Lifestyle Guru On How To Deal With Food Cravings During Weight Loss
Luke Coutinho often hears people say, 'I know what to do, but I just can't do it.'
He explained that it is not that they don't want to lose weight, but because they are stuck in a vicious loop of feeling guilty, filling emotional gaps, losing their willpower, experiencing emotional stress, and being afraid to give up their favourite food.
Luke Coutinho has shared a smart approach to eating in his recent Instagram post, where you should limit your intake of desserts if you have trouble losing weight because of your fondness for them.
"If you have three desserts in a week, each time you have a dessert, have half of it," he said.
"If you're having your favourite food, let's say it's a biryani or whatever it is. Have half of it," Luke Coutinho added.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Luke Coutinho - Official (@luke_coutinho)
Importance of portion control
It is safer than ending things abruptly.
It respects your connection to food.
It lessens the overload so that consistency can be developed.
It enables you to stay mindful while still enjoying your favourite things.
It prevents the cycles of binge-restrict that often accompany guilt-driven diets.
It helps in readjusting your hunger cues without starving.
It is sustainable in daily situations, such as social gatherings, family feasts, and office holidays.
It helps you develop self-confidence, which is essential for long-term development.
Luke Coutinho added that cutting back on portions is an easy method to start burning fat if you struggle with food. This entails getting enough sleep, managing difficult emotions, and focusing on cardio, weight training, muscle, flexibility, and mobility.
According to the lifestyle guru, thousands of people he has worked with did not require strict diets, juice fasts, or complete abstinence from sweets. All they needed was a "compassionate and realistic entry point," such as eating half of what they typically would.
In short, controlling your portions makes losing weight easier and helps you enjoy your food without giving it all up.
Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for a qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Gastroenterologist explains why those who undergo drastic weightloss often regain the kilos; who is at greater risk
How inspiring does it feel when we see a friend or even a celebrity shed the extra pounds to reveal a fit and toned self. They work out at the gym, keep their diet in check and impress one and all with their dedication. However, the lost kilos do not always stay off. Many often pack on those pounds again, often in no time at all. Why does that happen and why do some people find it so hard to stay lean and fit? Sustainable weight loss involves building healthy habits rather than quick fixes, as fat cells shrink but do not disappear during dieting. Why can't we keep the shed weight off? Gastroenterologist Dr Palaniappan Manickam shared a video recently on Instagram on this topic. The California-based doctor explained why individuals often regain weight after dieting, attributing this phenomenon to fat cells that shrink but do not vanish, similar to deflating balloons. 'Have you ever wondered why you gain back all the weight after a diet? It is not your fault. It is your fat cells. When you go on a diet and eat fewer calories, your fat cells shrink. But they do not disappear. They just deflate like a balloon. And the second you start eating more again, they inflate right back. That's why that weight that you lost comes back so fast,' he said in the video. He added that the number of fat cells is typically set after the teenage years, suggesting that individuals who were overweight during their youth may have a higher baseline number. Teenage years set the course 'And what most people don't know is your body stops making new fat cells after your teenage years. So if you are overweight during your teens, you probably have more fat cells than others. That's why people who are overweight early in life may find it harder to manage their weight in adulthood. So when you lose fat too fast, those fat cells start screaming for food and that is why crash diets feel impossible to stick to,' he added. 'This is why sustainable weight loss matters. The goal is not just to lose fat. It is to build healthy habits that improve your energy, digestion, and sleep where weight loss becomes a natural side effect of your process.' Wondering how to achieve sustainable weight loss? It includes making staying active and eating right a part of your daily life and not just a momentary exercise to be followed for a few months. Follow this five-step guide by fitness coach Rajni Singh to achieve sustainable weight loss. She shows how to 'cut through the noise if you're serious about changing your body—your energy, your strength, your confidence—it comes down to the basics. Not trends, not shortcuts. Just real, sustainable habits.' Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Is the protein craze making you healthier or just taking the joy out of eating? Behind the viral wellness trend
The Problem Isn't Protein You Might Also Like: Weight loss and muscle gain in one go: Research says this 7-minute exercise routine is more effective than HIIT Social Media's 'Wellness' Rabbit Hole You Might Also Like: 9 protein-rich superfoods that slow aging and are probably already in your kitchen Experts May Not Be Immune, Either When Food Becomes Math Walk into any grocery store today and you're likely to see it plastered across shelves like a nutritional badge of honor: 'High-Protein,' 'Packed with 18g,' or 'Fuel Your Day.' According to a report from New York Post, from pancake mixes to ice creams, even unlikely contenders like pasta sauces and dessert bars are riding the protein wave. It's no longer just a concern for bodybuilders or athletes — protein has become the modern health craze, dominating social media feeds, influencer recipes, and breakfast surge has reached near-religious fervor. But in our quest to eat "clean" and stay "fit," are we sacrificing common sense — and perhaps even health?Protein, of course, is essential. It helps repair tissues, builds muscle, balances hormones, supports immunity, and keeps us full longer. For kids, the elderly, pregnant women, or people recovering from illness or surgery, it's a vital as The New York Times health reporter Alice Callahan points out, the issue isn't the nutrient itself — it's our current cultural fixation on it. Quoting from her investigative report, she notes: 'The average man in the United States is overshooting the federal protein recommendation by more than 55%, and the average woman by more than 35%.'That's based on federal guidelines by the National Institutes of Health, which recommends 63 grams of protein per day for a healthy, active 175-pound man. Yet calorie-tracking