Program
Questions
What
can I expect from the Beverly Hills Weight Loss &
Wellness® program?
This
program is not a diet. It is a healthy lifestyle change.
The program is broken down into a three-phase process
created by weight loss and nutrition experts that emphasizes
safe weight loss coupled with life-long weight maintenance.
It is based on your lifestyle, personal schedule, and
eating habits. You will eat real foods and even fast
foods while losing weight. You can eat in restaurants
or at home with your family, enjoying all the aspects
of a fun-filled social lifestyle. Then you will move
into the second phase called stabilization. Working one-on-one
with a counselor through the entire process, you will
learn to stabilize at the proper weight without a strict
diet. Finally, you will begin to live what you learned
about maintaining your ideal weight for a lifetime in
our third phase, maintenance.
How
do I qualify for the Beverly Hills Weight Loss & Wellness®
program?
You must be at least 10 pounds above the minimum weight for your height and age
according to our standardized height and weight charts. If you are under 18 years
of age, please be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
How
long will it take me to lose weight?
As people vary, so does their weight loss. It is hard to predict how long it
will take you to lose your weight, but we can give you some idea. The program
is designed to promote weight loss in a healthy and consistent manner. With our
program, you will see weight loss your very first week! You certainly will determine
your own rate of weight loss by how carefully you follow our program and guidelines.
Do
I have to exercise in order to lose weight on the program?
No. But, we do recommend it for best results.
Do
you have group meetings I must attend?
No. You will meet one-on-one with a counselor who will be able to offer solutions
to your weight loss issues, food plans and more. We respect your privacy at all
times. One-on-one counseling is what differentiates us from other weight loss
programs and it is essential to your success on this program.
What
can I expect from the staff?
All of our counselors have learned how to lose weight and maintain their goal
weight on our program. Before becoming counselors, they must complete a training
program to ensure their understanding of the Beverly Hills Weight Loss & Wellness® program
and to learn their responsibilities to you, the client. They are required to
attend on-going training programs throughout their career.
Is
there a limit as to how many times I can meet with a
counselor?
Not at all. Generally, our clients meet with a counselor two or three times a
week. Because the centers have extensive hours, you may drop in at any time with
no appointment.
How
can I find a Beverly Hills Weight Loss & Wellness®
location near me?
It’s simple, Just click here or
on "Locations" on the menu above to find the closest location available to you.
Once you find your destination, call the phone number listed to schedule a consultation.
Your initial consultation lasts approximately 45 minutes and is FREE of charge.
Is
this program for adult women only?
No, Beverly Hills Weight Loss & Wellness® is a concept oriented to provide
real solutions to the entire family. We are tailored to children, teenagers,
adult men and women. We are genuinely committed to good health. Hence, we encourage
the visits of children and teenagers of both genders so that our future society
may enjoy the gift of good health and a happy life.
Do
I have to buy prepackaged foods?
No. One of our goals while you are participating in our weight loss program is
to allow you to enjoy a "normal"
life. You will not need to buy prepackaged foods, but
instead can eat grocery store foods, dine in popular
restaurants, and enjoy almost any food you wish.
Q: Can I lose 5-10 pounds a week on the
BHWL&W program?
A: This goal is unrealistic and
unhealthy. If you set a goal like this, you will set yourself up for failure. A
far more realistic goal is losing 1 to 2 lbs per week. At this rate, body fat
is being lost, while muscle is spared. Losing more than 2 pounds per week
signals the loss of more than body fat, and points to the loss of both muscle
and water weight.
Q:
Can I have caffeinated beverages on the BHWL&W program?
A: Yes. If you are a heavy coffee, soda or tea drinker, you may want to
consider cutting back - especially if it interferes with your water intake. If
you choose to decrease your caffeine intake, do so gradually - cutting your
intake in half each week, to avoid caffeine-withdrawal related symptoms.
Q:
What kind of carbohydrates does the BHWL&W Program include?
A: The BH program includes all foods in moderation. Nothing is entirely eliminated. Our meal plans emphasize fruits, vegetables,
whole-grains, low-fat dairy and lean protein choices - all of which can be
eaten daily on your BH weight loss plan.
Q:
Can I eat pasta on the BHWL&W diet?
