Dear Readers,

Joanne, a 32-year-old woman, wrote 'Lifeline' from her home in Old Harbour. She is tired of dieting! Joanne said as soon as she loses weight, she puts it back on. It doesn't even take a year to regain the weight! Joanne said she has lost more than 50 pounds in the last few years and has gained it all back!

She asks Lifeline what does she needed to do to keep the weight off?

If there was any easy answer to this question, we would have all been slim already! The three major problems encountered, over and over, with weight-loss diets are:

1. The human body is built to hold on to weight, not to lose weight.

2. Whatever diet plan has actually worked and resulted in weight loss has to be continued forward, into the foreseeable future, to keep the weight off.

3. The statistics show that exercise is important. A moderate daily exercise programme of at least 40 minutes daily, is a part of every successful weight-loss programme. Many people do not want to exercise regularly or cannot find the time to do so!

The human body resists attempts to lose weight. Weight loss will occur only to a point after which the body finds a 'plateau', after which weight loss efforts become frustratingly more difficult to achieve. The body has few mechanisms to prevent weight gain but strong processes which prevent weight loss. Weight loss in effect, stops or is drastically reduced after weight loss reaches a certain level. In essence, 'plateauing'.

Plateauing marks the point where increased levels of exercise, or even further calorie restrictions, yield little further significant weight loss.

All studies show that there are mechanisms in place in the human body which seeks to prevent weight loss.

The human body is built to perceive continued weight loss and declining caloric intake as an attempt to starve the body, and it resists this action, totally, as it would in times of famine!

The trick, therefore, is to allow the body to perceive that it is receiving adequate amounts of food while actually providing it with few calories (bulky grains, oats, vegetables to provide a 'full' feeling) and to do this slowly, over a period of time, so that the body does not perceive a famine!

Some facts are:

Genetics are important where obesity is concerned, but personal choices can make a difference and allow for changes in weight.

Diets can effectively reduce weight, in the short term, but are usually not a long-term answer to obesity.

Exercise, by itself, unless excessive, also does not lead to significant weight loss.

Any method which successfully results in weight loss must be continued for the maintenance of the weight loss.

Some pharmaceutical agents are useful.

For some very obese persons, surgery to remove some of the intestines is effective.

Some useful pointers to maintaining weight loss are:

Do weight/strength training. The larger the muscle mass the more effective the metabolism burns calories.

Aerobic exercise will also burn calories and, if possible, should be undertaken daily.

Some foods help burn fat and should be included in the daily diet. Apples, oats, cinnamon and eggs all fall into this category of food. For example, apples are high in fibre which helps to provide a 'full' feeling, and pectin, which binds water and limits the amount of fat which cells can absorb. Apples are also full of anti-oxidants which help prevent the chronic diseases.

Oats have a high satiety index and help the person 'feel full'. Oats also digest slowly, don't raise the blood sugar too quickly and keep the person feeling full for several hours after ingestion.

Cinnamon helps the body metabolise sugar.

Eggs are concentrated protein without fat. Studies have shown that people who eat an egg at breakfast, in addition to, or instead of, bread and other carbohydrates loose more weight!

Make small adjustments to diet over a longer time to trick the body so that it does not trigger hormones which cause a rebound 'plateau' phenomenon to weight loss.

Always check to make sure that the thyroid gland is working properly. The thyroid gland regulates metabolism and a low-functioning thyroid gland will hamper all weight-loss efforts.

Successful weight loss requires strategy and planning. See the physician and get an all clear health wise. Visit with a nutritionist, if possible, to discuss food types, and eating strategies, and get on a daily exercise programme. Never forget the dreaded 'plateau' phenomenon! Remember, quick-fix weight loss is no fix to weight problems at all!

Write to: Lifeline,

PO Box 1731,

KGN 8

AJM