Dr. Phil’s Weight Loss Solution
Phil McGraw is a popular psychologist who has written several books, including one on weight loss. He has sponsored a national weight loss challenge and has committed to using his influence to help people live healthier lives by improving their health.
Most weight loss programs work in the short run, but almost all people who lose weight gain it all back again, often with a few extra pounds. Dr. Phil says his program is different; that it “unlocks the doors to permanent weight loss.” He gives “7 keys to permanent weight loss,” which are:
- Right thinking
- Healing feelings
- A no-fail environment
- Mastery over food and impulse eating
- High-response cost, high-yield nutrition
- Intentional exercise
- A circle of support
His book, The Ultimate Weight Loss Solution: The 7 Keys to Weight Loss Freedom, gives a lot of tools, helps and information, including a discussion of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance.
But does it work? McGraw claims an 80% success rate in his clinical practice. Since the industry-wide success rate is an appalling 5%, that is a phenomenal claim.
McGraw’s clinical success rate is probably higher than the success rate of those who read the book and try the program. His program probably does have a pretty good success rate, though.
One reason Dr. Phil’s program is successful is because he doesn’t hype anything; he says right up front that there are no quick and easy answers to weight loss. He also makes it your responsibility and affirms that you are the one who makes the choices of what and how much to eat and exercise.
He deals with thinking and emotions before even talking about food and exercise. Our thinking and emotions are what leads to the bad decisions we make regarding food and exercise, and those have to be changed before we can succeed. One of Dr. Phil’s keys is support; we can’t change life-long habits on our own and we need support to succeed.
Dr. Phil’s Ultimate Weight Loss Solution is a common-sense program that deals with all aspects of obesity, not just the “calories in/calories out” formula. It is a program that may, indeed, be a real solution to weight loss.