Set-backs are OK

In meditation, set-backs are continual, on-going and expected. 
You just start again. And again and again. 
The trick is to keep going.
Do the same with dieting...

Rational?

If losing excess fat and eating healthily was so easy, then everyone would be doing it.
In truth, it is not so easy.
There is no rational reason to eat junk food. It is fatty, contains very little nutrition and destroys your body.
We all know the logic, yet people continue to eat badly. Why is this?

Set-backs are OK

In meditation, set-backs are continual, on-going and expected. 
You just start again. And again and again. 
The trick is to keep going.
Do the same with dieting...

Learn from meditation...

A good approach to dieting is to treat it as you would a meditation exercise.
In meditation, the mind wanders continually and you bring it back to the 'anchor' of the breath.
In dieting, we fail to make progress and then get twisted out of shape. 
People make such a big deal out of set-backs.

Green tea

A lot of studies claim that drinking green tea is good for your health.
Unfortunately they usually neglect to mention the fact that they are talking about fresh green tea leaves rather than tea bags.
The green tea sold at the supermarket lacks the potency of organic, fresh tea.
To find a good supplier, look on-line.
Seek the most medically beneficial variety you can find.

3-5 cups a day are recommended.
 

Will tai chi help me to lose weight?

Weight loss usually involves balancing out food intake and activity.

Undertaking a daily qigong and tai chi regime will most certainly help your body exercise.
This must be paired with a diet that best suits the individual.

Caffeine!

As part of our ongoing healthy eating we thought to try normal green tea instead of de-caff.
The theory was that it might have better health benefits, and be more potent.

Well, we had one cup and wow! it was terrible:
- headache
- tight temples
- mild palpitations
- upset stomach
- irritability

Caffeine isn't something you can tinker with.

We both felt awful (for quite a long time) after just one cup of caffeinated green tea.
Most people have caffeine-laced drinks from choice.
They seek the side-effects, the buzz etc.
This is addiction, and clearly quite unhealthy.

That was our one and only cup of caffeine.

Good BMI calculator

http://www.nhs.uk/Tools/Pages/Healthyweightcalculator.aspx

Dieting by phases

Switching from your familiar everyday habitual diet to a low-carb regime may be pretty traumatic and daunting.
To an overweight person this is hardly appealing.

Instead of doing anything drastic, do things in phases:

1. Phase #1: cut out the obvious things· no junk food
   · no alcohol/cigarettes/drugs
   · no supper
   · reduce your desserts/sweets/snacks
   · drink more water
    
2. Phase #2: fat and sugar· no sugar
   · no fat
   · no chocolate
   · no caffeine
    
3. Phase #3: switch from processed to healthy
   · no meat (if possible)
   · no salt
   · no additives
   · no flavouring
   · no preservatives
    
4. Phase #4: increase health food intake
   · organic food is preferable
   · raw food is preferable
   · high water intake
   · only eat when hungry
   · fresh fruit
   · fresh vegetables
   · fibre
   · nuts, seeds & pulses  
    
5. Phase #5: low-carb 
   · 20g of carbohydrates maximum per day
   · cut-out the obvious carbohydrates: potatoes, rice, pasta, bread
   · examine what you eat and determine carb content· do some research
   · read The Vegetarian Low-Carb Diet by Rose Elliot and Carb-Conscious Vegetarian by Robin Robertson
   · increase your protein intake (60-90g protein)
    
6. Phase #6: ongoing diet· once the desired amount of fat has been lost the focus of the diet needs to switch from fat loss to maintenance 
   · gradual re-introduction of carbohydrates over a period of weeks
   · do not resume old eating habits
   · eating unhealthy food is not recommended