I know it’s not politically correct to by the National Enquirer, but I got roped in by the headline, “Hollywood’s Deadly Skin and Bones Diet: Stars Risking Their Lives to be Thin.”Then there was the Tabloid, In Touch, with a similar headline, “Scary Skinny!”
This was “professional” research: I wasn’t really reading these things.Tabloid Tales
The cover of the Enquirer featured images of 5′ 7″, 100 pound Angelina Jolie; 5′ 6″, 110 pound Anna Kournikova; and 5′ 8″, 106 pound Cate Blanchett, and others.
Dr. Stanley Title was quoted in the article saying, “The skin and bones diet is extremely dangerous and can cause serious health implications. Literally, there are starving themselves to death.”
This is so because celebrities know that they look heavier when they’re on camera so they go to extremes to compensate for that even it means protruding bones.
Healthy Doesn’t Mean Skinny
Focusing on weight loss, people often forget about their health.Leaving out things like nutrition, quality-of-life issues, general health, and energy levels, goals usually focus on clothing size, body fat percentage, and weight.I have completed over 7000 tests of body composition as a fat loss coach, so I see something even more alarming with these skin and bones diet plans.
Ratio of Muscle to Body Fat
The fact that weight loss can come from muscle rather than fat is a major concern.So people end up with very little muscle but still have fat spots. I’ve checked the composition of some women who look like they’re thin, but have higher than average body fat ratios.
Much like a pipe with insulation wrapped around it, what people like this have amounts to a bone with a pat of fat surrounding it.The lack of strength caused by the slow metabolism only compounds the problem.I used to think that fat was bad: now I know that skinny fat is worse.
4 Suggestions for How to be Lean and Fit Rather than Skinny
1. Continue eating.Because people want to believe in a quick solution, they will stop eating to lose weight, but the weight loss usually doesn’t last. This is not how to lose weight fast.
2. Strength training should be part of your normal routine.Weight training helps you build muscle, elevate your metabolism and have overall good health.
3. Change the words you use.Try using terms like “improving nutrition,” rather than “going on a diet.”Instead of wanting to look skinny, how about trying to have an athletic look? Just look at how people talk in a weight loss forum.
4. Keep tabs on your body composition.Damaging muscle loss can be avoided by doing this.
Natural bodybuilders take the same approach: to support their muscle, they will eat up to six natural meals a day.Keep in mind, it’s about being “lean” and “healthy,” not being “skinny.”
For information about how to lose weight fast go to www.fatlossfactor.com.
