The year is coming to a close and it’s been almost a year since you declared (possibly after one too many flutes of champagne) that this is the year your BMI goes from “sack of potatoes” to the oh-so-fine end of lean.
You can’t commit to a regular gym routine. Because it’s hard. Four times a week plus endless reps just for a chiselled physique? Ain’t nobody got time for that. Why must it take so long to lose weight and get fit? We live in a world of instant gratification.
We watch movies on demand, we have instant noodles and it takes only 30 minutes for fast food deliveries to reach your doorstep. So why not with exercise? Thus, it’s natural when you’re trying to shed a few pounds, you want to lose it with relative speed.
Unfortunately, although we’re inevitably drawn to the allure of rapid weight loss in order to look good, it also comes with health risks. Losing weight too fast and by force comes with bad side effects that can affect your daily life.
There are, however, some alternative ways you can deploy to help you achieve your body goals without jeopardising your own health. Enter The Retreat Clinic. If you’re really trying to get a six-pack on the clock, advanced technology used in a variety of FDA-approved treatments are now readily available at The Retreat Clinic that will keep your weight off for good in no time.
WEIGHT LOSS ISN’T EVERYTHING
Unaware by many, losing weight actually does not equal to losing fats. In fact, if you compare them on a measuring scale, muscles are denser and weigh more than fat. If you are too obsessed on losing weight without proper diet and exercise plan, you may end up losing your muscle mass – which would cause fatigue due to declining strength. Weighing too little could also lead to weakened immunity, more fragile bones and many more health issues such as chronic diseases like diabetes that many unfit people are at risk of. Losing weight drastically would only result in temporary, inconsistent “skinny” look, and your weight may fluctuate easily.
Fitness is more than just about good appearance, in fact it is the key to strong core muscles – the base that supports your entire body stability and endurance. Core strength involves your abs, pelvic floor and back muscles, and even the simplest daily movement you make (like walking) is dependent on it. When your core is weak, many problems such as body alignment and lower-back injuries could happen – which is why obsessing over getting slim is not a good idea.
PICK A RIGHT DIET
Achieving a fit and strong body is a journey that requires not only the right methods, but a healthy mindset too. Rather than looking at the numbers on the weighing scale to measure your progress, start a fitness plan with proper exercises and a good diet plan.
Other health details such as your heart rate, blood pressure, cholesterol and sugar level should not be ignored too. Quit crazy restrictions in your diet and feed the body with the nutrients it needs. When your body is well-nourished, not only will your muscle mass increase, you will be more energised to push through your physical workouts too. Eating well would definitely help to prevent cravings that could contribute to unnecessary calorie intakes.
ULTIMATE ALTERNATIVES
There are various aesthetic treatments today that offer safe alternatives to building a leaner body without putting your health at risk. The Retreat Clinic offers Emsculpt and Coolsculpting which are two most recent technologies that may help you achieve your goals effectively. Emsculpt is a great FDA-approved treatment to help burn fat and build muscle simultaneously. HIFEM (High- Intensify Focus Electromagnetic) technology is used to stimulate supramaximal muscle contractions, building muscles akin with 20,000 sit-ups.
Various sizes of applicators available can be used to target different areas such as your abs, buttocks, arms and thighs. It is an excellent alternative to help strengthen your core too. Meanwhile, Coolsculpting is the new era of fat reduction treatment (after the longest time when liposuction was the only option).
As the most- googled aesthetic treatment in 2017 and 2018, it is a non-surgical fat freezing technology that is FDA-cleared to treat different parts of the body by freezing off fat cells, reducing up to 20-25% in fat layer thickness with just a single session. Every individual and body is different, and we strongly recommend you to consult a certified physician to identify the best fitness plan for you.
For consultations with Dr Ong Jin Khang of The Retreat Clinic, please call +6011-3302 8232 to make your appointment or visit www.theretreatclinic.com.
This story first appeared in the December/January ’20 issue of Men’s Folio.
