Veena before (left) and after Image Credit: Supplied

Its easy to fall into the well of self-deprecation when others validate your worst thoughts. I used to think others called me fat because I was fat, recalls Veena B.Nair. The mother-of-two found herself agreeing with body-shamers more and more as she hit 90kg.

Then when she decided to stop working in Dubai and focus on a being a homemaker in 2018, she also resolved to make a change. I was just trying my own thing. I was going through videos etc. and basically they all spoke about reducing carbs. I have purely focused on [food to lose weight], she says.

She explains that she can spilt her weight-loss journey into three stages. In the first and second stages the self-confessed foodie stopped eating from restaurants. She stopped eating non-vegetarian food and she cut down on her portion sizes. Instead of 4 chappatis [flat bread]that I was eating I would eat 1.5, she explains.

Every week Nair would check her weight. And every time there was a drop in numbers shed celebrate. The feeling that overtook her was So I can reduce [weight too].

She also began to drink more and more water. Once I started drinking water I could see the results. I was drinking 3 litres of water [every day] for 3 months, she explains. She drank water before meals to curb appetite, she drank water when she was bored; she drank water through the day.

She said goodbye to her favourite treats from the bakery or just hot off the wok.

As for exercise, she says laughing: Exercise I didnt do much - only housework. And sometimes I will do walking or something, but it was not a factor at all - I was lazy to do [any more exercise].

At the end of three months, she lost 15kg.

Early days

Nair has always loved her food, but the weight began to pile on soon after puberty. She has PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), a common hormonal issue, that can lead to weight gain. Her menstrual cycle was irregular it would come once every 45 days or so, she recalls. Doctors told her to lose weight and people used to make fun like, you are growing size wise not height wise, she says.

She had tried over the years to kill the kilos but nothing had worked and for each child she had, she gained 10kg.

So it was heartening for her to see the change from phase one It was very motivational for me to see my looks change, she says. And the reception this got was even more gratifying.

She happily headed into stage 2, where she increased her food intake, still boycotting all meat products and keeping away from food from outside.

Over the next three months, she lost 5 more kilos. Her menstrual cycle became regular and she began to see a change in herself.

Finally, in stage three she went back to eating non-vegetarian food. By now Nair had honed her skill keeping portion sizes small and limiting her intake of unhealthy goods. She was also determined to lose weight.

She lost, in another 6 months, another 6 kilos.

After this giant drop, she began to draw concern for being too thin and as a result began to let her hair down, ending 2019 4kg heavier. Shes maintained this new goal weight - 68- since.

Complications

Thats not to say there werent any hiccups. One problem I faced later on was I started feeling my skin is having some problem. Like that time I went to a dermatologist. She said its ok, because you have reduced so much of weight, maybe because of that. I was having hair fall and skin issues, she says. She hadnt been on supplements of any sort. But this has since balanced out.

Its easy to fall into the well of self-loathing when others give voice to your worst thoughts. But grit will always beat the nexus of negativity. And when it does, the butterfly will emerge.

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UAE weight-loss: 'How I lost 26kg in one year without going to a gym' - Gulf News

Getting your steps in each day provides many benefits, mentally and physically. While any movement throughout the day, walking or otherwise, can be helpful for weight loss, there is research that suggests walking after a meal may provide additional benefits. Let's take a look at how exercise can influence weight loss, how much you need to walk each day, how to maximize the benefits of exercise, and why this is ultimately the best time to walk to lose weight. And for more healthy tips, be sure to check out our list of 21 Best Healthy Cooking Hacks of All Time.

We each have a base amount of calories we burn in a day. This is often referred to as your resting metabolism, and while that number stays relatively stable, the amount of movement we do each day through walking around the house, running errands, and intentional exercise can significantly increase your total calorie burn.

Weight loss is not always a straightforward calorie equation, but energy in versus energy out plays a major role in weight loss. Adding more movement each day is likely to be helpful in that calorie equation and aid in a weight loss goal.

Additionally, exercise can help manage blood sugar levels, another benefit aiding in weight loss. A 2016 study found walking for 10 minutes after each meal helps to lower blood sugar levels in those with Type 2 diabetes more than walking for 30 consecutive minutes at any other time throughout the day. While this study focused on those with diabetes, it is reasonable to expect similar outcomes in those with prediabetes, according to this study from 2013.

