By Tedler D. Depaynos, MD
Reducing weight to most individuals desiring to is usually just a dream. Especially after the holidays where a series of parties and family reunions occurred, many simply indulged in the tempting aromatic and well presented food. Even those who were aware medically that partaking of those lechon, pinapaitan, roasted pork and beef, etc., is bad for their health simply forgot their medical conditions and joined the wild eating and reasoned out that anyway it is for the rare occasion. For in the first place, why accept the invitation and be a kill joy by not eating and not tasting the spirits offered? To some non-open minded hosts, they may even consider the behavior of accepting the invitation and not eating an insult!
To avoid the expected increase in calorie intake, obviously one has to try avoiding the parties. If it is a very special occasion that one cannot miss, maybe giving gifts to your host like a cake or a bottle to make up for your hastily made alibis might help. You can then pick two or three of the tempting dishes and leave early due to some made up reasons. Of course emphasizing your medical condition and naming precisely your good medical adviser who may scold you for not following his/her instructions may appeal to their understanding.
Reducing is not an overnight affair. It is not like taking your super strong analgesic and overnight with a refreshing sleep your headache or even joint pains disappear. It would not take days or weeks or even months for that unwanted bulging tummy to disappear. Whatever weight reduction method you are following, it would take many, many months to really achieve and feel the desired results. And to maintain the good figure that comes out, it may take a lifetime of following diligently your method. In short your mind should be conditioned for a long time lifestyle of weight reduction.
Reducing weight is not simply reducing your calorie intake and making your body consume them more extensively. It should be done scientifically! Some starve themselves punishing their body and proudly displaying their malnourished look. Looking at them closely if not for their smiles and proud humor, one may conclude that they may be suffering from an undiagnosed serious malady like uncontrolled diabetis or advanced cancer. This is observed in individuals who aspire to lose weight within a very short period of time. There are various valid reducing methods published in books, some written in newspapers and some even shown in TV. Some would just say that they reduce by limiting their rice, fats and refrain from sweets or chocolates and they eat more veggies and fruits. They even adapted to unsugared coffee and to Pale Pilsen Lights! I guess one has to follow what he thinks is suitable for hi/her lifestyle. But the best so far is a gradual reduction and consistency in following one’s method.
Making your body consume more calories is simply increasing your activity or exercise. I envy those individuals who have time to exercise like running daily. You could see them almost every day in their tight fitting running suits with practically no bulges at all displaying themselves proudly along busy Session Road. Some with less busy time could schedule their basketball participation, tennis, golf games or weight lifting once or even twice a week. For those who are simply too much occupied because of valuable work and family time they could commute when their vehicles are under coding so they would be forced to walk. Instead of taking the elevator or escalator they could take the stairs even two at a time to compensate for their lack of activity. They could detour their walk spending more minutes along the way instead of spending it sitting down in front of their desk waiting for time. In all the activities one has to undergo however, make sure that your heart and lungs and even your joints could tolerate them. A pulled muscle or even a sprained ankle and worse a sudden heart failure may immobilize you. This is especially true for those aged retirees who suddenly went into extreme and prolonged exercises for suddenly they have time. I suggest they visit their favorite doctor first especially those taking advertised drugs that would allegedly burn your calories or prevent the absorption of food you have taken in.
Just like eating, exercise entails a lot of discipline. Without self-discipline all methods of weigh reduction would fail. Hence weight reduction is a lifestyle. To help achieve this, it is recommended that you form a group with the same objectives. You could exercise together, fellowship together and could compare the results of your sacrifices together.
Dr. Jose Ramos, my former head of the Dept. of Surgery at SLUHSH and my mentor who thought me my basic surgical skills mentioned his secret not only ones but several times in maintaining good health. He has always been consistent with his lifestyle of vegetable diet and less in meat. Added to this is his regular tennis and sometimes badminton exercises. In retrospect, he has always been revealing his secret whenever we were indulging in too much food to indirectly advise me to control my calorie intake. I failed to realize it for quite some time because of the overwhelming joy of uncontrolled eating which I still do until now. When I’ll reach his age, I hope I will be still healthy as he is now. Dreams.**
