Obesity and beauty do not go together. It is difficult to look beautiful with bulges in the wrong places. Excess weight affects the face and figure. It also shakes one’s self confidence. Pride in one’s appearance plays an important part in being beautiful. Obesity is also a serious health hazard as the extra fat puts a strain on the heart, kidneys and liver, as well as on the large weight-bearing joints such as the hips, knees and ankles. This ultimately shortens the lifespan. It has been rightly said, the longer the belt, the shorter the life.
Overweight persons are susceptible to several diseases like coronary thrombosis, heart failure, high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, gout, liver and gallbladder disorders. Trimming your figure is, therefore, necessary for the sake of both goods looks and health. The chief cause of obesity, most often, is overeating that is, the intake of calories beyond the body’s energy requirement. Some persons are in the habit of eating much, while others may be in the habit of consuming high calorie foods. These persons gain weight continuously as they fail to adjust their appetite to reduced energy requirements. Persons who are generally unhappy, lonely or unloved and those who are discontented with their families, or social or financial standing, usually take solace in over-eating. Obesity is sometimes also the result of disturbances of the thyroid or pituitary gland. In such persons the metabolism rate is low and they keep gaining weight unless they take a low calorie diet.
Natural Remedies: Many diets are prescribed for the overweight to enable them to reduce. Some of these diets are so severe and extreme that they are likely to be more detrimental to health than being overweight. Crash diets which severely restrict food intake or exclude all but one or two items are injurious to health, irrespective of the seriousness of the problem of obesity. Not only is the health likely to suffer but the person adhering to such a diet is likely to put on many of those lost kilos back again after resumption of normal eating habits.
Another risk with most diets is that in cutting down on the amount of food, they drastically reduce the intake of vital nutrients and this may lead to tiredness and irritability. The only sensible way to lose weight and to maintain that weight loss is to follow a carefully planned course of dietetic treatment, in conjunction with suitable exercise and other measures for promoting good health. Juices of lemon, grapefruit, orange, pineapple cabbage and carrots may be taken during this period. A longer juice fast upto 40 days can also be undertaken but only under expert guidance and supervision. Alternatively, short juice fasts should be repeated at regular intervals of two months or so till the desired reduction in weight is achieved.
After the juice fast, the patient should spend the next four or five days on an all-fruit diet, taking three meals of fresh juicy fruits such as orange, grapefruit, pineapple and papaya. Thereafter, he may gradually start on a low calorie, well balanced diet of whole grains, vegetables and fruits, with emphasis on raw fruits, vegetables and fresh juices. The foods which should be drastically curtailed or altogether avoided are high-fat foods such as butter, cheese, chocolate, cream, ice-cream, fatty meats, fried foods and gravies; foods high in carbohydrates like bread, candy, cakes, cookies, cereal products, legumes, potatoes, honey, sugar, syrup and rich puddings; beverages such as aerated drinks and alcohol.
Tea and coffee should be eliminated completely. If this is not possible, they should be restricted to one or two cups a day. Herbal teas can be taken as they do not contain calories provided no sweetener is added. Lemon juice also acts as a diuretic and can be taken for this purpose first thing in the morning with hot water. Having something to drink half-an-hour before a meal also helps to take the edge off your appetite. Skimmed milk should be used in place of whole milk as this is much lower in calorie. If some snack needs to be eaten between meals, raw fruits or vegetables are preferable to biscuits and cakes. All foods should be cooked carefully to retain maximum nutrient content, without increasing the calories. This means eating raw or steamed vegetables. Nutritious but high calorie foods, such as nuts, hard cheese, commercial fruits, yoghurt and avocado pears, should be avoided. Lots of salad should be included in the diet as they are low in calories and a good source of vitamins and minerals.
Fletcherism One sure method of reducing weight is by practicing what is known as
Fletcherism: It was discovered in 1898 by Horace Fletcher of the U.S.A. Fletcher, at 40, considered himself an old man. He was 25 kilos. overweight, contracted flu every six months and constantly complained of indigestion and exhaustion. After deep study, he discovered the rules for ‘Fletcherism’ which are as follows: 1. Never eat until hungry. 2. Enjoy every bite or morsel, savoring the flavor until it is swallowed. 3. Do not eat when tired, angry, worried and at meal times refuse to think or talk about unpleasant subjects. As a result, he lost more than 27 kilos and felt better than he had for 20 years. Exercise is an important part of the weight reduction plan. It helps to use calories stored in body fat and relieves tension, besides toning up the muscles of the body.
Walking is the best exercise to begin with and may followed by running, swimming, rowing and other outdoor sports . Certain yogic asanas are highly beneficial. Not only do they break up or re-distribute fatty deposits and help slimming, but they also strenghten the flabby areas. These asanas include shalabhasana, dhanurasana, chakrasana, vajrasana, yogamudra and trikonasana. The methods for practicing these asanas have been given in Chapter 15, ‘Yoga For Youthful Looks’ . Above all, the obese person should make every effort to avoid negative emotions such as anxiety, fear, hostility and insecurity and develop a positive outlook towards life.
