By Karen Tucker
Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a magic bullet to lose weight without changing our eating habits? Despite the advertisements, none exists. We eat on the run, stopping by the drive-thru, or grabbing a pre-measured 100-calorie pack. Isn’t counting calories enough?
It is not. Experts now know it’s not just how much we eat, what we consume counts, too. People who are overweight generally have insulin levels that are out of whack from too many refined sugars and starches. Breads, pasta, salty snacks, and sweet treats can overwork the pancreas, which must constantly pump out insulin to take care of all the sugar in the blood. A high protein diet with low carbohydrates and fat will regulate the pancreas and blood sugar levels, which helps to burn fat and maintain muscle. But, we’re busier than ever. Who has the time to count calories, let alone breaking them down into carbohydrates, fat, and protein while measuring out portions plus planning, preparing, and shopping for healthy meals?
Perhaps that’s why a number of diet systems offering pre-packaged meal replacements or liquid shakes have skyrocketed over the last several years, helping to overcome this obstacle. But do they work?
People often have initial success with such controlled weight loss programs. Consuming a protein shake, smoothie, or buying pre-packaged food that you just heat and eat offers a clear plan for weight loss so you don’t have to think about it. Which is the major drawback — you don’t have to think about it! People learn nothing about food choices, eating habits, preparation, and nutrition. So after they “finish” their program, they usually revert to their old eating habits, gain the weight back, join another program, and the cycle continues.
Joen Lane, a certified trained weight control professional with Ideal Protein, a medically based weight loss plan, emphasizes that it is important for people to “discover their weight gain story while they are going through a program. This helps them replace bad habits with good habits for when they are eating regular food again.” People don’t buy pre-packaged food or prepared liquid meals for the rest of their lives, which is why programs should include healthy recipe books to help people learn to prepare new dishes and not get bored with the same things each week. “Our whole goal is to put them back in the kitchen preparing healthy dishes, and keep them away from prepared foods with additives and preservatives that cause disease and weight gain.”
Having someone who will give you support and encouragement is a crucial element to successfully losing weight and to keeping it off. With many programs, people get a “high 5” for reaching their goal and the dieter goes out the door, not sure what to do from there. Joen shares that, “for us, the maintenance phase is truly where the work begins. Because they are eating real food again, we have to teach them to eat right. This is where the journal truly starts to help them understand how to eat right for the rest of their lives. Most dieters continue to come in weekly until they feel they have their lives in control.”
Weight loss plans work if you use them as a starting point for long-term weight loss… and don’t cheat! The process must include re-educating yourself about your eating habits so that you keep the weight off forever.
For more information on “Your Last Diet,” the Ideal Protein Weight Loss method, you may call Joen Lane at 309-825-6998 or e-mail her at idealweightlossofbmg.nor@gmail.com. Joen offers a complimentary initial consultation so you can decide if Ideal Protein is right for you along with continued one-on-one support.
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