Managing your calories through the right food.

In my previous postings, I did mention that excess carbohydrates, excess proteins and excess fats are the cause of obesity.

Yes, after all, it is only when we put in more calories than we expend that there are excess calories in our body for it to change them into body fats. It's as simple as that.

Therefore, the way to have the right body weight is to eat just enough for our body.

The other day I met a guy who told me that he had been an athlete in his schooldays. With his games and sports, he needed a lot of energy to stay active in the field and on the court.

Then, when he left school, he concentrated on his career and left behind the tracks, field and court. However, his appetite was just as good as before. He ate the same amount of food to satisfy his stomach. Slowly but gradually, his tummy began to expand. Soon, he had a spare tyre. Not just that, his muscles became soft and flabby. The unused muscles slowly turned to fat.

Looking back at one of my Kungfu masters and the sportsmen I had known, I discovered this to be the usual path for most of them. The trouble is that their activities are no longer as vigorous but the food still poured in at the same rate and quantity. There is excess calories, too much blood sugar leading to insulin problems and diabetes. More fat is stored in the body, around the organs and lining blood vessels causing them to narrow and gradually leading to heart problems.

So, the sensible thing to do is to slowly but gradually cut down on the amount of calories consumed so that what goes in is just sufficient for our needs.

Of course, for some, this may be difficult. Eating habit is difficult to overcome. So, we may have to solve this through preserving the same amount but slowly (It must be a gradual change for rebellion not to take place.)we can replace simple carbohydarates and sugars such as white processed sugar and processed flour and grains such as polished rice which contained no other nutrient than carbodhydrates; with complex carbohydrates such as whole grains, friuts, beans, legumes and vegetables which contain less calories and take a longer time for the body to process. In fact, we would be helping the body to get rid of some excess if it needs a longer process to get at the carbohydrates to get the calories.

With just a little lean meat and a minimal amount of possible fats in it; consuming more complex carbohydrates than simple carbohydrates, our body can return to a healthier weight.

If possible, do think of some enjoyable exercise as it can also expand whatever excess there is.

Then again, one very thin guy I knew could never seem to know what is excess. He wanted to put on weight but that was just not possible. He was a teacher who lived with me in the same house for a few years. He was with me at a language course. We stayed in the same hostel for about three months. During all that time, he tried to put on weight, eating a fantastic amount of food.

In fact I remembered very well that he ate so much that he attracted the attention of the others in the same dormitory. Every breakfast, there was always excess eggs and he would eat a good number of them. Then, in the evenings, about two hours after dinner he would buy half a Kenturkey Fried Chicken for his supper. Despite all that none of my friends have ever known him to be even plump. Where did all the excess calories go to? He was the walking, living testimony that eating excess food would not lead to obesity!

There are only two possible reasons for this guy. His metabolism rate was so high that it burned up all those calories. Well, besides exercise, our whole body need calories merely to stay alive. Every heartbeat, every breathe we take, every unfelt and unseen movement of the other organs in our body, every flow of blood, every pulse, every activity if our cells, every eye blink and whatever warmth our body emits require energy (calories). A calm person would require less while an agitated person who has his heart and mind racing faster than the fastest locomotive would certainly need much more. Each individual is uniquely individual.

Another reason could be the poor digestive system. If the food were to move down the digestive tract without or seldom delivering its calories, vitamins and essential fatty acids, then most of the food might end up at the bottom. lowest station with most of the food intact.

You do not believe that? Even the average Joe could see some seeds or fibres still recognisable splattered down in the toilet the next day. Just try it, take gauva friuts together with the seeds and it could happen to you, which is quite normal. Of course, some of them are the insoluble fibres that are bound to exit, assisting to give bulk and easier passage to the load.

Never mind, for the above guy, it could be a blessing or a problem. The fact is that there are exceptions.

I know that if we are willing to make a little change here and there, we can achieve a healthier weight.