Hendricks can help in fight to lose pounds. Weight management clinic can be the coach in your corner!
BY EILEEN WILSON
A new year, another New Year’s resolution. Seems like most of us make reso- lutions that in some way, shape or form, involve our weight or the foods we eat. Some resolve to drop 10 pounds, eat more vegetables and build more muscle.
While some of us strive to fit into that little black dress, others are trying to drop pounds as a matter of life or death.
Luckily, if you’re trying to lose weight, or attain optimal health, these are battles you don’t have to fight alone.
“Obesity is not a self-help disease,” said Paula Hendricks of Hendricks for Health Center for Weight Management. “There is so much misinformation out there. So many people listen to the media — but you can’t just give a blanket solution.”
Hendricks for Health, which opened its doors in Roseville over two decades ago by Dr. Ed Hendricks and Paula Hendricks, his wife and nutritionist, has helped thousands of patients — from the obese client who is looking at bariatric surgery, to the fit client who simply wants to maximize nutrition and health.
Dr. Ed Hendricks explained the importance of maintaining a healthy weight.
“The truth is that excess fat causes metabolic problems. People who are overweight have higher incidence of cardiac disease and the risk can begin with the first few pounds,” he said.
Dr. Hendricks said that though you might not see serious disease for decades, the underlying problem is there, just under your excess layer of tummy fat. “It’s a progressive thing — the excess 10 pounds becomes 15, then 20. And the longer you wait to deal with it, the more difficult it is to get the fat off and keep it off,” Dr. Hendricks said.
But losing weight doesn’t have to be a chore. After analyzing a client’s health, the Hendricks team can put together a plan for the individual; a plan that includes the proper amount of protein, which Paula Hendricks said is key.
“You have to eat the right amount of protein for your body,” she said. “The three macronutrients – protein, carbohydrates and fat, plus micronutrients like minerals and vitamins, will help you stabilize your blood sugar.”
People succeed with the center’s help because they are learning a new lifestyle.
“We teach people how to eat and what to eat. It’s not till the wedding, or until I fit into that dress, it’s something people will stick with — and that’s where people can fail when they do it on their own.”
Granite Bay resident Piper Miguelgorry has improved her health dra- matically, thanks to the Center for Weight Man- agement. Suffering from Type 2 diabetes, Miguel- gorry learned of the cen- ter from a friend who had visited the Hendrickses and looked and felt great.
“I set up a consultation — I interviewed Dr. Hendricks. I wanted to get to the heart of the program and find out why I should see ‘him’ and not another physician,” she said. “I found out that he is a leading physician for obesity.”
After losing 50 pounds in just six months, Miguelgorry was a believer. Since keeping the weight off for over two years, she has eliminated her diabetes and no longer takes medication. She has substantially reduced her body mass index and body fat overall, and her energy level is higher than ever.
Miguelgorry said the center has taught her how to read labels and how to eat right, not to mention how to integrate exercise into her daily routine. Keys to her success have been adding protein, decreasing meal portions but eating more, smaller meals, drinking plenty of water, and walking for an hour each day. “I pack healthy snacks to take wherever I go, and I educate others whether they want it or not,” she said. “People need to know how to live, not how to die. I don’t just eat boring salads. I love meat and protein, and I don’t ever feel cheated.”
Hendricks for Health offers patients fresh, delicious recipes like Tasty Taco Soup and Skinny Potato Skins each month. Paula Hendricks encourages anyone interested in weight loss, or improving their health to visit their Website or stop by their Douglas Boulevard office to learn more about a healthy lifestyle.
