Most people in affluent societies recognise that being overweight is unhealthy, and currently large numbers of people, predominantly women wish to or are attempting to lose weight. However, despite this concern, the prevalence of overweight and obesity continue to increase in Australia and in many other affluent countries.

As stated throughout this book, a common misconception is that weight issues are correlated with how much one eats. Causation factors for obesity include the types of food eaten, set point and weight loss resistance issues. It is therefore difficult to relate any single component of diet such as fat or kilojoules to weight gain.

The following case studies are good examples of how a change of perception and willingness to try a new health philosophy and eating regime can have positive, long-term health and weightr loss success.

Case 1.
Cathy, 28 years of age came to me regarding a range of issues including her weight. These included daily digestive problems that her doctor had told her were symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome; and premenstrual syndrome (PMS) which we both thought was connected to hypoglycaemia as she regularly had high and low energy, corresponding emotional patterns and food cravings.

At 18 years of age, Cathy had weighed 65 kg and was 170 cms tall, and had a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 23. Back then she and had wanted to lose around 3-5 kg So and thus had tried many diets, including most well-known ones. all these diets without exception left her feeling hungry most of the time and led overeating episodes. Now she found that when she restricted her food intake, she did not lose weight. Cathy wanted to feel better and achieve weight loss of around one kilo a week.

We started by discussing the effects of food restriction and set point. Cathy admitted that she had became pre-occupied with food, and we discovered that her repeated diets had led to weight loss resistance and to her gaining more weight.

Cathy very much liked the idea of eating according to hunger and without restricting her food intake. I explained how the body's set point mechanism worked and the effect of rapid weight loss triggering an alarm reaction which produces cravings and overeating episodes. I told her this was normal and for her to achieve permanent weight loss she must not only lose weight but also re-adjust her set point.

She left armed with new information and felt encouraged that her health issues were all being addressed. She also anticipated that her current BMI of 27 was going to be coming down without hunger.

One week later
Cathy told me that the first few days were hard, but that she was now used to the regime. Further, she was extremely happy that her regular daily stomach aches were totally gone. In fact Cathy was enjoying her food and didn't feel hungry nor constantly deprived. We also discussed how she could occasionally include alcohol in her eating regime.

One month later
Cathy was very pleased and comfortable with her new diet, and more so that she had lost nearly 2 kg. She was amazed at the ingredients found in foods. She also appreciated that the time she had put in at the supermarket reading labels and finding foods that were going to encourage weight loss and not cause weight resistance was paying off for her.

Three months later
Cathy was ecstatic that after four months her BMI was now 24 and she had lost nearly 6.5 kilos. She also told me that her menstrual problems and hypoglycaemia had disappeared. I was very thrilled because Cathy was healthy and looked great. I was also delighted that she did not want to lose more weight as many women with normal healthy body weight believing they need to lose weight. And we know the story, they start dieting and just like Cathy, they often end up gaining weight and experiencing eating and mood disorders.
Cathy and I also discussed weight loss maintenance, and how to expand her food choices and drink dry red or white wine with meals without affecting her set point.

One year later
When I next met Cathy a year later she had lost another 1.5 kg and now had a BMI of 23. She was sporting a happy attitude and continued to be free of menstrual and other health problem. Her health energy, and waistline were just great.

Case 2
Regina was 47 years of age and had progressively gained weight with each of her three children. Before she was married her BMI was 24 (height 165 and weight 65 KG). She told me that her husband used to say that she had all the curves in all the right places. Now her BMI was 36 and she weighed around 90 kg. She had tried every diet that she could get her hands on and nothing has worked.

Finally she went to her doctor who told her that her blood sugar level and blood pressure were above normal. He recommended either surgery or a modified fast which only included around 200 KJ of vegetables per day. with those choices she said that the surgery sounded good but as surgery is not without possible complications, she decided to first try the Slim for Life regime.

One week later
Regina was encouraged that although she was eating as much as she wanted and had already lost ane and a half kilos. She said,

" if this keeps up I will be slim in no time."

