Some dieters are able
to go off their diets occasionally without ill effect. Their morale may even
benefit from knowing they can do this every month, which is better than
constant "cheating." But re- member that you probably have a great
tendency to eat more than you need or you wouldn't be dieting in the first
place, so be very careful.
TALKING ABOUT YOUR DIET
If you do talk about
it, some people may consider you a bore; some may try to get you to break your
diet; some will help you to keep it. You have to know which kind you are with
before you start discussing your diet. Sometimes, it may be just as well simply
to say that your physician has asked you not to eat certain foods. As a general
rule, the best social technique is to avoid calling attention to your problem.
Simply eat very little of fattening foods placed before you.
BREAKFAST
A reasonably healthy,
high-protein meal in the morning keeps people from being hungry in the
midmorning and from eating too much at noon.
BEVERAGES
As you can see from the listings in the table, alcoholic
beverages are high in calories. They don’t expect perhaps when taken in excess.
Three glasses of 76 / Building General Health as Preventive Therapy beer, at
120 calories per 8-ounce glass, will supply as many calories as a fairly
substantial breakfast. An evening of cocktails can provide almost as many calories
as a full day's reducing diet. Even more serious is the fact that the calories
supplied by alcohol are empty ones, without necessary food values such as
proteins or minerals.
Many people have turned to weight-reducing clubs where join
with others wishing to reduce. The clubs are helpful in pi t1viding motivation.
But medical authorities have reservations about supervision provided. This dubs vary considerably in their programs,
but all emphasize diet. Coupled with lectures, literature, and
experience-sharing, some prescribe particular exercises.
Many require an
initial medical certificate for membership, but few have continuing medical
supervision. Physicians have reported that, because of the lack of medical
supervision in some clubs, the condition of their heart and diabetic patients
worsened as a result of diet advice given. If you are considering joining some
diet club you may have read or heard about, the best policy is to check with
your physician about that particular club and its standing and whether he
advises that you join it.