What is the mechanism behind exercise helping manage blood sugar levels? It is pretty simple. As your heart rate increases during moderate-intensity exercise, your muscles start to prefer carbohydrate, or sugar, as a primary energy source. When you eat carbohydrates at a meal, your blood sugar naturally starts to rise and it is the job of insulin to help pull that sugar out of the blood and deliver it to the different tissues of the body. Walking increases the amount of sugar your muscles require and helps to make use of the excess sugar that may be in your bloodstream following a meal.

Managing blood sugar levels is extremely important for cardiovascular health and may also make weight loss easier. Post-meal exercise serves two major benefits for weight management: It increases calorie burn to encourage your body to use fat as an energy source, and it helps manage blood sugar levels that support overall health and alleviate the pancreas of additional work trying to manage blood sugar with insulin.

While there are many recommendations that exist for the amount and type of exercise you should be getting, the American Heart Association recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, like walking, each week. Walking just 21 minutes per day at a moderate speed may reduce the risk for heart disease and Type 2 diabetes, which is especially important for the 34.5% all US adults who have prediabetes and can support better bone health and promote less weight gain.

Walking at any time during the day can be beneficial for physical and mental well-being, however, walking after meals may be particularly helpful for those with pre-diabetes and Type 2 diabetes as the increased movement is able to remove some of the excess sugar in the blood and put it to work in muscle tissue. For those without any health conditions who are aiming to lose weight or use exercise to prevent future health complications, walking can be a valuable component in your daily routine.

To get started today, here are30 Tips When You're Walking for Weight Loss.

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Walking At This Time Can Help You Lose More Weight - Yahoo Canada Shine On

GEMMA Collins shows no signs of slowing down her weight loss journey as she dazzles in a pyjama set.

Theself-confessed diva, 39, looked slimmer than ever after dropping 3stone, as she tried to cheer up fans by wishing them a "magical Monday".

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Lying on a cream striped chaise, Gemma beamed towards the camera as she leaned her head on her hand.

Her wavy blonde locks rested on the shoulders of her bright blue hoodie and matching pyjama trouser set.

The statement PJs are part of her Gemma Collection clothing collection which she launched to cater to plus-size women.

Gemma captioned the post: "Wishing you all a BEAUTIFUL MAGICAL MONDAY .

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"Waiting till 6pm for announcements can make the day a little unsteady for us so sending lots of love !!!".

Gemma referred to the Prime Minster Boris Johnson's address to the nation today at 6pm announcing a new lockdown system that divides the country into different tiers.

The Essex lass has been on an impressive weight loss journey over the past year, which has seen her lose a whopping three stone.

Fans flocked to the comment section to praise Gemma on how well she's looking as one said:"You look amazing!"

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Another added: "Keep up the good work Gems"

And a third said: "You look absolutely amazing ."

The GC's weight loss journeyhas been credited to her following a range of hardcore diets and by using weight loss jabs.

The 250 shots act as an appetite suppressant and help the body turn stored fat into energy.

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Speaking on Instagram, the star opened up about her controversial way of losing weight and told fans: "They have transformed my whole life with regards to dieting."

But despite praising the product on her platform, Gemma was recentlyrapped for breaching ad rules by promoting the weight loss jab, after she didn't make it clear she was advertising it on her platform.

Gemma has treated herself to various other procedures since shedding the pounds, including ahydro oxygen facialback in August.

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'much classier'Katie Price shows off dramatically short hair after cutting out extensions

HOLY SMOKESCan you spot the Hollywood heart-throb filming Batman with Robert Pattinson?

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THEN AND NOWTowie fans stunned by how much Chloe Sims has changed since first appearance

Last week she got apainful "jawline tightening" treatment to make herself look permanently contoured.

She filmed herself getting the procedure and told fans: "Girls, if any of you are trying to contour your face, this is the best girl to do it. Ive got no filter, I've got nothing on my face."

The beautician explained: "Basically we are doing a jawline contouring and tightening treatment. There's no needles, it's literally done with a machine."

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Gemma Collins looks slimmer than ever in pyjamas after 3st weight loss in Happy Monday snap - The Sun

Exercise plays a crucial role in aiding weight loss. Choosing the right regime that actually helps you meet your goal and matches your requirement is imperative to losing weight and maintaining it in the long run. However, it can just so happen that you do everything right but still don't see the number on the weighing scale budge. Or even worse, you start to feel heavier than usual.

The 'wrong' kind of exercise, if not well-suited for your needs might just go against your goals and actually make you prone to putting on more weight. It could also be one of the reasons you are not seeing the results you imagined in the first place.

