The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : When losing weight, it pays to be persistent

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

When losing weight, it pays to be persistent

Special Correspondent

Bangalore: Losing that last 10 kg may be difficult for many trying hard to get slimmer. Doctors, health club trainers and dieticians recognise this. "After losing 10 kg to 15 kg of weight, many find it a hard going when it comes to the last five kg to 10 kg which just seem to cling on. This is usually the case with weight around the middle, waist and hips and in the case of women, thighs,'' says health club trainer Natasha Singh.

The problem for women may be cellulite, she says. Cellulite is the loose fat that mostly collects around the middle portion, including hips and thighs. Men normally don't get cellulite because they have thicker, more elastic skin. The fibres that connect skin and muscle are configured different in men and women.

The sagging skin, slack fibres and fat in women leads to the "orange peel" appearance, typical of cellulite. Men tend to carry extra weight around their midriffs. Fat in this area is usually firmer than fat lower down, where women tend to carry their extra weight. "To make cellulite less noticeable and stop it from showing up in the first place, your calorie intake has to be reduced enough to result in significant fat loss. This means cutting down on all calories and not just fat and regular exercise,'' says a dietician.

"Do make sure your workout includes at least 30 minutes of heart-pumping activity such as cycling, running/jogging or brisk walking. On alternate days, it can be muscle building and strength training. As the stores of fat in the body shrink, muscle tone improves and cellulite-prone areas will become tighter and smoother,'' says Ms. Natasha Singh.

For men, the last few kg are likely to be abdominal fat. It is considered metabolically more active than lower body fat, so is easier to lose. Adding 15 minutes to your brisk walking routine itself can help. Along with exercises any health club trainer can teach, involving the upper and lower abdominal muscles will help. Ten to 15 repetitions, at least thrice a week, will show results. Combine it with a low fat diet, and in three to four months, most of the fat around the stomach should have disappeared. "It is easy to give up when the last few kg refuse to budge... persistence pays,'' says Ms. Natasha Singh.

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