Successfully maintaining a healthy weight can be quite a challenge. Isa sa mga technique ng pag-maintain ng healthy weight is a continuous cycle of evaluating our eating habits.
To achieve this, pwede natin i-apply ang 3Rs. These are:
REFLECT
REPLACE, and
REINFORCE
REFLECT – to reflect means na kelangan natin pagnilayan o i-assess ang ating mga eating habits — be it good or bad. We can do this on a regular basis. Pwede ito after a day’s work we keep a simple diary. Or pwedeng on a weekly basis. Focus natin sa mga karaniwang triggers ng unhealthy eating
REPLACE – replace means na palitan natin yung mga unhealthy habits with healthier ones. We can slowly put in small changes or practical modifications para hindi naman masyado mabigla ang usual routines natin.
REINFORCE – give ourselves credit for the good work that we’ve done. Of course, hindi dapat food! Also, don’t forget to congratulate ourself for the small successes in maintaining the changes in our habits.
So that’s it! The 3Rs to help change our eating habits. In the part, we’ll share with you how we can go about assessing our eating habits.
Our journey to a sustainable more healthy weight involves a change in the way of how we do things. Pero making drastic and sudden changes to our eating habits, kung minsan, may do more harm than good. Sure, they can lead to weight loss pero most often, on a short term basis. And more often, the long-term repercussions can lead to more weight kesa nung nag simula tayo.
Para mas maging long-term at sustainable ang ating weight loss journey, kelangan natin ng i-review at i-assess ang ating eating habits. Meron na kasi tayong mga nakaugalian na pwedeng makatulong sa ating weight loss. Example nito ang pagkain sa oras at hindi pag skip ng breakfast. Pero meron din mga habits nakaka-hinder dito. Halimbawa yung parating inuubos ang laman ng plato natin kahit super busog na tayo.
Kelangan natin i-identify ang mga habits na ito at palitan ang mga nakasanayang bad eating habits. In other words, the journey to sustaining a healthy weight involves also a constant reflection and improvement in our habits. Kailangan din kung minsan ng pagbabago sa ating mindset.
On the next part, tingnan natin ang isang simpleng pattern kung paano natin pwedeng mapabago ang eating habits natin.
Alam naman natin na batay sa mga pag-aaral, ang pagkakaroon ng sobrang taba sa ating tiyan ay sanhi ng hindi balanseng diet. Karaniwan, ito ay dahil sa pagkain ng sobrang saturated fat na nanggagaling sa taba ng hayop — o karne.
Ang pagkain na sobra sa saturated fat ang tinuturing na isa sa mga dahilan ng pagkakaroon ng mga chronic illnesses katulad ng alta presyon, diabetes, sakit sa puso at stroke. Ang pag-iwas sa ito ay makatutulong sa pagbawas sa “risk” sa pagkakaroon ng mga ganitong sakit.
Dahilan dito, nauuso ngayon ang iilang mga diet na walang lamang karne o meat products. Kabilang sa mga tawag dito ay “vegan diet”, vegetarian diet, o “plant-based diet”. Bagamat makakatulong ito sa pagbawas ng saturated fat sa katawan, hindi lahat ng tao ay handa sa ganitong pamamaraan ng pagkain.
Ang pagkain ng “meat-lite” ay transition mula sa usual na diet tungo sa isang diet na mababa o walang meat products. May mga paraan kung paano gawing “meat-lite” ang diet ninyo.
Bagong Taon na naman and of course most of us want to take the time to rethink and revisit our health goals. In looking how to improve our health, I’ve looked into some ways on how we can measure our health so we can better ourselves.
Body Mass Index
Ratio of weight and the square of height.
Normal is from 18.5 to 25
More than 25-<30 would mean either overweight or obese; less than 18.5 means undeweight
Waist Circumference
Indicator of visceral or belly fat. And this fat is a predictor of obesity-related disease risk than overall body fat
The normal waist circumference for females is less tthan 35 inches and for men is less than 40 inches.
Some professionals measure the waist hip ratio. The normal for males is 0.9 females 0.85€
Level of hydration from amount of water you drink.
