If chicken biryani + exercise = weight loss, then bad eating + false claims = bullshit!

After writing an article about how food makers trick people into buying products that claim to be fat-free, I stumbled upon the story of a man who claims to have lost weight after eating chicken biryani. As in: 50 times in 60 days!

In his blog post, he claims to have carried out this experiment to prove that it’s okay to eat junk food in moderation. Read his story here.

After going through his routine and an online interview, the only thought that came to my mind was: sure, he lost weight, but what about his bad cholesterol levels? Oh wait, what about his visceral fat percentage (i.e. the fat that clings to internal organs like the heart, the liver etc.)? What if he stops exercising? Will he sustain this new look?

The claims sounds outrageous and there are questions aplenty, but what really counts is whether he became a healthier person at the end of his experiment. And the bigger question is, if you try this, will you lose weight or, more crucially, lose FAT?

What works for him will not work for her

The biggest genetic gift to the male of our species is his better metabolic rate and higher proportion of lean muscle mass as compared with women. This essentially means that men burn more calories than women without really doing anything.

Women, unfortunately, are built to  store and retain fat. Hence, even if a man doesn’t have healthy eating habits, as long as he continues to exercise hard, he will still lose weight. But a woman followed the same routine will very likely find herself either staying at the same weight or actually putting on weight. So, all you women out there battling the bulge, don’t even think about trying this experiment!

Losing fat is more important than losing weight

Don’t we all panic before stepping on the weighing scale? Of course we do, because we don’t want to see an increase in the number that it throws back at us. But, have you ever tried to understand what those numbers really say?

Body weight is composed not just of fat, but also of water, muscle, bone etc. Even if you drink a  small bottle of water before stepping on the scale, you will see a sharp increase in your weight.

The idea is to stop worrying about the weight, and start focusing on the fat percentage. That’s really the more important number to worry about. You’ll be far healthier and fitter if you target fat loss instead of weight loss. Obviously, you’ll see results only if you eat right and exercise regularly. Remember, there is no shortcut to success.

Seeing isn’t always believing

Yes, if you lose a substantial amount of weight, those around you will definitely notice a change. What’s more, they’ll even compliment you. However, what they see is a leaner you. But that doesn’t prove that you’re healthy from within.

I’ve come across so many people, who are thin and yet suffer from high cholesterol or diabetes. This clearly shows that being thin has nothing to do with being healthy.

Your lipid profile, which reflects your bad (LDL) and good (HDL) cholesterol, is really the number that shows your heart’s risk rate. So, keep track of that while you lead a healthy lifestyle. Also, just because you don’t have a sweet tooth, doesn’t mean you ignore your blood sugar level. Keep a check on that as well from time to time.

Have a look at the Biryani boy’s blood report. The numbers speak for themselves.

Healthy eating + regular exercise = a fitter you

You can’t go wrong with this equation, no matter what.

Experts and researchers have always recommended a lifestyle change if you want to achieve and maintain a fitter body. There are so many diets and supplements that claim to work wonders and promise you quick weight loss. But, trust me, none of that works.

It might work in the short term, but it’s almost impossible to sustain such results without focusing on a healthy lifestyle.

I’m not saying that you should never eat chicken biryani. But, 50 packets for 60 days is an absolute NO!

So, don’t be taken in by such claims. If eating chicken biryani daily resulted in weight loss, I’d have given Deepika Padukone a run for her money a long time back!