Evaluating Your Diet Choices
By Karyn Brodsky
“It’s all fun and games until the shorts don’t fit.”
This is a sentiment shared by Kathy Kennelly, a Certified Family Nurse Practitioner and owner of the Institute of Health Promotion (IHP) in Plano. A realization often hits when summer arrives and kids are on break, leading many to recognize their need to lose weight.
Kennelly emphasizes the importance of safe weight loss through medically supervised programs. She advises that new patients should undergo lab testing, body composition analysis, and an electrocardiogram (EKG) to ensure heart health.
A personalized diet plan can significantly enhance the chances of success, as Kennelly points out that effective weight loss varies for each individual. If an appetite suppressant is suggested, she cautions, “There’s no magic pill for weight loss; the pills don’t do it alone. You still need to diet and exercise to achieve weight loss.”
What role does diet versus exercise play in weight loss? Shannon Rene, founder of Fit N Pilates Studio in Plano, discusses that multiple elements influence weight fluctuations. “Regular exercise can aid in weight loss,” she remarks. “However, numerous factors, such as diet, physical activity, genetics, learned behaviors, cultural and socioeconomic aspects, and motivation, play a role in obesity and weight maintenance.”
The American Council on Exercise asserts that most adults can gain significant health advantages from two and a half hours of moderate-intensity exercise each week, like brisk walking or gardening. For those more physically active, 75 minutes of vigorous exercise, such as swimming laps, uphill hiking, or race-walking, can yield comparable health benefits in half the time (acefitness.org).
One effective and gentle form of exercise is Pilates. Rene explains that Pilates is beneficial for the joints while still being challenging. It aids in building a strong core, achieving flat abdominals and a strong back, promoting long lean muscle development, enhancing flexibility, creating a well-balanced physique, improving athletic performance, and preventing injuries.
As patients progress in their weight loss journeys, they require careful monitoring to ensure safety. Kennelly notes, “You want to lose fat while protecting muscle.” It’s crucial for patients’ primary care providers and specialists to be informed and engaged throughout the process to address any health concerns.
Many individuals, both women and men, experience hormonal challenges that affect their weight loss journey. For women, this includes menopause-related issues, and Kennelly suggests plant-based bio-identical hormone replacement therapy to alleviate symptoms. Bio-identical hormones resemble human hormones in their structure, making them safe, effective, and convenient. “Hormone deficiency is a leading cause of rapid aging,” she remarks. “When hormones are balanced, weight loss becomes easier and enhances overall quality of life, leading to better sleep, mood, mental clarity, libido, and a reduction in hot flashes and night sweats.”
Men can also gain from tailored testosterone replacement therapy, according to Kennelly. “Testosterone replacement enhances mental sharpness, muscle strength, and improves libido.”
Editor’s Note: For additional information about IHP, contact Kathy Kennelly at 972. 832.4610. For inquiries on starting a Pilates program, reach out to Shannon Rene at ShannonZRene@gmail.com.
