LKL WEB EXCLUSIVE: Bob Greene on How to Lose Weight

"Loose" it, indeed. Wouldn't want to "tight" it, would we?

Why aren't Larry and his guests saying something about the so-called hate crimes bill HR 1913? As it is written this bill will limit free speech. Or course, this is supported by the gay marriage people to prevent us from publicly opposing their agenda. They can criticize those who disagree with gay marriage, but we are to be prosecuted if we speak out against it. Why should our freedom of speech be curtailed? Erwin Gane, Ph.D.

Christy Ally please give us a break and go away.

stress and self hatred = weight gain

"If you don’t address the root causes of your weight gain, long term success is not likely." This is absolutely right. My bariatric surgeon told me that 75 percent of the people that go on Weight Watchers gain every pound back and them some. Less than 10 percent are able to keep the weight off permanently. The only medically proven way to lose weight and to keep it off is through bariatric surgery.

Larry, to Kristy and Oprah and all of them with the weight, here's a recommendation. It involves exercise, but not running miles a week, or being in the weight room for an hour 3 times a week. It's just once a week for maybe 20 minutes. It's 20 minutes of very intense exercise however. Want to start out gradually. Still once a week for 15 to 20 minutes of intense exercise. That's it.
I make no money from this. Get the book, Body by Science, by Dr. McGuff and Mr. Little. They didn't invent this slow weight lifting technique. Guys like Hahn and Zickermann out of NY, have written about it several years ago. This book just puts up the scientific data more so.

Jim V.

you don't LOOSE weight – you LOSE it! C'mon Bob, this is seen by sooo many people! Nobody today seems to know how to spell anymore.
PS – good blog otherwise! thanks for the info.

To Jon from Tempe:
I'm not surprised your bariatric surgeon tells you the only medically proven way to lose weight and keep it off is through bariatric surgery.
How much did that cost you / make him? Surgery is taking the easy way out. That is the way our society thinks these days. We are lazy.
Change the way you eat. Get your butt off the sofa more and get out there and move it! THAT is the way to lose weight and keep it off.

To Katherine -
Bariatric surgery is NOT easy. You are laid up in bed for weeks. For the rest of your life you must eat tiny tiny meals (about the size of your thumb at first) or you'll vomit it all back up and/or risk tearing your sutures. If you have had gastric bypass, one of the most common types of surgery, you can never have anything rich or sugary again. Ever. You'll become miserably ill if you have a piece of chocolate. People who do it know they are giving up a major part of our culture and social life. It is a drastic measure taken by people whose health demands that they lose weight. Now, does that sound easier than dieting?

And it IS the only medically proven way to lose weight. Statistically, you are just as likely to end up heavier after a diet than slimmer.

-Lisa

Who edited this piece? The information is all right, but the word "loose" appears in the title and in the article rather than "lose" – and somehow the word "becomming" snuck in later on. Did CNN's proofreader fall asleep today?

Otherwise it was a decent article. =)

Lisa-
I didn't say bariatric surgery was fun! People with weight problems (I am one) have ISSUES which need to be addressed, a lifestyle which needs to be changed.
Getting your stomach altered so that you can only eat tiny meals??? This can only serve to socially-isolate you, that is for sure. And it is not healthy. What a bizarre choice! If you are ready to do something healthy for yourself, why not trade in the twinkies for broccoli or going for a walk instead of lying on the couch watching TV.

Bob Greene says something completely contrary to everything I've ever heard or read, which makes me wonder about his sources. He make the claim that 'yo yo dieting' is better for you than staying at a steady though over ideal weight. I have always heard the opposite, that yo yo dieting, going up and down especially in extremes, was dangerous for your heart, and health in general. Where is he getting his statistics from which are at variance with long-held guidelines?

Sorry, surgery is not the only proven way to lose weight. Bob is spot on. You have to figure out why you're self medicating with food before you attempt to permanently lose weight. Not saying it's easy, but it has to be done. Dieting does not work because it is a temporary change in behavior. Permanent wieht loss is a result of changing your lifestyle, not diets or surgery. 4 oz of weight gain a month equals 3 pounds a year! If it took you 10 years to put on that extra 30 pounds what makes you think you can lose it in 3 months (and keep it off)? Kathy Ireland is right as well. Stop thinking about appearance and make it about your health. Give your heart a break and get moving!

To Lisa I believe one of the contestants on this season's Biggest Loser had some sort of surgery done (not sure if it's lapband, bariatric, etc.) and it still didn't work. He weighed 420 lbs when he started the show so surgery is not the answer. Of course a person will gain their weight back and then some once they stop whatever diet they're on. The old eating habits that got a person heavy in the first place are back which makes sense the weight will come back. Keeping the weight off is a lifestyle – what and how much is eaten along with exercise (minimum 3-4 times a week) is the key.