I explained that weight loss would be more rapid at first, and will slow down as the body gets closer to its ideal weight. We discussed snacks, and Icautioned her against overeating or skip meals but rather encouraged her to eat a substantial two or three course lunch. Regina was happy to continue and apply herself, as she was not feeling deprived of food.

One month later
Regina was very happy as she had lost 4.5 kg and was feeling much more comfortable. A visit to her doctor had shown that her blood sugar and blood pressure were both now lower. Her doctor told her to keep doing what she was doing, as her health was now definitely headed in the right direction. She was so excited and she told me that she was keen to start exercising. I cautioned her to start gently and slowly. What she needed was good walking shoes in which to walk 20-30 minutes every second or third day. Regina looked happy.

Three months later
After four months on the Slim for Life regime Regina had now lost 18 kg and her BMI was 26. She turned up with her runners on and told me that she had been walking at least every second day. Her doctor had recently told her that both her blood sugar and blood pressure were now normal and asked her what she had done, as he also wanted to lose a little weight.

I'll give him a copy of this book, she said.

We discussed that need to stick with the regime for at least another three months will her set point was re-balanced.

One Year later
Regina had lost another 4.5 kilos and was back to her BMI of 24. We were both very pleased, as she really felt a new lease of life. Regina and her husband were now planning to go on a second honeymoon without the family. We discussed the need to stay with the maintenance regime for her to remain slim for life.

One and a half years later
I receive a post card from Regina in which she tells me that her BMI had remained at 24, and that she remained with the maintenance regime but also eats whatever she finds appealing from time to time.

Case 3

Denise was fifty-six years of age and came to me complaining of middle age spread. She told me that before menopause at fifty-two years of age her 167 cm frame was always around 65 kg, and that she had never had any weight issues. This meant that her BMI had been 23. She went on

Now, I weigh 72 kg and my clothes don't fit anymore. I refuse to starve myself. Counting fat, carbohydrates or whatever is not for me, it's a miserable way to live as every time you are hungry you have to start counting.

I started to explain the Slim for Life principles, focusing on the how certain types of foods are a weight gain risk and do lead to eventual weight gain - commonly called middle age spread. Denise was happy to start the Slim for Life regime as she liked the principle of eating according to hunger and not restricting how much she ate. She was keen to reduce her current BMI of 26.

One week later
When Denise next came in she told me that she had done some serious shopping and label reading. Since then she had really been enjoying her meals. In fact her husband had not yet discovered that she was on the Slim for Life regime.

Who would of though that there was such a variety of food to enjoy. I have not been hungry nor felt deprived, she said. I was really pleased. She had lost half a kilo, and felt less bloated.

One month later
At her next visit Denise expressed disappointment that she had only lost a total of 1.5 kg, as she had hoped to lose weight more quickly. We also discussed the alarm reaction that rapid weight loss triggers. Denise told me of an obese friend who had lost much more weight is the first month. I explained that this was normal because she was not that far off her healthy weight, weight loss occurs more slowly. She was pleased, as she told me she had applied the principles strictly. I congratulated and encouraged her to continue.

Three months later
After four months Denise had lost a total of 6kg, and returned to her life time BMI of 23. Even though she was slim virtually her whole life I explained that she still needed to observe the maintenance regime as her set point needed to be adjusted to her new weight. She was happy to do that, and happy that she could enjoy her food and her clothes.

One year later
I rang Denise to have a chat. She told me that she had lost another kilo, and was feeling great. Her husband and family had also been using the regime with mixed results. She told me that her husband tried it for around 2 months lost weight but then started to eat "take-away" lunches - this eventually bought him back to the Slim for Life regime.
Her teenage grand-daughter Kahli, had wanted to trim down by about six kilos. When Kahli saw me slim down she wanted to know what I had done, said Denise. Initially she was shocked at the amount of food I ate, but said if gran can do it I can do it too. So I gave her your notes and encouraged her to follow the regime. Kahli lost her 6 kg and continues to follow the maintenance regime. Denise told me that some of her granddaughter friends starve themselves then binge. She then remarked,

I mean this [regime] makes much more sense to me. Who would of thought that the regime would bring our family closer together, but it did.