waste from the colon is called Colon hydrotherapy. It's a natural method that involves gently washing long-term wastes from the entire length of the large intestine or colon. Purified water is slowly and carefully introduced into the colon via a speculum inserted in the rectum. The water is set at a pleasant temperature, and a trained colon hydrotherapist is present at all times to monitor the comfort of the client. Wastes flow out through a clear plastic pipe attached to the speculum into a clear glass tube in the colon hydrotherapy machine. It is safe and not painful. You can discuss with a gastroentrologist to determine the reason behind your symptoms. If you don't have any other issue related to your stomach, you can request for a colon cleasing. You might have to repeat the sessions once every two months until all the toxic waste is completely cleared.

When these toxic waste is removed, it is only natural, that you will experience 3 to 7 pounds of weight loss! the body's digestive power would be restored, your body will gain back its natural strength to heal, fight disease and you will experience renewed energy and vitality.

BEE POLLEN AS SUPER HEALTH FOOD AND FOR WEIGHT LOSS

Bee Pollen (Sultan Center, Al Kout Mall)

Bees carry pollen into their hive. Pollen is the male seed of the flowers. Worker bees pack the pollen into a brood cell with its head. Brood cells are chambers of wood and mud, created by female ground-nesting bees. The pollen is mixed with honey, enzymes, fungi and bacteria, organisms that transform the pollen into bee bread. The pollen is high in nutrition. Bee pollen or bee bread is the foremost source of protein for the hive. Its the food for the young bee. Bee pollen or bee bread contains nearly all nutrients required by humans so they are considered one of nature's completely nourishing foods. They are harvested by humans for consumption as nutritional supplement for better health.

Pollen is considered an energy and nutritive tonic in Chinese medicine. According to researchers at the Institute of Apiculture, Taranov, Russia, "Honeybee pollen is the richest source of vitamins found in Nature in a single food". Let's see what are the benefits of bee pollen.

* Improves endurance and vitality

* Extends longevity

* Aids recovery from chronic illnesses

* Reduces cravings and addictions

* Regulates digestion

* Aids in building new blood

* Has antibiotic properties and prevents infectious diseases such as the cold and flu

* Helps to overcome retardation and other developmental problems in children

* When bee pollen is given to anemic patients, their level of hemoglobin increases considerably

* Stimulates ovarian function and believed to overcome infertility

* Increases strength and stamina upto 25% - most athletes take bee pollen supplements

* Believed to clear asthmatic effects and sinus

* Bee pollen supposedly works wonders in a weight-control or weight-stabilization  by correcting a possible chemical imbalance in body metabolism.

* Bee pollen stimulates the metabolic processes. It speeds caloric burn  and is being recognized as Nature's weight-loss food.

* Is a low-calorie food. It contains only ninety calories per ounce (2 heaped tablespoons) 

* It contains lecithin, a substance that helps dissolve and flush fat from the body.

* Helps eliminate cravings

* Improved skin

* It is  thought to protect against radiation and to have anti-cancer qualities

How to introduce Bee Pollen in your diet

If you are a first time user, place one granule under your tongue and let it be absorbed by mucous membrane. This is to test for any allergic reactions. You should discontinue if you get any sort of allergic reactions like shortness of breath, hives, swelling, difficulty swallowing, runny nose, headache, itchiness,  fever, rash, or anything else. This is because your body is being introduced to something new and your immune system needs time to adjust to it. If you don't experience any allergic reactions, gradually increase the number of granules; one granule on first two days, followed by two granules for next two days and so on . In a span of 2 weeks you can move on to 1 teaspoon and finally 1 tablespoon, couples of weeks later. Powder the granules and you can have it by adding it to your water or juice or sprinkling it on your food. Pregnant and breast feeding women should not have bee pollen. Personally I feel it shouldn't be given to children just in case they might get an allergic reaction. It is alright for adults to try it out, but please strictly adhere to the suggested method of use. Bee Pollen is available in Sultan Center (all outlets).