Alternative ways to lose weight

By: Kristin Adams

In the spirit of bathing suit season, there are many different weight loss techniques in the Roanoke Valley. Some of the less common ones include herbs and supplements, hypnotherapy, acupuncture, and bariatrics in addition to fitness and nutrition centers.

A common theme in all of these weight loss techniques is that it is not an easy fix. It takes hard work, a balanced diet and exercise to lose weight, no matter what other techniques are used. The products and techniques below are not meant to be an endorsement, but a summary of some of what is available.

Chinese medicine
Chinese medicine believes that every body part is connected to others. This is opposite to western medicine, which treats every problem in a vacuum, according to Greg Johnston from the Dancing Crane Center for Chinese Medicine in Salem.
Chinese medicine has five areas: acupuncture, bodyworks, herbs, nutrition and exercise.

The basic idea of acupuncture deals with lines, or meridians, on the body which connect parts. For example, the stomach is connected to the face, Johnston explained, which is why some people tend to break out when they eat certain foods.
An important part of Chinese medicine, which has been around since 500 B.C.E., is that it involves a completely different way of thinking from western medicine. Western medicine’s job is to fix people after they are broken, while Chinese medicine is meant to prevent problems, Johnston believes.

Johnston and other acupuncturists choose points on the body that relate to specific organs. They then put small needles into those points. The patient then relaxes in dim room for 20 to 30 minutes.

Many kinds of problems, even emotional eating, can be helped with acupuncture, Johnston said, because they can be traced to a certain organ which is at fault. Emotional eating is tied to stress, which can be dealt with by balancing the liver. The stomach, however, helps with good digestion and restrains an overactive appetite when balanced.

Supplements
Nature’s Outlet in Salem sells supplements that are designed to help with weight loss. The most common ones at this point, general manager Rob Rea said, are FucoTHIN from the Garden of Life company, SC Diet & Energy Herbal Thermogenics from NewChapter, Green Tea Fat Metabolizer from Irwin Naturals and PGX from the WellBetX line of supplements. FucoTHIN is a body cleanser that increases metabolism, burns fat and helps make diet and exercise more effective, he said. SC Diet & Energy Herbal Thermogenics uses an herbal response called adaptogenic which speeds up metabolism, Rea explained, and Green Tea Fat Metabolizer burns calories.

Rea is a big fan of PGX because it is a fiber blend, he said, which causes people to lose their appetite. He said it is also very effective in preventing blood sugar spikes, by slowing the rate of carbohydrate break-down to avoid peaks and valleys.
According to Rea, diet guru Atkins was ultimately on the right track. He said that carbohydrates are a big obstacle for people trying to lose weight. So many people eat carbs and don’t know how to tell the different between good and bad ones. Basically, Rea said, try to avoid refined food as much as possible.

Bariatrics
Bariatrics is the medical study of dealing with issues of obesity. The Center for Bariatric Medicine near Virginia Western Community College offers a 12-week program for rapid weight loss. Most of the patients are men and women who are chronically overweight by 20 pounds or more. It uses meal replacements for breakfast and lunch, has prescription and non-prescription medication to help weight loss, teaches a version of the 8 Minute in the Morning workout created by Jorge Cruise, tests thyroids and metabolic rates, and also has the option of using amino acids for appetite control, Lipo-B injections for appetite control, and B-12 injections for increased energy.

The center has some long-time weight maintainers, some who have been able to keep off the weight they lost for 10 years, owner Bonny Lee said. Many maintainers come back once a month for refills of prescription medications. Also, all active patients receive a calendar every month with recipes and tips for keeping the weight off.

Lee, who is a registered nurse and a personal trainer, said the center also offers preparation for bariatric surgery such as gastric bypass and stomach stapling. For those who need to lose more than is possible in 12 weeks, they can repeat the program for a reduced price.

Lee recommends the books "Eat This Not That" by David Zinczenko, "Mindless Eating" by Brian Wansink, and "Protein Power" by the Drs. Eades.

Hypnosis
Hypnotherapist Helen Anderson helps people lose weight by reprogramming the unconscious mind to break patterns, such as emotional eating and not exercising. It also helps motivate people.

Anderson explained that the unconscious mind resists change, and always wants to do what is familiar. That is why it’s so difficult to break patterns. When someone is hypnotized, however, the hypnotherapist speaks directly to the unconscious mind.
Anderson describes hypnotism as similar to driving the same way every day. Eventually you can drive that way without realizing it, and can find yourself pulling into the driveway before you know it. But you aren’t asleep. If a kid ran out in front of you, you’d still slam on the brakes, Anderson said.

Exercise and nutrition centers
One of the exercise and nutrition centers with additional services is the Lifewise Fitness center, created by Che Torrey. It combines fitness and nutrition into one building and one program. Torrey believes that the fitness industry is sorely lacking because it isn’t useful in long-term weight loss, just short-term weight loss as well as money.

He used a comparison in explaining the program: imagine going to Webmd.com, typing in the symptoms you have, and then having the site give you a printout of what it’s most likely to be, and a prescription to treat it, all of which while never seeing a doctor. That seems ridiculous, but designing your own fitness program without a doctor is just as ridiculous. He views Lifewise Fitness as healthcare, not a gym. When people walk through the doors, they aren’t just signing up for the equipment, like in a gym. The equipment at Lifewise, according to Torrey, is an added bonus.

Lifewise is also different from a gym because it has a cap on the number of memberships allowed to make sure every client is getting enough care.

Lifewise has staff members from many different areas, all of whom have degrees in their specialty. They have exercise physiologists, exercise scientists, dieticians/sports nutritionists, licensed massage therapists, two chiropractors, and a medical doctor, plus a host of affiliated doctors.

When someone comes to Lifewise, the first step is to give them a complete health assessment, including nutrition. Then nutritionists can help by analyzing what members eat and advising them how they can eat healthier. The staff also does a completely individualized exercise program, which includes a calendar of daily instructions. Members also receive a chip on a lanyard which monitors their progress and reports it to the staff. They modify the person’s calendar based on how well he or she is doing.