DR.FOX’S 7-POINT FAT BLOCKER PROGRAM: BE REASONABLE
Be reasonable. We were all born with different bodies. Most of us will never be fashion-model slim, and we can ruin our health trying to be. Even with the regular ingestion of Chitosan, we may not achieve what we desire if that desire is unreasonable. For our bodies are wondrous machines that struggle against being abused.
So, unlike everything you have tried or heard before, I say be very careful when it comes to restricting your eating too much. It’s not good for you, and it won’t work. Don’t get me wrong
I’m all for avoiding the pitfalls of obesity. I believe that maintaining a normal weight is crucial to good health. Still, I tell my patients that I’d rather see them carry a few extra pounds than resort to starving themselves or engaging in unhealthy eating practices. Up to now, this has been something of a dilemma: You want to control what you’re eating to some degree (by staying away from too much fat, sugar, salt; eating more vegetables and fruits; etc.) yet you don’t want to over control and wind up with a diet you cannot live with, or even with an eating disorder. So how can you walk the line?
Well, in addition to Chitosan, which is obviously your first line of defense, here are a number of other reasonable strategies.
First, only eat when you’re hungry. In particular, if you feel hungry between regular scheduled mealtimes, make sure it’s truly hunger that you feel—not boredom, a twinge in your stomach, or an unmet emotional need. When you first feel that you’re hungry between meals, wait ten minutes. Many times we confuse a brief pang with true hunger. If you’re still hungry ten minutes later, munch a little from your Chitosan bag. Then, if you’re still hungry or if you truly crave an occasional high-fat treat, take your Chitosan and eat it! Always listen to your body’s signals. If you’re especially hungry one day, go ahead and eat larger portions.
The same principle applies to your meals. By using your secret weapon when you need it, you can afford to eat that extra portion you really want. That way, you’ll be able to stay with a healthful eating program. On the other hand, if you’re not very hungry one day, eat smaller portions of lighter foods. But do make sure you always get the minimum recommended number of servings each day. You must have your three meals and two snacks, even if you’re not feeling very hungry and they are quite small. By all means, take smaller portions if that’s appropriate, but do eat. Your body needs the nutrients.
Second, realize that weight loss is not a race—the point is to keep moving in the direction of your ideal body weight. Even if you feel the urgent need to lose weight quickly, there is only so much you can do. And slowly losing weight is much better for your health. Your body is more likely to adjust to the new weight and you’re more likely to adopt gradually but permanently the new eating habits so that your weight will continue to decline until it gets to your ideal weight. That’s where it will stabilize. As long as you keep taking your Chitosan—and a little extra if you occasionally overindulge—there is no need to regain the weight you have lost—ever.
Eating disorders are, of course, a curse that comes with too much emphasis on losing weight fast, too many crash diets, and too much worship at the altar of unnecessary thinness. At their worst, true eating disorders destroy healthy living and can even lead to death. But they usually begin gradually, and the best time to deal with them is when they are just starting.
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