What the health: part 12 - How to lose weight and stay healthycontinued...

This is part 12 of ‘What the health’ series. You can find earlier parts here – part1, part2, part3, part4,  part 5, part 6, part 7, part 8,  part 9, part 10, part 11

2. Diet (1)

When I was little eating out at restaurants was an event, the event probably happened once a year...

Times have changed and we eat at restaurants casually. Most of the social gatherings happen around food and drinks, it has become a social norm... Looking at the kind of schedule today's parents have I am sure the next generation of kids will be saying 'when we were little, eating home-cooked food was an event'.

Our treatment towards our gut has definitely become very casual, to add to that we engage in things like frozen, processed foods, alcohol, coke/Pepsi and whatnot. The wealthier than our wallets get the unhealthier the food choices that we make.

Would it be too much if I said 90% of the health troubles we go through are because of bad diet and unhealthy gut? It is true. A quarter of what we eat keeps us alive and the rest keeps our doctors alive.

We are what we eat and most importantly we are what we digest. Gut health is responsible for so many things - the chemical, hormonal, bacteria balance, for strong immunity, a good emotional/mental balance, healthy skin and feeling of wellbeing. Having a strong digestive system is a key element in losing weight too. People who are depressed or committing suicide have a bad digestive tract and I am not talking out of my ass, it is proven scientifically. Read the book 'Gut: an inside story' to find the details about the research on this topic and more on gut health.

We need to think before we put anything inside our own gut... are we adding value and nutrition to our own body or poison? Our gut is strong but not as strong to take the insults that we perform each day. Do not take your gut for granted and treat it as a garbage can just to sweep the dishes clean.

And PLEASE provide your kids with home-cooked fresh healthy food - healthy does not mean organic and raw food. In their growing years the kids need nutrition, what they consume right now is also defining the kind of food habits they will have in the future and what you give them right now is building or destroying their gut health. A lot of people are under the risk of catching ailments and getting obese at a very young age because since they were kids they were fed restaurant food/ unhealthy/ frozen/ processed foods by ignorant, lazy and irresponsible parents.

Good gut health and exercising habit is the best heritage you can leave for your kids.

to be continued...

Dress: J crew

Sweater: Nordstrom Rack

Tights: DSW

Shoes: Ellen Tracy

What the health: Part 2 - Excuses we use for not losing weight

Here are some common (and lame!) excuses that we use for not doing what is right.

(in this post I am covering the top 3 excuses)

1. I am too busy.

You have work deadlines, sick kids and you eat what is handy, you can barely bring home takeout, and you have time for nothing else.

Our body is the only thing that we have from the time we are born till the time we die and if you are too busy to spend time to take care of it then, well, you should not be spending any time reading this post.

Everyone gets 24 hours a day, no more, no less. We all live busy lives, no one is gifted with more time!  Being busy does not imply that you are being productive - you might very well be spending time on social media and calling it being busy. I have always said this - it is never about time, it is always about priority. As they say, where there is a will there is a way.

Hone your planning, prioritization and organization skills. I have seen CEOs, VPs, and directors of companies working out every single day because living a healthy lifestyle is a priority for them. I am a proud employee of one such company.

Sticking to healthy behaviors like making time for meals and squeezing in exercise throughout the day, even when your life feels like it's going 100 miles a minute, is actually the key to long-term health. When the downfall of health starts it takes a long time to recover, your body is constantly giving you signals if there is something wrong, don’t wait for your body to give up, start a healthy lifestyle today. Don't be one of those who lose their health gaining wealth and then spend their wealth to gain health.

2. I have kids

Even more of a good reason to start working out... ever since I remember - I have exercised. I don't really remember the time when I didn't. You know why? because I saw my parents working out every single day... till today.  So I did not know any other lifestyle, I thought this is what people do... they exercise every day like they brush their teeth every day. Set a good example for your kids. Better yet, workout as a family - ask them to join you in biking, hiking, swimming, dance, rock climbing, and whatnot.

You can not tell kids 'go and exercise' because... they are watching you! Are my parents engrossed in binge-watching TV shows all day long? or are they living an active lifestyle? As they say 'Raise yourself before you raise your kids'.

