The author, Dr Michelle Harvie is a state registered dietician,
researching strategies for weight management and the health benefits of
diet and exercise. Her research programme at South Manchester
University Hospital, Manchester, is part funded by the Genesis Appeal; a
Manchester based Breast Cancer Prevention Charity.
What Is Health?
Eating well, controlling our weight and taking regular exercise can keep
us healthy and reduce our risk of developing diseases such as cancer,
heart disease and diabetes. Contrary to what many people think, these
illnesses are not always down to genes or bad luck. Experts agree that
¼ of cancer of the breast and bowel, 40% of cancer of the womb and ¾ of
diabetes and heart disease could be prevented by appropriate diet and
exercise choices. Whether we develop these diseases is largely within
our own control!
Being healthy is not just about
avoiding illness; it’s about feeling great and positive about yourself.
Women today often find themselves trying to look after the family, the
home and often fitting in a hectic work schedule as well. Little wonder
we do not have time to look after ourselves or our own health. All
these pressures add to our levels of stress. Exercising regularly,
eating healthily and controlling our weight are great ways to make us
feel better. This will give you more energy, make you feel more
empowered and more positive about your life and help you to face the
challenges of life. Just think by watching your diet, exercise and
weight you are not only protecting yourself against illness, but are
managing your stress levels and above all, feeling better about
yourself.
Do You Need To Lose Weight?
Simply weighing yourself on a set
of scales will not tell you if you are a healthy weight. You need to
take three aspects of your weight into account to decide whether you
need to try and lose some weight: (1) the amount of weight you have
gained since the age of 20 (2) your body fat level and (3) your waist
measurement. If you have experienced any increase in (1) to (3) then
exercise and diet combined is the key to weight loss and an improved
life style and image.
The
Diet For Life Weight Loss Programme
This programme is based on a
healthy balanced calorie controlled diet and exercise programme. This
is no fad diet based on just low fat or high protein foods, as it is not
sensible to try and lose weight by targeting one nutrient. The balanced
calorie restricted diet will promote steady fat loss and maintenance.
No
diet will work unless you keep to it.
The Diet for LifeProgramme can easily fit into your life
and is relatively easy to follow which is the key to success. The
essential ingredients of the Diet for Life Weight Loss Programme
are to eat the right types of food, not eat too much and to take regular
exercise.
What should I eat?
The
amounts and types of food in the Diet for Life Weight Loss Programme
are listed in the Diet for Life Planner.
These diets have been designed to
promote steady fat loss. The diets are aimed to provide 500 calories
less than you need each day to burn off 1lb of body fat each week. The
exercise you are doing as part of the plan will burn off up to one
additional lb of fat each week depending on how active you are. Hence,
by achieving these recommended diet and exercise goals you can lose
1-2lbs of fat per week with the Diet for Life Weight Loss Programme.
Selecting the correct fat loss diet for you is easy. Simply find the
plan designed for your current body weight in the Diet for Life
Planner. The planner tells you the calorie intake and the number of
servings of starch, protein, fruit, vegetables, dairy and fat foods, and
the occasional treats allowed within this plan. Use the Food Lists as a
guide to the amounts of food allowed in each of these servings.