If you have been training for a while and not getting to the goal you wanted to be at, here are some signs your workout may not be the best for weight loss. Watch out for these:

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Weight loss: Signs your workout is actually making you gain more weight - Times of India

Photo illustration by Slate. Photos by Ljupco/iStock/Getty Images Plus and stargatechris/iStock/Getty Images Plus.

John thinks he knows the formula for losing weight: increase his exercise and quit the peanut M&Ms. He has a strong incentive to get fitat 72 and about to retire, he wants not only to have more energy to play pickleball and travel, but also to reduce his blood pressure medication. But for some reason, John cant stay in the right headspace to actually make the change. On a recent episode of How To!, Katy Milkman, a behavioral economist at the University of Pennsylvania and host of the podcast Choiceology, shares the science behind why we hold ourselves back from making real change and, moreover, how we can engineer our way into healthier, happier lives. With the right set up, the most difficult thingslike losing weightmay be easier andmore enjoyable than we thought. This transcript has been condensed and edited for clarity.

Charles Duhigg: Katy, what was your path to studying how people change their behaviors?Katy Milkman: My passion was engineering, but I found myself outside of the classroom wondering about self-control problems that I had and that my friends had. I was always curiouswhy we can solve very sophisticated problems and build bridges effectively, but we cant solve our own very simple problems?

I had issues trying to get myself to the gym at the end of a long day. I was a very competitive tennis player in high school and college, but I quit the varsity tennis team halfway through college. I still really wanted to stay in shape, but I struggled to find ways to get myself to the gym at the end of a long day of classes because I was tired. All I really wanted to do was lie down on the couch and watch TV or curl up with a good book. I realized maybe I can solve both of these problems in the very same way. So I concocted a scheme where I allowed myself only to enjoy those kinds of indulgencesspecifically I got really into audio novelswhen I was exercising. I would come home from a long day and I would find myself looking forward to a workout because I was gonna get to find out what happens next in my latest novel. Time flew when I was at the gym. It was really fun to workout. I call that temptation bundling and Ive studied it and showed that its not just meit can be useful for other people as well.

Charles: John, what do you feel like youre struggling with the most when it comes to weight loss? Is there something you could apply this idea of temptation bundling to?

John: Right now I find that one of my challenges is my wife, my second marriage. With the pandemic, my wife has been cooking cakes, so Im not watching my meals and Im eating unhealthy snacks or too much or the wrong food. If theres sugary things in the house, then thats where I migrate. The other day, for instance, our daughter-in-law brought us food from the store and at the last minute my wife says, Oh, get a big jar of peanut M&Ms.

Charles: Oh no.

John: They sit there on the counter. Since last Saturday Ive done great because I visualized that my wife had sneezed in the container! I thought, Oh no way am I going to have a handful of those now. And then last night I just had to have a handful of peanut M&Ms. If they hadnt been there, I never wouldve thought of that.

Katy: Food is a tough one. When I use it in temptation bundling, its usually the temptation component. What you can do is find a way to ensure that for every meal you have options ready that you are going to enjoy even if they arent peanut M&Ms. Another big thing to think about is restricting your access to that unhealthy food. It sounds like your environment is filled with temptations if youve got these peanut M&Ms on the counter and your wife is baking cakes. I think you need to work with your wife on creating that environment in your home so that you purge the unhealthy snacks as much as possible or put them in a locked cabinet that shes got the combination for, so if she doesnt want to restrict herself, theres a way to restrict you at least.

Charles: If you went to your wife and you said, Honey, I love you. But I dont love the fact that there are cakes around me. Can we take all the sweets and put them in a locked cabinet? And you have the key. How do you think shed react to that?

John: In general, I think shed be supportive. We dated in high school, went our separate ways, then got back together 40 years later. In some ways, its a perpetual honeymoon, but in a couple of ways, there are some challenges in our relationship. Shes more in the camp of we are who we are and we cant change. And Im more in the camp of Oh, we can always change. Thats what life is all about. And we kind of butt heads over that sometimes. When it gets distilled down to talking about eating, if I want to pay a lot of attention to the food I eat, she sees it as obsessing. I know she feels hurt if I dont want to eat whatever she cooks, so I havent actually talked to her about some of these things. But I absolutely need to do that. I will actually. I will commit to doing that.

Get more expert tips from Charles Duhigg and his guests every week.

Charles: Katy, what John is saying makes sensethe things that we struggle with are so influenced by the people around us and in their attitudes to the change that were trying to create. What do we know about the science behind this?

