Fewer calories key to weight loss
Dear Dr. Gott: This is in reply to the person who has tried every diet and the weight always comes back. I have noticed that you receive quite a lot of this kind of mail, and you always tell them to try your “no flour, no sugar” diet. This is all well and good. However, you never mention any kind of physical activity along with your diet in any of your answers to the letters. C’mon, you are an M.D. and you know that no weight-loss plan is going to be successful with only modifying the diet alone. If people want to lose weight, they need to get off their butts and exercise. You are never going to convince me that diet modification alone is going to make people lose weight and keep it off. Please set the record straight.
Dear Reader: Diet modification will lead to weight loss, irrespective of exercise. Period. True, exercise is important for good health, but strict exercise will not appreciably affect fat storage. The secret here is reduced calories. Sorry, but I disagree with you – and my “no flour, no sugar” diet has been a huge success because it works and is flexible.
To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Losing Weight” which includes my “no flour, no sugar” diet. Other readers who would like a copy should send a long, self-addressed, stamped envelope and $2 to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure mention the title.
Dear Dr. Gott: I am 76 and last year had bypass surgery for coronary artery blockages. My cardiologist wanted to lower my cholesterol substantially without running the risks associated with the “statin” drugs (Lipitor and others). So he puts his patients on fish oil pills (omega 3). I started them a year ago, and my cholesterol has plummeted from 260 to 130. I know of many patients in our community who have had success with this therapy and am passing on this information to you and (I hope) your readers.
Dear Reader: To be frank, I do not have a lot of experience with omega 3 therapy, so I was delighted to receive your recommendation and am herewith passing it on.
I have read that this inexpensive and safe treatment is not consistently effective. But when it is, it really works. And, as you pointed out, the side-effect profile is negligible, unlike the standard cholesterol-lowering prescription drugs. Thanks for writing.
To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Understanding Cholesterol.” Other readers who would like a copy should send a long, self-addressed, stamped envelope and $2 to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.