Happy New Year to all ESP members and readers of this article!

As I sit and watch the news this morning, and look outside at the beautiful snowfall that we received last night of approximately 6-8", I am seeing many commercials for diet programs, sales on exercise machines, gimmicks and diet pills.  All surrounding the New Year's Resolution of "Weight Loss."

It is said that this is the popular time of year to begin the diet programs that you promise yourself, year after year after year.  So, how do you stay motivated?  I wish I had a magic plan to help you.  I sit here and have struggled with staying motivated myself, and I am a Registered Dietitian!  I should know better - right?  I have gained 20 pounds over the past few years and I am not happy with that!  Even that hasn't been motivating enough for me.  I almost weigh as much as I did when I was nine months pregnant with my son.  I hate that!

Being motivated means being disciplined.  We are disciplined daily to go to work, be active in our churches, take care of the kids, maybe even our elderly parents, and what kind of time does it leave to take care of you? 

Most of us, myself included, don't take care of ourselves the way we should.  I should be digging my car out of the snow that was piled up when they plowed this morning, but instead, I am working two computers...one to write this article and one to research programs (the President of our website loves to tease me about all my technology, email addresses and phone numbers!!  He even updates me in his address book every 6 months!) but as soon as I can, I am going to get out of the house and IF the gym is open, get over there and work out for at least an hour on the treadmill (yeah - right!)

I want to caution all of my readers this morning about getting caught up in the "hype" of diet programs that say you will lose weight if you don't eat this food or eat more of this.  Folks, it is simple, the less calories you take in, and the more you burn off, the more weight you will lose.  Read the fine print of the material that you receive with the pills that you purchase...it all says the same thing..."this program, along with a sensible diet and exercise program, will help you lose weight" with an emphasis on diet and exercise. 

The newest FDA approved Over The Counter (OTC) diet pill "alli", is a fat blocking pill that claims will help you lose weight while blocking 25% of the fat that you eat, with an emphasis on eating a low fat diet and begnning an exercise program.  While blocking the fat intake, it claims to successfully reduces your caloric intake because the fat is not digested and stored.  This program cautions you as to the side effects that can occur if you eat too much fat and the possible lower absorption of the fat soluable vitamins, vitamins A,D,E, and K, and some changes in your bowel pattern and suggests that you take a multivitamin at night.  The part I like best is that it indicates that you should see a Registered Dietitian to assist you with a meal program!!  Cudos to Alli!

There has been a lot of promotion around this program over the past few weeks.  Alli received the FDA approval in early 2007 for use as an OTC but was first introduced in 1999 as a prescription drug.

Now, am I suggesting that you run out and purchase the program?  Not really, what I am encouraging is that you begin with mindset that any weight loss program is just that...A PROGRAM.  All components, working together, will help you lose weight, and the best person to talk to about before taking any "diet aid" is your Primary Care Physician.

Abbot Labs also has a program available, mostly for patients living with Diabetes, that can provide you with menus and alternatives to help control your blood sugar, while eating all the appropriate foods to help you lose weight.  It also allows you to customize your menus. They even send you emails to check on your progress and keep you motivated. This is all for free!

Other programs, like Weight Watchers, continue to remain a valuable program.  They continue to teach you the things that you already know...less calories in + more calories out = weight loss.

So, skip the "omit this food diet" or the "no exercise at all" diet...and talk with a Registered Dietitian along with your Primary Care Physician, to see what is suitable for you.

Have a Happy and Healthy Y-2-8 (2008!)

(My noting of the above programs is not an endorsemet for these programs, it merely suggests that they are available as a better alternative than diet pills without medical support and attention and are clinically supported.)

Now that the snow is plowed from my walk way...I guess I should get over to the gym!!

Tell me about your success programs by writing me at "Ask The Expert."  Who knows, you may help motivate a fellow reader (and writer!)

Teresa