ALL DIETS ARE FATTENING!

It is safe to say that you are bound to lose more money than weight with all “trendy” diets.

15/11/2019

It is safe to say that you are bound to lose more money than weight with all “trendy” diets! It’s very said but it’s the honest truth! It’s easy to get totally lost in the maze of TV adverts and tips in magazines. So what should you do if you are overweight?  Are there any real solutions and what are they?

NO DIET IS sound

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Bear in mind that all diets are doomed to failure. Do you think that all the promises made are real? If so, it is because you want to believe it. But it all boils down to marketing to make you dream and sell, and nothing more!  You are sold a dream with strong arguments and you are off! You want to give it a go, you want to believe, but it is all a sham. The facts are clear and simple nonetheless: to avoid gaining weight, you need to eat healthy and to exercise regularly. All is not lost for those who have gained weight, however:  a balanced diet must be restored because only that will work in the long term.

FAD DIETS

Whether high-protein, low-carbohydrate or detox, you should consult a doctor before you start a diet -- something are usually not wont to do. People lose weight very quickly with such diets, but if they do not get any exercise, they lose their muscle mass and what is worse, they are left with no alternative when they stop, because they will revert to eating as they did before, resume their old habits and regain fat mass. Once their bags, powders and protein bars are finished, they have to start eating again! And it has been proven that after this type of diet, people put the weight they had lost back on and sometimes even more...

THE PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECT

The psychological impact of a diet is catastrophic. In point of fact, every diet leads to frustration. The delight of eating is gone, although it is one of the bases of human pleasure. People are consequently frustrated and sad, and their declining moral takes its toll. Moreover, we must be aware that most diets ultimately lead to regaining weight. Why? Because the more restrictive the diets, the more food is forbidden, the more likely you are to abandon your diet and put more weight back on that you had lost.  It is the beginning of the yo-yo diet.

LOSE WEIGHT WITHOUT DIETING

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What if instead of imposing draconian diets on our bodies, we were to change the way we eat? What if we learned to eat healthy, balanced meals instead? Dietitians are trained to teach their patients to do just that. All it takes is knowing the right fundamentals and applying them daily. As Lis Muller says: "A diet is something strict, often framed in time. The more "bizarre" the diets are, the more followers they will attract. What we say may sound too banal at times! People like novelty and have a strong interest in diet X that will make them lose weight in record time. It is vital to bear in mind that all fad diets that require fasting cause temporary weight loss. Such diets,  where you have to eat ready-made meals,  make you lose normal contact with food. The dishonest element is that people  who go on various types of diets, often go through very difficult periods, are frustrated and that there is no scientific basis behind it. The people behind such diets are only there to make money, not to be helpful. And some people switch from one diet to another, only to gain weight in the end. It's a shame to see that people are losing the natural relationship with food."

INDIVIDUALIZATION

According to Lis Muller: "There is no standard diet for everyone. As professionals, we rely on scientific guidelines, on what we have learned, and bring this knowledge to bear when we meet with the patient, and together we find suitable lasting solutions that do not harm but on the contrary improve health. One of the bases of therapeutic education is empathy, so we really listen to what the patient has to say. And together we chart the course to follow. One of the objectives is for our patients to regain normal contact with food. They also need to learn to get exercise again, to have a regular workout. Our patients already feel better in their bodies after three weeks."

PATHOLOGICAL OBESITY CURE AT MONDORF DOMAINE THERMAL

The cures are valid for all people who are overweight (BMI over 35 or  greater than or equal to 30 associated with certain pathologies).

Two formulas are available:

  •  A 3-week inpatient cure.
  •  A 3-month outpatient cure (one day per week).

Group and individual educational sessions are offered on the following topics:

  • Medical aspect
  • Nutritional education
  • Psychological counselling and support
  • Exercise rehabilitation
  • Moving and stretching
  • Sophrology

ON OFFER AT MONDORF DOMAINE THERMAL

medecin-cure-article-regimeObesity is due to multiple causes which in turn require global and individualized treatment for patients. The Obesity Centre accordingly boasts a team of health professionals specialized in obesity who have integrated Patient Therapeutic Education (PTE) into their way of working. Dieticians, psychologists, sports therapists and a doctor work with this approach which, in addition to knowledge of the medical problems, consists of being better informed about the patient’s daily life, and of listening to his or her problems, needs and expectations. Following a "pre-cure" assessment, the team tries to get the patient to change his or her lifestyle so that he or she can become autonomous in managing his or her problem. The team and the patient are partners, each of whom with their own role to play. Each patient will have his or her own personal solutions, and the time spent with the team can be considered as a learning experience that will enable the patient to acquire solid foundations that he or she can put into practice at home on a daily basis. The patient gradually becomes autonomous and the team of therapists is there to guide him or her to continue providing useful tips on how to keep up his or her motivation and not give up. The changes are made gradually.

POST-CURE FOLLOW-UP

There are 14 modules of 3 hours  each over a maximum of 18 months. The interdisciplinary team advises and guides its patients to help them consolidate their new lifestyle, namely to:

  • Reinforce the skills acquired during the obesity cure.
  • Develop and adapt their treatment strategies to their life reality.
  • Embed new habits for the long term.
  • Support in case of difficulties.

This approach enables to gauge where the patients stand and to see whether they need new advice. They often need to be reassured and supported.

 

Letz be healthy magazine - n°40 July 2019, Article by Sandrine Stauner-Facques with contribution by Lis Muller, Interdisciplinary Nutrition Manager at  MONDORF Domaine Thermal.