I admit it. I am obsessed – with the weight loss topic. It must be seeing Helen Mirren on Kim’s Blog. Or it could be all those lovely “kurtas” I saw a couple of days ago. Or those fabulously patterned saree blouses I gawked at while out shopping. Oh, whatever, it reinforces the fact that:
a/ I want those kurtas and sexy blouses
b/ I have to tone up.
Somehow, “toning” sounds better (and easier) than saying “losing weight”. Also, after I wrote a post for B’Khush this past Sunday about ten snacks under 100 calories, I realized I was actually following some of those snack ideas. Go on, pat my back.
But it is not enough just to eat right, you know. There’s got to be more action – and we’re talking exercise here. For some people, no matter how hard they work at it, those extra pounds refuse to melt. Now, I don’t consider myself fat (what an awful word!). I just think I could do with um…toning up.
So when I read this question somewhere:
“Do you have a few extra pounds that just won’t come off no matter how much exercising and calorie counting you do?”
I said “YES!”
And, it went on to ask, “Have you noticed that you need to work harder just to maintain the same weight?
I stood up and said “YES, YES!”
Well, then? Okay, I confess, I haven’t been doing much math with calories lately. But I still had to go digging because I had to get to the bottom of this. And mine. Toning, you know. Here is what I found, that I think will be useful to all ye who fight the battle of the bulge.
- It is not so much how much you eat, than what you eat that makes all the difference when you are trying to shed extra pounds
- Diet is more important than the amount of exercise you put in
- If you’re active, but don’t eat the right foods, ye shall continue to gain weight
Which brings us to the question, which foods make us continue to gain weight? And the answer lies in refined carbohydrates such as all those yum bakery stuff made of white flour. They not only slow the metabolism but reign you in when you’re trying to lose weight. Yes, I can just see that happening to me. Just one more chocolate truffle, please? Let us not digress.
On the other hand, if you stuck to eating whole grains like brown rice, whole wheat and multi-grain foods, you do not continue to put on weight. That’s not such a hard switch, right? So skip the white flour and move to whole grains.
Foods that don’t help
Next, there are foods that are responsible for the maximum weight gain. These are: french fries, potato chips and drinks sweetened with sugar. These may not be immoral or illegal, but they are certainly fattening.
Foods that help
Let us look at foods that do help lose weight, now. Vegetables and yogurt top the list. You need three or more servings of veggies every day. (Mommy was right, after all). Yogurt helps lose weight because of the good bacteria that increase metabolism and make you feel less hungry.
Can you sleep it off?
Yes. There is a definite connection between sleep and weight gain. You can actually sleep and weight less. If you sleepless than six hours or more than eight hours at night, you gain weight. Which means, adequate sleep is the key. Not too much or too little.
Finally, say cheers!
A glass of wine per day is alright. More than a glass of wine or other types of alcohol can make you put on weight.
So, are you going for this:
 |
| French Fries. Yummy |
Or this?
 |
| Apple. Also Yummy |
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Cheers!
Vidya
8 comments
You have not given a link for patting your back 🙁
Sekhar
French fries and sleep seem like a good weight loss strategy:)
–Vidya,
I’ve NEVER been satisfied with my weight– no. matter. what. It may be a female thing. I despise the word DIET. Once I say it, I rebel against my own body.
I believe it’s all about one’s lifestyle.
And finally, if you can’t lose that last 10-20 pounds, dammit, just love yourself as you are. Ps. but…It would be beautiful have abs like Helen ! XXxxxx
Sekhar, I prefer that you do that in person.
Vishnu, that sounds like selective perception/retention :-D. Your choice is definitely satisfying.
Kim, I think each one of us secretly wants to be a different weight from what we are. But you know what? Even though I obsess with my “toning” fetish, so long as I feel good I am okay with it. Also, my folks spoil me by saying I look perfect :-D. Very hard to beat that kind of encouragement.
Sigh. I wouldn’t say no to Helen’s abs though. We can dream, can’t we?
I share the obsession, have a look at my new blog!
Hi Mlle Slimalicious – you have a cool blog. 18.5 cm in two weeks – I am envious 😀