Oct 13, 2006 4:00 pm US/Central
Losing Weight With A Personal Touch
Try A Diet Coach If You Want To Lose Weight
by Mary Ann Childers
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
If you were on a diet, would it help to report to someone everyday and tell them what you ate? Or what if someone was just there to give you support when you craved those potato chips? Someone like a "diet coach."
It's a way to lose weight with a personal touch, as CBS 2's Medical Editor Mary Ann Childers reports.
"It's a good idea to try to work in some snacks because that way you keep your blood sugar level even," said
Judy Weitzman, "The Diet Coach."
Weitzman spent 20 years in the weight loss industry and found one thing missing in even the best programs -- a way to keep dieters motivated and enthusiastic. Her solution?
"It's really about that one on one attention; giving them the phone calls every single day, sending them e-mails, and personalizing their plans to make it easy for them," said Weitzman.
Along with an internist, a nutritionist, a dietician, and a therapist, Weitzman develops individual eating plans for each client.
"A lot of times in other programs they feel deprived and that's one of the things I really work hard on, not to have my clients feel deprived," she said. "I mean if you need that piece of chocolate, we'll work it into your day."
She helps them stock their pantries and start an exercise program. She even helps grocery shop. Most important, she's there for them everyday -- and available for emergencies.
"If I feel like they're struggling that day, I'll call them back later in the day to make sure they're okay," Weitzman added.
Businesswoman Vicky Tesmer started working with Weitzman last spring.
"None of my old clothes fit so I thought, 'okay -- that's enough.'"
She's tried dieting before, but believes having a coach to keep her on track, keep her honest. In this way, she believes a coach will help her start on an eating plan she can stay on for life.
"And I don't want to stop it. I don't want to like, 'okay, you've lost the weight and now you're gaining it back. It's much more of a lifestyle change," said Tesmer.
In the five months she's worked with the diet coach, Tesmer has lost 25 pounds and two dress sizes. Judy Weitzman knows dieting is hard. She lost 50 pounds and she's kept it off for 27 years.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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