Some people think this is pretty and endeavour to be like this. If you agree, please consult a doctor.
Yahoo Singapore recently published a three-part report known as Thinspiration. It featured young girls who wanted to become skinny fast and the unhealthy methods they resorted to in order to achieve their desired size.
It is no news that fat-free celebrities have always been role models to young girls. With the K-Pop wave at full blast and constant exposure to slim and sexy Korean celebrities like Girls Generation who frequently flaunt their lanky silhouette and slim long legs in skin tights clothes and mini skirts, little wonder that many young girls feel inspired to slim down and get that size 0 look.
Being slim is good, but being unhealthily slim, or resorting to unhealthy methods to get thinner, can be detrimental to health, and even cause death.
In a quick and easy bid to shed off the excess weight, many women turn to diet pills or diet plans. Some go to the extreme of binging and become anorexic. These forms of weight loss are unhealthy and have many negative side effects to the body as well. They include hair loss, dry and flaky skin, porous bones and pale skin. Now what is the point of forcing yourself to slim down if you’re going to end up looking unattractive either way?
Did you know that many fit and fab celebrities put in a lot of hard work to maintain their physique, sticking to tough exercise regimes that involve regular workouts at the gym overseen by professional fitness instructors, and watching their diets stringently? They do not skip meals, but they are discerning eaters, and healthy food constitutes the bulk of their meals. That is why they look radiant and attractive, unlike those who diet through unhealthy ways.
In today’s fast-paced society, people want fast results and exercise is too slow and tough for the impatient and undetermined. However, it is undeniable that exercise is truly the healthiest and most effective form of weight loss, to be accompanied by a balanced diet of carbohydrates, meat, fruits and vegetables.
The optimum calorie intake for a healthy adult is:
• Men: 2500Cal
• Women: 2000Cal
The optimum BMI for Asian men and women is between 18.5-23.9. Click here to calculate your BMI.
There are many fuss-free ways to eat more healthily to lose or maintain your weight, without resorting to the extremes.
Singapore, being a food paradise, is home to many temptations that are oily and unhealthy . No doubt it is tough to make a decision between a delicious plate of char kway teow during lunch versus a plate of rice with lots of vegetables, but at least, there’s a choice!
In hawker centres and food courts, opt for soupy foods like fish soup or yong tau foo. Ask for more vegetables, request for less oil and cut down on carbohydrates like rice and bee hoon. These little adjustments to your meal will not only enable you to enjoy a hearty lunch but also ensure that it is healthier too!
When eating from fast food restaurants or in restaurants, some menus will have the healthier choice logo next to the food items. Opt for those choices instead and you won’t have to feel guilty about putting on those calories.
Apart from food, you can also cut down on sugary drinks and juices. Fruit juices might sound healthy but in fact can be loaded with sugar. Drink more water instead, at least 8 glasses a day, and if you want to have a glass of fruit juice, choose fresh fruit juices sold in hawker centres or make your own with a blender and fruits from the supermarket.
The healthiest way to be sure of what you are putting into your body is to pack your own meals. Home-cooked food is always the best. You know how much oil you have used, how the food was cooked and you can put in extra vegetables and use healthy grain rice to have a wholesome diet.
Nobody has to suffer to be slim. Don’t damage your looks and life just to shed some pounds.
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