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Read Dr. Elena Krasnov's Weekly Column in the Health & Fitness section of the 24 Hours Magazine. Look for new articles every week!

Monday, May 31, 2010

Achieving Weight Loss Success

Q: Dear Elena: I am a 275 lb woman. This year I have lost 60 pounds and gained back 75. I am sick of the low-calorie diets, starving myself and being miserable when I think of food.

I would like to know how you address weight loss at your clinic.

A: You are not alone. Your problem is one of the most common issues faced by society today. An alarming 60 % of Canadians are obese. This is the main reason why so many weight loss centers exist today.  For the most part, these fad weight loss centers do not work. They focus on weight loss instead of physical health, rely on deprivation, calorie-counting, and portion restriction; ignore the importance of physical activity and promote an unhealthy rate of weight loss. Emotional wellness is almost always overlooked. Our philosophy is to help you to find the healthier you, which inevitably helps you to lose the weight. We also believe that healthy thoughts help you to take inches off your waistline.

Weight loss is about changing your lifestyle to make room for healthier habits and minimize the unhealthy ones. My patients all get a personalized nutrition plan when they start; with it they also get a stress management course. Stress - emotional or physical- triggers a series of physiological reactions generated by the release of powerful chemicals, particularly cortisol, which send your body into survival mode. A surge of cortisol puts you on alert and tells your body to prepare for the emergency, in part by slowing your digestion. This contributes to weight gain.

A lesson on what to eat and what to choose at a grocery store is very important. We teach our patients what to order in a restaurant when your choices may be hard to make. An ongoing educational program with our Holistic Nutritionist at the Toronto Naturopathic Clinic is an integral part of the program's success. You have the option to choose different packages that suit your lifestyle.

I have designed a weight loss program that begins with a Toxin Flash Plan. Your liver, kidney, lymphatic circulation and skin are all involved in removing toxins - often stored in the fatty tissues of the body. They must be cleaned out for success to take place. I stress exercise. 30 minutes per day 6 days a week.

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Dr. Elena Krasnov is a registered Naturopathic Doctor and Clinic Director of the Toronto Naturopathic Clinic. Submit your questions online at 24hrs.ca

Co-written by Miranda Tallon-Malisani Holistic Nutritionist