Dr. Mercola's Comments: This is an excellent straight-to-the-point article that anyone trying to lose (or gain) weight should definitely read. The author, Dr. Pearsall, joined my clinic, The Optimal Wellness Center, in May of 2003, and she specializes in weight issues, diabetes and women's health here. She is also a co-author of my new book, Dr. Mercola's Total Health Program. Dr. Pearsall is a naturopathic medical doctor who received extensive accolades in the southwest region of the U.S. for the real, and often dramatic, improvements people experienced through her holistic approach to health and healing, which you'll get a strong sense of in the piece below. By Dr. Kendra Pearsall Obesity is not simply a matter of eating too much. Listed below are some of the contributing factors to excess weight: Slow metabolic rate Dysfunctional family relationship Overeating Yeast infection Stubborn set point Emotional eating Slow liver metabolism Parasites Fat cell type and number Psychological issues Nutrient deficiencies Insulin Insensitivity Hereditary Self-Image Hypothyroidism Emotional factors Eating patterns Excess calories Lack of exercise Fat body image Poor food choices Not following the diet for your nutritional type Food allergies Other Although "eat less and exercise more" or "follow an Atkins diet" are the common prescriptions for weight loss, the above table of causal factors demonstrates that it is much more complicated than that. Furthermore, we practitioners at The Optimal Wellness Center have found with our patients that there are ALWAYS psychological issues: the most common issues include self-sabotage, using food as comfort, hopelessness, and having a "fat mindset" versus a "thin mindset." If these psychological issues are not addressed, any weight loss that occurs is usually temporary. At the Optimal Wellness Center our patients lose weight because we take a multi-disciplinary approach and treat obesity on many different levels with multiple approaches. Every new patient at the Optimal Wellness Center fills out an extensive questionnaire about their symptoms, health problems, lifestyle, and their psychological issues. They also fill out diet diaries and a lifestyle journal and we put it all together to play detective and find out what is that patient's individual roadblocks to being their naturally thin self. Here are some examples of what we use to address our weight-loss clients depending on the needs of the individual: Counseling/EFT nutritional typing "Punishment"/Reward Meal planning Nutritional analysis Supplements Exercise plan Prayer Increasing metabolism Botanicals Muscle testing Thin mindset Food combining Hypnosis Homeopathy Imagery Hunger perception Acupuncture Behavioral modification Love Hormonal balancing Weight loss journal Books Discipline training Allergy Treatment You will not find a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach such as this at Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig or at a bariatric (weight-loss) physician's office that uses harmful appetite suppressants and liquid diets to cause weight loss that is only temporary. Despite the fact that few are using a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach, in our experience this approach is the ONLY approach that truly works permanently. With a multi-disciplinary approach combined with weekly assessments to keep clients on track, our patients on average lose 1-4 pounds a week. Our patients also keep the weight off permanently because they have undergone a total transformation with their physical and mental health and addressed the underlying hidden causes of their weight problems once and for all. Even if you are unable to become a patient at the Optimal Wellness Center you can form your own multi-disciplinary weight-loss program by following the Optimal Wellness Center Program provided in our new book, Dr. Mercola's Total Health Program, which I co-authored. Dr. Mercola's Total Health Program is very much a multi-disciplinary approach, as it will show you how to address weight loss on all three levels -- mind, body and spirit: Physical level How to determine your nutritional type and eat accordingly Which are the optimal supplements to take The importance of exercise and lifestyle changes How our animal food industry is contaminated and what to do about it Which foods to prepare (over 150 delicious and nutritious recipes for your nutritional type and weight loss goals. Emotional level The role of EFT in addressing emotional issues including emotional issues and eating Spiritual level The importance of prayer, meditation, and other spiritual disciplines and having fun to evolve your soul Considering that bariatric physicians charge on average $1,200 for their 3-month weight loss programs, and considering that Jenny Craig is $300/month, Dr. Mercola's Total Health Program for only $31.95 for a lifetime is a steal (even more so with the special offer available on it now!) But the most important thing is, based on our experience with thousands of patients over 20 years, the program presented in the book truly works. Most other weight-loss programs are not successful long-term because they are not treating all the levels of the obesity problem. It isn't enough to address weight loss with only one approach (such as a low-carb diet or appetite depressants). If it was, you wouldn't be reading this article and 66% of our population wouldn't be overweight. May you reach all your health goals in 2004-we at the OWC and Mercola.com will continue to everything in our power to support you to make sure you do.