It is a common notion that 8 glasses is enough but this not always the case
Lot of factors to consider such as the gender, activity level, climate.
More practical to gauge using the color of urine. It should have pale yellow color or lighter
Blood Pressure
Increasing blood pressure could be an indication of overall cardiovascular health
Anything more than 120/80 would mean regular monitoring
Cholesterol Levels
By age 20, cholesterol levels should be checked at least every 5 years; much more frequent if there are other risk factors
Blood Sugar Levels
Fasting Blood sugar tells us the amount of sugar that remains in the blood after not eating for 8 hours or so. FBS of 100 mg/dL is normal
People with normal sugar levels should get tested about every 3 years
Servings of Vegetables Eaten
The more servings of non starchy vegetables and fruit eaten each day, the better for over all health
Eat more vegetables compared to processed food and high glycemic index food
Half of your meal plate should be filled with vegetable
Time spent Moving
Exercise and physical activity is important to maintain strong bones, reduce risk of diabetes and improve mood
Exercise at least 30 minutes a day to lower risk of early death
Amount of alcohol taken
Excessive alcohol can lead to development ceratin cancers, heart disease, liver disease
Excessive drinking (CDC) – 3+ drinks in a single occasion for women; 4+ drinks in a single occasion for men; 7+ drinks per week women; 14+ drinks per week for men
Drinking moderate is equal to one drink a day for women and up to 2 drinks per day for men
If you don’t drink alcohol, there is no reason to start
Hours Spent Sleeping
Sleep deprivation may lead to hypertension, daibetes and heart disease
Adults over 18 should get 7-9 hours of sleep daily
So there you have it. Just by monitoring or looking after these simple ways, you are already helping your body towards being a better you.
Being in your early 20s can be both fun and a challenge. For many, this stage is the beginning of an entirely new phase of life – the prospects of having your first job, entering into new relationships or family, or continuing the challenges of learning new things.
In every new life phase comes new routines. And this may cause drastic changes in lifestyle. People may start to become less active in the gym or sports because of new challenges at work, or in the family. Food habits change because of different environments like being with different set of people with different food habits.
Although some studies may vary in their conclusions (Proper, Picavet, Bogers, Verschuren, & Bemelmans, 2013), the changes in the lifestyle may pose potential problems for some because this may translate to weight gain if unchecked in the long run. Financial struggles and challenges resulting from new responsibilities from the emerging independent adult can also predispose to weight gain (Conklin, Forouhi, Brunner, & Monsivais, 2014).
Knowing these
issues and not losing focus in maintaining a healthy lifestyle not only prevents
weight gain, but also decreases the potential for chronic diseases in the
future. Managing your time schedules regularly
to incorporate even short periods of physical activity can help burn excess fat
from previous overindulgence.
Incorporating mindfulness exercises during meals may decrease the risk
of overeating and overconsumption of calories.
Being in the company of health-conscious individuals can further
motivate you in carrying on with your fitness goals.
Choose to make your health a priority while in the prime of life.
References:
Conklin,
A. I., Forouhi, N. G., Brunner, E. J., & Monsivais, P. (2014). Persistent
financial hardship, 11-year weight gain and health behaviors in the Whitehall
II study: Persistent Hardship Increases 11-Year Weight Gain. Obesity,
n/a-n/a. https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.20875
Proper, K. I., Picavet, H. S. J., Bogers, R. P., Verschuren, W. M., & Bemelmans, W. J. (2013). The association between adverse life events and body weight change: results of a prospective cohort study. BMC Public Health, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-13-957
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a heterogenous disorder that is characterized by a state of increased androgen levels (measured either clinically or through laboratory tests), a dysregulation of ovulatory functioning, and polycystic ovarian morphology.
Although patients may remain without symptoms, most notable characteristics are a state of clinical hyperandrogenism particularly hirsutism (presence of hair overgrowth), menstrual irregularities (often leading to difficulty conceiving), and elevated testosterone levels in the blood.
The cause of PCOS is still unknown but is thought to develop from an interplay of factors from heredity, fetal development, environment, and metabolism.