Katy: Absolutely. Its so social. We have a lot of evidence supporting everything you just said the people around us are a huge contributor to our behavior. So if everybody around you starts eating more, youre much more likely to do the same and vice versa. John, if your wife decided she wanted to cut back, you would be likely to eat a little bit less and lose a little bit more. Trying to get on the same page is going to be really valuable for your success. With my dad, for example, Ive been very worried about his physical activity levels, so I convinced him to buy a Fitbit, which I also have. We have the ability to see each others stepsand he knows Im watching. In fact, he confessed to me that his steps werent uploading and he spent 2 hours on the phone with Fitbit support because he was so upset that I would think he hadnt walked enough that day.

Often a big opportunity is to figure out a third-party perspective on any kind of disagreement youre currently having with your partner. How would another person see this conflict and what would they think? This can help relieve some of the emotional tension. Maybe see if your wife would be open to thinking about your desire to lose weight from a third-party perspective. [Especially as you approach your retirement], this moment can feel like a breaking point from normal moments. Ive done research on the moments when people are more likely to try to make a change in their lives, and what weve found is the start of a new era, the start of your retirement years, the start of a new decade, even something as trivial as the start of a new week, help us step back and think big picture. What are our goals? That motivates us to start new projects and feel more separated from our past failings. For example, I had always wanted to write a book and just hadnt gotten up the nerve to do it. At the same time, my husband and I had been thinking about moving. We had a young son. We were ready to be out of an apartment and into a house. The day that we signed and became owners of a new house is the day that I sent out emails to agents and started the book-writing process. I just finished writing a book called How to Change. So the new house was the thing that pushed me over. It was a new era.

Charles: Okay, but what happens when the fresh start doesnt work so smoothly?

Katy: Yes, youre going to slip up. Nobodys perfect. One risk when you make plans to change like this is something called the what-the-hell effect. (I love that theres an academic term called the what-the-hell effect.) A challenge with this kind of rigid plan is youll never actually live up to all of your objectives. A big problem can be when you slip up saying, Oh, what the hell, I give up. If you have a plan for the day and you eat a cinnamon bun for breakfast because your wife just made a beautiful cinnamon bun, then you say, Oh, what the hell? Let me just have a steak and fries and pie for lunch. So when you have a plan you also have to think what will happen when you slip off track. What will you do? How will you get back on track? How will you forgive yourself? And how do you avoid slipping off track all the time and being too forgiving? Theres a sort of tightrope you have to walk. But if you can make progress for a month, even when you lose motivation little, you probably wont fall all the way off the wagon because you do build some habits. In my studies, about 30 percent of the behaviors we start doing for a month around, say, exercise, tend to stickeven if all of the tricks weve been using to put those good behaviors in place are pulled away. Habit can be really helpful.

Just one last thing to keep in mind is something called a commitment device. There are actually a couple of different websites you can use where you can put money down that youll forfeitor even send to a charity you hateif you fail to achieve some stated goal. Nike has made the Just Do It model such a part of our culture. But the research so consistently shows that its just not that easy. Our motivation does wax and wane. We need these systems. You have to recognize that it wont be easy to just do it. Willpower is hard. When you see that temptation, you reach for it. So the more you can do to structure the choices to help yourself, the better.

John: That might actually work. If I was going to commit $500 to Donald Trumps campaign, I think I would lose the weight in two days.

To hear Katy help John find the words to convince his wife to stop baking so many sweets, listen to the episode by clicking the player below or subscribing to How To! with Charles Duhigg wherever you get your podcasts.

Readers like you make our work possible. Help us continue to provide the reporting, commentary, and criticism you wont find anywhere else.

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This Clever Technique Will Help You Lose Weight and Stay Fit - Slate

The recent report on Global Weight Loss Programs Market is a compilation of factual market data and insightful data points drawn from it to better understand the prospects of Weight Loss Programs in global market scenario. A host of factors that are directly, indirectly, positively, or negatively influencing the performance of market have been subject to critical assessment to evaluate their extent of impact on market growth. This section not only helps readers to learn about the top growth supporting factors but also notifies them about the equally important challenges facing them in marketplace.

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Following the disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, majority of organizations across various industries have restructured their budget to reinstate the profit trajectory for the upcoming years. Our comprehensive analysis provides actionable insights and can help you develop critical approaches to further business expansion.

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Weight Loss Programs Market Summary, Trends, Sizing Analysis and Forecast To 2025 - Express Journal

We have all heard that to curve your appetite just drink water to make your stomach feel full and you wont eat as much. Water doesnt help you eat less, says Barbara Rolls, a nutritionist at Penn State University. The body has different satiety points for food and water, and one doesnt translate to the other. But eating foods high in water content could satisfy appetite and curb calorie consumption.