3. I don't have time to cook.

But you have time to commute to a restaurant - order food - get the food on your table - or even food pick up from a restaurant takes at least 20 to 30 minutes of your time, isn't it? It hardly takes any time to cook if you plan well.

I have allocated a fixed amount of time that I spend on cooking each day - so even if I have a leftover from last night I still spend that allocated time on food preparation for the next day - like kneading dough, cutting vegetables or just make some supplements like soup, koshimbir, snack items, and whatnot.

Just to clarify I hate to cook but I do not use it as an excuse, there are many things one might hate but has to take care of - that is what growing up and living a healthier lifestyle is all about.

One more option is to get cooking help - whichever part of the world you live in you will be able to find cooking/cleaning help. Plan your finances accordingly - for example, spend less money on shopping material things and instead spend it on a cook/help and essentially on your own body!

Studies show that people who cook meals at home tend to eat more healthfully and weigh less than those who don't.

To be continued...

Skirt: J crew factory

Top: Old Navy

Shoes: Tommy Hilfiger

Exercise!

I feel sad when people give hundred excuses of not accommodating exercise in their daily lives. We want promotions, exotic vacations, big houses, grand salaries, appreciation from people but we ignore the utmost important thing in our life - our body. 

In my observation people who say that they don't have time to do a certain thing actually have a lot of time on their hands (everyone gets 24 hours during the day) but their priorities are different. So when one says 'I don't have time to exercise' what they actually mean is 'I lack the motivation to exercise'.

Dress: J Crew

Jacket: J Crew

Shoes: Nine West

Tights: Don't Remember!

Friends and Happiness

The 'friends' orbiting at the farthest reaches of your digital galaxy aren’t the ones that matter when it comes to your health and happiness. But the people you hug, laugh and lament with are the ones who have the greatest impact on your health and happiness. 

Try to stay away from those who give you stress, humiliation, disrespect, unhappiness and then you will see the difference in your entire well being. 

Dress (worn as a tunic top) : J Crew

Denim: American Eagle

Shoes: Kelly and Katie
Earrings: Charming Charlie

Food

In earlier days human race faced two periods - a bountiful period and a famine. In today's times for all of us every single meal is a bounty with no famine in sight. Does our body really need so much food? If we don't starve it a little bit then it will never get a chance to use the stored fats.

Tunic Top: J crew

Jeans: American Eagle

Booties: Unisa

Energy

Do we always have great fear of getting tired? Any energy spent is not lost forever. We plan our fatigue the same way we plan everything else. We 'save energy' to work out at the gym, there too we time ourselves, count repetitions, track the heart rate.

These days people wear those wrist bands which shows how much they slept! If you wake up and feel fresh then you slept well... Similarly if you feel like working out in the morning and then again in the evening then go for it! Some days you might have a lot more energy than your already set goal of X steps (which can be set on the wristband) and on some days you might have to drag yourself to take even one step ;-), Why let a machine decide for us how much we should do? Why not just go with the instinct?

We definitely need to stop robotic routines and move around, run, walk, do Pilates; Yoga, go biking, climb hills, jump, dance... There is no rule how many times or how much to do. Just do it as much as you can... because really you can!

Top: J crew Factory

Jegging: American Eagle

Sweater: Calvin Klein

Sandals: Kenneth Cole Reaction

Yoga

Do you know any Yogis - someone who practices Yoga every single day for many years? I am sure you do. 

How many of of them are fat? I do not know any yogis who are fat some look a little overweight but they have toned bodies. Even if you know one or two 'fat yogis' then I would say it is an exception that proves the rule. 

Yogis also have some unique characteristics to their personality because Yoga doesn't just help with weight loss but each and every single yoga posture is beneficial for mental health from feeling calm, reducing stress, increasing concentration to feeling confident. 

Yoga is doable and beneficial for all age groups and even for people with various ailments. You do not need to join gym to do it. There are innumerable yoga videos available on the internet (UNLESS you are attempting headstands).

Dress: Ann taylor factory store ( I was wearing a jacket but by the time I got to taking pics it was hot. that is Seattle weather for you)

Tights: Hue

Shoes: dsw

Scarf: don't remember ;-)

Taking a pic

How does taking a pic each day help me? 

