HEALTH / DIETING SPECIAL ........Big fat mistakes dieters make

Big fat mistakes dieters make

Dieting is not about calories or food or weight loss alone. It is a consciousness that goes with you everywhere helping you make choices that are better for your body. Whether you need to lose five kilos or 50 kilos there are certain diet rules that you just cannot afford to break. Once you internalise these rules and stick to them, weight gain is not a problem you will ever face. Water: Drinking sufficient water (1-1.5 litres a day) is a must. Drinking water at the end of a meal completes your meal and fills your stomach which in turn prevents you from reaching out for extra helpings. Waiting to drink water till you are thirsty actually makes you partially dehydrated. Dehydration results in reduction of blood volume which in turn slows down the supply of oxygen and nutrients to various cells making your metabolism slower and leads to you feeling tired more easily. Most dieters are asked to eat more fibre to feel fuller. However, if you do not drink enough water, the point of eating fibre is defeated as eating fibre without sufficient water intake leads to constipation. Portions: Eating right is essential for weight loss and maintenance. However, it is more important to eat the right quantity of the right food. Dieters must learn to control their portions as it helps them later to not put on the weight again. More portions mean more calories and more calories mean gradual weight gain. Once you teach yourself to eat limited quantities your body too will get used to it and not crave for more. Deficiencies: If you are a chronic dieter and have a habit of cutting down on meals, there are chances you might end up with nutrient deficiencies. Deficiencies of Vitamin B12 and Vitamin D3 are especially common these days due to various reasons and should be checked and corrected immediately. Deficiencies of B complex vitamins affect your body’s ability to metabolize carbohydrates that give energy. Vitamin D3 deficiencies brings down your metabolism by affecting all vital organs of the body. Since all nutrients are vital to the body, the body starts holding on to weight if you are deficient making it easier for you to gain weight and tougher to lose it. Couch potato: If you are dieting and losing the weight steadily, there will come a point when you will not be able to cut anymore calories. To last through the day certain number of calories is a must. Which is why exercise is an important to accompany diet regimes. Exercising helps you burn off the stored fat. It is the best way to shape and tone your body along with shedding those kilos. Weekend splurge: Dieting for five days out of seven is not only going to delay you from reaching your goal but it is going to make your weight very stubborn. Over weekdays you work off the stored calories and then end up replenishing the fat by binging over the weekend. Over a period of time your body will become more resistant to both the diet and the exercise and your weight will be at a standstill. Instead of binging over the weekends, allow yourself small treats throughout the week. Dieting is not about calories or food or weight loss alone. It is a consciousness that goes with you everywhere helping you make choices that are better for your body. Samreedhi Goel DNA130707