TheProf

Hello,

How are you all doing today?

So the lady and I have been discussing weight loss for her and she mentions the ads she's seen about Dr. Bernstein's Diet system. It advertises itself as a medically-supervised weight loss with serious amounts being dropped (20 lbs / month)

Website:

Dr. Bernstein Diet & Health Clinics (Ontario)

Upon further reading it seems to be based on 1) a very strict tracking of your calories 2) Urine/blood tests 3) Injections of Vitamins (I think B12)

Just wanted some feedback from you fine folks!

snowy

Healthwise, it's typically recommended that you only drop about 2 lbs. a week, so 8 lbs. a month. I'd be suspicious of any diet that claims that people can drop up to 20 lbs. in a month. Even after reading their website, I'd say that this is a diet for only the morbidly obese. If your wife is looking to drop a few pounds, this isn't the way to go.

Additionally, it can be really hard over the long term to keep weight off if the weight loss is sudden.

__________________
If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

TheProf

Hello Snowy,

I have heard the same thing you're saying -- that 2 lbs / week is optimal. I assumed that 2 lbs / week is if you're self-regulating your own weight, while here the 'health' responsibility is also being shared by the doctors at the clinic and so you can "up" the amount / month.

That is an interesting thought. I had thought that the uplifting feeling from the weight-loss would encourage you to keep it off.

My wife's BMI is 31 which places her in the Grade 2 obesity (severe overweight) level. But just as important, psychologically she's taking a beating. Everyday she's bursting into tears when trying to find something she is comfortable wearing that "doesn't make her look fat" and if we have to go to an event she will change 20 times for 2 hours only to collapse crying on the bed. She used to be very thin (rail thin) a long time ago and I think that also is affecting her emotions when she looks in the mirror.

Now I want to clarify that she is GORGEOUS (and not just from my point of view -- many times people comment about how lucky I am to have a beautiful wife) and I don't want her to lose a single pound for me. But she is so depressed and it affects everything -- what we eat, when we eat, clothing -- everything and I just want her to be happy. So if this system works for her I'm all for it. It *IS* expensive so I'm hoping for anyone who's had positive experiences with it.

Thanks.

Grancey

I've never heard of this diet, but I'm always suspicious of "gimmicks" that cost a lot of money. But, they may work for others. My husband weighed 295 pounds at about 6 feet with a very high BMI. A year and a half ago he decided it was time to change his lifestyle. We couldn't afford the costs of the weight loss clinics, so we did it our way. He bought a WII active and did the workouts religiously. He never missed a scheduled workout, even when he had to miss something important. He also changed his diet. If we ate out, he ordered responsibly and ate half of what was on his plate. At home he cut back to eating half of what he previously ate. I helped him learn how to read labels to count the carbs and sugar content of items. He likes to eat yogurt, so I found a yogurt that has 4g carb instead of the 27g in other brands. It's the little things that add up, and it's not quick and it's not easy. He lost 100 pounds in a year and has maintained that weight loss since then. He now has the ego to match, but you know... He started off ordering a book that he saw a guy talking about on Nightline. Reading that got him started. If you are interested I'll ask him about him.

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Quiet, mild-mannered souls might just turn out to be roaring lions of two-fisted cool.

cadre

The 'doctors' at this company do not make it any safer to lose 20 pounds a month. Doctors are the ones who set the two pounds per week guideline.

The uplifting feeling you may get from losing lots of weight very quickly will not keep the weight off and will not mean that you are healthy. It's not as much a psychological problem as it is physical. There is a lot of evidence to support this. I do have links for studies.

That said, do not spend your money on this. I'm sorry but that website screams bad news to me. I guarantee you it will be a waste of money in the long term, you may even worsen her health or yours.

If your wife wants to get healthy and you want to help then you should do it together. Get a gym membership and a trainer if you can, get a nutritionist or invest in books that are not about fad diets or exercise programs. I will be happy to recommend books, websites and other resources if you'd like.

I repeat, do not spend your money on this company. I don't want to lengthen my essay by listing everything about this website that bothers me, it's a long list.

