In today’s diet-crazed society, individuals have lost track of what they should do to maintain a healthy weight. Eat more protein. Eat fewer carbohydrates. Eat more fiber. Eat less overall. Diets fail 95% of the time, so dieting is not the answer.
Poor lifestyle choices are linked to everything from diabetes, to cardiovascular disease and possibly some types of cancer. People wanting to make a positive change are bombarded with fad diets that may do more harm than good, over-the-counter preparations of dubious value, and misinformation.
Another option is the Am I Hungry? program. This is a non-medical program created by a physician (Michelle May, M.D.)and led by a physician (myself) that can provide the support people need to make positive changes in their lifestyle and improve their health.
The Am I Hungry? program is not a diet but a fact-based, educational program that teaches individuals about nutrition, fitness, and their natural hunger cues. No medication or over-the-counter concoctions are part of the program.
As people take part in this 8-week program (one-hour, weekly sessions), they are provided the tools they need to live a life where they are satisfied, active, and healthy. In small groups of 10 to 12 people, and with additional on-line support, people can learn how to stop exercising to “earn” food, stop punishing themselves for eating, boost their metabolism, and increase energy and fitness levels.
Key to the Am I Hungry? program is educating people how to eat with intention (how to know when your body needs fuel) and with attention (being aware of how much you eat, what you eat, and recognizing when you are full). While it may sound like common sense to eat when you are hungry and stop when you are full, it can actually be a hard behavior to modify. In our culture, eating has become mindless, social, and emotional.
Instead of eating because we are hungry, we do so as an activity to share with others, as a habit, or to help us fill an emotional need. While this program places great emphasis on paying attention to hunger, it is not a diet nor is it restrictive.
I explain the nutritional value of food and its impact on your body. I have participants learn to be aware of what they eat, and how food makes them feel. For example, say you’re a fan of high-fat, fast-food cheeseburgers. It’s unrealistic to say that you must live a cheeseburger-free life. But, people should know why and when they crave a particular food. The program teaches people it is okay to splurge once in a while—just don’t eat certain foods frequently, and avoid being super-sized.
Am I Hungry? participants also learn how to get moving. The program emphasizes incorporating fitness into a daily routine.
Does it work?
This program has been shown to have long-term weight loss results. And the secret to its success is no secret. Cultures known for having healthy populations, such as France, have always embraced these core principles. They eat fresh, satisfying food but they watch proportions and savor each bite. This, coupled with their propensity toward physical fitness, has kept their waistlines small and their lifelines long.
For information about this program call (309) 454-1400 or visit www.BroMenn.org.
Dr. Amy Zacharias is the board-certified family practice physician and member of BroMenn Medical Group. She is part of The Integrative Health for Women practice in Normal.