A: Yes. The BH Program teaches you to balance your food choices and use
moderation. You can customize your menus to include pasta, potato and other carbs, In other words, you can continue to enjoy your own
personal eating style while staying within our guidelines for weight loss.
Q: Can I use the BHWL&W program if I recently had
surgery, or have high blood pressure or any other medical condition?
A: We help many people with many different diagnoses lose
weight. Some of the more common medical histories we encounter are heart
disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and hypothyroidism. You should consult
your Doctor before using our program (or any other!) or trying to do any
adjustments to your diet or exercise. In fact, if you have any medical
questions, you should direct them to your Doctor. We encourage you to show them
our web site at www.beverlyhillsweightloss.com.
Q: I have been
overweight all of my life. Do I have to stay this way?
A: Of course not. Weight gain or loss is
simply a matter of calories “in” equally calories “out”. If you eat at 500
fewer calories than you burn every day, you will lose a pound a week. In a year
that will add up to 52 pounds! BHWL&W can guide you through your weight
loss journey. We give you all the tools to make all the right decisions so you
can take control of your life and lose weight your own way. |
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Diet and Wellness Questions
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I am currently enrolled in a weight loss program and I'm doing great. My problem is social situations with friends and family. I don't want to become a hermit for fear of the temptations that await me at these times. How do I socialize while trying to lose weight? Mary P., Hampton |
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My job is sedentary. I sit at my desk for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. How can I get exercise in with a schedule like this? Joan C., Jensen Beach |
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I'm on a weight loss diet. How do I prepare a meal for me and my family if neither my kids nor my husband need to lose weight? Kay C., Kernersville |
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I chew gum to curb my appetite. Is this a good strategy? John P., Baldwin |
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I never seem to have time for breakfast. Can I just skip it? Lynn G., Va Beach |
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I noticed that our many weight loss programs encourage the use of proteins such as eggs, cheese and beef. Won't eating these high-cholesterol foods make my cholesterol level go up? Betty R., Wilmington |
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What causes high insulin levels? Brenda D., Kingston |
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I've lost 20 pounds and I feel great. My problem is family and friends, some of whom are not very encouraging or supportive of me. How do I deal with unsupportive people in my life? Carol P., Ann Arbor |
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My mother-in-law seems to take my efforts in weight loss lightly. She constantly offers me desserts and other goodies knowing full well that I will not turn her down because I don't want to hurt her feelings. How can I handle this? Bob C., Rochester |
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My friends say that I'm no fun anymore now that I'm on a diet. I value my friendships very much and I'm seriously considering going off my diet just to please them. Help! Alexis S., Jackson |
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What is a quick way to estimate my healthy weight? Megan C., Elk Grove |
Q: I am currently enrolled in a weight loss program and
I'm doing great. My problem is social situations with friends
and family. I don't want to become a hermit for fear of the
temptations that await me at these times. How do I socialize
while trying to lose weight? Mary P., Hampton
A: Mary, getting
together at social gatherings that involve food and drinks
can be particularly challenging to the dieter. Some tips
to help you get through these get-togethers. Avoid arriving
hungry. Eat a light, healthy snack before you go to the party.
Limit or avoid alcohol. Drink a calorie-free beverage instead.
Seltzer water with a lemon or lime wedge allows you to join
your friends in a social drink. Avoid the chips, dip and
other high fat fare available. Opt for the veggies, fruit
and cheese. Stand away from the snack table if you are having
challenges with will power that evening.
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Q: My job is sedentary. I sit at my desk for 8 hours a day,
5 days a week. How can I get exercise in with a schedule
like this? Joan C., Jensen Beach
A: Working at a job that
offers very little opportunity for activity is difficult
but not impossible. Some tips to increase calorie burning
throughout the day: Avoid intercom systems or email. If you
need to speak with someone in your company, take a walk to
his or her office. Take the long way to the lunch room, the
restroom or the meeting room. Those extra steps taken on
a regular basis can really help. Use the stairs, not the
elevators. During long phone calls, use the speaker phone
function and pace or walk in place as you conference in on
the call. If you have an hour lunch, use 30 minutes to walk
either outside or around the building hallways and stairways
if the weather is bad. Also, park as far away from the front
door as possible.
