How to Accelerate Weight Loss

For those of you in the Serotonin-Plus program, you know we use our Serotonin supplement and safe prescription appetite supressants (e.g. phentermine, Bontril) to jumpstart the metabolism and reduce appetite and cravings. Although we have a comprehensive program that incorporates diet and exercise, the appetite suppressants do play an important role. But just what does phentermine and Bontril do and why are they important that we use them? Our program is based on a process of increasing the metabolism and reducing intake so you lose weight. However, we do not want to lower intake to the point of starvation because that will lower metabolism. So we use the appetite suppressants to help. They speed up the metabolism and help you burn more calories while taking the edge off appetite. They will also increase metabolism so that when you get to your goal weight, you are able to live on a higher calorie count to maintain your weight. This is a very significant point!!! So is it important to get those “2 halves” of the phentermine in or take the 3 Bontril tablets in everyday? Yes, if you can! The full dosage will help you burn more calories! They are great diet aids and many people tolerate them well. Phentermine and Bontril do accelerate weight loss and if you have the opportunity to be on them, use them as a jumpstart. If your goal is to lose weight, don't feel you have to do it on your own. We are proud that our average weight loss is in 12 weeks has consistently remained at 35 pounds.

I’m always looking at research to see how we can improve our program and I came across a study that really validates our success in our weight loss program. A recent study at Stanford University showed the effect of diet alone on weight loss. They compared 4 different diets (Zone, LEARN, Ornish and Atkins) and followed 311 overweight ( BMI > 25 but less than 30) premenopausal women for one year. Study participants either followed the Zone Diet( 40:30:30 ratio of carbs:protein:fat; the LEARN diet (Lifestyle, Exercise, Attitudes, Relationships and Nutrition) which follows the U.S. Dept of Agricultures Food Pyramid guide of low in fat and high in carbs; The Ornish Diet which suggests high carbs, high vegetarian and low fat; and the Atkins Diet which recommends high protein, high fat and very low carb. All study participants attended diet classes weekly for the first 8 weeks and then were monitored by phone for the next 10 months as they continued on their respective diet plans.

In one year, the results were as follows:
Zone Diet: Average lost in 1 year was 3.5 pounds
Ornish Diet: Average lost in 1 year was 4.8 pounds
LEARN Diet: Average lost in 1 year was 5.7 pounds
Atkins Diet: Average lost in 1 year was 10.4 pounds

So what does this data suggest? Weight loss needs to be a comprehensive effort of increasing metabolism, intake (diet), and calorie expenditure (exercise). Our experience with the Serotonin-Plus program shows that we have improved upon these study averages in a much shorter period of time.

Can we lose weight when we are older?

We have a number of patients in the program that are above 50 in age and most ask on their first visit, Am I too old to lose weight? The answer is NO! You can absolutely lose weight if you want to. A recent study by NIH showed that people in their 50's and 60's can lose weight if they put their mind to it.

The year-long study followed healthy 50- to 60-year olds with a body mass index of between 23 and 30, placing them at the high end of normal weight or overweight. Both those who dieted and those who exercised lost a significant amount of weight. However, those who exercised maintained their strength and muscle mass and increased aerobic capacity and those who dieted lost muscle mass, strength and aerobic capacity.

The goal of dieters was to reduce their calorie consumption by 16 percent for the first three months, and by 20 percent the next nine months. With regard to exercise, the goal of the exercisers was to burn 16 percent more calories the first three months, increasing to 20 percent the next nine months.

Both groups lost between 9 and 10 percent of their total body weight. Those who exercised engaged in 60 minutes of cardiovascular activity six times a week, such as a brisk three- to four-mile walk. Those exercisers who worked out for 90 minutes a day took off more pounds, around 15 to 20 percent of their body weight.

Those who dieted lost muscle mass while those who exercised did not. This is because exercisers routinely challenged their muscles, which prevented muscle tissue from degrading. Dieters didn't work their muscles as vigorously as those who exercised. The study concluded that those who want to lose weight should engage in increased exercise with caloric restriction instead of just counting calories alone.

And just to let you know, our oldest patient in the program was 86 and she lost 20 pounds!

Reaching the Diet Finish Line

People never want to start a weight loss effort on a Friday…always Monday. Why? Because as much as we don’t like to think about it in this manner, we equate “dieting” with sacrifice, deprivation and taking away our fun. For the long term strategy of losing weight and keeping that weight off we have to eliminate the concept of a “finish line”. Let me provide this analogy I give my patients: In a 100 yard race, when the sprinter crosses the finish line, he/she does not continue to run. The person drops to a knee, drinks fluids, towels off, rests and you can almost hear from the stands the happy exclamation: “Whew, glad that is over!!!” Similarly, when we embark on a weight loss goal, when we reach our perceived target weight, psychologically, we pass a “finish line” that allows us to go back to old behaviors. Unfortunately, the old behaviors result in the gaining back of the weight we worked so hard to lose.

Learning how to change our mindset when it comes to losing weight as a life-style change as opposed to a “diet” is difficult, yet necessary to achieve long term weight loss.