apps like MyFitnessPal frequently advise upwards of 164 grams — more than where does all that extra protein go? Not into muscle, unless you're rigorously working out. The liver converts the surplus into energy, and if that energy isn't used, it's stored as new protein gospel is being preached not by scientists but by influencers — often young women promoting 'high-protein lunchboxes' and 'six ways to hit 100g of protein.' Protein-rich meal reels dominate Instagram, where the definition of health often becomes a performative exercise in one viral moment, a former vegan blogger stuffed half a rotisserie chicken into her mouth with the caption: 'Gotta hit those protein goals!' The message is clear: more protein equals better health — no questions this is where wellness culture starts resembling diet culture in disguise. "It's disordered eating with a veneer of health," observes even nutrition experts may not be safe from this obsession. A 2017 study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics found that nearly 50% of registered dietitians were at risk for orthorexia nervosa — an unhealthy fixation on eating 'correctly.' An additional 13% were at risk for traditional eating disorders, and 8% had previously received those advising the public are themselves caught in the grips of disordered eating, it raises concerns about where this trend is past diet trends that promoted extreme restrictions — say, cutting carbs or fat entirely — the protein craze feels deceptively benign. But it carries the same emotional and psychological baggage. When every bite becomes a calculated equation, when indulgence is replaced by 'goals,' food ceases to be nourishing in the full sense of the a difference between mindful eating and micromanaging every meal. Eating well should prioritize balance, satisfaction and sustainability — not choking down dry chicken breasts or masking whey powder in your morning healthiest sources of protein haven't changed: eggs, fish, lentils, meat, dairy, nuts and beans. But in a culture chasing numbers, even these whole foods are being overshadowed by protein bars, processed powders and artificially fortified after all, isn't a competition. It's a lifelong relationship with food — one that works best when it's built on variety, moderation and joy.
Hindustan Times
6 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Woman shows brutal impact of pregnancy on her skin, video gets 104 million views; doctor explains what caused it
Recently, a video surfaced on social media by TikTok user @ayyitslala. The video, which has garnered 104 million views in just three days, shows how a Malaysian woman's skin completely changed after she got pregnant. She developed a red rash all over her face and is now trying to manage it, months after her baby's birth. A Malaysian woman has shared how pregnancy impacted her face. Pics: TikTok/@ayyitslala What is in the viral video? The woman, who has shared her full name on her Instagram profile as Farah Faizal, mentioned that her face got red and she got textured skin when she was pregnant with her child. She did not mention what the diagnosis from her doctors was. People on the internet were shocked on seeing how severely pregnancy had affected her, leaving comments in the thousands. A few mean ones even called it a good 'birth control ad' and asked her to sue her husband and even the baby for it. 'If he asks her for another kid, she has the right to stab him," read a comment. "On today's episode of "1000 reasons you shouldn't get pregnant" we have THIS. no thanks." Thankfully, she let her followers know that the condition is better since the birth of her baby. But people are still speculating what caused it in the first place. What does the doctor say? But what really happened to the woman? Dr Zachary Rubin has a few answers. He took to Instagram to share his assessment of the case with a video. He said, "I want to congratulate her on having her baby, and I hope she and her baby are doing well at this time. Pregnancy can affect various aspects of your physiology, particularly with hormones. It can lead to various rashes like what you saw. 'Now, I'm not here to diagnose her particular skin condition, but she did talk about getting a rosacea laser treatment, and so I want to raise awareness about one particular condition this might be, but again, I can't diagnose it. There is something that is a little bit unusual and rare called rosacea fulminans or pyoderma faciale, which is a severe kind of rosacea that almost looks like acne, but it's not, and it's these large red nodules that can be occurring throughout your face.' 'This skin condition usually affects younger women and comes on abruptly and rarely persists past about a year, and it can develop during pregnancy. This is a rare skin condition, so there's not really a standard of care, but various antibiotics and steroids have been tried for this. I'm very happy to see that her skin has significantly improved since she has been postpartum,' he said. Updates since baby's birth Even Farah gave her followers a happy update. She had been getting treatments at skin clinics and looking after her skin. 'I want to share my pregnancy journey. I'm grateful that I haven't had any morning sickness since I got pregnant, and now it's already 8 months. But my face has changed 100%. From this to this. P.S.: If you don't have anything nice to say, please don't reply. Please have some empathy. I just want to express my feelings.' A few people even asked is her husband has been supportive of her through it all and she wrote, "I truly can't imagine spending my life with anyone else. My husband was my safe space throughout my pregnancy, calming every fear, holding me through every breakdown, and constantly reminding me that I was beautiful, strong, and loved. He attended every check-up without fail, and no craving ever felt too overwhelming for him. 'His love made everything feel manageable. I'll never forget how deeply he cared for both me and our baby, even before the birth.' For those leaving rude comments on her looks, she wrote with a collection of her older videos, 'This is going to be my last video addressing this. I swear, I don't owe anyone an explanation. But the truth is, it does affect my mental health when some of you carelessly dismiss what pregnancy hormones can do to a woman's body, skin, and emotions.' 'Yes, I have acne scars. Yes, my skin has texture. Because I'm a human being, not a Barbie doll. Real skin has texture. Real people go through changes. And since so many of you are obsessed with seeing me without filters? Here I am. It's okay to feel insecure. It's okay to use filters. That doesn't mean I'm hiding who I am. Filters don't change my identity, they just smooth out what the camera often exaggerates. It's still me, still my face, still my truth.' Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