Some people have said that drinking can hurt the digestion of your food. Drinking water with your meal may cause acidity in your stomach, as water dilutes the gastric juice released in the stomach and slows down the process of digestion. That may cause the undigested food in your stomach causes acid reflux and heartburn. There is no research that says drinking water during meals is a bad idea. There are however a few studies that hint toward people suffering from gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) should avoid having liquids with meals as drinking liquid adds volume to the stomach leading to an increased risk of acid reflux, thereby worsening the condition of GERD patients.

Hunger and satiety are body sensations. Hunger motivates you to consume food. Satiety is the absence of hunger. Satiety is the sensation of feeling full. Satiety signals arise from your GI tract and other related organs during your meal. Satiety signals influence your eating behavior by activating neurons in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) in the hindbrain. Satiety limits further food intake after you have a meal. Your hypothalamus gland, which is part of your central nervous system, regulates the amount of food you consume. Emotional and psychological factors also can cause or delay satiety. People with emotional issues may be totally satisfied by only a few bites of food.

A number of hormonal help to regulate your satiety. Leptin is produced by your fat cells. Leptin is considered a satiety hormone that reduces appetite and helps make you feel full. As one of your signaling hormone, its role is to communicate with the hypothalamus gland, which is the portion of your brain that regulates appetite and food intake. The stomach to help stimulate appetite secretes Ghrelin, another hormone. Hormones stimulating satiety include cholecystokinin (CCK)which is released from the gut to feedback by way of vagus nerves. Hormones OXM and PYY from the large intestine and pancreatic polypeptide (PP) released from the islets of Langerhans.

We require more water than any other thing we ingest. We may survive for a few weeks without food, but we would only last a few days without water. Water makes up more than two thirds of your body weight.

Drinking water is important all year around but you need to be especially meticulous about drinking water when the weather is hot. Two thirds of your body is composed of water. This makes it the bodys most vital nutrient. To maintain balance the average person needs about 2,500 ml. (about 10 cups) per day. Of this amount probably 60% will be obtained from drinking water or beverages, 30% from moist foods and the remaining 10% will be a by product of the metabolism of various nutrients. Are eight cups enough? The fact is, how much water you need to drink each day depends on a few factors, including your age, gender, activity level, humidity and even the weather. The Institute of Medicine, which sets Dietary Reference Intakes for all nutrients, says that in general, women need around 11 cups of water a day, while men need 15.6 cups a day. Water normally enters the body through the mouth but it can be lost in a number of ways. These include obvious losses as in urine, feces and sweat as well as less obvious losses, which occur by diffusion of water through the skin (perspiration throughout the day as part of metabolism) and by evaporation of water from the lungs during breathing.

To lose weight youll need both a nutritional and exercise plan. Scientists at the University of Colorado and Brown Medical School followed more than 10,000 Americans who lost weight and kept it off for years. Only 1% kept the pounds off with exercise alone, 10% did it with diet alone, and 89% using both.

Eating stimulates your body to burn calories because the digestion process uses a lot of energy. The body needs carbohydrates, fats, protein, vitamins, minerals, fiber and water to be healthy. Without proper nutrition and exercise, optimal health cannot be attained. Carbohydrates, fats and protein supply energy (calories) necessary for work and normal body functions. Vitamins, minerals, fiber and water do not have caloric value but are still necessary for normal body functions. The average American consumes 40% fat, 30% carbohydrates and 30% proteins daily. The average diet should consist of 15% fat, 20% protein and 65% complex carbohydrates. Saturated fats should make up less than 10% of your total fat intake. Make sure you consume between 12 to 15 calories per pound of body weight daily.

Instead of drinking water to lose weight work out for 30-60 minutes every day. Walking is great for the beginner and jogging can become addictive. Youll also want to do toning exercises for each part of the body such as weight training or calisthenics.

Strengthening muscles, tendons and ligaments with resistance exercise will make you stronger, help support the skeletal system and joints. Stronger muscles, tendons and ligaments can reduce your risk of having joint problems and help existing joint problems. You should talk with your doctor before you start because depending on what the joint problem, resistance training may aggravate it.

Aerobic exercises (walking, jogging, biking or swimming continuously for 15 minutes or more) are important but muscle-strengthening exercises are just as important to have a fit body. In fact, strength-building exercises are a necessary part of an aerobic program because they help keep the bones and joints strong enough to withstand aerobic training.

The key to fat loss is planning. Make a schedule for your exercise and a menu for your nutritional needs. Dont forget to get some sleep. Sleep is one of the other areas you have to fix if you want lasting healthy weight loss. Thats another article.

