Dr. Dorie - author of the "Don't
By: Dominick A. Miserandino
"Weight loss is always a problem, but Dr. Dorie teaches you it has to do with self esteem, motivation, drive and support.
DM) What did you do before you started studying health?
DD) I have always had an interest in health, perhaps because I went on my
first diet at the age of 10. After that point, I began to investigate
nutrition and fitness. I studied bioengineering in college and earned my
doctorate in that field, giving me foundations in the area of physical
health. I decided to apply my degree in the area of weight issues because I
had struggled so long with my own weight problem and wanted to help others
find their way to freedom. I subsequently returned to school to earn a
master's degree in education with a specialization in counseling, giving me
foundations in the areas of mental and emotional health.
DM) Isn't ten years old kind of young to be on a diet?
DD) Yes. In fact, it is estimated that about two-thirds of girls have
already been on their first diet by their tenth birthday. As a young girl, I
felt enormous pressure to lose weight in order to 'fit in.' Many of my
classmates were fasting or taking diet pills as a means of losing weight,
even though none of us really needed to be concerned about weight at all. It
is tragic, because I probably would not have struggled with my weight as an
adult if I had not thought I needed to lose weight as a young girl. Our
young people are creating their own weight problems, often leading to severe
eating disorders. We need to change the way we think about weight issues and
thus prevent future generations from enduring these struggles.
DM) You talk about positive attitudes and messages. How much of an
influence does that have on weight loss?
DD) I believe that the messages we say to ourselves determine the outcome of
most things in our lives, including weight loss. I say, 'What we think about
we bring about.' I used to look in the mirror and see a fat, ugly,
undisciplined person. With thoughts like these, it was impossible for me to
be truly healthy and happy. By changing my view of myself, and learning to
look in the mirror when I was at my highest weight and say, 'I love you,' my
whole life began to change. I found that the better I felt about myself, the
better care I took of myself. Once I developed a positive attitude, my weight
problem began to take care of itself.
DM) How does a positive attitude affect your weight so much?
DD) Self-critical messages used to dominate my life. However, being so hard
on myself was only setting me up to cycle between the deprivation of diets
and the overindulgence of binge eating. To contrast, when I released my
negative self-image, I opened myself up to hearing the guidance of my 'Inner
Wisdom.' Our bodies send us valuable information about the amount and type
of food we need to eat, as well as the amount and type of activity we need to
enjoy: this guidance comes through tuning into 'Inner Wisdom.' My
self-critical thoughts drowned out this 'Inner Wisdom,' but self-acceptance
allowed me to hear it. 'Inner Wisdom' is what helps us to regulate weight,
without having to worry about weight at all.
DM) I see so many of those "Lose 30 lbs. in 30 days" books and infomercials.
What do you think of them?
DD) We are bombarded with crazy messages like these every day. 'Lose weight
on your lunch hour,' and 'Burn fat instantly' are a few other examples.
Physiologically, it is not possible for this to occur. These statements are
misleading and send people on yet another elusive quest for weight loss.
People need to start asking themselves, 'What do I really want? To lose
weight and then gain it right back again?' Or 'Do I want lasting health,
happiness, confidence and freedom?' Forget the quick fix and start focusing
on what you really want!
DM) But why are there so many 'legitimate' diets out there like Deal a Meal
and Weight Watchers?
DD) There is a multi-billion dollar diet industry in our country. Just
because these various programs exist does not mean that they are
'legitimate.' It is possible to lose weight by following many of these
'legitimate' programs; however, the weight is gained back in most cases.
Even if weight is not regained, there is an ongoing struggle to maintain the
weight loss. This is not true freedom! Unfortunately, because there are so
many weight loss methods available and people know of no other way to
approach weight issues, they keep playing the same old 'weight loss games.'
The good news is, there IS another way!!! That's why I wrote "Dr. Dorie's
'DON'T DIET' Book," to guide people to true freedom from their issues with
eating and weight.
Talk to other readers about this story.
|
