Vancouver Sun

Cutting corners won’t pay off

- MELISSA KAZAN Melissa Kazan MSc, RD, is SportMedBC’s registered dietitian and sport nutritioni­st. She is from Fortius Sport and Health.

Here are some tips from a dietitian on how to shed some pounds and keep them off:

AVOID FADS, PILLS

Weight loss is hard work and unfortunat­ely there is no pill or diet that will magically melt fat in your sleep.

Beware of diets that are too restrictiv­e such as “low-carb” “ketogenic” or “fasting ” diets.

Not only can these cause nutrient deficienci­es, but they can lead to rapid weight loss, mostly from water and muscle weight, which means you’ll also be putting it back on very quickly.

DON’T SKIP MEALS

When was the last time you ate? The right answer should be within the last four hours.

Going long hours without eating will set you up for failure as it will lead to large drops in blood sugar and overeating later in the day. Instead, find a schedule that works for you and try to eat four to five times per day.

DITCH THE 'CHEAT MEAL’

Cheat meals imply you’re doing something bad and can harm your relationsh­ip with food.

The strict diet that precedes a “cheat meal” can easily lead to a binge, leaving you feeling guilty afterward.

Instead, try to enjoy foods you love in moderation.

The key is to be mindful of your hunger and fullness levels.

You want to finish eating feeling just right: not hungry, but not stuffed either.

 ??  ?? Melissa Kazan
Melissa Kazan

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