W E IG H T LO SS
Use It and
Lose It
A well-designed commercial program
can helpyougetthe pounds off.
BY
JEA N N E AM BROSE
A N D
EDIE SH AW -EW ALD, R.D.
f
or many people, trimming down on their own is a
difficult and lonely road. That’s when a structured
program can be helpful. The best weight loss
programs can offer the support of a group, the
knowledge of professionals, and the discipline that
can be difficult to achieve flying solo. If you’ve had a tough time
getting the pounds off, consider one of the following programs,
all of which offer healthy, sensible ways to lose weight.
THE PRITIKIN PROGRAM
Developed in the 1970s as a way to reverse heart disease, the
Pritikin Program has also been well-studied for its success
in treating obesity, type
2
diabetes, and other health
conditions rooted in poor nutrition and physical inactivity.
At the resort-like Pritikin Longevity Center and Spa in
Aventura, Florida, participants sign up for one-, two-, or
three-week intensive visits. You get personalized attention
from a staff of degreed health professionals, including
physicians, dietitians, physical therapists, and personal
trainers. You’ll also learn how to focus on flavorful whole
foods that are high in complex carbohydrates and nutrients
and low in saturated fat and calories. This approach has the
side benefit of being very filling—which means you’re never
hungry while following it. For those who can’t make it to the
Florida center, much of the practice and philosophy of the
program is laid out in books such as
T h e P r itk in E d g e,
and in
the recently launched Web-based plan on
P r itik in .co m .
STRENGTHS
Quick, dramatic, lasting results, both for weight
loss and other health conditions, such as high cholesterol
and high blood sugar. ■ Encourages exercise, which is often
overlooked by other programs. ■ Clientele includes an equal
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Profiles in Success
W ith hard w ork and dedication, these
people rem ade them selves. You can too.
Vi
The P ritik in Program
V ic k i M arkey, age 45
At 229 pounds, Vicki Markey
was mortified to squeeze in next
to someone on a plane. Her
cholesterol was out of control.
Weight-related sleep apnea
meant she had to wear a
bulky mask at night to help
her breathe. “I hated that
thing,” she says. When her
aunt, a physician, encouraged
her to check out Pritikin, Vicki
left her home in Long Island,
New York, for a two-week visit
to the center. At first, the eating
plan—low in fat, sugar, salt, and
caffeine—was tough, but she
was motivated by the results.
Even now, Vicki breaks the
caffeine rule regularly and enjoys cake
occasionally, but has maintained her
64-pound weight loss for three years.
W eight W atchers
»
Lynette M cM illin, age 41
It was a picture of her that
shocked Lynette McMillin, a
mother of four from St.
Petersburg, Florida, into action.
“It was all vanity to start with,”
she says, laughing. She decided
to “crash” her stepmother’s
Weight Watchers meeting. The
pounds began dropping off
immediately and she leveled out
36 pounds below her starting
weight. She no longer buys soda, and
always has healthy snacks on hand.
When she pulls on her running shoes,
she’s setting a good example for the
rest of her family. She still has treats
sometimes. “But usually I say: Do I
really want to eat this or do I want
to stay in my size 4 pants?”
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MARCH 2009 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS
