Say no no to yo yo

We ladies have a bad rep when it comes to dieting. We want instant gratification. We need something to fuel the fire to keep us motivated and on the right track. So we opt for the quick fix. But, as you’ve probably heard before, the quick fix doesn’t work when it comes to sustainable weight loss.

Why super-speedy weight loss doesn’t work

1. It can slow your metabolism. Weight fluctuations can cause havoc with your metabolism and you can end up gaining more weight every time you go on a restrictive diet.
2. Ditching food groups means ditching essential nutrients. Strict diets that ditch entire food groups may give you weight loss results for a few weeks. But once you start eating normally again, the weight quickly creeps back on. Often, the weight you lose on a starvation diet is due to loss of muscle and water, instead of fat.

How much weight loss is healthy?
Go for ½ to 1kg a week, with a calorie intake of no less than 1200 kcals a day for women and 1500 kcals a day for men.

Don’t waste your money on diet pills
When it comes to diet pills, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. For these pills to do their magic, you need to follow an extremely restrictive diet. Some pills may cause fluctuations in your blood pressure, insomnia, nervousness, gastro-intestinal problems and other side effects. Always check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any supplements, including those that claim to be ‘all natural’.

Track your calories
If you want to lose weight, manage your weight or just stay healthy, being aware of the amount of calories you eat vs. the amount you burn is vital.
Counting your calories is just one way of tracking. You can also track your daily water intake, or whether or not you ate breakfast, for instance. No tracking measure is too big or too small.

Easy tracking tips

• Concentrate on what you’ve achieved and stay motivated. You’ll soon see the changes in black and white.
• To make sure your reading is accurate, try to take your measurements on the same device at the same time each time.
• Look at your calorie intake over a week and over a month – it’s your total calorie expenditure over a period of time that really matters.
• Use what works for you – it’s not the instrument you use that matters, it’s the awareness that makes all the difference.
• Why not head over to myvirginactive.co.za and start tracking right away? You can track all your movements, even ones outside the gym! It’s super simple.