Motivation has been hard in recent years because of the barrage of anti-diet
press and praise of bigger, fatter, more curvaceous figures. Now however,
your motivation will get a helping hand I hope, because recent research into
the causes of cancer have revealed overwhelming evidence that being slightly
thin, with low bodyfat, will protect us from at least six forms of cancer.And
despite the media’s endless insistence that there is pressure to be size zero
(UK size 4) how many people do you know who are very underweight?
I have been a nutritionist for a long time and have personally met about
three women who are a size 4.There is a saying that goes “those that can,
do, and those who can’t, criticise.” Many critics of slim figures and crash diets
are overweight themselves and resent the success of others. So please,
refuse to allow yourself to be sidetracked. It is now official: it is healthier to
be on the thin side.
Never be ashamed of being overweight however: whatever you weigh today,
you will never be this weight again.Tomorrow and the day after and the next
day, will all contribute to losing a few more ounces and they all add up. Soon
those ounces become pounds.
Starting a diet and staying with a diet are different things, however, and this is
where determination and discipline come in.
Many people will tell you that you look fine as you are, even though you
know that you’re unhappy with your size. But just because they sympathise,
doesn’t mean they understand.This constant fighting with your true feelings
is stressful and upsetting. My advice is to listen to your inner voice. In the final
analysis, an adult woman’s bodyfat should not be higher than about 28% and
although you feel healthy, if you are higher than this, we now know that this
is not healthy. Unfortunately, no amount of bravado is going to change this.
Crash dieting is important for the body and the mind. Losing a few pounds is
thrilling and tells you it’s possible. Most of the testers wanted to stay on their
crash diet either for a few weeks or for three days every week.They enjoyed
the freedom from decision-making and enjoyed feeling disciplined.Whenever
you want to give in, remember how you feel when you do. I have never met
anyone who ate a massive dinner, three times what they really needed, and
felt better the next day. I have never met anyone who waved away the
pudding and woke up next day sorry.
Golden rules
1 Never eat thoughtlessly.
2 Never eat walking along the street, in the car or at your workplace (Desk).
3 Eat at designated mealtimes.
4 Eat at a table, using proper cups, glasses, plates etc.
5 When you have finished your meal, however small it was, clean your
teeth, wash your hands and signal that your meal break is now over.
You should not be tempted to eat outside these times (at any time,
not just on your Crash Diet).
