DEAR DR. GOTT: I am a 72-year-old woman who has lived with a weight problem since puberty. My husband and I have been on the no-flour, no-sugar diet for the past 10 weeks. Although the weight loss is slow, there are some things I have learned about myself. First, after years of yo-yoing on Weight Watchers, including being a lecturer for them, I never learned how to keep it off. Secondly, I discovered that I have an addiction to flour and sugar products. I suffered withdrawal symptoms when I first gave them up. I don’t know why I didn’t know this before, but it is possible I didn’t want to face it. This program of eating is finally a way of life and not a diet. Thank you for helping me to become aware.
DEAR READER: I am glad to hear that you have found a program that you can stick with. Weight loss on my diet isn’t going to happen overnight. As I have said in the past, the weight gain doesn’t occur overnight, so the loss won’t, either. On average, people on my diet lose up to five pounds in the first week (mostly water weight from the diet change) and then drop down to about one or two pounds each week after that. Some weeks may be greater, and others less.
To provide related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “A Strategy for Losing Weight: An Introduction to the No Flour, No Sugar Diet.” Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed stamped No. 10 envelope and a $2 check or money order payable to Newsletter and mailed to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure mention the title or print an order form off my website at www.AskDrGottMD.com.
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