Lifestyle Changes, Not Diets, Are Key To Losing Weight

Main Category: Nutrition / Diet
Also Included In: Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness;  Sports Medicine / Fitness
Article Date: 13 Jul 2007 - 1:00 PDT

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Lifestyle changes, not diets, are key to losing weight. It seems that new diet plans are published almost every day. Some of these diets might even help you lose weight. But many diets are so restrictive, either in calories or in variety, that they can be unhealthy in the long term.

"Many overweight patients come to me saying they want to go on a diet," says Dr. Jennifer Virant of DuPage Medical Group and Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital. "Some of these diets are unhealthy, especially those that feature supplements, promise quick weight loss, claim to cure disease, or that recommend excluding specific food groups."

Focus on health

Rather than going on the latest fad diet, Virant recommends that her patients get back to basics and focus on their overall health. "I try to help my patients realize that what they really need is not a diet, but a change in lifestyle - a lifestyle which encompasses good nutrition, frequent exercise, daily activity and a balance among the different facets of their life," she says.

Smart choices

According to Virant, a healthy lifestyle includes the following:

-- Food intake that emphasizes fruits, vegetables and whole grains. A divided plate can help, with the larger section for vegetables and the smaller ones for a lean protein and whole-grain pasta or rice.

-- Food intake that includes low-fat milk and milk products; includes lean meats, beans, eggs and nuts; and is low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt and added sugars.

-- Portion control.

-- Adequate fluid intake, emphasizing water, instead of sugary drinks such as juices and sodas.

-- Exercise and activity that is part of a daily routine. Exercise has beneficial effects on overall body weight, body composition cardiovascular risk factors.

Healthy snacks

Virant says it's good to snack, especially in the hours between lunch and dinner. "A small-sized apple with a tablespoon of peanut butter has just a few more calories than a 100-calorie snack-pack," Virant says. "I'd rather have the apple. It's juicy, sweet and crunchy, all at the same time. And the peanut butter provides healthy fat and protein," she says.

Because each person is different, Virant recommends professional guidance. "Contact a registered dietitian, physician or health-care professional who can devise a nutrition plan, not a diet, that takes into account individual tastes, health conditions and lifestyle," she said.

To learn how to make smart choices, to find the balance between food and physical activity and to get the most nutrition for calories consumed, visit the http://www.mypyramid.gov Web site.

The Good Samaritan Health and Wellness Center is a 90,000 square foot fitness center with three indoor pools, a track, an extensive fitness floor and weight room, three group exercise studios (including Yoga and Pilates studios) and a basketball court, located in Downers Grove, Illinois. Serving the western suburbs of Chicago, the Wellness Center is the only advisory member of the Medical Fitness Association in DuPage County. As part of Advocate Health Care, Good Samaritan Health and Wellness Center can be reached by visiting http://www.advocatehealth.com/goodsam.

Article written by Diane Ahern, Good Samaritan Health and Wellness Center