Ask These Girls

Every winter I pack on at least 15 extra pounds. I use to joke and say, I am packing on the pounds in preparation for my hibernation cycle. Whether the holiday season or simply being cooped up in a cold environment is to blame, the truth is gaining weight in the winter and then losing weight in the summer is not a healthy cycle for my body.

I do not think anyone can ignore all of the information we see, read, and hear on the Internet, in a magazine or news report, nor in the doctor’s office regarding the importance of staying fit. Now mind you, by staying fit I do not mean you have to be in an ideal range of weight for your height, but each of us innately knows when our lifestyle is not healthy. We just have to listen to what our body tells us each day.

Taking a look at the various popular diets, I explored the ups and downs of the various ways to lose weight. While I am admittedly not a professional, I have intensive experience fighting the battle of the bulge.

The rapid weight-loss is probably one of the most common diets on the market today. There are many ways to go on this type of diet: starving, excessive exercise, or diet pills. The upside to this type of dieting is, well, not really anything. I imagine many people would see losing weight fast as a benefit, but in fact, losing weight fast is not healthy and can be dangerous.

When you have less than your required daily calories (this will range depending on your weight and activity level), you are in essence starving your body. Your metabolism grinds to a halt because your body thinks it is starving. Therefore, all calories you do get go straight into storage for emergency supplies your fat cells.

In addition, you have to have some form of carbs for brain function and your nervous system. If you body does not get enough carbs to fuel those systems, the body will start turning lean body mass and protein tissues into its fuel. On top of all of that, your body can lose bone mass and develop electrolyte imbalances.

Finally, people losing weight in this fashion almost always regain the lost weight and then some. Once you start adding calories to your diet again, your body is still in starvation mode and will store those calories into fat cells.

Often, obesity is caused by this starvation-type diet. Many binge eaters will have this issue, and never realize why they gain so much weight. Anyone on a rapid-weight loss diet should be under direct medical supervision.

The best method for regaining or maintaining a healthy lifestyle is not a diet. Instead, eating regular, healthy meals, and moderate exercise is the key to living a healthy lifestyle no matter your weight or body makeup. Everyone is unique - revel in your uniqueness!