Dieting Disasters

  •   Mon, Sep 26 2011
  •   By Nanditha T H

September 26, 2011

How to get a thin waistline? I want to lose my belly! Hmmm DIETING...? But what kind of diet? Fad diets....

Look at that gorgeous body, isn’t that a waistline to die for! Teenagers always want to be skinny as on TV, and through the media when they see these images they want to look like Kareena Kapoor. Teens are easily swayed by the seducing power of movies and television. And the first thing teenagers usually do to achieve this goal is find a fad diet.

What are fad diets?

A fad diet is a weight loss plan or aid that promises dramatic results. These diets typically don't result in long-term weight loss and they are usually not very healthy. In fact, some of these diets can actually be dangerous to your health.

Important points to remember

You need to ask yourself the following questions before you decide to follow any of the fad diet programmes.

Is it going to help me lose weight?
It the weight-loss maintainable in the long run?
Is it healthy to follow the fad diet plan?


Fad Diet Programmes

Some of the Fad Diet programmes that had made an impression on Indians are listed below:

Special K Challenge Diet

Cabbage Soup Diet

Grapefruit Diet

Some of the diet plans eliminates certain food groups that the body needs which could result to vitamins or other nutritional deficiencies.
 
For eg: Lower amounts of carbs in terms of roughage can cause chronic constipation.
 
Those that promote low carbohydrates and high protein can lessen the electrolyte levels in the body.
 
Some side effects are fatigue, sleep problems, weakness, kidney stone buildup and low blood pressure.
 
Too much or deficient amount of fluids can lead to dehydration.


What should I do if I want to lose weight?

The following are some tips that apply to any healthy weight loss plan:

  • Consult dieticians and nutrition experts before you start following any of the diet plans.
  • Eat breakfast every day and don't skip meals.
  • Eat a variety of foods (including plenty of whole grains, vegetables and fruits) to ensure that you get all of your daily nutrients.
  • Limit your daily intake of saturated fat, Trans fat, cholesterol and sodium.
  • Limit the amount of sugar in your diet. High-sugar foods are often high in calories and low in nutrients.
  • Limit liquid calories. Avoid soft drinks, alcohol and juices (choose whole fruits instead).
  • Watch the size of your portions.
  • Exercise on a regular basis. The best kind of exercise is exercise that you'll keep doing, so choose an activity that you enjoy. Aim for 30 to 60 minutes, 4 to 6 times per week.
  • Be more physically active in your daily life.
  • When it comes to your health a shortcut is not a good idea. People are always looking for shortcuts and easier ways of accomplishing goals, that is what fad diets are-an opportunity to skip regular exercise and eating sensibly.

EAT RIGHT AND STAY FIT!
By Nanditha T H
Nanditha T H has done her Msc in dietetics and applied nutrition from WGSHA, Manipal University. She has also worked in Apollo Hospitals, Bangalore as an intern (nutritionist). She loves to write.
To submit your article / poem / short story to Daijiworld, please email it to news@daijiworld.com mentioning 'Article/poem submission for daijiworld' in the subject line. Please note the following:

  • The article / poem / short story should be original and previously unpublished in other websites except in the personal blog of the author. We will cross-check the originality of the article, and if found to be copied from another source in whole or in parts without appropriate acknowledgment, the submission will be rejected.
  • The author of the poem / article / short story should include a brief self-introduction limited to 500 characters and his/her recent picture (optional). Pictures relevant to the article may also be sent (optional), provided they are not bound by copyright. Travelogues should be sent along with relevant pictures not sourced from the Internet. Travelogues without relevant pictures will be rejected.
  • In case of a short story / article, the write-up should be at least one-and-a-half pages in word document in Times New Roman font 12 (or, about 700-800 words). Contributors are requested to keep their write-ups limited to a maximum of four pages. Longer write-ups may be sent in parts to publish in installments. Each installment should be sent within a week of the previous installment. A single poem sent for publication should be at least 3/4th of a page in length. Multiple short poems may be submitted for single publication.
  • All submissions should be in Microsoft Word format or text file. Pictures should not be larger than 1000 pixels in width, and of good resolution. Pictures should be attached separately in the mail and may be numbered if the author wants them to be placed in order.
  • Submission of the article / poem / short story does not automatically entail that it would be published. Daijiworld editors will examine each submission and decide on its acceptance/rejection purely based on merit.
  • Daijiworld reserves the right to edit the submission if necessary for grammar and spelling, without compromising on the author's tone and message.
  • Daijiworld reserves the right to reject submissions without prior notice. Mails/calls on the status of the submission will not be entertained. Contributors are requested to be patient.
  • The article / poem / short story should not be targeted directly or indirectly at any individual/group/community. Daijiworld will not assume responsibility for factual errors in the submission.
  • Once accepted, the article / poem / short story will be published as and when we have space. Publication may take up to four weeks from the date of submission of the write-up, depending on the number of submissions we receive. No author will be published twice in succession or twice within a fortnight.
  • Time-bound articles (example, on Mother's Day) should be sent at least a week in advance. Please specify the occasion as well as the date on which you would like it published while sending the write-up.

