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From: doug@terak.UUCP (Doug Pardee)
Newsgroups: net.consumers,net.med
Subject: Re: Need info on "Gold Key" Weight loss plan
Message-ID: <835@terak.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 29-Oct-85 11:56:41 EST
Article-I.D.: terak.835
Posted: Tue Oct 29 11:56:41 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 1-Nov-85 03:16:01 EST
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Organization: Calcomp Display Products Division, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
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> You are wrong to say that there is no effective weight-loss program.
> Most people will be safely able to take off most excess weight and
> keep it off merely by a daily half hour of race-walking (or an
> alternative suitably strenuous exercise).

I wouldn't argue that exercise is not effective at losing weight.  In
fact, it is currently the closest approximation that we have to "an
effective weight loss program."  But refer to my original quote:

> >There are no known effective weight loss programs (if "effective"
> >means that the weight is not regained within a few months or years).

Experience shows that approximately 0% of the populace will maintain
the exercise schedule required for the rest of their lives.  Unless they
have a motivation as strong as, "You'll die if you don't".  And often
not even then.

There are a great many ways to lose weight initially.  But the track
record of every single weight loss regimen is dismal (to say the least)
when looked at on a long-term basis.  There not only is no "magic"
answer, there isn't even an "unmagic" answer.

A note of clarification: this discussion has strayed a bit from the
point I was trying to make in my original posting.  I'm not trying to
say that one shouldn't take up an exercise program.  What I *am* trying
to say is that one shouldn't waste one's life worrying about being
overweight.

Too many overweight people dedicate their entire lives to losing weight
instead of living their lives.  Furthermore, they carry a totally
undeserved burden of guilt, both for being overweight in the first
place and for their repeated failure at losing weight.  They need to
be told that those failures are universal, that virtually no one ever
succeeds at maintaining a weight loss.  And they need to change the
focus of their lives away from "losing weight" to "enjoying life".

At the same time, those people without "weight problems" need to learn
that overweight is *not* a sign of weak personal character.
-- 
Doug Pardee -- CalComp -- {calcom1,savax,seismo,decvax,ihnp4}!terak!doug