Real Entrepreneur Mums March/ April 2018 | Page 10

Calorie restriction – why it’s a bad idea! Assoc. Prof. Megan Chircop, Body Sculptors Australia Speak to a group of women about their eating habits and I can guarantee you that 90% of them will have been on a ‘diet’ where restricting food or dropping calories was a key process. Whether it’s to fit into a wedding dress, a little black dress or a teeny bikini, the adage of less calories equals less weight has played in the minds of many of us. But is it the right way to go? The short answer is no – not for long term health and wellbeing. By restricting your calorie intake too much or for too long, you risk harming your health and hindering your progress towards the healthy body you’re aiming for. Research the web for ‘optimal calorie intake to lose weight’ and the answer usually comes back that the safe lower limit for women is 1200 calories and 1500 for men. But these are ballpark estimates only and can’t take into account each person’s circumstances regarding dietary requirements and energy expenditure. What happens to your body if you don’t eat enough? Your body needs energy on a daily basis. It can be for growing hair or making skin. Forming a new gut lining or powering your immune system. If there’s a process happening in your body, it requires energy generation. So, many women adopt the theory of less calories in, means more fat gets burned as energy and therefore I’ll look amazing in a month in my skinny jeans. However, your body cannot produce all of its energy from breaking down fat tissue, and certain activities within the body don’t work as well when fat is the energy source. Your body is a busy machine constantly moving, repairing and regenerating. And then there’s brain activity – busy entrepreneur mums know what I’m talking about! If the body doesn’t have enough energy to perform it’s tasks when needed, it starts to alter it’s priorities. It becomes less about expenditure and all about conservation. When you put your body into a significant calorie deficit, your thyroid hormone levels start to drop. Given that your thyroid hormones regulate your body’s metabolism, when this drops so too does heat production, your energy and activity levels. Long-term calorie restriction can cause life-long issues, where the thyroid ‘switches off’ and medication is required to replace hormone production. Without a steady source of energy, the body’s immunity becomes compromised and you’ll be prone to skin infections (acne, boils), colds/flu and cold sores. Go down the path of not eating enough for a long time and women often find their periods stop as the body decides it isn’t a good time to get pregnant; normal hair is replaced with a softer, lighter ‘fur’ to help keep you warm; bones get weak and easily broken through mineral deficiencies and tendons/ligaments are easily torn or pulled as they body isn’t producing enough collagen. It’s important to make sure your body is getting the right number of calories for the activities you’re expecting it to do. You also need to make sure it’s getting the right fuel. When it does, you’ll find your ‘happy place’ where you look and feel fantastic. When your skin is glowing, your hair and nails are shiny and your eyes have a sparkle to them, you know you’re on the right track. But Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither are healthy bodies. Start making small, regular changes to your diet that are sustainable. “ You want to make sure you nourish and nurture your body for optimal health and well-being. About Body Scuptors Australia ” Body Sculptors Australia’s mission is simple – to help as many people as possible achieve a healthy and active body, to have confidence and happiness in their everyday lives. Dr. Megan Chircop provides nutritional consultations and personalised meal plans so you can invest in your health now and for the future. For a free consultation, contact me on: 0438 195 535 |[email protected] | www.bodysculptorsaustralia.com bodysculptorsaustralia |