"Diet Itself Means Do I Eat This"

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1.Tell us about yourself and your profession.

Hey, I am Medha Gupta. I like to define myself as someone who has a warm personality but is strongly opinionated. Professionally, I have been a freelance dietitian for last 2 years. I have completed my masters recently and I am off to a new beginning of pursuing and influencing anyone and everyone that needs help.

Being a dietitian is like being a mother to a younger kid who always tries to build around a habit to have healthy nutritious meal.

And to be very honest, I think I have built that habit as a hobby in last two years. I see a plate and have those food critic opinions on how to have that same dish healthier. It becomes a part of your daily routine and I hope to transfer it to as many people as I can.

2.What is your fitness mantra?

Portion control, timing to keep it sustainable and build a habit. It takes time to bring about a change and it’s done slowly.

You just can’t ask and expect an alcoholic to quit alcohol in a day. No one would be able to do it.Same is the case with our lifestyle that we have built around preservatives and junk foods.

I personally prefer portion control, cutting down the unnecessary meals gradually.

It is amazing to experience what healthy meals and lifestyle could do to your personality. It’s addictive.

3. What are some of major misconceptions about diets and exercises?

Like most people say fad diets are a myth. People claiming that they can make you lose weight with no exercise!

Seems fascinating but do you think it is the right way to do it. Losing weight has no point if it makes you weak.

Fad diets only make you weak and I believe they should be used in absolute critical situations. If you are someone who is ready to make a change, I am sure you just need a right consultant to guide your way.

PS: Keep yourself safe from the YouTube videos and articles that make fake promises.

4. How can anyone maintain a healthy lifestyle?

Diet is primarily about just eating right. It’s a choice, a lifestyle. It’s the food you choose to eat.

Calling someone that they are on diet is actually ironical because DIET in itself stands for DO I EAT THIS?

To build a healthy lifestyle you just need to ensure your diet is sustainable and you adhere to the promise made to self for working out. It doesn’t have to be intense; a good diet is already working for you.

5. How can one build a successful career in your field?

Obviously the right education and exposure is needed. I have a masters in my field. But is that enough? No.

You need to counsel people and convince them. That requires communication skills and understanding of human nature. You need to be ready with a solution for all their queries.

Be it at 3 in the night when they feel hungry. You just cannot say no but suggest them what can be done. Staying up to date with all the new researches, continuous reading is required.

Being a dietitian is a forever learning game.

6.What is one piece of advice you would like to give someone who wishes to lose weight?

Asking for tips might help you. But weight loss is a process and you need a proper lifestyle change for that. A diet plan that builds you and not leave you to crave.

If you ask me lemon ginger eater will help you lose weight, the answer would be NO. It will only aid the process.

If you ask me what should I eat at night to lose weight?

My answer would be to have anything you want but at a proper time and in proportion.

Because making changes in just your dinner and having anything throughout the day isn’t how it’s supposed to be.

Dietitians don’t just have a responsibility to recommend you a diet but also make sure you adhere to it, yes we allow cheat meals and cravings too.

7. How do diets and exercise contribute to overall well-being and happiness?

Our hormones control our mood. And these two things, your diet and exercise act like a simulator of happy hormones in the body.

Exercise increases endorphins, dopamine, adrenaline and endocannabinoid which are happy hormones.

Also in lay-man language have you ever seen anyone regretting workout? No you will never.

You will be more energetic having a pizza but later you might feel low on energy and unhappy. But have you ever seen people regret having protein shake or oat meal later. No you will always be happy about choosing to eat right.

“A healthy diet paired with exercise gives you satisfaction and is self- motivator for you to repeat it the next day, everyday….”

8. Which is your favorite book, that you would recommend and why?

There is one book that will always remain close to my heart. I was doing B.Tech in Food Technology and had no plans to get into the field of Dietetics.

One day I came across this book, Diet Doctor by Ishi Khosla and it caught my interest so much that there were a series of books on diets that followed.

I was just amazed to read how diets could not only aid you to get off a health disease but also make sure you don’t get one. So, there grew the desire for being a Dietitian.

Medha Gupta, Dietitian

Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/foodforlife_by_medha/?hl=en

Interview By- Sanya Harjai