Dear Future Doc: What Can I Do To Lose Weight!?

Dear Future Doc,
I need to lose weight. I have been trying for years by eating well. Every morning I start my day with a weight loss shake and weekdays I have one for lunch. Dinner, I usually eat a non-fatty protein like baked/broiled fish or chicken and side it with fresh steamed vegetables. I will sometimes toast a wheat roll and use the Omega 3 Smart Balance butter. I drink a lot of water and walk everyday. I am 56 years old, weigh 185lbs, 5’6”, and have gained 40 lbs in the last 10 years. I am on ZOLOFT 50mg and I have an Aspirin about once a day. I also take Centrum Silver vitamins. What can I do to lose weight? Your response is very much valued. Sincerely, Denise G.

Hi Denise,
I feel your sincerity and frustrated desire to lose weight in your writing. It sounds like you’re doing a lot of things right in order to shed some pounds. For instance, the quality proteins and the steamed vegetables. On the other hand, a few of the “right” things may be hindering or negating your effort to lose weight.
Many of the “weight loss” shakes are loaded with carbohydrates and synthetic vitamins. Limiting carb/sugar intake is an essential step in any weight loss program, including the so called “healthy” complex carbs from whole grain products.
It’s also important to include high quality fats in the diet for not only their health benefits but in your effort to lose weight. If there is too little quality fats in the diet the body will “hold onto” what fat there is, making weight loss more difficult. Quality Fat intake, contrary to popular belief, has little to do with excessive body weight. However, refined, highly processed fats and oils like spreads and butter substitutes should be avoided even if the package says “smart”.
In previous future doc articles I wrote about toxic chemicals as a common body burden. More specifically, toxicity has been linked to endocrine disruption and functional hormonal imbalances. This is extremely common among those with stubborn weight issues in my future doc practice. Medications are high on the list of toxic substances as are synthetic vitamin/mineral supplements. Ironically, your vitamins (which are synthetic) may be hindering your quest for weight loss.

I hope that this has been helpful to you Denise. While there are some generalities regarding weight loss, I have found in the future doc practice that each individual has a unique situation/nutritional status that ultimately determines their goal to reach a healthy weight and the time required to do so.

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