Comment on this article

  • Irshad, Jubail-KSA

    Sun, Feb 12 2012

    Nice Article Nandita.. keep writing

  • Suzi, Bangalore

    Sun, Oct 02 2011

    Good one sweetie...! keep writing...well done...

  • Canute, Mangalore

    Wed, Sep 28 2011

    Thank you Nindita, soo nice!!

  • Veronica Alva, Udupi/Dubai

    Tue, Sep 27 2011

    Thanks Nandita,indeed very informative and must read article specially for teenagers who spoil their health by doing unwanted things with the half knowledge they have mainly for maintaining their figure.This article will surely educate them in this area.Keep writing more articles on this.May God bless you.Best wishes Veronica.

  • ashenoy, mangloor

    Mon, Sep 26 2011

    Other than starving,the only formula to maintain waistline is to toil and do hard labour work and eat plenty of healthy food. Sweat wholeday and relax after work. There is nothing better than that.

  • Anthony Misquith, UpperBendore /Dubai

    Mon, Sep 26 2011

    *Very Good Article Nandita *

    Keep it up

  • L N Rego, Bendur

    Mon, Sep 26 2011

    It is height of foolishness to think that if you are skinny you look gorgeous. Keep fit, no doubt about it but not at the cost of your own health.
    Good and timely message, good one Daiji keep coming with more articles to awaken our youngees.

  • Jawar D'Souza, m'lore/Doha

    Mon, Sep 26 2011

    The best way to keep a healthy body is eating some nut's like walnuts, badams, its also good to eat some dates,prunes dry appricots etc. You dont have to eat a lot of these, only a few two or three etc. Water melon is also good for you. One more thing is
    never check your illness, you might be diabetic or have cholestrol if you check about it it will give you tesion and atomatically the illness will increase. You know you have these disease just be carefull that you eat something which will increase te disease.

  • Naveen dcosta, Kirem / China Hangzhou

    Mon, Sep 26 2011

    Thanks Nandita nice Article

  • KGShenoy, Mangalore/Dubai

    Mon, Sep 26 2011

    A major part of the world population is worried about and struggling to survive because of lack of adequate quantity of food,and the the other part though small but in substantial in number struggling to lose weight by spending a fortune at doctors,various health clinics, health clubs,expensive medicines and health supplements without regrets but with depression of having to sacrifice their desire to have favourite food.

  • JRAO,

    Mon, Sep 26 2011

    THANK YOU NANDITA FOR CLEARING DOUBTS ABOUT DIETINNG AND ALSO PROS & CONS ABOUT DIETING TO THE COMMON MAN IN GENERAL AND CONCERNED IN PARTICULAR.


Leave a Comment

Title: Dieting Disasters



You have 2000 characters left.

Disclaimer:

Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. Daijiworld.com will not be responsible for any defamatory message posted under this article.

Please note that sending false messages to insult, defame, intimidate, mislead or deceive people or to intentionally cause public disorder is punishable under law. It is obligatory on Daijiworld to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request.

Hence, sending offensive comments using daijiworld will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will Daijiworld.com be held responsible.