Big Losers Are Big Winners

By Nancy J. Miller-Ihli, PhD

Savvy Selections

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Big Losers Are Big Winners

Do you have 40 pounds or more to lose? Do you think that can be accomplished in a reasonable amount of time without having surgery or being miserable and feeling deprived? I want you to know it is possible eating REAL foods, learning to read labels and make healthy food choices. I know because I lost more than 145 pounds!
Has your doctor lectured you about the negative health impact of being overweight? If so, you are in great company. Recent studies suggest that 2/3 of all adult Americans are overweight or obese. There are also a large number of overweight children and adolescents. Did you know that an overweight child has a 70% chance of being an overweight adult and the probability rises to 80% if one of the parents is overweight or obese?
What doesnt work when it comes to weight loss? Severe calorie restricted diets seldom work because they can actually slow your metabolism. People can consume a reasonable number of calories but were not meant to frequently eat foods that spike your blood glucose levels (including bread, rice, pasta, sodas, cookies and all the usual American “junk” foods). These high glycemic impact foods can actually raise your cholesterol levels and increase your cardiovascular risk because they provide your liver with the necessary starting products for the synthesis of cholesterol. Making low glycemic choices including fruits and vegetables, you can see dramatic reductions in your cholesterol and triglyceride levels in as little as 2-3 weeks. You do NOT have to lose 50 pounds to start to see a health benefit, but of course, have to continue to eat this way to continue to see a health benefit.
Americans have a variety of choices available to them to address their weight management issues. Several popular programs (including Atkins, Zone and Weight Watchers) were reviewed in the scientific literature in a manuscript entitled “Weight Loss, Body Measurements and Compliance…”1. What they found was that the average 1 year weight loss for most programs is never more than 10 pounds. If you have a lot of weight to lose, how exciting is that? Fortunately, the low glycemic Transitions program provided an average weight loss of 14 pounds in only 12 weeks!
What is the answer to the obesity epidemic? I think the answer is a lifestyle change focusing on good nutritional support, low glycemic education, exercise and stress management. If you dont have all of these components your probability of success drops dramatically.
If you have a large amount of weight to lose, consider joining a group and working with experienced coaches who can help you to be more successful more quickly. You may have to change your relationship with food. When you learn to consider food as fuel for your body you will be successful. Also, dont underestimate the fact that you could have a particular challenge which is affecting your ability to lose weight such as thyroid dysfunction, food allergies (gluten or dairy) or even undiagnosed diabetes. Working with a knowledgeable professional can help you get great results. What have you got to lose but excess weight?
1 Alt. & Comp. Therapies, 2005, Vol. 11, No.6, pp. 307-313