Q: If you are trying to lose weight and follow one meal a day, do the number of calories you eat count?
AM: Yes, calories do count in weight loss. The universal law of weight loss says that, in order to lose weight, you must burn off (calories), more than you consume. Some of us may eat one meal, but it may be improper food, two meals in one, or enough calories for two days.
For instance, if I eat a small pizza, breadsticks and two pieces of cheesecake, I may consume nearly 2,000 calories. However, I may just need 1,400 calories a day, but I just consumed 600 extra calories. Over time, this will result in weight gain. Therefore, calories do count.
Are you trying to lose weight? If so, it is best not to try to lose by diet alone. A few years ago, Oprah Winfrey lost weight from a six-month diet, but gained it all back because she didn’t incorporate daily exercise. (Today, Oprah is helping to maintain her weight because she exercises on a daily basis.)
Mother Tynnetta Muhammad, on a previous visit to the Bay area, told sisters how she practices Tai Chi and yoga (as well as eating to live) to help her stay physically fit. (And she looks radiant!)
What are the other benefits of exercise besides having a more slender body? Exercise reduces anxiety and stress, lowers blood cholesterol, reduces your chances of being afflicted with certain diseases, raises metabolism and increases energy, strength and endurance (Fitness Theory and Practice by AFAA).
Minister Farrakhan wrote in “A Torchlight for America” that we must exercise. “If you cannot afford a health club membership, then do some form of exercise right in your home. … At a minimum, walking a few miles each day is one of the best forms of exercise.” (p. 147) He also emphasized “eating to live.”
Keep in mind, eating to live helps to also give you a beautiful appearance because it can cause the body to reduce the aging process. As evidence, Minister Farrakhan and others who practice how to eat to live often look younger than their same-aged counterparts.
Wouldn’t you want to follow a way of eating that not only helps you think better, but also appear younger?
So, continue eating to live, as you are doing, eating the best of foods in modest portions. I’m not sure if you are on an exercise program, but if you aren’t, you should consult a physician before you begin one.
Keep in mind, also, that age and other health conditions may affect your ability to lose weight.
Please consult a physician before beginning any new workout or dietary plan.
(Audrey Muhammad is a certified personal trainer and aerobic instructor. She is also the author of “The Sister’s Guide to Fitness” and the creator of the KIBOS exercise video and the Get Fit to Live KIBOS Challenge. Questions and comments may be sent to [email protected]. Visit her website at Getfittolive.com.)