Everyone knows the disadvantages of being overweight but the pictures I took everyday made me realize the superficial aspect of losing weight. Everything looks great on fit bodies, even torn clothes. The pictures I took each day motivated me to lose weight and they still do.

Top: Loft

Jeans: 7 for all mankind

shoes: Ellen Tracy

sweater: Nordstrom Rack

Belt: Style & Co. from Macys

Priority

It is saddening to see that people don't spend any time on their health. Reason? They are too busy! They don't have time to exercise or to have a good diet.

Everyone gets 24 hours a day - nothing more nothing less. No one in the world is blessed enough to have a lot of time, seriously! So what makes some people focus on health and some not?
Simple - Priority!

Crop: American eagle

Top: Ann taylor

Shoes: Kensie

Weight or Wardrobe

I was three times bigger than what I am today so in those days the green top in this picture fit me nice and snug.

Strangers congratulated me for being pregnant when I was NOT. I felt depressed every morning when I saw myself in the mirror.

I am saying this from my personal experience that everything looks blah on fat bodies. Not just the body shape but my face, nose, neck everything looked round and I hated the double chin.

For three years I did not buy any clothes/shoes anything whatsoever, not even a scarf (groceries yes but less of that as well ;-) ), simply because I wanted to fix my weight before I fixed my wardrobe!

(The opinion expressed in this post is for both genders)

Top: Jcrew (I think)

Jegging: American Eagle

Shoes: AK (from DSW)

Long term goal

All of the young people out there - when you are 60 years old what are the things you would want to have? What are your goals? What is your long term plan?

Money? Career? Family? Knowledge?

And what if at that age you have reached top position in the company, living in a multi-million dollar house, traveled the world, have a gorgeous family but guess what you do not have the most important thing that one needs to have to enjoy all of the above? HEALTH  physical and mental both.

Is it your long term goal? Are you taking any action on it right now?

chambray: J crew factory

skirt: chicwish (I definitely need to use a belt on this skirt as the waistband folds a lot)

sandals: Tommy Hilfiger from DSW

Perfect Weight?

How much weight is perfect? Well it's definition varies from person to person depending on the level of our laziness and disillusionment.

I referred to this chart - http://www.calculator.net/ideal-weight-calculator.html and trying to match the weight suggested by Robinson formula (for my height and age). Try it, it is pretty cool.

Artist Crop: American Eagle
Top: Ann Taylor
Sandals: kensie (from DSW)
Bracelet: Baublebar

Lame Excuse

One may put on weight because of several reasons: pregnancy, childbirth, medical issues, bad diet etc. but the most lame excuse I have heard for being overweight is 'It is genetic!'.

The only thing that is genetic or so to say runs in the family is lifestyle, choice of diet and exercise.

I am not an exception to have used the lame reason simply because it was too convenient to blame it on genetics.

Top: Ann Taylor (factory)
Jeans: American Eagle
Shoes: Tommy Hilfiger (from DSW)
Bracelet and necklace: Charming Charlie

More attractive

Who is more attractive - a person who is wearing lot of gold and diamonds or a person who is wearing fitness?

Fitness is philosopher's stone - that makes YOU look gold.

Jumpsuit : Ann Taylor factory (been my favorite this summer)
Sandals : Tommy Hilfiger (from DSW)

Pardon me

One may adorn themselves with clothes, makeup, accessories and shoes worth a thousand bucks but they will look good only if they are fit. This is a strong statement so pardon me if you are offended. If it makes you feel any better I said it when I weighed 175 pounds, I still feel the same way now that I am 130 pounds (and by the way I am still overweight for my height). 

Top: Banana Republic

Shorts: American Eagle

Sunglasses: Gucci

Sandals: Tommy Hilfiger (from DSW)

Body

Body is the only thing that we have from the time we are born till the time we die. We must take proper care of it and certainly not add any poisons to it.

Skirt: Ann Taylor
Top: Calvin Klein
Shoes: AK Anne Klein (from DSW)

Belt: Style & Co.
Bracelet: Baublebar

Fit Bods

Fit body  is the most precious thing one can have and unfortunately money can’t buy it but hard work and self control can.

Dress: Mark & Spencer

Shoes: Ellen Tracy