Weight Loss Secrets: Could This Ayurvedic Weight Loss Plan Really Work?

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  Posted by korgsp200 Fri Apr 17, 2009 1:06pm PDT

  Ayurveda has info on some set of herbs that benefit human body, but has no basic info on the roots of the disease or detailed info on the basics concerning any disease. I would never recommend anyone to opt for Ayurveda for any kind of a sickness, unless they just need a massage to relax. Though the whole of India believes that this is the best treatment for all diseases, I strictly disagree. Unfortunately, this kind of a myth is spread even in the western world. Concerning weight loss, you must first make sure that you are not losing muscles instead of fat. I don’t know if any Doc of Ayurveda knows the basics of protein synthesis by the human body and recovery after weight training, unless he is a fitness freak. It would be best if you can eat 6 meals a day and do some cardio with a light snack in the morning or ay other time in the day, and of course weight training, with more focus on compound movements than just doing bicep curls. When you eat only thrice a day, as per the Ayurveda philosophy, and force yourself to fast for a long time, your body will definitely get accustomed to it, but the body saves your limited food intake as fat, because it senses shortage of food. Just like how camels survive in the desert for long periods of time, by storing food into fat as their source of energy. You can’t just lose weight by eating carrots and cabbage all day. Get more of protein rich food, which you find is good for you. And eating as a sacred activity is fine. It is also fine to watch TV and eat healthy foods because eyes and brains are not involved in the digestive process. I think human body has many other organs that synthesize food. To summarize, there is no short cut to fat loss. It needs discipline, determination and patience. It could take up to one year to see results in some people. Another popular myth in India is that diseases once treated using Ayurveda will never come again, where as diseases treated using Allopathic medicines always come back to you frequently. If I have a nerve injury, I will only go to a micro neuro surgeon to get it repaired, than being a jerk and going to an Ayurvedic Doc and get massages done for many months. Be realistic!

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  Posted by Lisa S Fri Apr 17, 2009 4:27pm PDT

  I agree w/ "korgsp200"

  If you eat less your body goes into starvation mode & starts turning the food you eat into fat because it thinks you may not have food for a while. (just like korgsp200 said)

  Small frequent meals, a minimum of 6 a day is the best.^^

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  Posted by Doktor Eevol Fri Apr 17, 2009 4:42pm PDT

  Any technique can work but this is a solely an individual issue. There's no hidden answers for weight loss except eating less, burning more calories, and having a healthy relationship with food. Diets don't work because they don't directly treat physiological or psychological issues with food. An overall healthy lifestyle and communicating your weight loss problems with your doctor is probably the best treatment people have at their immediate disposal. There are tests you can take to determine if your weight is hindered by a physiological problem, and medical treatments available to help you get to goal.

  And I agree with the above poster that fruits and vegetables are a MUST. I like the omnivore dilemma's phrase "eat food, mostly plants." Have your meat, but do eat plenty of salads and some fruit as your sweet fix. The less refined and processed foods the better.

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  Posted by another hockey fan Fri Apr 17, 2009 5:48pm PDT

  Every body is different too. I have always done the three meals a day and it works for me. I always eat those meals around the same time every day so my body "knows" when it's expecting food. Sometimes if I'm hungry between meals I do eat an organic snack, but for the most part my "diet" has kept me in shape for over 15 years. My only vice is sweets. Other than that, no caffeine, sodas, alcohol, smoking, meds of any kind, and I work out at least four days a week. People need to find what works best for their body and stick with it. Eating right and including fitness in your life is a LIFETIME commitment. You either do it for life, or continue to expect the "yo-yo dieting" to never go away.

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  Posted by Zeplin522 Sat Apr 18, 2009 3:46am PDT

  I dont diet, but do eat like this. I've never been a snacker.

  I grew up on a farm, and when your outside working you can

  just run to the house for a snack, so a habit I never picked

  up. I do eat everyday at 5 or 5:15. And I'm not starving

  when I wake up in the morning. For me, my brother and sister

  this is our lifestyle. I dont think people should starve

  themselves. You can have healthy snacks. There are times

  when I do get hungry and want a snack, I eat fruit.