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Q: I'm on a weight loss diet. How do I prepare a meal for
me and my family if neither my kids nor my husband need to
lose weight? Kay C., Kernersville
A: There's no need to change
what you prepare for meals, but you will need to be aware
of the size of your portions. Chances are that whatever you
have prepared for them will be suitable for your program,
too, just smaller portions. Begin by knowing exactly how
much you need to eat. Second, add more vegetables to your
plate, while skipping over the starches, fat and other higher
calorie items. Always eat a small snack mid afternoon to
keep your appetite from going into overdrive by dinner time.
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Q: I chew gum to curb my appetite. Is this a good strategy?
John P., Baldwin
A: Chewing stimulates salivary glands to
produce ptyalin, a digestive enzyme that activates hunger.
Although a piece of regular gum contains only half teaspoon
of sugar, it is not uncommon for people to chew several sticks
a day. Sugarless gums might be the answer to this, although
the problem mentioned above still applies.
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Q. I never seem to have time for breakfast. Can I just skip
it? Lynn G., Va Beach
A. Not to sound too cliché, but breakfast is "the
most important meal of the day," especially when it
comes to weight loss and overall health. Rates of obesity
and insulin resistance are 50 percent lower among people
who eat breakfast compared with those who frequently skip
it. Breakfast eaters burn more calories during the day, and
are less apt to overeat at lunch and dinner leaving them
trimmer than non-breakfast eaters.
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Q: I noticed that our many weight loss programs encourage
the use of proteins such as eggs, cheese and beef. Won't
eating these high-cholesterol foods make my cholesterol level
go up? Betty R., Wilmington
A: Approximately 85% of the cholesterol
in our body is produced by our liver. Dietary cholesterol
(the kind that comes from food) contributes very little to
high cholesterol levels in the blood. The liver produces
cholesterol in response to certain hormones. One hormone
in particular is insulin. This hormone gives the liver the
signal to ramp up cholesterol production. Bottom line: eating
cholesterol-rich foods usually doesn't affect cholesterol
levels significantly.
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Q: What causes high insulin levels? Brenda D., Kingston
A:
High insulin levels are caused by eating too many carbohydrates,
particularly starchy carbohydrates such as bread, pasta,
potato and rice. Excess insulin signals the liver to make
more cholesterol. As a result, people following a high-carbohydrate
diet will have difficulty decreasing their cholesterol levels,
despite cutting back cholesterol.
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Q: I've lost 20 pounds and I feel great. My problem is family
and friends, some of whom are not very encouraging or supportive
of me. How do I deal with unsupportive people in my life?
Carol P., Ann Arbor
A: Don't be overly concerned with hurting
the feelings of anybody who is trying to sabotage your weight
loss progress. Speak up for yourself and let individuals
know how much their encouragement means to you and how hurtful
it is to not have their full support during this challenging
time.
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Q: My mother-in-law seems to take my efforts in weight loss
lightly. She constantly offers me desserts and other goodies
knowing full well that I will not turn her down because I
don't want to hurt her feelings. How can I handle this? Bob
C., Rochester
A: It's okay to say "no thank you," and
to decline food offers when you are not hungry. Give your
mother-in-law a kind about how delicious a food looks, but
state clearly and firmly that you are truly committed to
your weight loss goals and must pass at this time. The first
few times will be difficult, but she will see that you are
serious and will back off on asking.
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Q: My friends say that I'm no fun anymore now that I'm on
a diet. I value my friendships very much and I'm seriously
considering going off my diet just to please them. Help!
Alexis S., Jackson
A: Your friends may be telling you that they don't want you
to change. Or maybe they are secretly jealous of your success
and commitment to your goals. Be firm and honest. Let them
know that you care about their feelings, but you have no
intention of abandoning your weight loss program. If a friend
still insists you are "no fun," you may have to
avoid seeing her for a while. True friends will realize that
your goals are important to you and will be truly happy and
supportive as you progress to your goal.
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Q. What is a quick way to estimate my healthy weight? Megan
C., Elk Grove
A. Healthy weight for women: Allow 105 pounds
for 5 feet. If you are taller, add an extra 5 pounds per
inch. If you are shorter, subtract 5 pounds per inch. The
healthy weight range will be about 10 per cent either side
of the final figure. For example: If you are 5 feet 2 inches,
allow yourself 105 pounds plus 2 x 5 pounds. This totals
115 pounds. The healthy weight range for you would be 103-127
pounds.
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Corporate Registered
Dietician