The process of weight loss is probably the most misunderstood concept related to health; we have self-help books, expert advice on the best diets to follow and the right way to exercise, and a host of alternative therapies and methods that are “guaranteed” to help you shed those excess pounds. But do we really know the truth about weight loss? Is it what we hear from our dietitians and trainers? Or is there something beyond all the clichés and tried-and-tested methods to weight loss?

If you’ve been battling with your weight constantly and feeling it go up and down like a yo-yo, if you find yourself constantly despairing over your inability to gain the body and look you want, and if you’ve been moving from one diet and exercise routine to another constantly searching for the “magic” one, you must read on – here’s a list of things your dietitian and/or trainer don’t tell you about weight loss:

·       It’s all about looking and feeling good: Each of us is built different from the other, and if you’re naturally big built with a larger bone structure, there’s no way you’re going to get that svelte and slim figure that you see on models no matter how much you starve yourself or how hard you sweat it out at the gym. So when you begin a diet or start a workout routine, you must focus on staying active, getting fit and healthy, improving your metabolism, toning your muscles, and getting rid of the excess flab and fat that hang from your waist and arms. When you feel your clothes fitting better and start getting those compliments on how much better you’re looking these days, you can feel proud of yourself no matter what the bathroom scales say.

·       Sometimes less is more: Contrary to general perception, you don’t have to push yourself for 60 minutes every day and literally sweat buckets and find yourself panting for breath in order to lose weight. Using your grey matter just a little, you could lose weight intelligently and easily. A few minutes of strength training three days a week, some interval training every alternate day, and 20 to 30 minutes of cardio four days a week are enough to help you feel and look lighter. When you work your muscles, you tone them, loose the fat, and expedite your metabolism in the process, and interval training helps you improve your stamina and lose weight in a shorter period of time.

·       Diets must be a way of life: For a diet to be effective, it must be followed throughout your life, which means that they must be sustainable. So you can forget those restrictive diets like the Atkins which restricts you only to protein and others that insist you eat only a certain kind of food. You can also say goodbye to starvation and skipping meals because they will only make you crave what you’re not supposed to eat. Instead, eat five small meals a day instead of three heavy ones, include more fruits and vegetables in your diet, and allow yourself to small helpings of your favorite treats once in a while.

·       Change is a must: And finally, your routine must change according to your fitness level and body weight. So once you find yourself hitting a plateau from where further weight loss seems harder to achieve, try something new so that your body is tricked into losing more fat. Besides, when you change your workout and diet often, you prevent boredom and monotony and continue to stay interested in your new way of life.

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This article is contributed by Carol Smith, who regularly writes on the topic of ultrasound tech schools. She invites your questions, comments at her email address: smithcarol.311@rediffmail.com