The One Thing You Should NOT Consider On Your Weight Loss Journey!
Normally I’d pose a question at this point, but I just saw something on the news about weight loss that really pissed me off, so today, we’re going to have a nice heart-to-heart about why you should NEVER, under any circumstances, consider a certain weight loss ‘strategy…’
It’s a cool, misty day here on Long Island, and I write this to you from my parents’ home. Every Tuesday and Friday, I visit my hometown of Port Washington, and work with my grandmother on rehab from hip replacement surgery last summer, and my dad on improving his strength, tone and overall cardiovascular health. Since I had a softball game in the same town last night, I decided to save myself the 35 minute trip home when I had an early client and then my familial obligations in the morning, so I stayed overnight.
I was making food before, and my parents had the Today Show on in the background. The term ‘weight loss’ was stated on the television, and I figured I’d turn around and watch the segment. While my food was burning, one of the co-anchors was interviewing a surgeon who was discussing a non-scarring surgical procedure to shrink your stomach, and thus, help you to lose weight for the rest of your life…
Of course, there would be a two week recovery period necessitating a liquid diet, after which you must eat extremely small portions or else risk rupturing whatever stomach shrinkage had occurred, but the results over time are, in his words, ‘phenomenal!’
Oh boy… I’m getting pissed again just thinking about it….
Here’s the dillyo: I don’t care if you have 20 lbs to lose, or 100+ lbs to lose. It doesn’t matter if you’re in a place where you can run a 5K tomorrow, or you can barely walk around the block today. What matters is that this, like so many other quick-fix, bullshit diet plans, workout programs, etc. offers just that — A quick fix!
Of course, after a procedure like this, your life is altered forever! Eat a portion too large, and you risk undoing the whole thing. These procedures buy into the smoke-and-mirrors show that is calorie counting and portion control.
I remember I once spoke to another weight loss specialist about this very issue. He made the following statement in defense of calorie counting, ‘If you’re stranded on a desert island, and food is scarce, you’re definitely going to lose weight!’
Well, duh… Concentration camp residents went through the same thing during the Holocaust! That certainly doesn’t mean that their weight loss was either healthy or sustainable…
Our bodies have very specific biological processes. We metabolize different macronutrients (the fats, proteins and carbs of the world) DIFFERENTLY! 1,200 calories of carbs doesn’t impact us the same way 1,200 calories of protein does, which still doesn’t impact us the same way as 1,200 calories of fat.
AND, if we deprive our bodies of an adequate amount of food for too long (as is what often happens to folks who count calories or points, or just minimize their portions), our bodies go into a starvation mode, where from that point forward, EVERYTHING we eat, good, bad or indifferent, will be STORED AS FAT!
I’ve had clients in the past who had had some sort of weight loss surgery, and STILL gained the weight back. Months of agony recovering, a forced minimalist diet, and thousands of dollars WASTED.. For what?
Because they didn’t want to do the work themselves…
Here’s a realization that I hope everyone can agree on: If you have a significant amount of weight to lose, and you’re a ‘candidate’ for weight loss surgery, it took a significant amount of time and (let’s face it) NEGLECT in order to get to that point. Whatever positive energy you had was put into other areas of your life, but as a result, your health suffered.
This isn’t sexy, but if it took time to gain all the weight, it’s going to take time to lose it. The healthiest range for weekly weight loss is anywhere from 1–3 lbs. So, if you have a 2 lb per week weight loss goal, and you have 100 lbs to lose, it should take about a year to get there if you stay on track the whole time.
Trying to lose that much weight in a SHORTER amount of time can result in extra skin, stretch marks, and a whole lot of stress on your heart and vital organs from your body not being able to gradually transform and adapt to a newer, healthier you…
Of course, success doesn’t happen in a straight line — There will be bumps in the road, but what’s most important is that you establish consistency. Keep as much data as possible, too! This includes body measurements, body fat percentage (if you have access to calipers) and progress photos.
Also, consider some of the changes you’ll experience by doing things the RIGHT way: Heightened moods, more energy, reduction of aches and pains… The number of benefits is literally ENDLESS!
Moral of the Story: If you’ve considered weight loss surgery in the past, or you’re considering it now, PLEASE RECONSIDER!!! Save yourself the money and the restrictions, and just make a few simple tweaks. It may take a while, but if this is something you really want, there’s a BETTER, HEALTHIER way of reaching your goals.
Until tomorrow!
Sincerely,
Pete Weintraub
pete@weightlossbypete.com
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