Weight Management: A Doctor's Advice

Dr. Anthony Huynh, DO, has provided the answers to the following questions. Dr. Huynh is an Internal Medicine physician associated with Sacred Heart Medical Group. He specializes in weight management and nutrition. Some of his patients include those who have had bariatric surgery through Sacred Heart’s Institute for Weight Loss Surgery.

"I've lost a lot of weight and I'm trying to maintain my weight. What can I do to simply maintain my weight?"

When you put yourself on a diet and exercise regimen, you will lose some weight until you reach the “plateau” point where your body resists losing more weight despite how hard you try. At this point, you may feel disappointed and give up. But the goal should be to maintain that weight and not to give up. People also tend to let themselves “off diet” during the holiday season. That’s how the weight is gained back, usually more than what was lost before.

During the maintenance phase, the key is moderation, a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. Moderation means portion-controlled. When you eat, you should divide your plate into three sections, and fill them with three types of food: one section for vegetable, one for carbohydrates (bread, pasta, rice, etc.) and one for protein (lean meat, seafood, eggs, etc.). Don’t go for a second round if you don’t need more calories! You should avoid high-calorie beverages and drink adequate water.

Also, you should not deprive yourself totally of certain foods. For example, some people told you to avoid carbohydrates in your diet because they make you gain weight, so you stop eating chocolate cake, your favorite food. Then you develop a craving for it. Soon, you find yourself surrendered to your weakness and eating a whole chocolate cake to satisfy your craving!

A healthy lifestyle does not refer to a balanced diet alone, but also to being active, exercising more and knowing how to handle stress. Many people look to food to relieve their stress, and that’s not healthy.

"I want my children to grow up with a healthy weight. Do you have any suggestions on helping them eat healthy and manage their weight?"

We are living in a country where malnutrition is not a concern; however, the surplus of food and how we feed ourselves is a major concern. Many families have working parents, so fast food is an easy and cheap solution. Many children grow up with fast food and soda, and they don’t eat fruits or vegetables, which are healthy but unfortunately more expensive than junk food.

You should limit junk food and soda in your children’s diet and explain to them the reasons why; otherwise, they will hide junk food in their bedrooms! Many school cafeterias are taking out the junk-food vending machines as well.

When you eat healthy, your children will eat healthy with you. A home-cooked meal is usually better because you know the ingredients you are using. When you eat out, you don’t know how much salt, oil, or other ingredients they put in the dish. Buffet restaurant is another cheap solution for busy parents, but if you let yourself eat many rounds of food each time to get your money’s worth, you are taking in more calories than you need. These extra calories will be stored as fat and that is how you gain weight.

Also, shopping at the wholesale clubs will make you buy food in bulk quantities, and you tend to force yourself to finish all that food and not to waste it. Again, it’s not just about the diet but a healthy lifestyle. You should get your children doing outdoor activities, hobbies, or playing some sports, and limit their TV time and video-game time.

Dr. Huynh can be reached at the Sacred Heart Weight Management Center at (850) 416-2884. If dieting and exercising don’t seem to help you lose weight and your doctor has determined that you are clinically obese, you may wish to consider other options in order to save your health. Dr. Jeffrey Lord at the Sacred Heart’s Institute for Weight Loss Surgery perform both gastric by-pass surgery and the latest technique, Lap Band Surgery. Their goal is a safe, healthy weight loss to start you down the road to a healthier lifestyle. For more information, please visit www.sacred-heart.org or call the Institute for Weight Loss Surgery at (850) 416-7546.

If you are in search of a physician, call Sacred Heart’s physician referral service, (850) 416-1600. In addition, a list of Sacred Heart physicians, including biographical information on each, is available online by visiting www.sacred-heart.org.

Sacred Heart’s network of primary care physicians associated with Sacred Heart Medical Group has offices in convenient locations in and around Pensacola and along the Gulf Coast, from Baldwin County, Ala., to Panama City Beach, Fla.

If you suddenly become ill and don’t have a regular physician, Sacred Heart’s Urgent Care Center is open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., located at the corner of Hwy. 29 and “W” Street.

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