This morning the news reported that fad diets, while they work for weight loss in the short term, don’t work in the long term. What works? The reported concluded that exercise and healthful eating are the solution to long term weight loss. AND THIS MAKES THE NEWS? The problem with diets, to me, is that if you can go ON one, then of course, you can also go OFF of one, as well. While there is no doubt that many fad diets are incredibly effective at getting the pounds off, if it is not something you can sustain for the long haul, it is highly unlikely you will be able to maintain the loss. This is what leads to the yo-yo syndrome which is, according to those in the medical field, rather unhealthy.
While I am on this topic, I need to say, once again, as a society we need to stop confusing CARBS with CRAP! If you are eating veggies and fruits, you are eating carbs and they are NEVER going to be what’s making/keeping you overweight. From my experience, when people are successful on a low carb diet it’s because they have cut out the CRAP they ordinarily eat. The main purpose of carbohydrates in our daily “diet,” is to provide energy to all the cells in the body. If you are limiting your carbs enough, the body will resort to using the amino acids from protein, but only if your carb level is low enough to be in ketosis, which may have been a natural state for the caveman, but our modernized world has definitely not allowed for ANY of us to live like they did. Ketosis is very controversial so I leave that up to you to do your homework. Once again, this only happens when carb intake is EXTREMELY low and that means one is probably not getting ample fiber and nutrients to stay healthy even if they are losing weight. I promise that if you listed all the carbs you eat and then delete the ones that are CRAP you will lose weight–perhaps not as fast as you would like, but in a way you can sustain to maintain!
Thanks to those that came back to the mat last night, proving it pays to “advertise.” A simple reminder and a couple of flyers at the gym and class size doubled from last week to this week. I love all the classes that I teach and love all the different types of training I do during my personal training sessions, but I have to admit that the peaceful yoga/Pilates stretch and stress reduction is the one that truly nurtures all aspects of our being–body, mind and soul. As we continue to move into the season of giving, giving, giving, I hope that you will remember to take time out to give to the most important person of all….YOU. We cannot give what we don’t already have, so taking care of YOU, really benefits everyone in your world.
Finally, I have to say that as I continue my daily practice of meditation, I am feeling much more focused on who I am and what I desire at my deepest level, which is helping others to feel good in their own bodies, minds and souls. This was proof to me that taking time each day to take care of me by nurturing my spirit, allows me to appreciate how much I desire seeing others succeed in finding their own happiness through peace and fitness. Namaste.