If you have a fitness question or concern you would like addressed write to: Tips to be Fit, P.O. Box 53443, Philadelphia, PA 19105 or tipstobefit@gmail.com. If youve missed an article of Tips to be Fit just search for Tips to be Fit.

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Tips To Be Fit: How important is water to trying to lose weight? - The Philadelphia Tribune

The key to understanding weight loss lies deep within your body, in the hormone insulin. Understand how it works and you will be able to conquer your inability to lose weight,explains CyrusKhambatta, Ph.D., co-author of Mastering Diabetes, The Revolutionary Method to Reverse Insulin Resistance Permanently in Type 1, Type 1.5, Type 2, Prediabetes, and Gestational Diabetes, with his co-author Robby Barbaro. The authors want to help you understand the role that insulin plays in your body, yourweight-lossjourney, and your life.

In the world of weight loss,the general perception is that it's impossible to lose weight and keep it off. As medical professionals who have treated people struggling with their weight, or have diabetes, pre-diabetes, and other metabolic disorders, we have seen it all. And the most common complaint among our patients is: "I've tried everydiet on the planet and nothing works."

Is this true? Is losing weight and keeping it off truly impossible? Why do some peoplemanage to succeed whileothers spend years yo-yo dieting, finally get frustrated, and give up? The truth is that your body weight is influenced by many physical, emotional, and mental aspects of your life.Blamingyour inability to lose weight on a single reason often results in oversimplifying a complex collection of biological processes.

When I started my career to help people with diabetes understand how to eat for excellent health, I never thought that one day I would become a weight loss coach. But helping more than 10,000 people lose weightand keep it off has given me the impetus to deep-dive into scientific research to find out the answer to a simple question:

From reading thousands of papers about weight loss, insulin resistance, diabetes, and heart disease, one thing has become abundantly clearin order to lose weight and keep it off in the long-term, its essential to understand the role that insulin plays in your body.

Truly understanding how insulin works will not only help you lose weight, it can actually save your life. The problem is that most people misunderstand the role insulin plays, and believe that it is simply a signal to tell the body that there is too much sugar present and to store it as fat. That's an oversimplification that can sabotage your best efforts. Here is the way it works:

The reason is simple: the amount of insulin that your pancreas secretes in the fasting and fed state is one of the most important determinants of your ability to lose weight now and into the future.

More importantly, understanding how to reverse insulin resistance (the underlying cause of high blood sugar present across all forms of diabetes) and become insulin sensitive is essential in understanding how to achieve your ideal body weight for the rest of your life.

In simple terms, insulin is the most anabolic hormone in your body. What this means is simple: insulin promotes more fuel storage and tissue growth than any other hormone more than testosterone, estrogen, growth hormone, and IGF-1.

When insulin is present in your blood in sufficient quantities, tissues receive a high energy signal that says this is your opportunity to uptake fuel, grow, and replicate.

In response, cells in tissues all throughout your body activate thousands of biological pathways specifically designed to uptake and store fuel, synthesize DNA, transcribe genes, manufacture protein, grow larger, and replicate.

Since insulin was first discovered in 1921, scientists have known that insulin is an essential hormone, and is critical for optimal health in all mammals. Why then, do millions of people around the world live in fear of insulin and do everything they can to minimize their insulin exposure?

Why do medical professionals and people living with diabetes point their finger at insulin and make claims that insulin will make you fat, or that insulin will increase your cholesterol, or that insulin will make you more insulin resistant? The reason is actually quite simple the biological role of insulin is one of the most misunderstood concepts in all of human biology.

(1) Insulin is absolutely necessary for life. If insulin were not present in your body, you would die in a short period of time (likely within weeks or months). Living in an insulin-deficient state for prolonged periods of time is incompatible with life.

(2) Insulin itself does not raise your risk for chronic disease. Excess insulin beyond your normal physiological level is what causes severe metabolic dysfunction, weight gain, and increases your risk for many chronic diseases over the course of time.

Both too little insulin and too much insulin increase your risk of death. However, secreting a normal amount of insulin:

(1) is required for life

(2) is required to control your blood glucose

(3) allows you to lose weight easily and sustainably, and

(4) minimizes your risk for many chronic diseases

So the key is toeat to control the amount of insulin in your body, lose weight, and keep it off.

Many health professionals will tell you to eat a low-carbohydrate diet to lose weight. While its true that low-carbohydrate diets like the Atkins Diet, the Paleo diet, the ketogenic diet, and the carnivore diet can certainly decrease the amount of insulin you secrete and help you lose weight quickly, low-carb diets can become problematic in the long-term.

