Monthly Boost August 2005

I hope this finds you well and healthy. So much has happened from the last monthly boost that was sent out on July 6th 2005, less than 12 hours later, London was devastated, but just like New Yorkers we keep on going. We seek help and hopefully counsel if required and get on with life.

In July and August I see a lot of clients whose goal is to lose weight. Having been to ‘Borders’ ( the bookshop) I was rather ‘gob-smacked’ to see the number of books that they had on display in the weight loss section.

Oh my, from the South Beach diet, the GI diet, the Coconut diet, the Adam and Eve diet, they Body Type diet and so it went on and on. Now if I am over whelmed, I can just imagine how you would feel. I mean what do you go for? The most ‘en vogue’ (just so that you can mingle with the so-called ‘trendy crowd’…hhhmmm) or the diet that had the most appealing book cover! Now you may laugh, but I know people who chose their diets, clothes etc from the cover of the book or catalogue. Why not go for the one that would suit your own Metabolic Type? I mean is it really that difficult? Or am I missing a few brain chemicals? So the scenario goes like this……

‘I started dieting at the age of 24 and lost a lot of weight and got back into my late teen clothes (although I would fit into my late-teen wear, I don’t think anyone else would appreciate the look)…then I gained a few kilos (at least 5kg) in the late twenties and managed to lose the excess again by dieting (usually by cutting out fat and generally good nutrients…as it is all calorie restricted)…then in my 30s after having my two children I have never been able to lose the weight, I have tried every diet going, as well as starvation but to no avail! Can you help me?’

Here is another one…..

‘I was never overweight if anything quite muscular with a low body fat ratio and high lean muscle mass (hhhmmmm…don’t be impressed), and then in the last 10 years the weight has cropped up, I cycle at the weekends and try and go to the gym three times a week, I have dieted but I am finding it difficult to shift this weight, can you help?’

Now remember these people have tried various diets…why don’t they work now when they did previously? …what has changed?......do you know the biggest factor in my practice is stress? You may not be 'losing it' due to stress...…so here's what do we do in clinic….

1. Ask you to fill in a health profile questionnaire and send it back to us before the first session

2. We have a look through the completed form and high light the important points that we believe need to be addressed…this is where the our professional knowledge comes in 'handy'

3. At the first session, we ask our you specific questions (depending on the responses in completed form)…these may vary from;

• Are you currently on medication?
• Do you enjoy your job?
• Do you have mercury fillings?
• Do you have any family history of thyroid issues?
• Did you have a ‘happy’ childhood?
• Are you generally happy in life?
• Do you smoke?