Losing weight is on everybody’s mind. There are a number of popular slimming diets in the market that guarantee results if you follow them to the tee. To name a few, we have the Atkins diet, the south beach diet, Mediterranean diet, cabbage soup diet. They are making waves because they show quick results.
I believe there are a lot of factors that must be considered before you perform this dreadful act of following any of the above diets. It’s flawed to the core and just after you finish reading my article, you will know why.
Did you know that the bathroom scale does not provide accurate information about your body at all? All it provides is your total weight which is pretty much useless. We have these online BMI calculators and Body fat % calculators that claim to give the correct picture.
I’d say, just use a measuring tape to note progress because if you are exercising and losing weight, you would be losing inches around your waist. Let’s understand why the bathroom scale is evidently so unreliable. The body comprises of water, bone mass, muscle mass, fat, organs and tissues which accounts for the complete mass or the actual weight of the person. Let’s say Janet lost 5 pounds in the first week just through diet, this is how her body weight is affected:
As you notice, her bone mass and muscle mass are affected the most. Janet followed a diet that made her see results on her bathroom scale but in reality she lost muscle mass. And as she grows older with her sedentary life style, her bone density will also decrease with time. What is she doing wrong? Let’s change the way, Janet loses her weight. She did aerobic exercises for forty five minutes, five days a week. We made her join the gym and she spent time on the treadmill, cycle and the stepper. This time around she lost 5 pounds in the first week. Let’s look at what’s happening to her body:
She lost water due to sweating and a bit of her muscle mass which was used as fuel for energy during her work out session. Her bone mass is on the downside as she is ageing. Wow, Janet is putting in all the efforts. She is happy with the results which she sees on herself. Her skin is glowing. She has even lost a few pounds and now she can fit into her favorite pair of jeans too. Then why is the chart showing us a different picture?
The point is if you want to lose weight, there is the right way and the wrong way. The right approach will make your life longer, help you stay fit and retain your youthful appearance for years to come.
This is how Janet not only lost 5 pounds but also a few inches by the end of 4 weeks. And this time, the right way of course. She had carbs before and after each workout session. She balanced cardio with weight training and also followed a strict diet. She also added a healthy supplement called whey protein to her diet and consumed 4-6 litres of water to replenish her system.
Study the chart. As you can see, Janet’s bones mass, muscle mass have improved. Her body fat has also reduced a little bit. She feels strong and energetic at all times.
Remember, the best way of knowing your progress is by using a measuring tape apart from the weighing machine.
Weight training is the most important part of any exercise session and it can be done three times a week on alternate days giving enough time to your muscles for healing. There are a number of free videos online that show you how to do it. Happy exercising!(The charts do not specify the exact percentage in anyway but have been used to describe the changes in the body’s anatomy)
Deepa Khare
Deepa shares this important message of wellness.
