Inside Out
Don’t eat your way out of depression
By Cory Quirino
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 19:13:00 06/23/2008
MANILA, Philippines—The most often asked question is “How can I get back the figure I had when I was 21?” The answer is a little complicated.
At 21, your body frame may seem set for life, but it isn’t. You will still grow taller, wider, heavier. But that largely depends on you. While genes play a major role in your body shape and size (something like 70 percent), there is still that 30 percent for you to change it for the better. And it’s called lifestyle.
There is a way if you have the will. Take Fred as an example. At 25, he had a trim, attractive body. Fifteen years later, he gained 50 lbs and lost his sex appeal. When asked what happened, he simply replied, “I didn’t stop eating.”
The same goes for Janet who at 55 looks like she is 65. A lifetime overweight problem led to her depression. Upon further inquiry, Fred suffered from an image problem while Janet was unhappily married for 30 years. Both “ate” their way out of discontent and unhappiness.
How to avoid bingeing
1. Ban all “sympathetic comfort bingeing.” Even if you feel good demolishing that burger oozing with cheese or scrapping off the bottom of that half gallon of butter-pecan ice cream, by morning you would have gained three pounds. Feeling sorry about it, you will feel helpless, and then succumb again to your cravings. It’s a vicious cycle.
2. Move it. Start any kind of exercise program. If you can’t do it alone, join a gym class. The group energy will become your support and therapy.
3. Get involved. Join any civic organization or movement. Doing something worthwhile is a great morale booster.
4. Eat more often but in smaller portions. Scientific studies have shown that if you give your body enough food to burn as energy, there will be no excess. So, opt for five to six mini meals instead of three feasts. Don’t eat red meat or pork at night. Its digestion time of six to eight hours is too taxing on your tummy.
5. Fast more often. And it isn’t fastfood we are talking about. With no food, your body will go on slow mode to use up fewer calories. But the calories it will burn will be your existing fat. Under your doctor’s supervision, fast on raw vegetables or simply go on a liquid diet, 10-12 glasses coconut water / vegetable juices / mineral water. End your fasting with two tablespoons extra virgin olive oil or virgin coconut oil for cleansing and detox. Have a salad to break your fast—nothing fried or cooked if possible. Follow up with a good breakfast next morning.
6. Carbo withdrawal. Try not to eat a plateful of pasta everyday. Or eat less white rice and more high-fiber rice.
7. Enzyme help. As you get older, your digestive acids (like hydrochloric acid) diminish. You will need enzyme support to digest your food. Supplement by eating more raw food. Or, take an enzyme tablet (from any health shop) after meal time. You will burn fat more efficiently.
8. Fat burners. Increase your intake of green tea, black tea, L-carnitine (if you do gym work), ginger tea to speed up your metabolism.
9. Think bigger, not about your size but yourself. You are more important than you think you are.
Love and light!
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