Weight Management FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions About Weight Management

Will I gain weight if I stop smoking?

Statistics show that, on average, people gain about 10 pounds when they stop smoking. You are more likely to gain weight if you smoked for 10 years or more, or if you smoked more than one pack of cigarettes a day. However, not everyone who stops smoking gains weight. Just remember that the health gains you will achieve when you stop smoking will more than outweigh the impact of an extra few pounds.

To minimize weight gain when you quit smoking, start a program of healthy eating and physical activity before you quit. This will help you to reduce your calorie intake and boost your metabolism, so the impact of quitting on weight gain will be minimized.

I seem to be getting heavier every year, but I eat less. What is happening?

The average American adult gains about a pound a year. The same American also loses about half a pound of muscle mass each year. The end result is that the average person actually gains 1.5 pounds of fat a year and resting metabolism is reduced.

Even if you keep up with aerobic exercise, this loss of muscle is likely to continue. Strength training is the way to reverse this process.

My eating habits are good when I’m at home, but I find it hard when I travel for business. Do you have any suggestions?

Eating well when you are traveling can be a challenge. However, eating out can be a blessing in disguise. If you know how to order in a restaurant, your healthy meal will be prepared for you, no chopping vegetables, shopping, or preparation required. Here is a list of tips to keep you on track when you travel.

• Do not use eating away from home as an excuse to overeat. Enjoy the fact that someone is preparing your meal for you.
• Try to choose restaurants that have healthy options. If you are forced into a dinner meeting at the “Saucy French Restaurant,” ask them to make an entree without the sauce or make some other healthy substitution. Many people make special requests because of health concerns, so can you.
• Make a quick stop at a local grocery store to stock up on fruits and other healthy snacks to put in your briefcase. It’s often necessary to miss meals when you’re working hard and having healthy snacks on hand will keep you away from the candy machine.
• Know the best food selections at popular fast food restaurants. You will inevitably end up in one, and you don’t want to sabotage your healthy eating program.
• Order creatively. You don’t always have to order an entree. Often a salad, bread, and an appetizer will do perfectly.
• Don’t forget to exercise while you’re away. A consistent exercise program is as important as a healthy diet.

What can I wear to make me look better before I reach my goals?

By dressing creatively, you can make yourself look significantly slimmer. When you look good you will feel better about yourself, which may help you to stay motivated to continue your healthy lifestyle. Here are some tips for women and men on how to dress to look more slim.

Women

• Be sure to avoid too many line breaks in your outfit. Every time you change color or pattern it causes the eye to hesitate. Having fewer breaks allows the eye to travel the length of your body, giving a more linear impression.
• Wear an open neckline.
• Wear big accessories if you are a bigger person. Tiny jewelry and accessories will make you look bigger in comparison.
• Long necklaces draw attention away from an ample bust.
• Avoid round jewelry, it tends to make you look rounder.
• Avoid belts that draw too much attention to your waist. Smaller, matching belts eliminate the line break and are more flattering.
• Wear dark, muted stockings.
• Wear basic pumps and flat shoes that fit. Shoes that look too tight make your feet look very fat.
• Wear jewelry off-center. It will draw attention away from figure faults.
• Avoid horizontal stripes.
• Dark colors such as navy, black, or brown will make you look slimmer.

Men

• Wear pinstripes and avoid plaids.
• Wear a looser collar if you have a double chin.
• If you are large, wear subtle clothing, such as ties with small patterns in deep reds, blues and greens.
• Make sure your suit jacket is loose-fitting.
• If you have a large behind, avoid no-vent jackets, which will tend to ride up your back. Also avoid bulky fabrics like tweeds and wide-whale corduroy.
• For heavy thighs, wear slacks with a double pleat, it brings the eye downward.
• For short legs, cuff pants with a - inch cuff. Larger cuffs will make you look shorter.
• Stick to slim soled shoes for large feet, in dark brown or black.

Losing weight can be a long and frustrating process. When you reach a goal, reward yourself with a new outfit. But, buy your size. While fitting into a smaller size can be just what you need to lift your spirits, buying something with the intention of losing enough weight to fit into it can have the opposite effect.

How do I choose a commercial weight management program?

Commercial weight loss programs can be very helpful to some people as they move toward a more healthy weight. Any program should be able to provide you with the following five features:

1. The diet should be safe and provide you with all RDAs for vitamins, minerals, and protein.
2. The program should be directed towards a slow, steady weight loss. A reasonable weight loss goal is 1 to 2 pounds a week.
3. If you need to lose more than 15 to 20 pounds you should be evaluated by your doctor before beginning the program.
4. Your program should have a good plan for maintenance after you reach your goal. The program should provide behavior modification support, as well as work with you to develop long-term plans for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Beware of programs that set goals that are unrealistic for you to achieve. Maintenance programs are often free or at reduced cost. If your goals are unrealistic for you, you may never reach the maintenance phase. Have your doctor establish your weight loss goal.
5. The program should provide you with a written statement of all fees, including the cost of additional items such as food, supplements, etc.

WEIGHT-LOSS DRUGS

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