It because of this relative hormonal and biochemical imbalance that PCOS is associated with a high prevalence of weight gain and obesity. Women with this condition range from 30-70% depending on which part of the world they are. Other conditions in which PCOS is associated with are: metabolic complications (such as type 2 diabetes), pregnancy complications, anxiety and depression, endometrial cancer, and obstructive sleep disorder.
Most medical societies advocate lifestyle modification measures as an important facet in the management of PCOS. Increasing physical activity and exercise together with a sensible diet has been shown to lower the risk of diabetes and improve ovulatory cycles among women with PCOS.
Weight loss may further be achieved by lessening caloric intake by 500 Calories per day. Consuming foods with low glycemic indices may help stave off cravings during the day and help stabilize blood glucose levels. Monitoring water intake to 2 liters per day may also help reduce food cravings. As with any weight loss measure, a daily multivitamin supplement may be necessary to supply nutrients from the restrictive diet.
Australian
National Health and Medical Research Council/American Society for Reproductive
Medicine/European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
(NHMRC/ASRM/ESHRE). (n.d.). International evidence-based guideline on
assessment and management of polycystic ovary syndrome.
Legro,
R. S., Arslanian, S. A., Ehrmann, D. A., Hoeger, K. M., Murad, M. H., Pasquali,
R., & Welt, C. K. (2013). Diagnosis and Treatment of Polycystic Ovary
Syndrome: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline. The Journal of Clinical
Endocrinology & Metabolism, 98(12), 4565–4592. https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2013-2350
Ricardo
Azziz, Enrico Carmina, ZiJiang Chen, Andrea Dunaif, Joop S. E. Laven, Richard
S. Legro, Daria Lizneva, Barbara Natterson-Horowtiz, Helena J. Teede &
Bulent O. Yildiz. (2016). Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Nature Reviews Disease
Primers, 2(16057). Retrieved from https://www.nature.com/articles/nrdp201657
The issue of excessive weight gain is not only a growing problem of adults. In today’s world, sedentary lifestyles have become increasingly common even in the young. Instead of being in playgrounds or other activity areas, children mostly stay at home with their computers and tablets. The influx of Western and instant cuisine also play a role in the diet of children. Families are more likely seen eating in fast foods during weekends and holidays rather than enjoying home cooked meals.
With the changing lifestyle patterns also comes the increasing incidence of chronic illness such as diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. Now, it is not uncommon to see many young people suffering from these illnesses as well.
The position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is that interventions be made as early as the pre-school and school age so as to prevent the onset of chronic illnesses. This may be achieved with awareness of healthy eating practices and maintaining healthy weights for kids.
MyPlate is a visual guide originally made by the US Department of Agriculture to remind families on how much of which should be present in the feeding plates of children. A similar device has been adapted for Filipinos to make it applicable in the local setting and is named “Pinggang Pinoy“.
In the plate graphic, half of the plate should comprise vegetables and fruits during meals. Vegetables comprises a majority of this portion. Children are encouraged to eat more dark-green, red and orange vegetables. The greater in the variation and contrast in colors can also aid in attracting kids in eating vegetables.
Fruits make up the other portion of the first half in MyPlate. Pears, oranges, berries, watermelon, peaches and raisins are some examples that can be served on to the plates of kids. Fruit juices may also substitute during occasions but only if 100% juice is served (and not juice concentrate which contains mostly table sugar).
A quarter of the plate should comprise healthy proteins. Recommended are healthier sources such as fish, beans and peas.
The last quarter of the plate should be filled up with grains – preferably whole grains. As such, kids are encouraged to eat oatmeal, whole-wheat breads, tortillas or brown rice more often.
To supplement their meals, children are also encouraged to take dairy in their meals. This may come in the form of low-fat milk, cheese, or yogurt for stronger teeth and bones.
Exercise should come in the form of play or any suitable physical activity for at least 60 minutes daily.
The way for people to adapt to healthy lifestyles that persist is to imbibe them early. Encouraging healthy eating using MyPlate or Pinggang Pinoy is one strategy that may help ensure this.
