The Fat Problem

To lose weight, the first priority is the right frame of mind. We should get over the blame game. We try to console ourselves by blaming genes & lifestyle patterns. Genes do play a role in weight gain but clearly don’t explain the rate at which the individuals are gaining weight and falling into over weight category. When do we become over weight? We fall victim to over weight when our calorie intake is more than our calorie expenditure. The easy way to find the category in which a person falls, (whether obese or not ) is by calculating Body Mass Index. BMI is a formula to access your body weight in relation to your height. Everyone should try to keep their BMI below 25.BMI between 18-25 indicates appropriate body weight. People can cut back on calorie and lose weight on almost any diet. But the real issue is not weight but keeping weight off over the long run. It is important to find a way, which you can follow for the rest of your life. Before choosing an eating plan ensure that it gives you � Satisfaction. � Lot of variety. � Good nutritive value. � Lastly, check that you are in right frame of mind to loose weight. To check that, ask yourself the following questions: 1. How much willing am I to include regular physical activity in my daily routine? 2. Am I willing to make changes in my set eating routine? 3. Do I have a realistic goal regarding weight loss? 4. Why do I want to loose weight to be healthier? Yes answer to all above questions will indicate your readiness to weight loss programme. A plan of weight loss with diet control only, is an impractical one. Physical activity is mandatory to maintaining good health & controlling weight. Aim for at least 30 minutes of daily physical activity (swimming, brisk walking, jogging etc). Most people cut on fat to loose weight. The goal should be to cut on calories. For good health, the type of fat is more important than the amount. Try to eat plenty of unsaturated fat. Limit saturated fat & avoid trans fat. Choose a variety of vegetables & fruits every day. Go easy on fruits like banana, cherries, grapes, mangoes, pineapple & pear. A diet high in fruits and vegetables, nuts, whole grains, healthy oils & daily physical activity will do the magic for you. Overweight can expose us to a variety of diseases and timely intervention can help us lead a better and healthier life.