Read 50 times since Wednesday, July 13, 2011
We all want that slim, slender body allowing us to look and feel ten years younger than we are. Most people who lose weight, feel fantastic, experience a boost in energy, improvement in their hair, skin and eyes and have a zest and enthusiasm for life.
However, for many people who verge on the obese and have gone through a period of rapid weight loss or a series of diets going from extreme thinness to excess fat, the physical aesthetics of losing weight may also have a negative impact on them.
Saggy Skin and Stretch Marks
Women in particular will be concerned about sagging skin, unsightly stretchmarks on different parts of the body, excessive wrinkles and crows feet around the eyes. In a modern world where the emphasis is on looking young and with so many of the beauty magazines presenting that perfect airbrushed beauty, it's no wonder many of us are almost obsessed with maintaining our weight and losing weight often going to desperate measures.
When losing weight on a diet plan, make sure you consume enough of the good fats especially those rich in vitamin E, like avocado. Avocados are considered to be a no-no in most diets. However eaten in moderation, let's say one avocado eaten a week, you can maintain good moisture in your skin so when you lose weight you have less saggy skin. It's obviously not a cure but it will go some way to ensure you keep some skin elasticity. Other good sources of vitamin E are nuts, seeds, olives, spinach and asparagus.
Eat foods that are rich in antioxidants which are found in fruits like cherries, goji berries, mangoes; true, these are all high sugar fruits but only consume them in small quantities and occasionally, that is the trick to getting the nutrients your body and your skin needs.
Genetics also plays a major part. Some people look 20 years younger than their age naturally because they are very lucky to be genetically pre-disposed to looking younger and so when they lose weight, saggy skin or stretch marks is not so much of a problem.
Do High-Low Exercises
Our bodies are in nature like mammals in particular lions and tigers. We are naturally more attune to fight and flight which means in terms of our exercise, we should focus on doing intense workouts for a short bursts of time and then alternate those with periods of very low activity. It is also important to include a good stretching and cooling down element to your exercise regime like yoga or pilates to keep muscle tone.
Stay Away From Fad Diets
Everyone has individual body needs. Whilst one diet may work for one person, it may not work for you. Your friends and relatives will wax lyrical about the diets that have worked for them but really ask yourself first if the diet is sustainable. Can you really go 8 weeks without eating the odd bit of cheese or avoid milk if a diet asks you to omit dairy. Do your tastebuds sing with joy when you decide to go on a diet or does your body recoil in despair at the thought of being introduced to yet another diet.
All types of fad diets whether it's a juice diet, all-protein or cabbage soup leave gaping nutritional holes that will affect your skin in a bad way. After all if your body is not happy with what you put in it and your digestive system is not able to cope, it's only natural that all the unwanted toxins and unhappiness at eating something out of the ordinary will come out onto your skin, which is the largest organ and a reflection of your overall health.
Check with your doctor before you embark on a weight loss programme and always discuss any radical changes especially if you have health problems like high cholesterol, high blood pressure or diabetes.
Strict dieting can also cause severe nutritional deficiencies and a malabsorption of vitamins and minerals. So even if you take supplements, your body may not be able to metabolise these as your body is in an unhappy state. Hair loss is another very common problem which can arise from severe calorie control so this is another reason to stay away from diets that emphasise the importance of only eating a limited amount of calories per day. If you're unable to figure out what weight loss programme is good for you, Sudha Kaviraj gives great weight loss tips. Go here to download her free weight loss report, http://www.easy-weightloss-solution.com.
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