The king of rock n roll, Elvis Presley, in one of his desperate attempts to lose weight, was rumoured to have sedated himself heavily for over two weeks so that he could sleep all the time, thus not requiring any food! However, this only left him weaker, heavier and more frustrated. In 2007, Beyonce Knowles, the popular singer admitted to following a ‘lemonade diet,’ to lose 10 kilos for an upcoming role in a movie. You can only imagine the acidity that would have caused!
All over the world, people have resorted to drastic remedies in order to rid themselves of their excess body baggage. Crash diets where only one food group is allowed (for instance, the cabbage diet), or liquid diets that serve only juices and soups but restrict solid foods have all been popular before people fell victim to their own eating habits, leading to severe physical and psychological stress.
Say no to starvation: If you’re overweight or obese, you may think that by not eating any more, your body will burn the fat that you’ve accumulated over the years. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way. “Many people make the mistake of starving in order to lose weight quickly,” says Dr Anoop Misra, Director, Centre of Internal Medicine (CIM), Fortis Hospital, New Delhi. “Excessive restriction of calories only causes a stronger appetite as it tricks the body into thinking that it requires more food due to deficiency of essential nutrients. Calorie restriction must be gradually developed over a period of time and a balanced diet should be followed.”
In order to do this, try to eat a little less at every meal, so that you’re satisfied, but not overtly full and don’t restrict any food group. Remember, it’s not the foods that are ‘bad’ but what you do to them. For instance, even the starchy potato, the villain of most weight watchers, is good for you when it is steamed and not deep fried, adds Dr.Misra who is also the Chairman, National Diabetes, Obesity and Cholesterol Foundation of India.
Beware of BMR: Just as different cars burn the same fuel differently, giving you better or worse mileage, every individual’s capacity to burn food as fuel is different too. Your body’s metabolic rate (the rate at which you burn calories even when you are at rest) begins to slow down when you starve. In the long-term, this can make losing weight much more difficult.
“It has been scientifically proven that when individuals go on prolonged fasting, the body’s basal metabolic rate (BMR) reduces to conserve energy, making it extremely difficult to lose weight despite not eating adequately. Severe starvation causes muscle wasting and creates serious electrolyte imbalances leading to cramps and other side effects,” says Mumbai-based dietician Meghna Rajpurohit.
Havoc with hormones: When you follow an extremely low calorie diet, normal hormonal functions may be temporarily or permanently disturbed, putting you at risk to thyroid disorders. “The effects of starvation on the brain can cause a lack of concentration, loss of motor skills, and increased likelihood of anxiety and depression. As the condition progresses, brain function decreases, leaving the victim in a state of fatigue or torpor,” explains Dr Misra.
Strike the right balance: If weight loss is your goal, then it’s time to re-think your relationship with food. Increase your BMR by eating small meals at short intervals; say every two-three hours. This, experts advise, will help your body burn calories faster. Combining this practice with adequate exercise will help you get rid of fat.
In all cases, moderation is the key, so just don’t exceed the ‘feed limit’!