As others have said, bariatric surgery is not the only proven weight loss method. Furthermore, it is not always successful long-term. It is possible to eat and eat and gradually stretch out your shrunken stomach. Just look at Ron on the Biggest Loser – he wouldn't be there if bariatric surgery was the no-fail cure. I also have an aunt who experienced the same thing. As others have said, you really have to deal with your deeper issues. This is why some people who undergo bariatric surgery do get skinny, but then they become alcoholics, drug addicts, etc.

Seriously, you actually think bariatric surgery is the only proven way to lose weight? Weight Watchers doesn't work? I have been over weight my whole life...not fat enough to do bariatric (but more than 60lbs overweight). I have lost 60+lbs through Weight Watchers and kept it off for 4 years all while: getting married, blending a family, changing careers twice and pursuing a Masters degree. Honestly, people who think bariatric surgery is the only answer are LAZY! Get a clue–calories in must be less than calories out...you will lose the weight. If you are so concerned about what you will be missing out on once you have the surgery–go on a diet. Don't be so lazy and quit taking the easy route out. That mentality disgusts me.

Of all the different diets I have tried, I am very pleased with the Weight Watchers program. I lost 50 pounds two years ago and maintained the loss. Now I am working on the next 30. It is a mixture of portion control and activities. No magic pill, no rigorous work out routines. I would recommend it to anyone!

While it is vitally important to exercise and eat well, why does all the focus have to be on all the actual pounds that are dropped? I've become more active and healthy than I've ever been in my life, and I've never been happier... and I'm still technically fat. And I'm cool with that. Our bodies have shapes and forms that we're naturally set towards, and if we're healthy? If we take care of ourselves? There should be no shame in not being a size 2. It's about how you live, not how you look.

I am 82 years old. I maintained weight of 100 ...105 lbs. all my life. I went swimming every day, walked miles, did yoga. BUT a few years ago I began to have "back problems", contributed to "old age". Pain was horrific, so all exercise had to stop, I went up to ca. 127 lbs. and even though I try to eat less, since I am no longer as mobile, I do not lose the extra weight. so, in my case, it is "movement " that counts.

Here's a good one for you, and I haven't really found any decent documentation about it: When beginning a relationship, my weight plunges. It tends to stay down the whole time we're together.
Once I'm on my own again, the weight creeps back up. I'm not obese and I've never been. I suspect that it's not so much that I "get fat" when I'm single as it is I "get skinny" when I'm part of a couple. I just don't have much of an appetite then.
I'd like to lose about 15 pounds to be at my fighting weight (not underweight–been there, it's not all it's cracked up to be)...but I don't want to go hunting out a relationship to do it!
Seriously! Looking back over my life, the pattern is absolutely there! I'm 51 years old, my kids are grown, I have a rewarding job and I honest to God do NOT want a boyfriend. In fact, I think the word "boyfriend" is ridiculous at my age, but "gentleman friend" sounds geriatric, and I'm definitely not that!
I am going to venture to say that I guess if I'm an emotional non-eater, that must make me an emotional eater as well.
Anyone else with a similar experience?
(Oh yeah, and the big old shoulder surgery I had seven weeks ago hasn't helped things any, but that's coming along nicely, anyway.)

Bob,

I know you have to mention Oprah's "trauma" with her thyroid problem because you were her personal trainer but please. Did you watch her trip across country? All she and Gail did was eat - packages of snacks that they both knew weren't good for them. Anyway,
thyroid problems are common in women and all I can say is that
she needs a new doctor if they didn't follow up on her thyroid symptons.

And as far as her "getting there" I don't see any difference from the time she mentioned "going off the wagon". In fact,. some
days she looks heavier. I frankly don't care what she looks like but it's obviously important to her. Some of us are just stuck at our weight no matter what we do. Whydon't you help integrate her lifestyle and her favorite food into her diet?

I know about emotional eating - I find that I eat when I'm frustrated and/or angry. Good girls were trained a long time ago that we can't show anger so especially at work so it just builds up.

What I don't understand is that Oprah can do or say what she wants and she has a lot of support so it should be a little easier. I don't have any of that so it's very hard....

Bob you are right we self inflict our own bodies to so much crappy foods and then we turn around and blame in own a mental disorder, Ladies its time to get real with your own self if we lie to ourselve about whats really going on in our Life i shutter to think what comes after that,, So Girls own up to your over benging and say simply "YES I DID THAT" and get off your couch and take a extra stroll around your neighbor hood this evening and when you come back in throw the candy bar sac vack up in the cabinet where it belongs, and don't let your doctor prescribe any of those monkey seeing drugs to take, if you stay positive and only allow positive thinker's around you i feel sure you'll back to normak in no time at all and follow's bobs plan for a heaither you. It's summer let's get pretty girls. God Speed cheryl jorgia

Larry i am surprised at you. by now i think you'd be wanting that a warrant for the arrest of those two dangerous clowns Kahmeni and ahmenidajab or whatever their names are under crimes to humanity
Max