It’s three weeks before prom. You look in the mirror, then you look at your dress. The dress you bought months ago. You accept defeat because there is no way you’re fitting in that. Then you get an idea. Crash dieting.

  Many people assume that in order to lose weight they have to stop eating. This often occurs right before prom. Yes, you will lose weight, but you could lose your life as well. If you want to look amazing in your dress or tux you have to start now and start right.

  The idea of a diet is appealing because it’s short term and trendy. In order to not just look good but feel good too, you have to make a lifestyle change. Dieting focuses on the food aspect of being healthy, but exercise and hydration are equally as important.

  Mrs. Samaha, Eastern’s culinary teacher and registered dietitian, gave advice on a healthy lifestyle. In order to start breaking bad health habits, she recommended small changes to your daily routine including adding fruit or veggies to each meal, parking your car farther, taking stairs, and cutting out desserts. When it comes to eating healthy, Mrs. Samaha mentioned, “It has to be food you like…if we deny our cravings we will overeat or binge.”

  Prom diets have become extremely popular, but the downside to dieting is its short term rewards. Weight loss can be quick at first, but it only lasts a small period. “Diets are only short term. They don’t work long term. Especially fat diets,” explained Mrs. Samaha, “You need to change your lifestyle, you know. Change the type of food you eat, decrease portion size, and get more exercise.”

  Mrs. Bowne is Eastern’s preschool teacher and is also a registered dietitian. When it comes to skipping meals, Mrs. Bowne commented, “…that is messing up your metabolism. Our bodies are designed to keep us from starving so metabolism slows down.” A slow metabolism will stop the rapid weight loss which is intended by crash dieting.

  Part of living healthy is hydration. “It’s a number one thing that can mess up concentration and decrease endurance,” noted Mrs. Bowne. According to Mrs. Samaha, the old theory on drinking eight glasses of water a day no longer exists. Instead, drink when you are thirsty.

  The issue of general health is so concerning that recently the federal government released new exercise guidelines. CNN reports, “The guidelines recommend an hour of ‘moderate-to-vigorous’ activity each day for children 6 to 17, along with muscle-strengthening activities two days a week…” Exercise ranges from a simple walk to an intense workout in the gym. The guidelines’ main statement is to move more in any way, shape, or form. They want to promote a healthier but realistic lifestyle.

  Weight loss usually includes low carbohydrate intake. However, trigger foods which are perceived as healthy, can bring on the carb cravings which are fatal to people trying to lose weight. In the book, The Carbohydrate Addict’s Gram Counter,  Dr. Richard and Dr. Rachael Heller explain, “Trigger Foods are foods which are usually not recognized as being high in carbohydrates, but which have repeatedly been shown to bring on carbohydrate cravings, hunger, and weight gain.” Unfortunately the classics like fruit, smoothies, dairy products, shrimp, and pita bread are a few examples that fall into this category.

  As the prom shopping commences, consider how you want to look and feel in your prom attire. It’s not too late to make the change; it’s now or never.