How to beat the weight loss blues
Here are a few things to remember when it comes to dieting - local dietitian Kulani Mtileni
POLOKWANE – Review caught up with local dietitian Kulani Mtileni to talk about people’s ability to stick to their resolutions of eating healthy and working out in the new year.
“People make New Year’s resolutions but by this time every year, they have already broken their promises and start their days off with a negative outlook,” he says.
According to Kulani, many people who say they have had trouble losing weight have either given up on dieting or are close to throwing in the towel.
He says there are a few things to remember when it comes to dieting, these include:
1. Avoid quick-fix diets that promise fast results, the effects wear off and you might end up gaining the weight again.
2. Always include the three main food types (protein, carbohydrates and fat) in your diet to ensure you stay healthy.
3. Struggling with your weight is a long term problem, bear in mind that addressing the problem will also take time.
4. Diet and exercise go hand-in-hand.
Kulani explains that there are other factors that affect the progress of your weight loss apart from your diet.
Skimping on sleep might lessen the benefits of dieting, according to a study recently done by Health SA. In tests involving 10 overweight adults placed on a diet, researchers found that participants lost less body fat when they slept only five hours and 14 minutes each night, compared to when they slept seven hours and 25 minutes per night.
A number of studies suggest chronic stress could contribute to weight gain. It is therefore important to find ways to relax to assist the dieting process.
Health SA did a study on 203 women (all of whom were obese and showed symptoms of depression), each taking part in one of two treatments: one focused on weight loss, and the other focused on both weight loss and depression. After six months, women who experienced improvements in depressive symptoms were found to be more likely to have lost at least five percent of their body weight. proving that eliminating stress could help you lose weight.
“Starting healthy can also mean starting with natural products. With this in mind, it is important for people need to get advice from a qualified dietitian to ensure they follow a diet that will help them in the long run,” Kulani concludes.
riana@nmgroup.co.za
