By Robert Montenegro, M.D., Family Medicine and Bariatrics

Obesity and Energy Management

Sometimes even a proper diet, exercise and support program don’t deliver the anticipated results. If your diet isn’t working (or you’ve already given up on your weight-loss resolution), it may not necessarily be your own fault.

In the long run, diets don’t work because they’re not sustainable. Energy management does.

What is energy management? Energy management is the science of “how” and “why” behind being obese or overweight. When a person takes in more energy (calories) than they burn, the body must do something with the unused energy; it stores the excess energy as fat. That is the “How” of energy management. The “Why” of energy management is different for everyone and includes combinations among the following reasons: metabolism, nutritional, behavioral, and psychological.

Obesity is a disease, and controlling the disease is an ongoing process. Being overweight or having obesity frequently accompanies other medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cancer, and others. A bariatric physician is trained to detect and treat these conditions, which might go undetected and untreated in a non-medical weight loss program. A physician-supervised medical weight loss program may be the safest and wisest way to successfully lose weight and maintain the loss because it can answer the “Why.”

As part of the medically supervised program of the Glacial Ridge Weight Loss Clinic, people learn the “How” and “Why” behind their own energy management issues. A medical weight loss and maintenance plan is developed that meets the specific needs of each person in accordance with the guidelines of the certified medical bariatric clinic. Make this your best year yet. These are some of the principles taught in the medical weight loss clinic that everyone can use.

9 principles for weight loss and maintenance:

1. Nutritional needs fall into three major categories: water, macro nutrients (calories), and micro nutrients (vitamins and minerals).
2. Water is an essential requirement for the body. Even a small amount of dehydration (too little water) can have a negative effect on your metabolism.
3. Eat at least three times per day; even four or more is ok. The key is to control total calories (generally 1000 – 1200 for women; 1500 – 1600 for men). Do not skip meals. Send your body a signal that you’re not starving so it starts burning fat—even when you’re just doing normal activities.
4. Proteins provide our building blocks, meet our metabolic needs, and can provide all the energy we require. Consume a minimum of four palm-sized servings of protein daily, and start every day with a serving of protein. (A palm-sized serving is a serving size approximation.)
5. The science is clear that exercise helps in losing weight and is most important in maintaining weight loss. In addition to burning calories, it has positive metabolic effects.
6. Frequency, intensity and time is different for everybody; a commonly quoted amount is moderate activity for 30 minutes or more, most days of the week. This time can be broken up throughout the day for convenience and to eliminate boredom.
7. If you’re playing a game or scrolling facebook on your phone while walking on the treadmill, you’re not working out enough to lose weight. Remember too, that exercise doesn’t have to be confined to a gym.
8. Avoid a common weight loss mistake — don’t blow the whole day if you slip. Don’t wait until tomorrow, or next Monday to start over. Make the rest of the day count! You’ll be happy you did.
9. You can do it. Safe, successful weight-loss is obtainable with dedication, effort, and support. You can reach your goal and maintain it, and if you need help, they’ll be there supporting you.

About Bariatrician Dr. Montenegro

Dr. Robert Montenegro is board certified in Family Medicine and received specialized training in Idaho from Medical Bariatrics of America – founded by board-certified Bariatric physician and a recognized national expert, Dr. Allen Rader. Dr. Montenegro began a Medical Weight Loss Clinic at GRHS.

If you would like more help, talk to your health care provider to see if this program may be right for you. If you’re ready for successful, non-surgical weight loss, call 320.634.5157 to make an appointment with Dr. Montenegro.