What is a diet? These days, we tend to associate the term strictly with specific dietary plans. But a diet can also simply imply your own personal food choices and desires. In fact, it should be personal and tailored to your needs specifically because a diet is not a “one-fits-all” thing.

From Vegetarian to Vegan and Paleo to Keto, people often believe these are the only options available. But are they? And what if you’re already on one of these diets? How do you tackle things like weight loss and what should you be aware of?

I’ll be answering the most common questions about dieting, particularly for weight loss purposes. Don’t be surprised if some of the answers dispel the misconceptions you may already have about dieting…

Q: Which Diet Is Most Effective for Weight Loss?

A:An effective weight loss diet does not mean it is equally effective for anyone who tries it. This is why people fall off diets when they don’t see the results— because the diet simply didnot apply to them in the first place!

There are, however, certain weight loss dieting tips that we Ayurvedic practitioners recommend universally, such as:

• Avoiding bread and gluten
• Avoiding red meat
• Rationing your plate if you’re a meat eater (for every 200g meal, reduce the meat portion by 50%, and up your vegetable intake x 4)
• Satiating yourself with fruit when you are hungry
• Not overdoing it on the protein (aim to find a balance between protein and carb intake)

Q: What Is the Ayurvedic Medicine for Weight Loss?

A: To answer this question, I will need to first remind you that there is no “one-fits-all” medicine or remedy for any condition. That said, your Ayurvedic practitioner is the only one qualified to make such recommendations after a thorough examination and consultation.

If you are unable to seek Ayurvedic advice, I would recommend you at least tweak your diet to include some, if not all, of the following:

• Increasing your water intake, starting first thing in the morning at 5 AM to 6 AM. Make sure to have some more water in the evening at 4pm, as this will flush out the kidneys, allowing you to rest.
• Minimizing the meat you eat. Steer away from red meats especially.
• Eating plenty of salads and greens like spinach, asparagus, choko and luffa.
• Eating vegetable soups (you can add some lean meat to these and even barley), particularly at night.
• Juicing and juice-fasting. Try having an orange or citrus juice with a pinch of black salt daily for one week.
• Incorporating garlic, ginger and hot spices to as many foods as you can (but only to the point that it’s tolerable).
• Opting for brown rice instead of white, and sweet potatoes instead of white potatoes.
• Adding mung beans to your diet, as they tone the digestive organs and boost metabolism.

Q: How Can I Lose Tummy Fat Fast?

A:Tummy fat, also known as abdominal fat, can be quite bothersome and even cause further complications down the line (diabetes, hormonal imbalances, fatty liver, etc).

As an Ayurvedic practitioner, I always recommend my two major tips for people struggling to lose tummy fat:

Tip 1:Follow a dietary plan provided to you by your Ayurvedic practitioner. If you don’t currently have one, you can start by implementing the tips in the previous Q&A.

Tip 2: Do Yoga that encourages weight loss. This 41-day regimen is quite effective for tummy fat loss:

• Indian pushups (7-21 rounds, increasing the rounds with time)
• Cobra pose (11 rounds)
• Twisted Cobra pose (11 rounds)
• Locust pose (11 rounds)
• Raised Leg pose (11 rounds)
• Breathing exercises (pranayama) like Kapalbhati or Bhastrikacan also be incorporated to the regimen, but do consult a Yoga practitioner beforehand.

If you don’t know how to do these poses, you can always consult the Yatan Yoga Bookfor instructions and beginner-friendly guidance.

Q: What Does an Ayurvedic Treatment Plan Look Like?

A: You may be looking intoAyurveda to help you with your diet and weight loss goals. Such a treatment plan, regardless of the issue at hand, will always follow a particular sequence. Here is what that sequence would look like if you were to ask for dietary advice:

1. The Ayurvedic practitioner will first examine and ask you various questions to assess your body type (this is known as Dosha).
2. Based on this assessment, you will be given a Dosha-specific dietary plan.
3. You may also be given specific tips and recommendations such as what time to eat or avoid certain foods, an exercise plan, detox recommendations, etc.
4. You will be advised on when to book a follow-up appointment so that both you and your Ayurvedic practitioner can gauge the results and make any necessary adjustments.

Q: Why Do I Struggle to Lose Weight?

A:There may be not one, but several reasons as to why a person struggles with weight loss. The most common culprits are:

• Insulin resistance
• A slow metabolic rate
• A congested lymphatic system
• A congested or compromised liver
• An endocrine disorder (thyroid disease, PCOS, etc)
• A mucus build-up due to Kapha aggravation
• An unbalanced pH
• 
  Heavy dinners

You must always consult your health advisor if you are experiencing any worrisome symptoms that may relate to any of the above.

Q: Why Am I Fat Even Though I Don’t Each Much?

A: The dosha that is most associated with weight gain paired with minimal eating is Kapha. These constitutions tend to accumulate fat easier due to their sluggish metabolism and excessive mucus production. Some of these individuals also deal with asthma, indigestion, insulin resistance, diabetes, and various autoimmune diseases.

To remedy the excessive water element that is indicative of the Kaphadosha, your Ayurvedic practitioner may be prescribe a treatment plan that boosts your Pitta (fire). This will ultimately boost your metabolic rate and gradually fix the impaired function of your liver and pancreas.

Q: Can I Lose Weight Without Exercising?

A: Yes, you can certainly lose weight without strenuous exercise, as long as you:

1. Walk daily
2. Do juice fasting (1 x juice during the day + 1 x light dinner)
3. Strictly avoid white rice, bread, and red meat
4. Eat plenty of fruit and salad

Without exercise, you will not gain as much tone or lose weight as fast, but it is worth a try if you have reasons for avoiding exercise.

Q: What about Skinny People with Abdominal Fat?

A: It’s not uncommon to see a person who looks slim, yet has a protruding belly. If their abdomen is quite large, this may be an indication of visceral fat (fat that gets stored in the abdominal organs).

In Ayurveda, this body type clearly reveals some kind of liver dysfunction. You may have trouble digesting your food due to a lack of enzymes, suffer from conditions like GERD, or even have a fatty liver. If any of the above applies, we would normally prescribe:

1. Yoga poses like Cobra, Locust, Bull and Gas Release pose (for a total of 20 minutes daily).
2. A diet based on less fat and more carbs (particularly from leafy greens, which assist with digestion and detoxification).

Do you have any further questions about diet and weight loss? We’d love to hear them!

Need help with obesity treatment & controlling or reducing your weight? Call Now for Free 10 Minute Consultation – 1300 552 260 or Book online.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to substitute medical advice. All information and resources referenced, including medicinal preparations, fitness, dietary and lifestyle recommendations, are based on the opinion of the author. Please consult a medical practitioner if you require advice or are experiencing any worrisome symptoms.