According to the American Obesity Association, approximately 127 million adults are overweight, 60 million are considered obese, and 9 million are severely obese. Weight loss and diet programs are a multi-billion dollar business in the United States. When the decision is made to find a weight loss program among the many provided, how does one choose which is best for them?

Dr. Phil McGraw believes he can help individuals lose weight and learn how to live a healthier lifestyle. Dr. Phil's book "The Ultimate Weight Solution: The 7 Keys to Weight Loss Freedom" approaches weight loss by changing how a person views him or herself. "By changing yourself from the inside out, you will be able to attain and permanently maintain what I call your get-real weight..." states Dr. McGraw.

Like with many other healthy-eating programs, Dr. Phil McGraw points out the importance of removing bad foods from your kitchen and replacing them with nutritional foods. Nutritional foods packed with fiber are important since these cannot be eaten as quickly as traditional junk foods like potato chips.

Dr. Phil emphasizes that losing and most importantly, maintaining a healthy weight, cannot be achieved without regular exercise. He writes in his book "There is absolutely no way you can control your weight for a lifetime without it".

Foods that Dr. Phil promotes are what he refers to as "High-Yield Foods" which supply nutrients to the body and are unprocessed. These are those foods that everyone is told to eat more of including fruits, vegetables, fish, legumes, and plenty of water. He also emphasizes on foods that take longer to eat thus will become more filling like soups.

Straying from starchy vegetables like potatoes and limiting fats and oils to two tablespoons a day can aid in weight loss. Snacks should be comprised of fresh fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products. Having a food diary can help individuals keep track of their meals and focus on a healthy-eating program.

Along with a healthy eating plan, how a person eats can also mean the difference in losing and gaining weight. Portion sizes are something many individuals overlook, bigger is not always better. Eat your meals slowly and enjoy each bite. And as important as the size and how quickly that food is eaten is planning each meal. Take the time to plan out every meal in advance including snacks.

Dr. Phil's seven steps to weight loss freedom that are outlined in his book include:

*Right Thinking

*Healing Feelings

*A No-Fail Environment

*Mastery Over Food and Impulse Eating

*High-Response Cost, High-Yield Foods

*Intentional Exercise

*Your Circle of Support

Dr. Phil's approach to weight loss is not about having will power and setting goals. Conquering what drives a person to over eat and having a support system are important to understanding weight loss. Dr. Phil reminds people that "losing weight is not quick and easy" and those wanting to lose weight and maintain it need to change "from the inside out".

REFERENCES:

THE ULTIMATE WEIGHT SOLUTION: The 7 Keys to Weight Loss Freedom by Dr. Phil McGraw, copyright 2003.

http://obesity1.tempdomainname .com/subs/fastfacts/obesity_US .shtml

Learn more about this author, Angela Pollock.
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