Tamilselvi is frustrated. She had really been looking forward to this evening’s party. She had decided to wear the gorgeous canjeevaram sari that she had worn for her engagement two years ago. But the blouse doesn’t fit! She is shocked and angry. How has she put on so much weight in just two years after her wedding?

Tasleem has just been diagnosed as having pre-diabetes: her blood sugar level, after being given glucose in the lab, is higher than it should be but not high enough to be labelled a diabetic. Her body mass index (BMI) is 28 and her doctor has told her in no uncertain terms that if she does not lose weight she is at risk for developing diabetes in the coming years.

Most of us go through life fighting to maintain our ideal weight. With new found prosperity, Indians are exposed to more and more unhealthy food, which is easily accessible. Our lifestyles have changes so much that physical activity is something we have to make an effort to achieve: most of us have sedentary lifestyles.

Healthy weight loss

The key words involved in weight loss are “smart eating” and “physical exercise”. Can you lose weight by just starving yourself? You surely can but a rigorous, fad diet will leave you feeling sick and the weight will come back soon.  Could you lose weight just by rigorous exercise? The answer is yes but it will take much longer.

The best way of reaching your ideal weight is to give up the obsession with losing weight and to get passionate about healthy living.

Setting weight loss goals

The reason people flounder when they set out to lose weight is that they do not set specific goals. They are vague about what is healthy weight loss or not realistic enough.

Set yourself achievable goals. If you have to lose 10 kilos, give yourself 3-6 months to lose the first 5 kilos. This will help you ease yourself into a healthy eating and exercising routine. A gradual loss of weight is more sustainable. If you want to lose ½ kilo per week you need to cut 500 calories per day through both diet and exercise.