Many people who eat a low-carb diet find that their appetite decreases significantly. As a result, they eat fewer calories which results in rapid weight loss. Scientists have discovered that low-carbohydrate diets are excellent rapid weight loss tools, but these low-carb diets also have a laundry list of side-effects including:

(1) They make you more insulin resistant, which dramatically increases your risk for many chronic diseases

(2) Are associated with an increased risk of heart disease and chronic kidney disease

(3) Significantly increase your risk for all-cause mortality (death from any cause)

(4) Are difficult to maintain in the long-term, often leading to rebound weight gain

Another extremely effective way to lose weight is to eat a low-fat, plant-based diet complete with as many whole fruits, starchy vegetables, legumes, and whole grains as possible.

When you do this youll lower the insulin concentration in your blood and make insulin extremely efficient in both your muscles and liver. This will decrease (but not eliminate) your insulin levels, and stimulate weight loss immediately and into the future.

As you eat more fiber-rich foods, youll likely feel satisfied with every meal, because the combination of fiber and water (known as bulk) stretches your stomach, small intestine, and large intestine, which tells your brain to slow or completely shut off your hunger signal.

Scientists have discovered that bulk is the most effective satiety signal in humans and that the amount of bulk in your food is the most important determinant of how satisfied you feel after a meal, and how likely you are to achieve your ideal body weight.

The truth is that even though low-carb diets can look attractive from the outside, successful long-term weight loss is associated with a low-fat diet, less energy-dense food, and more fiber-rich foods.

If youre only interested in rapid weight loss, then a low-carb diet can certainly get you the results youre looking for. But if you choose to eat this way, dont be surprised if the weight comes back in the future, and it makes it even harder to lose weight again, and keep it off.

If instead, youre looking to lose weight and keep it off, then eating a low-fat, plant-based, whole-food diet will help you lose weight consistently and sustainably, and virtually eliminate the risk of a yo-yo.

If you need more proof other than our experience, consider this: A meta-analysis of seventeen observational studies of more than 270,000 people concluded that low-carbohydrate diets increase mortality risk. The authors indicated that a systematic review and meta-analyses of worldwide reports suggested that low-carbohydrate diets were associated with a significantly higher risk of all-cause mortality in the long run. The authors further stated that these findings support the hypothesis that the short-term benefits of low-carbohydrate diets for weight loss are potentially irrelevant.

So knowing that your goal is to keep insulin efficient, as opposed to low, you need to eat a steady amount of carbs, preferably those that are high in fiber, to allow your body to burn carbs and fat, and not experience the yo-yo dieting phenomenon of losing fast and then gaining it back.

The plant-based approach to a low-fat diet high in whole foods is your best bet to long-term weight loss that sticks.

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The Hidden Reason Why You Can't Lose Weight, from an Expert - The Beet

Weight loss: Carbs are the primary source of fuel for the body

Weight loss: Carbs are often blamed for causing weight gain. However, this macronutrient is an important part of a healthy diet and you must eat foods rich in good carbs, every day. Celebrity fitness trainer Vinod Channa, in one of his recent posts on Instagram, talks about why carbs are important for you. Channa has had experience of training the likes of Shilpa Shetty Kundra, Harshvardhan Rane, Shamita Shetty and John Abraham to name a very few. He believes that for fat loss and improving exercise performance, carbs are the main source of energy.

Just like there are food sources of good fats and unhealthy, weight gain-causing fats, there are also bad carbs and good carbs. The good carbs are ones that provide you with energy and fuel. "Carbs help fuelling brain, kidneys, heart muscles and central nervous system," informs Channa.

Also read:Carbs Or Calories: What Should You Focus On For Weight Loss? Experts Reveal

Carbs are important for your body to work wholesomely. Diets that are restrictive in nature commonly recommend giving up carbs. These diets work on the principal of eating very less carbs for getting quick weight loss benefits. However, these diets often lead to cravings, mood swings and irritation. They may also lead to nutritional deficiencies and the weight lost may quickly bounce back once you resume regular eating habits.

What's more, some of the foods which give you carbs are also rich in fibre. So giving up carbs may also reduce your fibre intake, which can result in constipation and several other digestion problems.

