I personally hate and mistrust all diet and weight-lossplans. Most of them advocate ridiculous diets that no sane person will wish to follow (don’t eat carbs? Live preferably on fruits and vegetables? Stop eatingdairy products? PLEASE). The problem I have had with all these diets is thatthey are simply unsustainable.
There is no incentive, and no joy left in life, if you have to give up eating things you love. Rujuta’s book is of a different order. When I borrowed itfrom a friend to read it the first time, I sat up into the night reading it, losing count of time. What appealed to me most was that this was not a ‘diet’(read a new way to deprive/deny yourself) it was actually a way to EAT.
The distinction may seem small but it is very important. Rujuta counsels you tolove and respect food, not to run away from it. She asks you to enjoy andcelebrate your appetite. Her advice not only makes for a very sustainable dietplan, it can actually change your whole outlook to food. There are many reasons I love this book but here are the salient ones
1) Rujuta respects the local and cultural wisdomthat constitutes our Indian diets. For instance, she points out that it is OKto eat your dosas/idlis with chutney because this particular combination of fatand carbs is good for the body. She recommends a spoon of ghee every day. Irelish my local cuisine and I love Indian food. Her diet is tailored around allthe good things we love to eat daily, across different regions – Rajma, Chole, Idli/dosa/upma, dal-khichdi, whatever.
2) She outlines good eating habits that can reallychange your life and improve your health. For instance, eating a big breakfastwhen you get up in the morning, eating every 2 hours, eating your dinner earlyat night. I can vouch for it, that adopting these habits has truly led to ahealthier lifestyle for me. I was one of those people who skip breakfast andlunch because of work pressure and then over-eat in the evening and night. Herrecommendations have helped me to lead a more disciplined lifestyle with morerespect for my stomach.
3) I did not have to depart drastically from thekind of food I eat today, and I did not have to make huge sacrifices/ deprivemyself – according to me, this is the key to successfully following a diet planthrough your life. While you will have to watch the obvious suspects likepizzas, fried food, heavy oily food, it’s not like you have to ditch theregular roti-subzi-rice that you eat. And your meals do not have to be cookedseparately from the rest of the family. In fact, there is more emphasis on thetimings/ correct timings to eat rather than on forbidding/ banning anythingfrom your diet. And the good news, as some reviewers pointed out, is that has acheat sheet. If you crave your pastries, fried foods, you can eat them (thoughof course in moderation). She does include really yummy and tasty things likenuts and cheese in the diet.
4) She emphasises on the importance of exercise forthe diet to show good results. This makes her book more credible to me, becausetruly I believe that there is no magic regime that can make you thin withoutphysical activity.
5) Finally, it REALLY works. I have now beenfollowing this diet for 4 weeks. I am visibly slimmer, I feel healthier andmost importantly, I do not have trouble in following the diet. It is reallypossible to do it without inconveniencing yourself, or anyone else, or feelingdeprived. And what makes me really happy, is that I have now started caringabout what I eat, caring for my health and body. This is the most invaluablething I have got from reading this book – a painless shift to a healthierlifestyle that is good for my body.
In addition to exercise, I would strongly recommend that youadopt some form of meditation (Reiki, Art of Living, prayer, pranayam –whatever you prefer) while doing this diet. I do it, and it has helped me a lotbecause it de-stresses you and makes you more balanced. As Rujuta points out, ade-stressed and relaxed frame of mind is a great fat-burner!
Needless to say, I strongly recommend this book; it’s worthmuch more than what its priced at. My copy is now my indispensable guide tohealthy eating and living.