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From: hollombe@ttidcc.UUCP (The Polymath)
Newsgroups: net.consumers,net.med
Subject: Re: Need info on "Gold Key" Weight loss plan
Message-ID: <773@ttidcc.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 24-Oct-85 14:58:28 EST
Article-I.D.: ttidcc.773
Posted: Thu Oct 24 14:58:28 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 27-Oct-85 07:34:03 EST
References: <378@cylixd.UUCP> <812@terak.UUCP>
Reply-To: hollombe@ttidcc.UUCP (The Polymath)
Organization: The Cat Factory
Lines: 47
Xref: watmath net.consumers:3244 net.med:2632

In article <812@terak.UUCP> doug@terak.UUCP (Doug Pardee) writes:
>There are no known effective weight loss programs (if "effective"
>means that the weight is not regained within a few months or years).

Not entirely true.  The Pritikin Longevity Center  plan  (for  example)  is
pretty  effective,  I'm told.  The reason is they stress a total, permanent
change of lifestyle and eating habits.  These are  the  main  reasons  most
weight loss programs fail.  As soon as someone reaches their target weight,
they go off the program, back to their old habits, and  gain  their  weight
back again.

I knew one man who tried every fad diet that came along.  They  all  worked
as  promised.  He'd lose 15 pounds in 2 weeks drinking grapefruit juice (or
whatever).  Then he'd go off the diet and gain it all back in  the  next  2
weeks.

A woman I knew was (probably still is) a  member  of  Weight  Watchers  for
years.  She  used  to  come  into  the office hiding a candy bar behind her
celery stalks.  I wonder who she thought she was fooling.

Earlier this year I began  a  program  of  regular  exercise  (aerobic  and
weights)  and  started  controlling  my  food  intake. 5 1/2 months later I
reached my target weight.  I intend to maintain that weight for the rest of
my  life.  To  do  so,  I've  accepted  the fact that I'll have to continue
exercising and controlling my dietary habits for the rest of  my  life.  So
far I've had no problem staying within +|- 1 pound of target.

>The best thing you can do for overweight (presuming that it isn't
>life-threatening) is to ignore it and go on with your life.  Too many
>overweight people go through life unhappy and frustrated, trying to lose
>weight the whole time and only "yo-yoing".  For right now it is an
>unwinnable war; better to focus your attention and energy on something
>that you enjoy.

How do you define life-threatening?  Even moderate obesity has  been  shown
to  contribute significantly to risk of heart disease, diabetes, high blood
pressure, and other problems.  In most cases the war can be  won  (i.e.:  a
healthful  weight can be achieved and maintained).  It takes discipline and
a lifetime commitment.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
The Polymath (aka: Jerry Hollombe)
Citicorp(+)TTI                    Common Sense is what tells you that a ten
3100 Ocean Park Blvd.             pound weight falls ten times as fast as a
Santa Monica, CA  90405           one pound weight.
(213) 450-9111, ext. 2483
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