Weight Loss

Please Note! Due to the high volume of irritating spam and slow-down of participation here, we are no longer accepting new comments, questions, or subjects on this Forum. We are keeping all the subjects and comments for review as there is a lot of good stuff here relating to practice-building subjects. So, dig deep! Thanks to everyone who participated here but it is time to move on to bigger projects educating the public about acupuncture! Matt Bauer

01-Nov-2012 01:13 PM

Zu San Li

Posts: 8

Matthew,

Thanks so much for all you are doing!  Both your books are excellent!  I read your latest, Making Acupuncture Pay twice, the second time highlighting sections and now go back to review those parts.  Also, thanks for your articles in Acupuncture Today, those are great!  I even included your scale of Intensity, Frequency, Stress Capacity, Rebound Capacity, and Medication Levels into my SOAP notes.

My question is on Weight Loss programs.  Have you found a protocol that works well for you?  Some patients need stronger guidelines than others and those who don’t can resent the control, where as those who do might not request it.  I have had mixed results with food logs sheets or apps.  I know acupuncture can really help, but food is so personal that it is hard to know how to approach each case most effectively.

Thanks,

Zu San Li

 

03-Nov-2012 05:49 AM

ILoveAcupuncture

Posts: 35

I really appreciate how you model being completely honest with patients.  Your post validates how I’ve been feeling about weight loss treatments.  I think I internally cringe when a patient requests weight loss because I can really pick up on the light in their eyes that they hope this will be a miracle fix for them. And it’s frustrating when they stop treatment because they want to go with a quick fix metabolism supplement.  Even in my short time, the only successful weight loss patients I’ve had were the people who did the work to change their lifestyle habits.  Makes me think of the analogy of someone deeply in debt – it doesn’t help that person to win the lottery if their spending habits don’t change.
 

04-Nov-2012 07:13 PM

Zu San Li

Posts: 8

Matthew,

Thank you for the information about your experience with weight loss treatments and you feelings about treating such cases.  I have a friend who is very obese, her weight is 250 lbs., probably 125 lbs. over what she should be.  She has asked for my help and I have offered to help her. This past Saturday I gave her the first treatment which went well.  Additionally, my wife recently became a Certified Hypnotist and she hypnotized her while the needles were in place.  That also went well and the patient was happy with the session.  I gave her a food log, some lists of good foods and foods to avoid as well as some links including Nancy Appleton’s website.  I am curious as to what you think about this approach?  We are treating this person because she is a friend and also because we truly want her to be healthy.  I understand that it is up to her to make a lifestyle change but I am hoping that we can maybe tip the scales (literally) in her favor to succeed and keep the weight off.  I appreciate your insightful comments and if there is anything else you can offer I am grateful.                                                           

Thanks,

Zu San Li

 

18-Nov-2012 04:38 PM

JennaWyatt

Posts: 2

Hello, everyone .
Matt, thank you for that experienced commentary. I think your perspectives are spot on in addressing the challenges of weight loss, especially in terms of convincing people to make significant lifestyle changes.
I agree, that “weight loss” should not be a described service you offer. Patients for the most part are responsible for their ability to lose weight. And I think to imply that as an acupuncturist you can help people lose weight without them making significant lifestyle changes is comparable to a Dexatrim commercial. However, there are things other than acupuncture you may want to keep in mind in this challenging area.
1. Don’t assume your patients understand HOW their diets are unhealthy or that they know how to cook for themselves. Many people rely on “lean cuisine” frozen or pre-packaged foods for their sustenance. Providing simple, clear and progressively challenging dietary advice can help encourage change. Also, providing easy recipes to help them get used to eating new foods can really make a difference in enabling them to comply with your recommendations.
2. Do claim small victories. Even if all you can do is get someone to stop drinking soda, you have still done them a tremendous service. Be supportive and set small achievable goals.
3. I highly recommend reading “The Diet Cure” by Julia Ross. She does an outstanding job making the muddled metabolic picture of people who are overweight (or suffer from other addictions) much clearer for the practitioner and offers targeted amino acid therapies to help support neurochemistry during diet changes. I now happily live in a completely sugar free household after using the techniques she describes in this book. 🙂
4. Don’t give up trying to help people live healthier through nutrition. Weight loss isn’t the only goal. There are so many other benefits that you encourage and support. We are all walking on this earth in our own stage of being “awake” and “enlightened”. Helping people take even one more small step towards this is worth the effort.
Thank you fir the opportunity to contribute to this very important topic. if anyone has any questions on the points above, I would welcome them,
Jennifer
Www.jwyattacupuncture.wordpress.com