Date: Fri 15-Jan-1999

Publication: Hea

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

weight-loss-dieting

Full Text:

Don't Wait To Lose Weight! There's More Than One Way To Shed Those Pounds

(with photo)

BY STEVE BIGHAM

Each spring, advertisements promoting health clubs and weight loss programs

remind consumers to lose weight before the bikini season hits in July. By the

time you see those ads, however, it may be too late to lose that much weight.

So here's a brief guide for those hoping to trim down... in February. This

should give you ample time to lose that ample waist line.

Losing weight is something almost everyone attempts to do at least once or

twice in their lifetime, according to Julie Connor, a nutritionist/dietitian

from Healthy Weighs in Brookfield. Each year, millions of Americans try to

lose weight. Some seek the help of a structured weight loss program, while

others simply join the gym. Some try to diet on their own. No matter what the

approach, experts say, the only sure-fire way to lose the weight is dedication

and the understanding that there is no quick fix.

"The quick fixes or [powders and shakes] are a good way of losing and gaining

the weight right back," noted Mrs Connor. "You gain it right back. That's why

it's quick. There's no solution. There is no magic pill. Whoever had that pill

would be a billionaire."

Here's a look at just a few of the myriad methods people are using to lose

weight these days.

The Dietitian

Julie Connor is one of several certified dietitians who provide support and

advice to clients hoping to improve their current physical state. She has

devoted her life to treating patients who are having problems with their

weight.

Her customers range in age from 9 to 90. Each is treated differently,

depending on his or her individual needs.

"When someone comes in, I get to know them, I want to know about their

lifestyle, their job and family," she explained. "I try to get an idea of what

their life is like. They tell me about their eating habits, and I do a body

fat analysis using an infrared spectrophotopgray."

This laser light is used to measure a person's total body fat percentage. As

Mrs Connor points out, it is important not to just look at the scale.

"You need to look at the quality of the weight loss. You don't want to lose

muscle, just fat," she said. "Muscle helps burn calories. You might be 10

pounds lighter, but you can't eat as much then."

As most dietitians will tell you, increased muscle can help a person keep the

body fat off.

Mrs Connor said a patient needs to tell her what eating habits they are

willing and not willing to change. Some people might not be ready to cut Coke

or half & half out of their diet, so a dietary program must be set up that

works around that, she said.

"I'm there for support and encouragement. I keep them on track."

Mrs Connor said most of her referrals are from physicians.

Losing weight is different for everyone, and there are a variety of factors in

determining whether you will be heavy or thin. It could be a person's

metabolism, genetics, activity level and portion control.

"A lot of people have no concept of what a portion is. There is a huge

difference in how much we eat now compared to in the past," she explained.

Mrs Connor urges prospective clients to do one thing before they begin a

dietary program: make sure you are determined to go through with it. It takes

time and requires commitment and self-control.

The Hypnotist

Len Kaplan, MD, is a certified clinical hypnotherapist who uses psychotherapy

to help his clients relax, quit smoking, lose weight and control stress.

"A person will come in seeking my help to lose weight because they have tried

many approaches," he explained. "Women make up the majority of the dieters, 80

percent, and they average between 25-27 diets in their lifetime."

According to Dr Kaplan, obesity in the United States has grown from

one-in-every-four to one-in-every-three persons over the past ten years.

Twenty percent over a person's normal weight is considered obese.

Dr Kaplan said his patients will often talk about cravings, such as sweet and

starch for women, and greasy, salty foods for men.

"They can't stop. They've heard something about hypnosis and they come in

hoping I can readjust their thinking and feeling," he said.

Using hypnotism, Dr Kaplan uses focus and concentration techniques to relax

the person's mind to the point where you can tell it what you want it to do.

"The only ticket for entrance is motivation," he said. "It is a psychotherapy

-- a relaxing of the mind."

In a relaxed state, the mind becomes 200 times more receptive, according to Dr

Kaplan, who acts as a teacher and a guide in re-educating the mind for the

relabeling of foods.

"Food no longer is seen as an answer for sadness or other things. I can create

a situation where chocolate tastes bitter," he said.

The potency of these techniques usually lasts for several days. After several

visits, Dr Kaplan said a patient's mind becomes trained in how it looks at

food. Healthier food begins to look more palatable.

"It's an attitude adjustment where people will feel more powerful over food,"

he said.

Acupuncture

The art of acupuncture has been practiced in the Orient for thousands of

years. Today, it is becoming more and more popular in the United States in

treating everything from tobacco cravings to pain. Dr Loretta Osik, a

naturopathic doctor who practices acupuncture, sees many patients who are

seeking to lose weight.

"It is effective in suppressing appetite and food cravings 60 to 70 percent of

the time," she said. "Acupuncture acts as an aid in controlling the appetite

so that [patients] can start eating properly. Some people are on binges and

want sweets all the time. Acupuncture helps to break that cycle."

Dr Osik uses a French treatment rather than a better-known Chinese method.

However, it still involves many of the same techniques. Acupuncture involves

stimulating with needles points of the body that are located on meridians that

flow throughout the body. In these meridians is energy, or qi , that flows

through the body. Acupuncture points are located on or near nerves. When these

neuro-chemicals are affected by acupuncture, they create physical changes.

For those seeking to lose weight, Dr Osik concentrates on the ears. "It is not

clear as to how it works, but there is some connection between the points in

the ear and the appetite center in the brain," she said. "It's the same for

those trying to quit smoking. It controls cravings."

Dr Osik said one of her patients has lost 65 pounds. For the best results,

acupuncture should be done in conjunction with other dietary and exercise

programs.

Just about every expert will tell you the best way to lose weight is to reduce

the number of calories consumed and increase the number of calories burned. In

order to do so, you must eat well-balanced meals and exercise regularly.

Trying to lose weight through starvation is an unhealthy approach. In time,

that weight comes back.

A Glass Of Water

There is nothing like a glass of water when you are trying to lose weight,

noted dietitian Julie Connor. It helps to quench your thirst and remove waste

and is vital to your metabolism.

Water lubricates joints and the respiratory track and increases the passage of

food through the gastrointestinal track. It helps you feel full and it

hydrates you so you don't feel hungry when you are actually thirsty.