Diet and Weight Loss Losing Weight

Strategies for Reaching and Maintaining a Healthy Weight

Summary & Participants

If you want to reach a healthy weight, it's important to plan a strategy and commit to it.

Medically Reviewed On: August 11, 2008

Webcast Transcript

KRYSTIN: I've spent thousands and thousands of dollars on things that everyone else would tell me would work.

ANNOUNCER: Krystin knows there’s plenty of artillery out there in the battle to lose weight.

KRYSTIN: I never really spent the time or the money on myself to find out what will work successfully for me and to delve into the issues as to why it is that I respond to food the way I do.

ANNOUNCER: But experts say to win the war you need to know yourself.

JANA KLAUER, MD, METABOLISM EXPERT: One thing that's very important to do is to kind of identify your behavior and what it is that's causing you problems. When you've identified it you need to take steps to change it.

ANNOUNCER: For Krystin, stress often gets in the way of good nutrition.

KRYSTIN: It’s a lot easier to get satisfied with something that you know tastes good from a long time ago. It reminds me of when grandma was there and everything will be okay. Here, have a grilled cheese sandwich.

ANNOUNCER: A good plan can help you overcome bad habits.

JANA KLAUER, MD, METABOLISM EXPERT: You have to have a strategy. So I advise all my patients to set that up in advance, that there are bad things, a lot of processed foods or junk foods in your house, get rid of them

ANNOUNCER: Exercise is a critical part of any successful plan.

JANA KLAUER, MD, METABOLISM EXPERT: Make sure that you have a plan for exercising, that there is time every day that you can set aside for physical exercise. Everybody needs it.

ANNOUNCER: As for the best time to start – it’s when you’re ready.

JANA KLAUER, MD, METABOLISM EXPERT: You want to set a date, set a date for yourself, just as you would if you were stopping smoking. Circle the date on the calendar. Enlist help.

ANNOUNCER: Most important is making a lifelong commitment to change.

JANA KLAUER, MD, METABOLISM EXPERT: This is the body you're going to have for your life, so you want to take care of it. And it's going to last a whole lot longer and be in a whole lot better shape if you really take care of it and you treat it with respect.

ANNOUNCER: Thanks for joining us on today’s Once Daily.