| Remember the New York teenagers, Ashley | | | | eat over what we need to maintain our weight |
| Pelman and Jazlyn Bradley, who sued | | | | (regardless of how many days it takes us to |
| McDonald's for making them obese? One of the | | | | do it), we gain a pound. So if your |
| plaintiffs included a 15-year-old Bronx boy | | | | maintenance level is 2,400 calories daily, |
| who says he's been eating McDonald's food | | | | and you are consuming 2,650 calories daily, |
| since the age of six. Gregory Rhymes--at 5 | | | | you can expect to gain about a half pound or |
| feet, 6 inches tall--says he now weighs 400 | | | | so per week (250 calories/day x 7 days/week |
| pounds and has been diagnosed with diabetes. | | | | divided by 3,500 calories/pound = 0.50 pounds |
| Newsday reported that the children's parents | | | | week). It also works in reverse; for every |
| say they never saw posters in McDonald's | | | | 3,500 calories under our maintenance |
| restaurants that explain the nutritional | | | | requirement that we don't eat, we lose a |
| content of the food. | | | | pound. |
| | | | |
| William Sears, the author of several books on | | | | Of course, the idea is to figure out ways to |
| children and nutrition, commented on this | | | | increase caloric output and decrease caloric |
| story saying, "The bottom line for the food | | | | input. So a combination of more than normal |
| industry is money. What motivates the food | | | | exercise coupled with below-maintenance |
| industry and health-minded mothers is worlds | | | | calorie intake insures weight loss. Since the |
| apart." | | | | goal is to maximize calorie use (while |
| | | | decreasing calorie intake), what is the most |
| I say, What's wrong with this picture? What's | | | | efficient exercise? |
| wrong is the value of self-determinism that | | | | |
| was obviously ignored or disagreed with by | | | | Experts agree that although aerobic exercise |
| these teenagers' parents. Victimism may be | | | | is good for you, it is not the most efficient |
| the core issue surrounding obesity outside of | | | | calorie-burning activity. Muscles burn the |
| a glandular birth defect. Wouldn't the | | | | most calories of any body system. Therefore, |
| American Founding Fathers be cringing in | | | | working as many muscles as possible during a |
| embarrassment to find citizens so radically | | | | workout is the most efficient way to more |
| oriented away from the principles of free | | | | rapid weight loss. Weight training, martial |
| choice and democratic self-restraint? Of | | | | arts, or yoga are the obvious choices here. |
| course, children follow the examples of their | | | | But whatever the choice is, it has to be |
| parents, and eating habits along with moral | | | | enjoyable and has to produce results, making |
| values begin in the home. | | | | it much easier to remain on the program. |
| | | | |
| That being said, once a heart-and-soul | | | | Nutritional Support |
| decision has been made to reverse obesity | | | | |
| (now defined as overweight by 30 percent of | | | | The following are the latest products |
| the ideal body weight), as free-choosing | | | | designed to help the body use calories |
| citizens here is a list of proven protocols | | | | (increase metabolism), and to use stored fat. |
| to help start out on that road to recovery | | | | |
| and wellness. | | | | Herbal Accelerator and LypoZyme: These enzyme |
| | | | herbal formulas target the body's fat |
| Behaviors | | | | utilization strategies. The enzyme lipase is |
| | | | what the body uses to digest fat in the |
| Currently Dr. Phil seems to be the champion | | | | liver, and is the main ingredient in these |
| of the weight-control movement, and his | | | | formulas. |
| approach is behavioral. One main point that | | | | |
| hit home to me was that of support of the | | | | Carnitine: It is the "forklift" that carries |
| household. If those you are living with have | | | | fat to the mitochondria in cells to be |
| a refrigerator full of sweet, high-calorie | | | | burned. It is an energy facilitating |
| snack foods, and are indulging in them | | | | ingredient. In a recent study, Carnitine |
| constantly, it makes the job of sticking to a | | | | caused an 11-fold increase in weight loss |
| regimen that much more difficult. On one | | | | over a 12-week period. Carnitine also raises |
| show, Dr. Phil went so far as to say we | | | | HDL (good cholesterol) and lowers |
| should cut-off any relationships in our lives | | | | triglycerides (precursors to artery |
| that oppose our weight loss intention. | | | | blockages) |
| Ultimately, this would mean the entire family | | | | |
| would have to be involved in your weight loss | | | | CLA (conjugated linoleic acid): Helps block |
| program, and respect it because it is your | | | | fat cells from filling up, and increases |
| heart's desire. | | | | muscle metabolism creating leaner muscles. |
| | | | |
| Exercise | | | | Grapefruit: Actively inhibits enzymes in the |
| | | | intestinal tract responsible for converting |
| Taking in fewer calories than you burn is the | | | | carbohydrates to fat. It is an excellent |
| cornerstone of any weight loss strategy. On | | | | source of Vitamin C, potassium and folic acid |
| the average, for every 3,500 calories that we | | | | as well. |