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  Posted by Lizbeth Sat Apr 18, 2009 10:35am PDT

  Korgsp200 has it right. I've read many things about Aryuvedic practices and used Hatha yoga to get back to food after being anorexic for years (basically mindful eating mixed with some meditation so I didn't have panic attacks when i started using utensils again, oh we've come a long way! hahaha)

  But now I eat and I find that eating small, protien rich and nutrient dense mini meals is best. I don't get the sugar drops, I can train hard and my body does better taking food in small meals.

  However I DO find it tough to find my 'sweet spot'-that magic,calorie number at which my body will burn fat and build muscle at the same time. What a pain the ass. I'll start my clean food regime, switch up the weights, increase and decrease cardio intensity and lose about 3 pounds, get to a certain shape and weight and WALL. Cutting past this point has been basically impossible. (and the only trainer in this neck of the woods is one of those obnoxious know-it-all-eco-geeks who calls food 'fuud' and rides her bike everywhere and practices intuitive eating and shops at farms-I'm all for the earth, but WTF? Just give me a program and I'll follow it. Cut out all the offey-goofey feel-good BS. i did it for a minute when I was in recovery, but now I'm a whole person and I don't need all the flowers and magic sprinkles to get past it.)

  Anyhooo. If you have a program you feel like sharing, I'm all ears!! (but I don't eat land animals)

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  Posted by Christopher K Sat Apr 18, 2009 11:18am PDT

  Many people already seem to regard eating as a "religious experience, that's the problem. They get a "rapture" of sorts from it and so they don't want to stop, so they become fat. Therefore, I would say no.

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  Posted by Luke Sat Apr 18, 2009 1:13pm PDT

  Most of it is all common knowledge. However:

  Eating is sacred to me, I NEVER waste my appetite by eating anything while on the computer or at a desk or working, even when working during lunch break I won't waste my appetite. Instead I eat only when in front of the TV watching my most favorite shows with my family.

  Additionally, I don't eat three meals a day. I'm never hungry when I get up in the morning and to eat breakfast I'll feel full the rest of the day but will still eat anyways as eating dinner in front of the TV is a tradition of mine. I rarely eat lunch also but if I do it's something light and little.

  I strongly believe in the one meal a day once all is said and done. Once work and the hassles of your day have come to an end there is nothing better to do, or look forward to, than sitting down (in front of the tv or a dining table) to enjoy a good meal. And while eating earlier than later makes sense I don't believe the science is there to prove it as it's all the same thing. It makes little difference if you're sitting on the couch at night or sleeping in bed.

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  Posted by Jennie Sat Apr 18, 2009 1:29pm PDT

  I'll have to disagree with some points made by Korgsp200. The actual text of Ayurveda (the "real" Ayurveda, you could say) actually does have quite a bit of information about diseases and their roots, their causes and things that make them more likely, and how different factors affect them, in addition to suggested methods of prevention and cure, such as certain exercises, hatha yoga, diet changes, breathing control, and relaxation techniques.

  Recent scientific studies about different suggestions and practices recommended by the actual Ayurveda have often proven these forms of prevention and cure as highly effective, and there has never been even one study to prove anything as dangerous or completely ineffective. An example is the use of turmeric, which has been shown to be healthy for a number of reasons, in the diet to help with certain conditions. Ayurveda is an ancient, fairly time-tested science that has been used in India for centuries. It's no surprise that some elements of Ayurveda, such as certain dietary suggestions, have been part of other forms of traditional alternative medicine and even modern conventional medicine in some cases - these elements are safe, and they work

  Of course, in today's world, many "new" cures are sold as "Ayurveda" or "Ayurvedic products" even if they have nothing to do with Ayurveda. Some of these fake products and fabricated methods can actually be dangerous! I haven't seen Dr. Douillard's DVD, so I can't comment on it, but in general, be careful! And the same goes for just about anything related to health or exercise... if you learned what real yoga is, for example, you wouldn't believe what kind of things some "yoga" instructors try to teach as hatha yoga!

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  Posted by Jennie Sat Apr 18, 2009 1:33pm PDT

  Chriskirchen2300, I don't think the author meant a literal sacred "rapture" should come from eating - but just the opposite! Rather than eating anytime and anywhere, eating is supposed to be something done in a specific place, at a specific time, like something sacred. That way, people don't, as you say, have the feeling that they "don't want to stop" eating, because if they leave their eating area or the eating time (breakfast, lunch, dinner) passes, then they know that they shouldn't be eating any more.

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