References:
Ogata, B. N and Hayes D. Position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Nutrition Guidance for Health Children Ages 2 to 11 Years. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 2014-08-01, Volume 114, Issue 8, Pages 1257-1276
The body changes as one ages. Some changes that are noticed would be that of elasticity of the skin leading to perceptible wrinkling. Muscles also shrink because of decrease in the size of individual muscle cells. Quality of vision, hearing and balance also start to become affected.
In terms of functioning, there are some limitations that become felt with the effects of aging. The quality of exercise and physical activity training may help counteract these impending problems in the elderly.
Circuit exercise may be a suitable routine for certain populations of elderly people to combat the changes in their body. This exercise routine involves a series of around 10 exercises usually working different muscle groups or body parts, performed in succession, with adequate rest intervals (around 15-30 seconds) in between. The set may be repeated for one to three times.
Examples of circuit training routines may be obtained from the following: [Senior Fit Training]
An evaluation of several studies show that this type of workout routine leads to significant increases in both upper and lower body strength. Indirectly this signifies that this type of workout greatly improves the ability of elderly people in performing activities of daily life (ADLs). Lean body fat values appear to decrease but the effect was not significant. This was also true with regards to oxygen capacity which is responsible for the length of time a person is able to withstand cardiovascular activity without getting tired or exhausted.
The study also suggests that gains may be more visible if a person engages in the programs for long periods of time rather than short ones.
Live life to the fullest. Engage in circuit training activities the soonest possible time.
References:
Buch, AB, et al. Circuit Resistance Training is an Effective Means to Enhance Muscle Strength in Older and Middle-Aged Adults. Ageing Research Reviews, 2017-08-01, Volume 37, Pages 16-27.
The body may bear the brunt when one’s weight increases over time. This is the reason that obesity is often associated with many illnesses.
Blood pressure may often become elevated among people with weight issues. Blood sugar levels start to shoot up. A person may also experience symptoms of diabetes such as increased urination and/or thirstiness, blurring of vision, pins and needles sensation in the toes and feet, darkening of the skin, etc.)
Persistent increase in weight may also affect heart functioning leading to an increase in size of the heart muscle and disturbance in the diastolic pressure.
Pain and swelling in the joints particularly in the hips and kneed are common in individuals who are obese. This is because the lower parts of the body suffer the undue heaviness.
Start engaging in weight loss measures the soonest if you feel these symptoms alongside an increasing body weight.
Back in the days, people who were “hefty” or “plump” are said to have been blessed by graces and blessings from above. They were widely accepted in society as those who are more than able to provide for their means.
Nowadays, being “heavy” carries an uncertainty with the way one’s health goes. As more and more research is done, this has been associated with a number of medical illnesses. A handful of experts even include this state as a medical illness itself. Organizations like the World Health Organization have even labeled obesity as an epidemic.
The term obesity is referred to when one’s body mass index (BMI) is equal to or more than 30kg/m2. Special considerations are given to elite resistance athletes and body builders. In order to know one’s BMI, you just have to take your height in meters and weight in kilograms. Dividing the weight by the square of the height gives the BMI. The normal BMI is between 18.5 and 25.
Some experts believe that the real measure of obesity lies in the amount of visceral fat mainly deposited in the abdomen. Precise measurements of this would need specialized imaging such as computed tomography or magnetic imaging resonance scans which may be impractical in some parts of the world. A practical way of estimating this is by measuring the abdominal circumference. Abdominal obesity is present if the waist measurement is more than 102 cm (40 inches) in men, and 88 cm (35 inches) in women. This is important because an increasing abdominal girth predisposes a person more to certain chronic illnesses and even mortality, despite a normal BMI.
Take charge of your health beginning today. Take your body mass index and waist circumference regularly to monitor your progress to healthy living.
References:
Obesity: Preventing and managing the global epidemic. Report of a WHO consultation. World Health Organ Tech Rep Ser 2000; 894: pp. i-xii
National Institutes of Health : Clinical guidelines on the identification, evaluation, and treatment of overweight and obesity in adults—the evidence report. Obes Res 1998; 6: pp. 51S-209S
