Tag Archives: diet

I will try Ramadan fasting to lose weight

ramadan bread

When the moment comes that I decide to go on a diet, I mean totally and religiously lose weight I might consider the things my Muslim friend writes about Ramadan fasting and how it becomes beneficial to one’s over-all health.

Here’s what my friend Peartrader and his co-writer tells about fasting:

  • Most Muslims do not fast because of medical benefits but because it has been ordained to them in the Quran.
  • Fasting in general has been used in medicine for medical reasons including weight management, for rest of the digestive tract and for lowering lipids.
  • There are many adverse effects of total fasting as well as so-called crash diets. Islamic fasting is different from such diet plans because in Ramadan fasting, there is no malnutrition or inadequate calorie intake. The caloric intake of Muslims during Ramadan is at or slightly below the national requirement guidelines. In addition, the fasting in Ramadan is voluntarily taken and is not a prescribed imposition from the physician.
  • The physiological effect of fasting includes lower of blood sugar, lowering of cholesterol and lowering of the systolic blood pressure.
  • Ideal recommendation for treatment of mild to moderate, stable, non-insulin diabetes, obesity and essential hypertension.
  • Patients who are suffering from severe diseases, whether diabetes or coronary artery disease, kidney stones, etc., are exempt from fasting and should not try to fast.
  • There are psychological effects of fasting as well. There is a peace and tranquility for those who fast during the month of Ramadan. Personal hostility is at a minimum, and the crime rate decreases. …
  • This psychological improvement could be related to better stabilization of blood glucose during fasting as hypoglycemia after eating, aggravates behavior changes. …
  • Similarly, recitation of the Quran not only produces a tranquillity of heart and mind, but improves the memory.

I know that dieting requires the proper motivation, but once my mind is really set on losing weight I would definitely try Ramadan fasting.

Image courtesy of Suat Eman at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

No-Hunger Games: How to Lose Weight the Easy Way

Probably nothing is more frustrating than subjecting your waistline to the tape measure test, only to find out that the numbers still don’t agree with you.  Before you start pulling your hair out from all the frustration, take heart in the fact that there still are effective ways to lose weight fast. 
 
Some people equate the word “diet” to hunger.  Truth is, it’s not all about hunger games here.  Follow these easy to do weight loss tips for a sexier you:
Don’t skip meals.  Starving yourself just won’t work, because that only slows down your metabolism.  What will work instead is eating six small meals each day, because this keeps your metabolism going.  Spacing out your meals too long will slow down your metabolism.  The maximum time between meals should be 3 hours.
Eat a wide variety of vegetables.  When picking out your veggies, keep the colors of the rainbow in mind.  Each veggie color has its own set of nutrients, so if you have a colorful plate of vegetables, you’re sure that you’re getting all the essential nutrients you need to keep your energy level high (not to mention, a visually appealing dinner plate!). 
 
Drink water.  Throughout the day, be sure to take frequent sips of water.  This will keep you hydrated, because dehydration has been said to slow down one’s metabolism.  More than that, it’ll give you a feeling of fullness, so you won’t have to crave for that bag of potato chips.
Walk the fat away.  No matter how busy you are, you should be able to squeeze in at least half an hour of walking each day.  Instead of using the elevator to get from one floor to another, use the stairs.  Park your car a little further away from your office building.  Baby steps (pun intended!) will definitely go a long way in achieving your weight loss goals.
Lastly, keep your willpower switched on at all times.  Keep a journal of your weight and measurements, so you can keep track of the progress you’re making.  This will help motivate you to work harder.
Sure, there may be occasions when you’ll feel like throwing in the towel and giving up, but that won’t help you succeed.   We all go through hell sometimes, but it’s only a matter of time before we emerge from it.  Pick yourself back up, and tell yourself that you can lose weight.

The figure to die for

I used to be slimmer when I was younger. I only got this big when I became a stay at home mommy to my two kids. Household chores don’t have an impact on me. I think this has something to do with my lifestyle now and my eating habit. I can walk a mile then and it feels good when you perspire from walking, but now I’m tied in front of my desktop most of the time. So everything that I eat went straight to my hips lol.

Staying fit is on my wish list this year so I really have to work hard to reach my goal. I’m considering exercise and then dieting. Since I’m normally spending most of my spare time in front of the computer, a grab and go food is best for me. Are meal replacement bars, okay? Someone gave my husband diet cookies last year and it taste good. I think meal replacement bars work the same way as the cookie diet. I want to try some bars later. As for the exercise, I have to keep a strict schedule on my blogging activity to give an ample time to exercise. I’m looking forward to see myself slimmer this year.