Thinking About Weight Loss Surgery? Get the Benefits Without the Scalpel!
Gail Davis
October 18, 2008
To contemplate something as extreme as weight loss surgery, you would have to be at the "last resort" stage. Questions such as "Did I give it my best shot?" or "Do I really want to take this chance?" have to be swirling around inside your head. Whether you are a frustrated life-long dieter or just looking for the easy way out of your problem, there´s one more thing to try before putting yourself at risk with surgery.
Two years ago, while vacationing with friends on the island of Jamaica, I became fascinated with my friend´s eating habits. She had just undergone gastric bypass surgery the month before our trip. She and I had fought the battle of the bulge for many years, sometimes successfully and sometimes not. In between the umbrella drinks and the endless buffets at our resort, it occurred to me that similar results could be achieved in a less drastic and less dangerous manner.
As a result of watching my friend eat over the course of the week, I developed what I call the 5-4-3-2-1 diet plan. It´s a simple strategy, which helps you eat small amounts that over time will lead to huge rewards on the scale! My observations revealed that eating small bites and chewing them very well are key elements to weight loss. Additionally, savoring each bite and waiting at least a minute between bites encourages satisfaction with less food! I realized that this was the same premise as the popular French Women Don´t Get Fat diet by Mireille Guiliano.
I came home from my vacation and tried my new 5-4-3-2-1 diet plan. It was important for me to see if my idea was a practical one. I followed it religiously for one month and lost a record twenty pounds, twice what I usually lose in one month of dieting! In many ways the diet was easy to follow. Because I could eat small amounts of whatever I chose, eating out socially became much easier, since no foods were forbidden. I will say that the first few days were grueling. Most of us with excess weight are volume eaters, and as with weight loss surgery, there is no volume eating with the 5-4-3-2-1 diet. The biggest surprise on the diet was how good I felt after a few days of eating significantly less food!
As with all diets, an important component is exercise. It is possible to diet without exercising and still lose weight, but with the loss of lean muscle mass and the advent of loose skin, I don´t believe you´ll be happy with the end results. Even a simple thirty-minute walk each day can make a big difference.
I found it helpful to keep a weight loss journal as well. Dieting is a "head game" and it is necessary to be self-indulgent and aware. Reasoning with yourself and giving yourself pep talks are invaluable strategies! You will need to constantly remind yourself why weight loss is more important to you than the bite of food that is tempting you. Impulsive eating is disastrous! Always think before you take a bite!
So, before you make any decisions about weight loss that require you to visit the hospital, try the 5-4-3-2-1 diet. Power through those first few tough days and know that your motivation will kick in as soon as you begin to notice weight loss! You will enjoy the satisfaction that comes with having controlled the problem on your own!
Two years ago, while vacationing with friends on the island of Jamaica, I became fascinated with my friend´s eating habits. She had just undergone gastric bypass surgery the month before our trip. She and I had fought the battle of the bulge for many years, sometimes successfully and sometimes not. In between the umbrella drinks and the endless buffets at our resort, it occurred to me that similar results could be achieved in a less drastic and less dangerous manner.
As a result of watching my friend eat over the course of the week, I developed what I call the 5-4-3-2-1 diet plan. It´s a simple strategy, which helps you eat small amounts that over time will lead to huge rewards on the scale! My observations revealed that eating small bites and chewing them very well are key elements to weight loss. Additionally, savoring each bite and waiting at least a minute between bites encourages satisfaction with less food! I realized that this was the same premise as the popular French Women Don´t Get Fat diet by Mireille Guiliano.
I came home from my vacation and tried my new 5-4-3-2-1 diet plan. It was important for me to see if my idea was a practical one. I followed it religiously for one month and lost a record twenty pounds, twice what I usually lose in one month of dieting! In many ways the diet was easy to follow. Because I could eat small amounts of whatever I chose, eating out socially became much easier, since no foods were forbidden. I will say that the first few days were grueling. Most of us with excess weight are volume eaters, and as with weight loss surgery, there is no volume eating with the 5-4-3-2-1 diet. The biggest surprise on the diet was how good I felt after a few days of eating significantly less food!
As with all diets, an important component is exercise. It is possible to diet without exercising and still lose weight, but with the loss of lean muscle mass and the advent of loose skin, I don´t believe you´ll be happy with the end results. Even a simple thirty-minute walk each day can make a big difference.
I found it helpful to keep a weight loss journal as well. Dieting is a "head game" and it is necessary to be self-indulgent and aware. Reasoning with yourself and giving yourself pep talks are invaluable strategies! You will need to constantly remind yourself why weight loss is more important to you than the bite of food that is tempting you. Impulsive eating is disastrous! Always think before you take a bite!
So, before you make any decisions about weight loss that require you to visit the hospital, try the 5-4-3-2-1 diet. Power through those first few tough days and know that your motivation will kick in as soon as you begin to notice weight loss! You will enjoy the satisfaction that comes with having controlled the problem on your own!
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