I hope I can help a few people with this advice. Back when I studied nutrition and did obesity research at Cornell in the mid-late 1980's, I learned the key for losing weight and keeping it off. Basically, you have to tap into and learn how to harness the power of your hunger pangs. God gave them to you for a reason, and that's because they're important. Don't ignore them. Learn to eat at the right time (only when you're truly hungry), and eat the right amount of food. Any kind of food. Even fattening food has its place in your diet.

It sounds obvious, but, as a doctor, I know you can do it. I get my patients to do it and they lose substantial amounts of weight--and get happier, too, since they feel that they're not so out-of-control anymore.

There was a very famous research study that proved the case for following your hunger pangs. In 1968, Dr. Stanley Schacter (a very famous social psychologist) showed that obese people tend to eat according to "external" cues (triggers that lie outside their stomachs), such as the time on the clock, emotions, the sight of food, etc. In contrast, thin people eat according to internal cues (hunger).

That's the key right there: eat only when you're hungry. That's what I tell my patients, and they lose weight. I hate to admit it, but the men always seem to have an easier time following my advice, but I"m sure that's because we women are so much more complex and eat for emotional reasons.

Obviously, I can't give anyone on this board medical advice. Everyone should ask their own doctor.

I have my own website, and I've written a book on this topic, mostly for the benefit of my patients, but I'd be happy to explain some of the same principles to you if you're interested. I'll need to re-check the rules for this board before I post my URL and other contact info. For the time being, I just wanted to introduce myself, and encourage you to not give up. There's a much easier answer than dieting. Trust me--I lost 75 pounds and have kept it off for 25 years.

Rita Hancock MD
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Pain Management

I get what you're saying, but the way you're presenting it doesn't make a lot of sense. If you eat only when you're hungry you will most likely maintain weight, unless you make a conscious effort to eat less than what you require. Which, in itself, is "dieting", though I realize you are using it in the sense of ridiculous/fad nutritional programs.

Also, sociodynamics are fun and all, but what humans have been like prior to the modern availability of food doesn't really relate to what they are now. Say you eat a diet consisting of peanut M & M's, but only eat when you're hungry... Pretty sure you're not gonna achieve/maintain good health and body composition doing it.

As per my little disclaimer above, I'm not really disagreeing with you, I just think you're oversimplifying in the wrong direction. I feel it would be better to say, for example, "It is enough to eat quality foods and be (more) physically active." Or, "It's enough to watch what you eat and be (more) physically active."

P.S. I have lost almost 40 lbs more than you, and am working on the remaining 40, and I also have a degree in biological science, but I don't believe either is a guarantee that I know what I'm talking about, or that what has worked for me and some others will work for everyone.

I hope your not here to spam your book. its looking like it already.

Your advice really makes it quite clear to me that you really don't understand how or why people become overweight.

Its more than just a food and eating issue, and one of the worst things you can do is say to a fat person "just use willpower" or "only eat when you're hungry", because as soon as you focus in it like that you feel hungry all the time.

For me, and I suspect a lot of people who need to lose weight, food is much more than just body fuel.

LOL at you

Hi Steve et al,

First, to be fair, please note that it's hard to spew out the whole concept of my book and give meaningful advice in only a few paragraphs. Give me time, okay? And please understand that I truly believe I can help. I help my patients lose weight all the time.

What you may not know is that I've been there, brother. I'm only 5'1" and I weighed 207 pounds. That's a lot for a short woman. Wouldn't you agree? And I dealt with and overcame a compulsive eating disorder after I lost that weight. So, I'm not just speaking from the books. I've lived it. I'd say that my personal experience is even more important than the book info, but not everybody sees it that way. Some people are more impressed by credentials. So, I offer both.

Steve, you might consider checking into the success rates for two other similar weight loss programs that focus on hunger pangs. Now, they're Christian programs, and if you're not Christian, I'd ask that you simply look past the religious element and look at their success rates only. You'll see that people lost over 100 pounds easily on these programs. One couple that did the "Weigh Down Diet" lost 500 pounds between the two of them. The other program (Thin Within) shows similar success rates.

I know this is a new concept for most people who struggle with weight control, but please consider it.

Besides, aren't you sick and tired of working so hard to CONTROL what you eat? This way (tuning into your hunger pangs) is so much less work.

Another key that I haven't mentioned is about the portion size and food choices, but, I don't have time to mention it all. I have to go to work.

God bless you.

P.S. I am not getting the impression that you guys are interested, so if you'd like, I'll simply leave the board. You tell me.

I'm not sure why you singled me out.

That said, I only laughed b/c you are setting yourself as a guru beyond belief.

Everything you've typed so far can be summed up in this...

"I'm a doctor so listen to me."

I'm not interested in looking at your plan or the others you've mentioned in your latter post. I've done my fair share of research and have my own opinions and beliefs. I'm far from close-minded but time is limited. When someone comes in preaching that they've found The Way I don't even consider it. Anyone who promotes a singular method of weight loss is selling snake oil.

That's not taken kindly where I come from... but who knows. Maybe people will be interested in what you have to say. Stick around if you'd like.

To add... if you truly signed up to this forum with good intentions of helping and not solely for the potential to profit from the members, offer your advice in threads where people are asking help. Don't pitch your ideals and product. There are more people looking for sound advice around here than you can shake a stick at. Have at it.

Yea... I have to say I agree with Steve 100%. I, myself, am tired of doctor's advice. I'm tired of reading books. I'm tired of one single recommended way of doing things. I am doing it my way with other helpful ideas that worked for others. Welcome... but please... drop the whole high and mighty doctor spiel. We'll like you for you... Be real and talk candidly!

I completely agree with the above posts....esp. the "listen to me because I'm a doctor" Well I'm a supermodel who moonlights as a neurosurgeon. It's easy to be whatever I want to be online.

I won't try to sell y'all a book though.

I find it interesting that at the start of this thread you mentioned your medical credentials and how you had helped your patients - nothing was mentioned about having a personal battle with weight loss.

You may well be a doctor and a Christian, I am an accountant and an atheist - make of that what you will.

Was that cornell college in iowa or cornell university in new york?

Neither really impresses me - cornell university accepted me in the mid 80s - so i don't think their standards are very high..

I cannot see me wanting to buy or read your book.

I would however be highly interested in any book that Steve ever wrote. He has a track record of helping a lot of people on this forum - and I know that he has researched widely - whatever school exams he may or may not have passed twenty years ago.

I suspect that your postings may have been better recieved had you managed to avoid mentioning your website and book - with links, book titles and references in every posting. At the minute it all looks like a blatant attempt to flog your wares via SPAM.

yea, i used to read 'weight down' as well...until i found out that gwen promoted locking kids in closets among other things.

Dr. Rita M. Hancock, MD, Pain Medicine, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, located in Norman, OK - Free reports and ratings

I'm actually curious how a doctor's who's specialty is pain medicine and physical rehabilitation found her way to writing a religious based book on weight loss?

My original reply:

"And I'm an anthropologist with hyoogeeeee balls."

Just so y'all know I do actually have some filter on this brain-mouth thing.