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