__________________
My life is one of those 'you had to be there' jokes.

amonkie

The weight didn't come on overnight, and its not going to come off overnight.

That was the best advice I was ever given. If you are truly wanting to make a weight loss stick, it is a lifestyle change. Most diets are temporary because there is NO way you can retain those food restrictions over time.

The Yo-Yo effect is just as hard on your body. Learn to look for more positive signs than just the sizes of clothes if you take it more slowly. You'll feel better. You'll sleep better. Your clothes will fit in the right places. Your taste buds will change.

__________________
Calling from deep in the heart, from where the eyes can't see and the ears can't hear, from where the mountain trails end and only love can go... ~~~ Three Rivers Hare Krishna

Martian

Yeah, add me to the herd.

20 lbs per month is not sustainable. Even if the doctors help her to do it safely, she won't be able to maintain it. Long term weight loss comes from lifestyle changes, and lifestyle changes pretty much by definition have to be easy to do on your own.

Eat right and exercise.
Eat right and exercise.
Eat right and exercise.

If you want to throw money at the problem, have her choose some physical activities that intrigue her. My better half just chose a rather expensive program that combines yoga and spinning in novel ways. I support her in this (quite literally, since I'm the primary earner of our household) and encourage her to stick with it. That along with changes that we've made to our diet together incorporating more fruits and vegetables and cutting out excess sugar and sweets has made a major change in her outlook and overall well being.

The bad news, there are no quick fixes and it's not always easy. The good news is that while it may not be easy, it is simple; see above.

__________________
I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept
I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept
I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head
I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said

- Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame

TheProf

Hello Grancey,

We purchased the exact same thing and she was all gun-ho on it for about 2 weeks but once she saw no changes she gave up. She's also got a membership to a gym and fitness classes and again, 2 weeks max and since the scale says nothing, she gives up.

Sure anything to help would be great thank you.

---------- Post added at 01:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:42 PM ----------

I would take any references/information/recommendations you have for her of course. I also understand your trepidation about the business -- I can vouch that it is a legit enterprise -- whether it is worth it or not is entirely different.

cadre

What are you and your wife's diets like? What activities interest you guys? Ie hiking, rock climbing, biking.

Here are some links:
For info about food, diet tracking, and healthy recipes go here: Nutrition.gov
For a really great, but tough fitness program: Welcome to CrossFit: Forging Elite Fitness
A website with great articles and forums, mostly for bodybuilders but the info can be helpful: Bodybuilding.com - The Future Of Bodybuilding! Huge Bodybuilding Site.

If she has tried and failed, I would recommend a trainer and/or nutritionist. Sometimes it's easier when you have someone to push you along.

I started out with websites like those above as well as peer reviewed journals but the latter can be technical.

__________________
My life is one of those 'you had to be there' jokes.

ssg

Typically if one eats a little less and walks faster, it does the trick.

Tusko

step 1) exercise
step 2) don't eat like a jackass

result: weight loss

TheProf

Thanks Cadre and everyone else for your comments.

I decided not to go with Dr. Bernstein at this time but instead trying out a personal trainer for her first. Hopefully the expertise they bring along with the motivation (which is probably more important) will help her see results.

Thanks.

zenda

Hi Prof
I have arrived late to this thread. I read through and examined the links, and, like you, reckon the presonal trainer is a good idea. I'm glad it has been set up, and please continue posting feedback on this thread.
Best wishes.

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ZENDA

HerrDoktor

I don't have enough posts to post links yet, but if you google liamrosen and click the first hit you ought to be on a page talking about fitness and weight loss that might be helpful to you.

Good to hear you're not going with the diet. Healthy weight loss is gained through lifestyle changes, not putting a magic pill into yourself. But, a placebo might help a little actually. Maybe find some sugar pills and put them into a dressy bottle. Mind over matter.

The personal trainer sounds like a good idea, and I'd tell your wife to not give up. It's harder for women to lose weight, and it's even harder to lose it when she's putting so much pressure on herself. These things take time, and she can't expect to see progress after one or two workouts. Obsessive weighing will only make her feel worse.