No shortcut to slimming

Dear Betsy, PLEASE let me know how reliable Acai berry and colon cleanse is and whether I can actually lose weight using it without suffering any side effects?

If it is genuine where do I buy Acai tablets? I have heard a lot about the berry and if I can lose say approximately 10 kgs I would be on the top of the world. What is the dosage etc and how long do I take it? I believe there is a shop in Juffair that has the product and I would appreciate if you could give me information about it.

Thank you.

GJD.

Dear GJD,

There are no miracle pills or drinks that will make you lose weight. To lose weight a combination of a healthy reduced calorie diet and exercise is the only sensible way to go.

There are many pills, potions and lotions and beauty treatments that claim to result in weight loss, but the hard truth is there is no short cut.

If you were to lose weight in such a way, it would be minimal and probably due to a temporary water loss which your body would immediately rush to regain from your next food and liquid intake.

Crash diets or those that severely limit any group or groups of foods can be potentially dangerous in the long term. Your body can lose vital muscle mass and just remember that your heart is a muscle too.

Check with your physician that you are healthy and ask for dietary advice.

Exercise is like pressing the fast forward button and even a mere 30 minutes a day can help you acheive your weight loss goals. You should be aiming to lose weight gradually, at the rate of one to two pounds a week, as this makes it more likely to be a permanent loss and allows your body to adjust gracefully.

Drink at least eight glasses of water a day, focus on five to seven portions of fresh fruits, vegetables and salads and lean proteins such as fish, chicken, beef and wholegrains such as brown rice and pasta and wholemeal bread.

Cut out fizzy drinks, sweets, cakes, cookies and potato chips and within a couple of weeks you will be looking and feeling much better and on the way to being 'on top of the world'.

Acai berries are full of powerful antioxidants and are to be found in drinks and snacks. They are sold in most supermarkets and in various forms in Nature Valley in Juffair. Al Jazira supermaket sell a fruit juice called Bom Dia which contains acai berries and a variety of other fruits.

A truly healthy diet is a varied diet so introduce new foods and drinks to prevent boredom and help you reach your goals.

A good way to cleanse your system is to begin each day by drinking a glass of hot water with the juice of half a fresh lemon added, before you have breakfast. This will help flush out your body, working on the kidneys and lymphatic system and will also help you on your way to a healthy, glowing complexion too.

Dear Betsy,

I LIKED your reply to the lady who did not get a Valentine's card. I am a guy and I feel much the same way as this reader, but we guys don't get any such sympathy.

We are expected to be able to take the initiative and ask girls out on a date. I am not comfortable doing this, I am shy and afraid of rejection. I want to be married and have kids (I am 39) but it has never happened. I travel with my work almost every week and this makes it difficult to find and maintain a relationship.

I keep reading about the modern woman who is not afraid to ask guys out on a date, but it has never happened to me. I am still waiting to meet her.

So if there are any brave girls out there then think about asking out a shy guy like me, we are just waiting to say, yes, and we want the same life goals as you. More power to you, Betsy, for giving us a forum where we can express our fears and hopes. When I read about the problems other people have, it helps me too.

Mr Shy Modern Man.

Dear Mr Shy Modern Man,

Thanks for confirming that you guys are human too! It can't be easy to think about asking someone on a date if you are shy and none of us likes rejection.

We humans just want to be liked and some of us have had more than our fair share of rejection and this can impact heavily on our lives, if we let it. I would offer you the same advice as last week's reader.

Try to establish a friendship with girls and don't look at them just as potential wives or mothers of your children. No relationship can survive long-term without a strong friendship as its basis.

IF YOU ONLY DO ONE THING THIS WEEK

EAT five portions of fruit and veg this week. It really is important to your long-term health. Begin with some freshly-squeezed juice at breakfast and slice a banana on top of your cereal or toast. Have some home-made vegetable soup for lunch, a juicy pear or apple mid-afternoon and a mixed salad or a bowl of crunchy, steamed veggies with dinner . It really is that simple. Vary those fruits and veggies as much as you can for maximum energy and potency.