Diets

I've been playing around with the layout as you can tell...I think I like this better. Looks cleaner. This weekend I went to an AH-MAZING party at club LIV at the Fontainebleu on Miami Beach. (note: Mazel Tov H!) It really is extremely cool. I was especially excited since the only time I had seen it was on TV. Major bummer we won't be allowed in for another couple years...

Back to today's subject: Diets! With all of the social pressures to be skinny, teenagers of today have been forced to resort to fad diets, starvation, and, worst of all, eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia. Today I'm going to address what works and what plans you should chuck.

First of all, fad diets. How many of you have been reading a magazine that says something like "Star talks about how she lost baby weight fast and keeps it off!", then it goes on to talk about how they eat like, ostrich eggs and acai berries imported from Brazil with electrode enhanced water for breakfast? Yeah, no. There's a reason these are fads: they come in, everyone thinks they're great, you try them out anddd....eh. Nothing really happens. The success stories you read about in magazines don't mention that stars have rigorous personal trainers and stylists that dress them in the most flattering clothes possible. The one diet type that is both celebrity endorsed and (I hear) actually works is Weight Watchers. And possibly Jenny Craig. But things like Jenny Craig are for people who are really uncomfortable with their weight/ their weight is affecting their health. Not for everyday teens. Next up on the chopping block, starvation! When I think of starvation diets, for some reason I get reminded of the part in The Devil Wears Prada where Andie tells Emily she looks great and Emily says something like "I'm on this new diet. What it is is I don't eat anything at all, and when I'm about to feint I eat a cube of cheese". Many people think: If I don't eat, I'll reduce my calorie and fat intake and therefore lose weight. This is not how it works. When you don't eat, your body goes into starvation mode and eats away at other resources, leaving you without energy and feeling crappy. Especially as teens, you need food for energy that you eventually will burn off during the day. The trick is to savor what you're eating and eat it slowly, which prevents overeating. Prolonged starvation is just as bad as bulimia. Bulimia is characterized by a cycle of binging (you eat a ton of food) and purging (you throw it all up). This is actually disgusting. I don't understand why anyone would purposefully make themselves vomit. Not only is it horrible, but it also wears away at your teeth enamel and causes bad breath. Bulimic people don't get the vitamins and protein they need, which is harmful not only in the present but also in the long term.

So what do I prescribe? Put away the calorie counters and scales and just eat healthy. Eat things that are filling and full of protein, so you can eat less and still feel full. What I have found is that just by cutting out sweets and dairy (cheese is EXTREMELY fattening. I take calcium vitamins instead) can help you lose weight. Remember that if you're going to stick to a diet, do it because YOU want to, not because someone is pressuring you into it, and make a plan. But above all else, be active! This is a lot, coming from the person who hates the outdoors and is the most uncoordinated person on the planet, but all you need is one sport or one activity you like to do, and you're good. Don't stress out now about your weight - you have your whole life for that!