More Excuses

I WAS ALRIGHT UNTIL I HAD THE CHILDREN

Nature's way of ensuring the survival of mother and baby is to give a woman extra energy reserves (pads of fat) while pregnant and breastfeeding.  When that phase is over the woman should be able to return, in a few months, to her original size.  Some do, many don't!  Why they don't is not fully understood.  One theory has been put forward by psychologist Maureen Resler, who carried out some studies during the development of Outline 85 low-fat spread.  She suggests that the problem is that after they've had children women no longer put themselves first.This is obviously very understandable.  But a plump, unhealthy mother is not being fair on her children, her husband or herself.  If you suspect that you might be falling into that trap, make a conscious effort to pamper yourself more.  Put on make-up every morning.  Luxuriate in a bubble bath after the children have gone to bed.  Sit down and eat proper meals as a family.  Take the children swimming or out walking with you.  Get your husband or a neighbour to baby-sit while you go to yoga or dance class.  It may seem a little selfish at first, but you are giving your children an excellent example to follow.  If only your own mother had done the same for you, which brings us to the next excuse .....


ALL MY FAMILY WERE BIG

Fat parents have fat children, who in turn grow into fat adults.  It's a vicious circle.  You have to break it.  Various studies have been done to prove that different kinds of fat cells are laid down in children making some people more prone to be fat adults than others.  That may well be so, but it's also true that fat parents bring their children up to be inactive (I was hopeless at games, too, dear) and have unhealthy eating patterns (lashings of butter on bread and potatoes, sugary snacks and puddings with every meal).
Breaking habits not only of your own lifetime but of your parents also is tough.  But persevere because it's worth it, not only for your own sake but for your children's too.

MY HUSBAND LIKES ME THIS WAY

Oh yes?  Perhaps he's scared of losing you if you're slim to other men.  But a good marriage is based on mutual love and respect, not on one partner being kept prisoner by a mountain of flesh.  If he really loves you fat, he'll really love you slim (and maybe fancy you more).  Or it could be that he is also fat, in which case you could both benefit from a revised eating plan.  Swap whole milk for skimmed milk, butter and margarine for a low-fat spread, white bread for wholemeal, grill foot instead of frying it, cut out sugar and replace puddings with fresh fruit.   Take up a sport together.  You'll both look and feel quite different.  What's more a lower fat diet will also give your man some protection against heart disease.

DIETS ARE UNHEALTHY

They most certainly are - if you're talking about faddy or crash diets.  Very low calorie intakes simply slow the body down, meaning it needs less food anyway.  But a healthy wholefood eating plan and regular exercise can only ever do you some good.  Many diets suggest you eat only 1000 calories a day, but since an active (and active is the point) woman needs 2000 to 2200 calories a day, that sort of intake would leave her severely undernourished, possibly even suffering from malnutrition.  Cutting down to between 1400 and 1800 a day will give a steady weight loss without the hunger pangs or feelings of faintness and irritability that accompany most diets.

I HATE SLIMMING FOOD

What DO you mean?  Do you hate baked potatoes, shellfish, crusty wholemeal bread, fish cooked with black pepper and a squeeze of lemon juice, roast chicken with herbs, fresh vegetables and fruit, fruit juices, sparkling mineral waters, yoghurt etc. etc.  The list is endless, if you think diets are about cottage cheese and lettuce, it's about time you looked again!  Low fat foods are becoming so much simpler with all the alternatives to butter, margarine, hard cheeses, salad dressings etc.

I'VE GOT BIG BONES

Take a tape measure and measure your wrist at the narrowest point.  Five inches or less and you have a small frame, five and a half to six inches is average, six and a half or more is large for a woman.  This does vary according to height.  This means that when you read off your weight against your height on a chart, you should be at the suitable weight for your bone structure - not just look at the highest for that height!  But whether you are naturally big or not you can still be fat.  To find out, take all your clothes off and jump up and down in front of a full-length mirror.  Only your breasts should wobble!!  If your tummy, hips, thighs, chin or upper arms do - you're overweight, out of condition or both.
Not convinced?  Your doctor can do skin fold tests using callipers which will tell you definitely whether you are overweight or not.  But it is worth going through that?  Deep down you know really, don't you?

I HAVE TO EAT OUT/ENTERTAIN A LOT

So does the Queen, but she seems to manage.  Eating healthily in a restaurant is difficult, but not impossible.  Choose melon, clear soups or salads for starters.  Leave your bread roll, or if you're starving, eat it without butter.  Ask for game, poultry, fish or shellfish - served without rich creamy sauces for your main course accompanied by a side salad (no dressing) or plenty of vegetables and boiled or baked potatoes.  Skip the pudding or just have fruit salad (no cream).  Have a bottle of mineral water and alternate it with the wine to halve your alcohol intake.
If it is a formal dinner and the menu has already been decided, eat a moderate amount and leave the rest.  Eat slowly so that you don't finish before anyone else.  Meals cooked by friends can be trickier.  Try explaining beforehand - your hostess may be watching her weight too, and could be grateful for the opportunity to serve a lighter meal, but if you think she would just be offended, just tuck in.  If you eat healthily and exercise moderately 99% of the time you can easily accommodate the odd blow-out.
When you are the hostess, take the opportunity to show that a delicious meal need not be loaded down with cream, butter or brandy and heavy sauces.   Experiment with nouvelle cuisine, which has dazzling ideas of menus that won't blow anyone's calorie count.  Present food in moderate quantities but exquisitely prepared and garnished.  
 
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