Are you sick of feeling overweight and uncomfortable?

It’s that time of year when the festive season is over, the New Year’s resolutions are seemingly difficult to adhere to and life’s so busy with the kids or Grandkids back at school for another eventful year.

But with Easter around the corner, you also tend to take a moment to reassess your health and weight loss goals and wonder “will I ever manage to lose this weight?” You contemplate your weight loss program options and wonder which one will be right for you?

Sadly too often Dietitians seem to be the last resort, with Dietitians commonly hearing clients report of all the times they’ve lost weight and regained it when undertaking other weight loss options. They generally have not considered dietitians for fear that they are ‘diet police.’ Dietitians are anything but that. Instead, gaining the professional support of an Accredited Practicing Dietitian, such as Naomi Petty can help you not only successfully reach your health goals, but develop a safe, evidence based and sustainable nutrition plan that fits in with your lifestyle.

Paul first heard about Naomi from a friend. Paul’s friend had been seeing Naomi for dietary advice here at the Metropol Medical Centre and losing weight well and Paul decided he too was “sick of feeling overweight and uncomfortable in his clothes.”

His occupation and lifestyle involved very little manual labour and he reports he “had too much time on my hands to have coffee and long lunches.” Paul took a crucial step towards his health, he made a commitment. He purchased a package of appointments which provided him with accountability and maintenance support too.

In little over four months Paul has turned his life around; he has reached his goals:
• 9kg weight loss (10.3%) - a healthy weight of 78kg
• 10cm lost from his waist (9.8%) now 92cm- within recommended range for men
• 7cm from his hip (6.5%)

Furthermore, Paul comments “I enjoy being in my own skin. I feel comfortable in new smaller tighter clothes; I don’t have to wear oversize shirts to hide my tummy. I don’t suffer depression from being overweight and I now have a happy outlook on life.”

Paul is experiencing the added benefits such as lower cholesterol and his doctor has taken him off reflux medication as a result of his weight loss success. He keeps busy with his weight training once a week as well as daily walking within his heart rate limits set by his Dietitian, Naomi. He loves playing golf 3-4 times a week and then ensures “one day a week- a complete chill out!”

These days Paul is proudly focusing on maintaining his weight loss with regular support visits with his Dietitian “I am able to say no to certain foods, Naomi has taught me what foods to concentrate on and enjoy i.e. multigrain bread- I love it! Now that I have reached my goal weight she has introduced me to ‘sometimes foods’, which I like to have. “

With a focus on not only nutrition, but also exercise and behavioural modification, Naomi assists her clients to develop skills and strategies to keep the weight off and overcome each individual’s particular challenges relating to their weight. For Paul, this individualised approach helped him to enjoy his overseas trip and manage his weight. “When I went overseas, which I regularly do, I was not afraid to enjoy my eating because I stuck to my eating plan, whilst still enjoying eating good food, knowing that with exercise I would not put on weight.”

Naomi Petty, resident Accredited Practising Dietitian at Metropol, can help you too. Naomi considers not only the food you eat, but strategies to overcome the obstacles of work stress, time constraints or perhaps using food or alcohol as emotional outlets. Furthermore, she provides you with the skills to balance your intake when dining out, helps you to understand your metabolism and how to successfully change behaviours.

“Naomi taught me to eat properly, stressed to have morning and afternoon snacks, so important, some people don’t eat thinking that they are doing the right thing, but are not.”Paul’s plans for the future are clear, “keep doing what I am doing now!”

So, if you would like to enjoy newfound energy, quality of life and happiness too by accessing Professional Dietary Advice, call Naomi today on 0411 274 208 and make the commitment.

Drew

Drew is a 48 year old male solicitor working in the city. He saw his GP in October 2008 and was told ‘he was a walking time bomb.’ With elevated cholesterol and borderline blood sugar readings he was at very high risk of developing diabetes or having a heart attack. Today, he’s feeling great!

With a starting weight of 93.5kg Drew has lost 10.2kg which is over 10% of his initial body weight. He has lost 11cm from his waist and 7.5cm from his hip. A follow up visit to his GP recently indicated his blood test readings all within normal range! Drew has adopted a healthy eating plan, exercises regularly and manages work stress effectively, but most of all feels much fitter and is keeping his health and nutrition goals ‘top priority’!

Bob

Bob is a 34 year old male Immigration Officer working in the city. He saw his GP in August 2008 with chest pain and sleep apnoea. He was told his blood cholesterol was dangerously high and since Bob’s father passed away aged 44 from angina, he quickly realised the importance of seeing a dietitian to help with losing weight and getting healthy.

Bob presented to Naomi at a starting weight of 118.2kg and has now lost 16.1kg which is well over 10% of his initial body weight. He has lost 12cm from his waist and 6.5cm from his hip. Bob has turned his life around; with the challenges of interstate travel and corporate dining he used to find it hard to commit to an exercise regime. Furthermore, he’d find himself ordering room service and even using the mini bar! Bob has adopted a healthy eating plan, exercises regularly using the Hotel Gyms when travelling. He regularly uses the gym and enjoys also walking his dog when at home in Brisbane.

His follow up blood test results were all within range, he is sleeping much better and consequently he has so much more energy. Most important of all he has learnt to prioritise his health and find time for relaxation and his family.

Rita

Start Weight/size: 82.0kg Final Weight/size: 65.2 Weight/size lost: 16.8kg (20.5%)

Waist change: 21.5cm (22.6%) Hip Change: 20cm (16.7%)

Rita presented to Naomi at her heaviest weight, motivated to change her lifestyle in order to reduce risks of developing chronic health conditions such as diabetes. She wanted to do it the evidence based way, by seeing a dietitian, to ensure that she achieved sustainable weight loss outcomes. As a result Rita now feels great!

She is committed to daily walking and loves it. She often walks to work in the city from Holland Park or around the city botanical gardens in the afternoons. Her morning walks gives her plenty of energy to get through her busy days and she enjoys getting out of the shop during the days for some fresh air. Rita occasionally uses the gym at the Tattersall’s club for variety in her regime and strength training.

Rita has learnt to treat her health needs as top priority and give herself time to be healthy. She runs a jewellery business with her husband, which means long days and juggling work life balance. She’s learnt good time management and stress management skills which have assisted not only with adopting healthy dietary and exercise habits but has provided her with overall feeling of wellbeing and vitality.

Rita now enjoys her new wardrobe and newfound self confidence. During her weight loss journey she received many compliments and she’s now able to accept them and feel good about herself.

With a history of thyroid condition, Naomi has assisted her in understanding her own metabolism. Rita now has the ability to manage the right combination of food but most importantly did this in conjunction with regular exercise to achieve consistent weight losses.

Rita has learnt that it is ok to have a few favourite foods when on holidays or socialsing with friends. During her weight loss phase she made several trips to Thailand and was able to enjoy herself, having a few cocktails in the spa, knowing that she just needed to balance the extra calories with physical activity and sight seeing. Likewise, at gatherings with friends, she was able to enjoy occasional desserts but has developed the ability to be assertive, control portions and leave food on her plate.

Rita’s advice to others ‘see a dietitian- they have the expertise to help you lose weight, they individualise your plan and allow you to enjoy some of your favourite foods but they also teach you how to keep the weight off so make sure you commit to maintenance support too’.