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INTRODUCTION
(from Book)
Weight management can be one of the most frustrating experiences of a person's life. Unfortunately, being overweight has become a national problem affecting millions of people, including a significant number of teenagers. Since beginning to work in the area of weight management in the late 1970's, I have learned and profited from my clients' successes and failures. After over 20 years of working with people of all ages, I have developed a program specifically for teens in the 21st century. The F.A.D. program is easy to understand and will help any teen (or adult) start gaining control of their weight problem. The F.A.D. program stands for Feelings, Activity, and Diet; all of which must be addressed in order for you to be successful. Many of you may find that your parents will also want to start using the F.A.D. Program. While any age group can use the program, the purpose of this book is to teach this powerful new program to teens.
The F.A.D. Program will help you understand all aspects of weight management. In this book many of the secrets and lies of the fashion, exercise, and food industries will be revealed and discussed in full detail. Much of the inside information from these industries comes by way of the personal stories of individual clients with whom I have worked over the years. Their stories will let you in on many of the inside stories revealing how the fashion, exercise, and diet industries manipulate us in today's society.
My work has often included helping young women suffering from eating disorders such as compulsive overeating, bulimia and anorexia. Many of these young women have been models, fitness instructors, and dieticians offering a behind the scenes look at the ways in which the fashion, exercise, and food industries lie to America's teens. I will hold nothing back, except for their real names, in sharing with you many of their stories. Most of all, you will be given the tools to begin gaining control of your weight today.
It will come as no surprise to you that the number of teens experiencing weight problems is at an all time high in America. This is causing significant health problems, not to mention the emotional teasing from your peers, and difficulty shopping for clothes and accessories. Teens in America are facing enough difficulties without the added burdens of a weight management problem. Both girls and boys can use the F.A.D. Program. Many of the examples and personal stories will be from former clients, but the truths revealed about how your feelings are related to weight problems and the easy to understand explanations concerning exercise and food will be beneficial to every teen. I will include personal accounts from young men and women who have successfully battled a variety of weight management problems.
As you progress through the program an entire chapter will be devoted to one of the building blocks of the program - Feelings, Activity, and Diet. In each of these chapters you will learn many important and easy to understand principles about each of these three building blocks. Much of what you will learn about food and exercise will help clear up the confusion caused by the mixed messages in the media. You will also become more aware of how the media actively distorts reality in a way that disrespects every teen in America. Along the way we will have some fun and you will finally feel empowered to be in control of your body and learn to spot the media lies. As you learn to take more control of your own weight management the mixed messages from the various media regarding weight will be less confusing.
There will also be a chapter on emotional problems associated with out of control eating that will help you know if you or a friend may be suffering from an eating disorder or depression. This chapter will not be kind to the fashion or advertising industry. The total lack of respect these industries have shown to teens will be revealed in a "no holds barred manner". The rise of eating disorders among boys and athletes will also be discussed as a way for you to understand and perhaps help in this new wave of eating disorders among America's teens.
A lot of the information in this book you will want to share with your parents. When and how you share information with your parents will be left up to you. As you will see, your parents may unknowingly be a part of your weight problem and so your ability to educate them will only help you in the long run. Your parents may also benefit personally from much of what you will learn in this book. How much you involve your parents in this very personal journey will depend a lot on the relationship you have with them and their willingness to listen and learn.
Before we move on you should be proud of yourself for undertaking this journey and finally Gaining Control of your weight management problem. The ways in which your life will be personally changed will vary from person to person, but there will be no area of your life that will not be affected in a positive and life-changing way. All that I have learned over the past twenty-plus years and all that my clients have taught me will now be passed on to you. What a gift this will be in your life!
One final thought is that this book is written so that the chapters do not have to be read in any particular order. You can pretty much pick up the book and begin reading at any point and skip around at your leisure. In other words, there are no rules in how you read and use this book. You will want to refer back to certain sections that have more personal relevance in your own journey towards weight management. Share what you learn with your friends so that they also can experience the success of managing their weight and eating.
FAD Teen Weight Loss Program & Guidebook by Dr. Gary
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