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Dropping the Pounds!

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Finding reasons for weight issues will help accomplish the resolution

New Year's resolutions: It is a safe bet that all of us have made them at one or many times in our lives.

There are probably few adults who have never, at one time or another, made losing weight a New Year's resolution. The experts say that is because weight is one of the most emotional personal issues a person has.

But it means nothing if the person making the resolution isn't prepared for the effort and suffering required to lose a few pounds, let alone a whole bunch of them.

Equally as important, those experts say, is to know why there is a weight problem to begin with because resolving issues will go a long way toward succeeding with whatever diet plan you choose.

"People have to focus on the choices they are making with food and intake, figure out where the excess is coming from and why," said Amy Melton, a registered dietician at Methodist Medical Center who works with outpatient clients and pediatrics at the hospital.

"A good way to do that is to write it down. Make notes on everything you do during a day because that helps to identify behaviors, which will then help you to know what it is you have to change if you want to lose weight and keep it off," Melton said.

Much of what causes a weight problem is psychological, said Deborah McKenna, a counselor in Peoria who works with patients who have also have issues with smoking or stress.

"A person has to discern what is getting in the way of losing weight and keeping it off before they know how to correct it. Eating habits cause problems, but those are easiest to correct — things like how fast a person eats, portions, whether they eat on the fly because of a busy lifestyle. But if obesity is something they've struggled with most of their life, there is usually something emotional going on, as well. It doesn't even have to be something sinister or deep-seated. But you need to find out what it is so you can resolve it and move forward," McKenna said.

Not only can McKenna help find underlying causes of weight problems, she offers something to help with weight loss that isn't very common in this region: Hypnotherapy.

A licensed hypnotherapist for 16 years, McKenna has learned what will and won't work with different people. She determines this through counseling before trying hypnosis. "Counseling always come first. Hypnosis is just a tool. But it's a tool that can work because it taps into your subconscious and your subconscious wants to help you achieve your goals," she said.

Once a patient is in a relaxed state of hypnosis, McKenna can plant messages in their mind that are aimed at helping them learn to eat in moderation or whatever they need to do to lose weight. "It's putting these messages a little bit more deeply than at the conscious level. We just want to get a person to eat normal, or what is considered normal. I don't want a patient to feel deprived but to look at things in moderation. What we want to do is change the mindset. You know, 'Eat to live, not live to eat.' Then if the person can slow down and enjoy the food, learn to savor each bite, it gives the brain time to catch up and tell him or her they are full," McKenna said.

McKenna said many people try hypnosis only after other weight loss methods haven't worked well. But she usually insists they first see their regular physician about trying hypnosis and to make sure the weight problem isn't being caused by a medical problem that should be corrected medically or if there is a medical problem that would get in the way of weight loss methods.

Seeing a doctor is also recommended by most dieticians, including those at Methodist, said Melton. In fact, she said, many of her outpatient clients are sent to Methodist on referral from their doctor who wants them to learn better nutrition and how to control their weight by improving how they eat.

"There are a lot of things that could be the underlying cause of obesity, such as a thyroid problem or diabetes. Only your doctor can diagnose those things, so see your doctor first before setting out on any diet plan, regardless of what that plan is," Melton said. "Obesity itself is starting to be more recognized as an illness, so more insurance companies are starting to cover doing things to lose weight."

From there, she said, set realistic goals. "Start small and be specific with each goal. When you reach those goals, set more. If you try to do too much, too soon it may get to be too much of a hassle and you'll drop it altogether. Then you've accomplished nothing," she said.

Like McKenna, Melton said losing weight doesn't automatically mean giving up all the foods you like. "Moderate it, eat smaller amounts. Then you can still eat a lot of the foods you enjoy. You need to have variety. You mostly need to relearn portion control," she said.

McKenna said commitment is as important in losing weight as it is in getting fit, giving up tobacco or alcohol or a host of other things. So is having the support of family and friends.

Said Melton, "If you fall off the wagon occasionally, so what? We all do at times. Just don't get angry with yourself because that's negative. Always focus on the positive and not just what you see on the scale."

Melton said it's never too early to learn good nutrition and eating habits. She works with children with weight problems through the pediatrics department at Methodist and she said there are physicians and other dieticians tackling childhood obesity in the area.

One is Dr. Amy Christison, a Peoria pediatrician who helps lead classes on childhood obesity at the RiverPlex and is piloting a healthy living program at Manual High School and Harrison Grade School through District 150's In-School Health Program. It's for students who want to learn better habits and get healthier this winter.

Christison said she is committed to curbing childhood obesity. Noting in the Peoria region 36.4 percent of children are overweight and 16.8 percent are obese — both comparable to national averages — she said obese children are two to three times more likely to be hospitalized than their counterparts.

"The reasons for this epidemic are complex and multi-factorial but there are several factors we do know," she said. "Our children's risk for overweight issues begins in the womb. An example is that babies who are small for gestation or large for gestation — born to mothers with diabetes related to pregnancy — are at increased risk. Babies who breast feed are at lower risk. Promoting good prenatal care and breast feeding can reduce a child's risk for being overweight."

Christison said children learn at an early age to model what they see. "They eat what and how their guardians eat. Our overweight children are a product of a society with families who have behaviors that predispose them to be overweight. So, counseling guardians about developing good habits for themselves even when their children are in toddlerhood and preschool can help reduce a child's risk as they get older," she said.

She cited the American Academy of Pediatrics message "5-2-1-0." That stands for "5 fruits and veggies, less than 2 hours of screen time, 1 hour of exercise everyday and almost 0 sweetened beverages."

"Those simple family rules about eating and activity can change several behaviors and reduce a child's risk for becoming overweight. I try to focus families and children on what they can eat more than what they can't eat," she said.

"Our society's culture about eating has also influenced our size. Portion sizes are much larger, increased availability in high density foods, especially in the form of fast food, distracted eating with TV or computer screens on occurs much more frequently, and families no longer have family meals together during which mealtime is pleasant and unhurried. Meals and snacks are in the family room on the couch with the TV on and our children are not as aware of how full or hungry they feel because of these distractions," Christison said.

She said she recommends families check out choosemyplate.gov. It is an interactive site about balanced eating with healthy portion sizes.

Christison said she will ask families to find one or two behaviors they feel strongly motivated to change and feel confident they can be successful at. "Families can influence their health positively with one or two feasible and reachable goals at a time. Change is something families have to want for themselves and it is born out of their own values and desires. One of those values is one of 'well being.' They have to decide for themselves how they will embody that value with behaviors and family rules.

"It is from this construct that families can find motivation, desire and success for change."

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