![the writer is an actor an anchor and a model she is currently the host of morning with juggun on ptv home and can be reached via twitter juggunkazim the writer is an actor an anchor and a model she is currently the host of morning with juggun on ptv home and can be reached via twitter juggunkazim](https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/719111-JuggunKazimNew-1402243558/719111-JuggunKazimNew-1402243558.jpg)
The short answer is that there is no miraculous way to lose weight! Instead, the formula remains exactly the same as it always has: shut your mouth and move your behind. There is no pill, no machine, no miracle diet. Been there, done that and moved on!
The key lies in making lifestyle modifications, changing your mind set about food and exercise. The first step to actually losing weight is figuring out why you want to lose the weight. If it is for your wedding or for your husband/wife or to just fit into a certain outfit for once then the chances are your diet plan won’t work — at least, not in the long term. The next step is to figure out what kind of diet plan works for you. For example, I know I need my fix of carbs just as much as I need my tea with honey every morning. So I cut down my portions and treated myself once a week to what I really missed all week. But I didn’t try and cut out carbs altogether.
The most important step is to work out an exercise regime that fits in with your lifestyle. I work out every day for about 45 minutes before my morning show every day so I am alert at work. Working men and women can go to a gym near their workplace during lunch break or right after work. Oh, by the way, a gym partner really helps. You tend to motivate each other.
Now with all these things in play you need to also analyse your relationship with food. I know I tend to eat every time I am stressed or feeling low. Food gives me comfort like nothing else. And I know I’m not the only one. Here is the problem though. You eat and feel satisfied for the few minutes while you are eating but 10 minutes after your meal you feel guilty, uncomfortable and overstuffed. By all means eat what you want, but in moderation. Being active outside the gym is crucial as well. Play cricket with your kids or just do the dusting of your own home. Being a couch potato or sitting behind a desk all day slows down our metabolism as well. So do basic household chores and don’t keep sitting in one place for hours. Movement is necessary for us to have a balanced mind and body.
Finally, remember that weight loss isn’t the end of the journey. We tend to think that our problems are over once we have lost weight. But when and if you lose weight, you still have to make sure it stays off. In fact, people with a tendency to gain weight struggle their whole lives precisely because they have trouble maintaining a particular weight. Still, the fact that weight loss is difficult doesn’t mean it can’t be done. It can be. But one has to accept that losing weight is hard work and that keeping it off is harder.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 9th, 2014.
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COMMENTS (13)
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@Jay:A BMI of 18-25 is considered healthy range.
@Author: well written.
@Sohaib: 'Stress eating' and 'comfort foods' are not unique concepts that the author introduced. They are well understood globally and by no means considered strange. Please goole these terms to inform yourself.
Frankly, it was a great read, am trying to loose weight these days and this oped will help me a lot ... Have decided not to use the weighing machine every day after reading this ... Well written juggan.
My most sincere suggestion to all those who fast during Rumzaan is to benefit from what habit their digestive system has got into during Rumzaan and stop eating a regular lunch from then on for ever. They will certainly enjoy a better health. Walking briskly a few miles a day and eating handful of boiled vegetable with dinner every day will also be a beneficial contribution towards improving one's health. Eating a little bit of raw onions and garlic with dinner will also contribute towards better health, hopefully. To bring down blood sugar level, a pinch of maythee powder in the morning with water and a pinch of daarcheney powder later on with the tea or toast or on its own with water is known to be helpful.
You people (actors) spread the vulgarity whole year and in ramdan you start teaching islam to people. Plz forgive this nation. All the actors and actresses should be banned from hosting ramdan shows.
Pop Quiz: what is the difference btw a well researched article and a drawing room rant by a bored housewife?!?
Now this lady author has got something to watch with attention; her last article talked about honour and dishonour, which was followed by the murParween on open streets of Lahore! Will Pakistan experience the locust attack in days to come?
Rex Minor
Stick with shobiz only. That's the only thing you can do.
Very strange to hear that Food gives you comfort when you are low or stressed. You must be kidding lolx What a waste of time reading all this. No offence :)
It is simple if you can change your eating habits permanently and not concentrate on dieting. Eat less and move more. It is that easy. If you feel hungry after every meal, you are going to get there sooner than you think. Just do not look back to 'good old days' when you ate too much and sat all day in office or at home watching TV.
I'm pretty sure 45kgs and a height of around 5'4" gives a BMI of under 18.5 which is VERY unhealthy.
Now that's a subject I will not even venture on making a comment on, hah !........eons ago my mother ( bless her ) gave up on trying to get me to gain weight. Couple of decades later I complained to my GP about this and he said most people spend good money to remain the same weight....consider yourself lucky. So that shut me up. But the inimitable Jay Leno had a solution, you mentioned..........just eat less.