Also read:Home Remedies For Constipation: Know How To Use Dried Figs (Anjeer) For Better Digestion

All in all carbs are downright important for you and you must eat them in balanced manner, every day. Here are some good carbs that you can bank on:

1. Chickpeas

2. Brown rice

3. Amaranth

4. Sprouts

5. Barley

6. Quinoa

7. Buckwheat

8. Lentils

9. Beans

10. Millets

11. Sweet potatoes

12. Oatmeal

Sweet potatoes are a source of healthy carbsPhoto Credit: iStock

Make sure your diet includes a diverse mix of fruits and vegetables, lentils and legumes, fatty fish, nuts and seeds, and healthy fat sources like coconut oil, ghee, mustard oil, etc. This will help you get sufficient carbs, proteins, fats and fibre.

Also read:Get More Fibre With These Dietary Changes: 5 Simple Ways You Must Try

Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.

Read more from the original source:
Weight Loss: 12 Good Carbs That You Can Eat Guilt-Free, Every Day - NDTV

The recent death of actress Mishti Mukherjee in Bengaluru has put the focus back on diet fads, sparking a debate over the effect of their prolonged dependency on our body. While some diets assure quick results, there are those which when continued for a long period of time may pose serious health risks.Different people need different diet chartsAccording to internal medicine consultant Dr Ambanna Gowda, there is no common diet plan that can benefit everyone. Women, in particular, should customise their diet chart keeping in mind their own individual lifestyle. For instance, the diet plan for a homemaker will be different from that of a woman who goes to office, mainly because their eating habits and BMI are all different, she says, adding, Everyones body and metabolism rate are different. And a suitable diet plan can be chalked out only after doing some basic tests and consulting a nutritionist or general physician.

Avoid diet plans that promise quick resultsFad diets, clinical dietician Dr Priyanka Rohatgi says, are short lived. One must find out what works for his or her body before starting to follow a diet. Some promise a quick fix, which, of course, is difficult to attain. It would be wise to avoid magic food or combinations of different food, as well as statements that imply that a particular food can change your body chemistry. Also, any diet plans that exclude or severely restrict food groups or nutrients, such as carbohydrates, should be kept away. Diets that impose rigid rules to focus only on weight loss may be harmful. Some examples are ketogenic diet, paleolithic diet, general motor, Atkins and HCG diet.

Intermittent fasting is best avoided, says doctorOf late, many people seem to be taking interest in intermittent fasting. Health experts, however, advise against it. Dr Priyanka says, If at all someone is opting for intermittent fasting, he or she needs to follow it under supervision only for a month or two. A recent study pointed out that around 150 healthy adults had lost weight after following this regime, but they also ended up with muscle loss, which is unhealthy as it compromises the immunity and general health of a person.

Fad diets and the risks involvedCelebrities around the world have tried fad diets, and some have even faced criticism for promoting the same without properly learning about the ill effects of such diets. Heres a look at some of the most popular diets and why they were in the news for wrong reasons

PALEOLITHIC DIET OR PALEO DIET: Also known as the caveman diet, this includes lean meats, fish, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. It avoids grains, legumes, refined sugar, dairy products, salt and processed food in general. Actresses like Gwyneth Paltrow, Jessica Biel and Blake Lively have endorsed this diet.Risks: Paleo diet may cause deficiency of calcium and Vitamin D, while it is also said to increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

KETO DIET: Ketogenic diet involves consuming less carbs and sugar, and instead depending on moderate amounts of protein and healthy fats. By following this diet, individuals are said to be able to enter ketosis, through which the body burns fats instead of carbs. Celebrities like Halle Berry and Kourtney Kardashian seem to be fond of this regime.Risks: Health experts have questioned the effects of following keto diet for a long period of time, as it may lead to low blood sugar levels, as well as an increased risk of heart diseases, kidney stones and more. The long-term effects of this diet were discussed again recently after Mishti passed away due to kidney failure following a prolonged keto diet.

ATKINS DIET: Atkins diet is a low-carb diet that involves eating meats, fatty fish and seafood, eggs, low-carb vegetables and full-fat dairy products like butter, cheese, cream and healthy fats such as coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil. Celebrities Kim Kardashian West and Rene Zellweger follow this diet.Risks: The short-term risks of following Atkins diet include weakness, nausea and constipation. Over a long time, restricting carbs may result in nutritional deficiencies in the body, which, in turn, could lead to serious health implications. Although Dr Atkins, who popularised this diet, died from a fall, his death became a hot topic, as many questioned about his health and weight at the time of his death. According to reports, Dr Atkins had a history of heart attacks and congestive heart failure, and he weighed 258 pounds (117 kilos) during the time of his death.

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Want to maintain good health? Scrap those quick-fix diets - Times of India