This is an excellent straight-to-the-point article that anyone trying to lose (or gain) weight should definitely read. The author, Dr. Pearsall, joined my clinic, The Optimal Wellness Center, in May of 2003, and she specializes in weight issues, diabetes and women's health here. She is also a co-author of my new book, Dr. Mercola's Total Health Program.
Dr. Pearsall is a naturopathic medical doctor who received extensive accolades in the southwest region of the U.S. for the real, and often dramatic, improvements people experienced through her holistic approach to health and healing, which you'll get a strong sense of in the piece below.
Obesity is not simply a matter of eating too much. Listed below are some of the contributing factors to excess weight:
Although "eat less and exercise more" or "follow an Atkins diet" are the common prescriptions for weight loss, the above table of causal factors demonstrates that it is much more complicated than that. Furthermore, we practitioners at The Optimal Wellness Center have found with our patients that there are ALWAYS psychological issues: the most common issues include self-sabotage, using food as comfort, hopelessness, and having a "fat mindset" versus a "thin mindset." If these psychological issues are not addressed, any weight loss that occurs is usually temporary.
At the Optimal Wellness Center our patients lose weight because we take a multi-disciplinary approach and treat obesity on many different levels with multiple approaches. Every new patient at the Optimal Wellness Center fills out an extensive questionnaire about their symptoms, health problems, lifestyle, and their psychological issues. They also fill out diet diaries and a lifestyle journal and we put it all together to play detective and find out what is that patient's individual roadblocks to being their naturally thin self.
Here are some examples of what we use to address our weight-loss clients depending on the needs of the individual:
You will not find a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach such as this at Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig or at a bariatric (weight-loss) physician's office that uses harmful appetite suppressants and liquid diets to cause weight loss that is only temporary. Despite the fact that few are using a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach, in our experience this approach is the ONLY approach that truly works permanently.
With a multi-disciplinary approach combined with weekly assessments to keep clients on track, our patients on average lose 1-4 pounds a week. Our patients also keep the weight off permanently because they have undergone a total transformation with their physical and mental health and addressed the underlying hidden causes of their weight problems once and for all.
Even if you are unable to become a patient at the Optimal Wellness Center you can form your own multi-disciplinary weight-loss program by following the Optimal Wellness Center Program provided in our new book, Dr. Mercola's Total Health Program, which I co-authored.
Dr. Mercola's Total Health Program is very much a multi-disciplinary approach, as it will show you how to address weight loss on all three levels -- mind, body and spirit:
Considering that bariatric physicians charge on average $1,200 for their 3-month weight loss programs, and considering that Jenny Craig is $300/month, Dr. Mercola's Total Health Program for only $31.95 for a lifetime is a steal (even more so with the special offer available on it now!) But the most important thing is, based on our experience with thousands of patients over 20 years, the program presented in the book truly works. Most other weight-loss programs are not successful long-term because they are not treating all the levels of the obesity problem. It isn't enough to address weight loss with only one approach (such as a low-carb diet or appetite depressants). If it was, you wouldn't be reading this article and 66% of our population wouldn't be overweight.
May you reach all your health goals in 2004-we at the OWC and Mercola.com will continue to everything in our power to support you to make sure you do.
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Disclaimer: The entire contents of this website are based upon the opinions of Dr. Mercola, unless otherwise noted. Individual articles are based upon the opinions of the respective author, who retains copyright as marked. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Dr. Mercola and his community. Dr. Mercola encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.
Dr.
Kendra Pearsall
