As a Nutritionist, many people write to me asking me to give them the best recipe to lose weight. They want to know the formula to achieve “their goals” quickly.
“Please Dulce give me the magic diet, What exercises will? How much cardio should I do?” They want to know if I recommend the military diet, paleo, vegan or keto. They also ask me for a supplement or drug that helps them to quickly get rid of some pounds for a party or a trip to the beach on the weekend.
But those yo-yo diets and quick-fix strategies, even when they work in the short-term, end up being worse in the long-term because 90% of the time people gain all the weight back. They back return to their old habits, and sometimes they gain even more weight than where they started.
We need to understand that even when we see in media, magazines and mainly on social media, bodies that are apparently perfect, or they are shown as “perfect” because they are thin and toned, that doesn’t necessarily mean they are healthy.
According to the World Health Organization, health is a state of perfect (complete) physical, mental and social well-being, and not just the absence of disease. It is a state of complete physical well-being, mental and social, and not only the absence of conditions or diseases.
The definition never mentioned “that you need to to have a six-pack,” “have your arms toned,” “see you as a model.” All those goals are fair, yes, but only with adequate balance to avoid falling into excesses, and Treating your body brutally.
If your plan is to truly healthy, please keep these points in mind:
Be patient. Don’t forget, it’s better to do things little by little in order to be persistent and have a sustainable diet which helps you in the long-term instead of thinking only of the next three weeks.
Be consistent. I’m talking about a lifestyle instead of the “dieting mindset” and periods of time and then we come back to the old habits. Stick to balance: have some treats here and then there and don’t go to extremes, otherwise, your routine can’t be prolonged maintained.
Be happy. Accept your body now and find a weight where you are healthy but not feeling miserable. Sometimes we see those “perfect shred bodies,” but they are living in a nightmare eating just lettuce and chicken breast. Find something in between and think first and foremost about your enjoyment of life.
Be energetic. Having a healthy lifestyle means your energy levels are high and you feel great. Aim for that goal, where you find yourself unstoppable. Feed your body with good nutrition, eat real whole foods, get rid of fake and processed foods. Have portion control, exercise 3-5 times a week, drink water, avoid sugar, and eat lots of vegetables.
And don’t forget to smile every day and be kind to others and yourself in order to get really healthy.
