Dear Judy,
My wedding is coming up in late November and I'm desperately trying to lose weight in time. I'm 5'7" and weigh 78kg, so I'd like to lose at least 10kg by the start of October.
My best friend swears by diet pills — she used them in the lead-up to her wedding and she lost heaps of weight (though she put it all back on and more afterwards!). But I don't like taking pills unless I really, really have to.
So I've just been trying to live on water and salad, but it's really hard — I'm exhausted and I've had three colds this winter already! Plus, because I'm so hungry I end up pigging out anyway — especially when my fiancé and I go out for dinner with friends/family.
I joined a gym, but I'm so busy with work and wedding planning and social events that I really don't get that much time to exercise. I'm in a vicious cycle and I don't know what to do — please help!
Many thanks,
Jenna
Dear Jenna,
You do sound like you are in a vicious cycle you poor thing. My first piece of advice is to stop panicking. You have 20 weeks before the big day (at time of Judy's reply), and that's plenty of time to lose 10kg healthily.
The best news is that you don't want to use diet pills. The main action of diet pills is to suppress the appetite by altering the body's chemistry and reducing the desire to eat. How they work is by simulating the body into a heightened state of stress to the point where you just don't feel like eating.
Situations like hearing an intruder in your home while you are in bed alone at night, or standing up to speak in front of an audience of 3000 people when you have a total fear of public speaking, are a couple of examples of a heightened stressed state where eating would be the last thing on your mind. Can you imagine enduring that stressed feeling over an extended period of time? It would be a living nightmare.
Over time, extended use of diet pills can cause a range of side effects including, nervousness, restlessness, insomnia, high blood pressure, heart palpitations, headaches, fatigue, hair loss, and excessive perspiration. It's hardly a solution for a beautiful bride.
Ruling diet pills out completely, it's clear that what you are doing right now is never going to work. Feeling permanently hungry is almost certainly going to lead to overeating when the occasion presents itself.
To be described as glorious, sparkling, radiant, and all the other wonderful adjectives used to describe a bride, you need to be more than slim. In fact being slim is not that high on the list. A happy bride is the most important factor of all because when you are happy you will be able to control your nerves and shine throughout the day. The happiness will come from marrying the man you love and loving yourself.
Learning to love yourself is a wonderful challenge, usually achieved through accomplishment, and self-pride. If you rise to the challenge of losing weight slowly and steadily without faltering, you will easily lose 10kg for the big day and that's a great accomplishment. Not only will you feel proud of yourself but you will also glow with great health, explode with energy, have clean skin and sparking eyes, strong nails and shiny hair and a slim waist.
There is an
weight loss meal plan here on the website designed around a kilojoule intake of 6,500kj a day which will give you an idea about what to eat. 6,500kj for someone of your size is enough to lose weight, but not so low that you will want to eat your arm before dinner. The meals are balanced healthy and delicious.
Judy's golden rules for weight-loss
If you don't want to follow a plan here are some other guidelines to follow...
Exercise
To increase your metabolism and the speed in which your body eliminates toxins you must exercise. Exercise will facilitate weight loss, help you manage stress better and improve your skin through elimination. So...
- Join an early morning group high intensive exercise class and attend at least 3 times a week.
- Take every opportunity to walk. In addition to the group exercise, walk everyday. Whether you walk to work or take the stairs instead of the lift, find opportunities to move.
Cut down, don't starve
If you miss meals regularly your body will store food and convert it to fat to use as an energy reserve. If you cut down the amount you eat the food will be burned efficiently and any extra energy required will be generated from fat.
What and how to eat for...
...boosting your metabolism:
- Eat your smallest meal at night and at least 3 hours before going to bed.
- Eat 3-5 small meals a day
- Reduce the amount you eat. Your plate doesn't need to spill with food and you never need to go back for more.
...energy and managing stress:
- Swap all refined wheat and rice foods for their wholegrain counterparts, and some less popular (but healthier carbohydrates) such as barley, whole rye bread, quinoa, and spelt. Reduce the consumption of all of these foods after 5.00pm.
...a feeling of fullness, shiny and strong hair:
- Include lean natural protein in each meal such as steak, trim lamb, eggs, low fat dairy, fish and tofu.
...protection against colds and flu:
- Fill up on veggies. Choose steamed and dry roasted veggies during winter and salad greens when the temperature increases.
- Citrus fruits, apples and kiwi fruit are all excellent fruits to eat until berries come back into season.
...weight loss and stress prevention:
- Cut out alcohol, soft drinks, sugar and all foods containing processed sugar. Cut out soft drinks.
...strong nails, bones and menstrual cramps:
- Use low fat milk, yoghurt, ricotta cheese, avocado and olive oil in place of whole milk, cream, cheddar cheese and butter.
Have a wonderful day!
Judy
