Arts Life Health Ups And Downs Dieters work toward the right life-long habits. RUTHAN BRODSKY Special to the Jewish News aurel Sills, clinical psychologist and personal life coach in West Bloomfield, started thinking about losing 15 pounds in September. "Once you get past age 29 for the umpteenth time, your metabolism slows down and it's difficult to maintain your weight," explains Sills. "I've lost pounds because I'm using some of the same coaching techniques on myself that I use with my clients. "First I prepaid a personal trainer for a series of work- outs so that I wouldn't procrastinate about exercising and I've made my weight goals accountable to him. I've also become my own cheerleader and stopped beating myself over the head when I cheat and go off the diet. 'And I'm keeping a journal about what I eat and how much I exercise. It's not only to have a record of what I'm doing but to show me, in black and white, the behavior changes I'm making or not making and the end results." Losing weight is the one experience in which the long- time losers are the biggest winners. The problem is win- ners are rare. Although dieters shed an average of 15-20 pounds over several months, most are back to their start- ing weight in 3-5 years. Dr. David Rosenberg, D.0, a general practitioner in Farmington Hills with expertise in geriatrics, tailors his dieting recommendations to each patient. "Obesity can cause and complicate many medical con- ditions," says Dr. Rosenberg. "Losing weight on the other hand can lower heart disease risk, prevent diabetes, and keep better control of hypertension and cholesterol levels. "'When it's important for patients to lose weight, I may recommend a prescription medication, more exercise, or both. I may suggest to others that they look into a par- ticular plan, such as Weight Watchers. "What I do know is that people lose weight when they eat less and exercise more. I also realize that many patients won't stay with a program if they feel deprived of their favorite foods or have little choice about what they eat. They lose motivation, so I'm constantly following through and giving patients lots of encouragement." More than 50 million Americans try to lose weight each year, spending more than $100 billion on a variety of weight-loss programs. With so many plans available, how do you find one that not only works but also is healthy? Most of us talk to our friends and family. But what works for one may not work for another. "Name a diet and I've tried it," says Nadele Spiro of Bloomfield Hills. "When I tried Weight Watchers, I ate all my points by 3:30 in the afternoon. I tried the Beaumont Diet, the Susanne Sommers Diet and the L Body Mass Index or BIM tj 12/ 5 2003 104 The BMI is a measure of your weight relative to your height. As BMI increases, the risk for some disease increases. It is considered a reliable indicator of total body fat although it does have some limits such as: Canyon Ranch Diet. I have lost and gained a lot on all of these diets. "Right now, I'm working on a modified high-protein diet with lots of water and I'm exercising. It's sort of a modified South Beach Diet. So far so good." For many, dieting is a way of life. Good nutrition, on the other hand, is a more positive goal. Food provides energy and nutrients that our bodies need to stay healthy. "Thank goodness I have a fast metabolism," says Pam Marcus, yoga and pilates instructor and mother of three school-age children. "I believe in moderation and I'm an avid exerciser. At one time, I was a complete vegetarian. "I still try my best to follow a healthy regimen and I make it a point to listen to my body. That's not to say when I'm busy car pooling and teaching I sometimes don't have time for a meal and will stop at a Taco Bell because I'm getting light headed. But that doesn't hap- pen very often." The good news is that none of us have to become fashion-model thin to benefit from losing weight. Our weight is governed by our genetic makeup and metabolic rate. There's not much we can do to alter our genes and metabolic speed-ups from exercise and supplements work only temporarily. The fact is, losing weight comes down to burning more calories through daily activity than we consume. While some people lose weight by cutting calorie intake alone, few can keep that weight off without adding physical activity into the plan. The key is to make changes in our eating and activity habits that we can maintain every day for life. "I lost weight several years ago, kept it off for a time, but then put much of it back on when I stopped exercis- ing," says Julie Schlafer of West Bloomfield. "In the gym or on the tennis court, I used to look at these women with great bodies who were my age. I thought it wasn't in my genes to look svelte like they did. "Then I started talking with these gals and they told me how hard they work at keeping their figures and how much calorie control was a major part of their life. My attitude changed. . "I'm working with the Beaumont Hospital diet and exercising again. I don't want to put in as much time and effort as those gals, but I do want to improve how I look and feel." Yo-Yo dieting is not unusual among perennial dieters. "I've lost 200 pounds at least 10 times," says Rabbi David Nelson of Oak Park. "I've been dieting for 39 years, but it's difficult because I'm always invited to cele- UPS AND DO'WNS on page 106 • It may overestimate body fat in athletes and oth- ers who have a muscular build. • It may underestimate body fat in older persons and others who have lost muscle mass. To calculate your BMI, go to the following web address: vvww.cdc.gov/nccdphp Boo Sakidot supervises Laurel Sills' workout.