Yo-yo dieting: Part B

In my last article I mentioned that it is a fact that our physiology is designed to favor fat storage more than fat loss and that the typical "diet" will allow us to lose weight by reducing calories relative to the calories we burn, and yes we can often see health changes such as lowered blood pressure, lowered cholesterol and lowered blood sugar as a result. But, what have we really lost and will these changes last? What we really lose is fat and lean muscle, organ tissue and hormones once we burn up all our blood sugar and glycogen (stored in the liver and muscles). When we gain the weight back it is generally all fat. This is why yo-yo dieting is so unhealthy.

I also stated that the carbs we consume are converted to easily available fuel in the form of glucose and glycogen (our "checking account"). Once we've spent everything in our "checking account" by drastically reducing carbs, we reach into our "savings account" which consists of fat and lean tissues such as muscle, organ tissue and hormones. Once lean tissues are being consumed our metabolism slows down for several months. Losing muscle also reduces the ability to burn as much glucose (as this happens in the muscle cells), thereby causing the excess glucose, directed by insulin, to be stored as fat. The mere act of losing weight coupled with excess insulin (caused by too many carbs, refined foods, diet soda, etc.) increases lipoprotein lipase activity (remember, that's the hormone that allows fat storage).

To safely overcome this dilemma one must consume enough protein to spare the lean tissues (a minimum of 1/2 gram of protein per pound of lean muscle mass per day.) Also, monitoring weekly with a bioimpedence device will establish your beginning lean muscle mass and show whether you are burning just fat or are losing muscle as well. You must also take nutritional supplements to make up for the nutrients and electrolytes you're not getting when you decrease your food intake.

The Ideal Protein weight loss protocol accomplishes this. Our clinic uses the BC 1 Body Composition Analyzer by Stayhealthy (which is used in more than 150 research hospitals) to monitor our weight loss patients to ensure their weight loss experience with the Ideal Protein protocol is safe and effective. To learn why their diet/treatment is the last one they will ever need, watch for my next editorial or call our office at (208) 772-6015) for a free consultation or attend our next free class. Come on Coeur d'Alene and Sandpoint, let's lose weight and get healthy together.