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Diets -
I must confess I'm not one for "diets". Have you ever wondered why there are so many
different types around? Could it be they just don't work?
Now before you say, "Ah,
but I lost three stone on the cut out everything you enjoy diet", just consider whether
you put it all back on again, and more, once you stopped. Or maybe, you haven't stopped
and are still consciously thinking about, and cutting out, certain things from your
daily diet.
How boring!
Of course there are certain foods, which really are junk foods
and do you no good at all, but some of these fad diets are quite ridiculous. If you
really think about it, the manufacturers of the diet products don't actually want
you to
lose weight anyway otherwise they'd lose their market. Weight loss or gain
is big business.
Whilst we may not like to hear it, we are all the result of our own
actions. Unless we have some medical problem, anyone who is overweight or underweight
is that way because of what, how and when they eat, and that includes me and YOU!
We
were all born with a perfect weight control. It is known as "appetite". If you've
ever tried to feed a baby you'll know how difficult it is to overfeed him or her.
Too much and they'll either close their little mouths up tight, turn their heads
to the side, or bring the milk straight back up again.
It's only as we get older and
learn to associate food with love and socialising that problems arise. Somewhere
along the way, instead of stopping when we are full, as all wild animals do, we force
the food into our stomach and that stretches to accommodate it.
Why do we do that?
Well, it probably starts when we are very small and we hear things like, "If you
don't clean your plate up you can't have dessert", r, "Don't waste food, it's too
expensive", or "I've spent hours cooking that", or "There are thousands of people
starving in the world so you ought to be grateful". I'm sure you get the picture.
Anyway,
whatever the reason, most of us end up eating more than we need especially if we
don't eat consciously.
How many of you have eaten whilst reading a book, sitting
at a computer, watching a film, or nibbled whilst preparing a meal? Do you actually
remember what the food tasted like, or even eating it? I know sometimes I've looked
at an empty plate and wondered where the food had gone. How about you?
Then there's
Christmas, Birthdays and Anniversaries. Come on now, how many of you have over eaten
then? I know I have and regretted it afterwards. It's as if we all think we have
to gorge ourselves on these occasions because we don't see that type of food very
often and want to make the most of it. However, if we knew we could eat the same
sort of food every day, I'm sure we wouldn't bother.
Restriction and deprivation create
desire and cravings, which is why most diets don't work in the long run. Your body
knows what it wants and needs. If you give it a bit of everything you enjoy; eat
slowly, sensibly and consciously, there should be no need for "diets".
Also you have
to be realistic. Everyone has their own body shape and bone structure so it's no
good losing weight in the hope you'll look like someone else. You won't.
No matter
how many pounds I shed, my legs will never be four inches longer and I will forever
be known as "shorta..e", which I take as a term of endearment.
If you get to the weight
your body feels comfortable with you'll look as good as YOU possibly can. However,
you do need to exercise to keep your bones strong and your blood-
if you're not fit and healthy too.
Jean Shaw© -