Thursday, April 29, 2010

The Three Plans

I noticed on Tuesday on America’s MSNBC news an article about how people who have lost weight are often disappointed with their lives, resulting often in regain of the weight. I quote:
“In a small study presented at The Obesity Society’s annual scientific meeting last year, researchers identified several key elements that lead to weight gain after weight loss surgery. A recurring theme from the study participant interviews and questionnaires was that weight loss could lead to disappointment. In turn, disappointment — whether from the amount of weight lost not meeting a patient’s expectations or that weight loss didn’t fix their problems — can lead to chronic frustration and weight regain, the bugaboo for all folks who have managed to shed pounds. …….While the study focused on those who'd had bariatric surgery, the findings can be applied to those who lost weight through diet or exercise as well, says lead author Lee Kern, clinical director for Structure House, a residential weight loss facility in Durham, N.C. …..‘Anecdotally, patients say they feel better and are happier and studies support that,’ says obesity researcher Dr. Charles Burant, director of the University of Michigan’s Metabolomic and Obesity Center. ‘[Weight loss] puts a spring in people’s step. But to say it puts a strut in their step might be going too far.’”

Reading this can give one pause. Why should I lose weight if I am not going to be happier as a result? The answer is, obviously, that NOT losing weight will lead eventually to further health problems and a possible earlier death. To me, that is certainly reason enough. I am hoping that as I lose my knee pain will get better. What this study is saying, is that I can’t assume that all my problems will disappear if I loose weight. My knee pain will probably get better. It may not disappear altogether.
I suspect that the statistics (of those satisfied with weight loss) for people who exercise regularly will be better. People who exercise and lose are going to feel better than the person who simply had surgery. First, exercise pumps our system with endomorphines, and secondly, the self-esteem that comes from sticking to a plan can not be obtained through surgery.
The bottom line of the MSNBC article is:
“The message is straightforward: focus on the positive aspects of weight loss, such as health and mobility improvements and increased energy. ‘It’s the benefits over time that are important,’ says Structure House’s Kern. ‘The dream life is fantasy, whether you’re fat or skinny.’”
Actually, what they are saying has already been said by Jeane Eddy Westin in The Thin Book . She mentions that to lose weight successfully, we need a three-pronged plan:
-a correct eating plan
-an exercise plan
-a mental attitude plan

We need to learn to value ourselves for all our good attributes (not in SPITE of being fat, either…). We need to want to lose weight for our health and well-being, not for what others think of us. We need to be able to allow ourselves to be imperfect at times, and to set aside time for ourselves. [For example, part of my weight-losing plan is my weekly ceramics class. I don’t have to loose weight to “deserve” it. I am allowed fun, because everyone needs something fun (NOT FOOD) in their lives.]
So if you are trying to lose weight, make sure that you are moving forward on all three fronts.

9 comments:

Lose weight said...

When I think about eating and working out, I don't focus in on weight (OK, I TRY not to focus on weight)...I think about it as health and nutrition. When I think about it that way it's more motivating and I don't feel so defeated if I don't meet a weight loss goal or feel like I'm selling out to "society's image of beauty". It's about being healthy. In the long run that's more important than wearing the latest awful trend in jeans. Think about it in terms of your long-term health. (For me it's relatively easy because of my disastrous family history.) Eating well - fats, sugars, proteins and carbs included (people who go on those extreme unbalanced diets are not healthy) - and exercising your heart and muscles are way more important than what any scale or made up size on an item of clothing tell you.

rickismom said...

I thinki your attitude is very good and correct, but for me personally without the scales it would be just TOO easy for me to overeat healthy foods.

RivkA with a capital A said...

or you could try chemotherapy...

just kidding.

I am so scared that I will gain the weight back when I have to switch chemotherapies....

rickismom said...

RivkA
Several years ago I lost a lot of weight and a friend asked with concern, "Are you ALRIGHT???"

RivkA with a capital A said...

I experience the opposite.

Everyone keeps telling me how great I look. As if I must be all better now, 'cause I look so good/healthy.....

I've lost 30 kilos, but I did nothing... I just did not eat.

I have to force myself to eat so that I can take my chemo pills.

Recently, I bought myself some really yummy cereal, because I can almost always swallow a bowl of cereal and milk. I drink almost a liter of milk a day. That's my main source of nutrician....

Kelly @ Structure House said...

I couldn't agree more with your post. I work for Structure House (our Clinical Director was quoted in the article you posted) and your thoughts on having balance with a food plan, exercise plan, and behavioral/mind adjustments is basically what our program is about. So many people understand that to lose weight you have to exercise and eat less-but they don't understand why they can't make that a lifestyle change. Approaching weight loss from a behavioral stand point-learning about the relationship we have with food, why we use it for non nutritional needs, and using the scale as just one piece of the puzzle to overall lifestyle change is key.

U. Hoodia said...

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rickismom said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
rickismom said...

U Hoodia, I am tempted to deleate your post, but will reply instead.
I believe that it is completely unrealistic for anyone to believe that a diet pill will seriously affect their weight, and the bad side is if someone thinks it WILL help, they are likely to be lax in DIET and EXERCISE.
Without even trying your pills, I can assume that they are not all that effective (if at all). Why? Simple. If I had a good aid to weight loss, and it really worked, I would RUN to the drug companies, get a double-blind study done, and reap in the millions. If they don't have double-blind tests showing effectiveness, I am loathe to believe ANY claims!