Book Review: The Thinderella Syndrome

Book Review from Women's Digest - May/June 2005

"If I just take this pill regularly, I'll lose fifty pounds and be slim for the rest of my life." If I follow this grapefruit and cantaloupe diet and stop eating red meat, I'll lose all my excess weight and never have to diet again." "If I drink this liquid diet food twice a day, I'll lose weight without exercising." Statements such as the above are characteristic of what Dr. Dennis Gage, M.D., F.A.C.P, calls the "Thinderella Syndrome." Gage, certified in internal medicine, endocrinology and metabolism, is author of the book The Thinderella Syndrome: A Practical Guide to Individualized Weight Loss, in which he describes three steps to losing weight, and, more importantly, keeping weight off: realization, regimentation and reorientation.

Gage says most people trying to lose weight are like fairy tale characters that look for some type of magical potion or a prince to take them away from their horrible problems. They have unrealistic ideas concerning weight loss. "Patients want to be taken care of," he notes, "but they don't want to take care of themselves." Gage describes how many people are able to lose weight, but are not able to keep it off. He discusses the dangers of yoyo dieting, in which weight is lost, then regained, then lost, then regained, etc. Gage says most diets don't work because they are too drastic to implement over a long period of time, and he explains how to fight discouragement from what he calls "scalitis," being too attached to a scale and letting a few regained pounds discourage a person from achieving their weight goal.

The first step in any diet, notes Gage, is realization, "which involves the ability to accept and not run away from the basic facts." Understanding one's eating patterns is crucial; one must understand what is going on before one can make changes. Gage suggests that people make food logs, writing down everything they eat. He says for this to be most effective, the log should include the time, place, circumstances and one's state of mind at the time of consumption. After reviewing this food log, one will see patterns emerge, giving incite into why one eats as one does. The main problem right away is that people don't want to make food logs because doing so shows their bad eating habits. Gage explains that in his medical practice, the patients who are the most meticulous and honest with their food logs are the ones who will most likely be successful in the long run. The ones who stop making their logs or just come in and ask for diet pills are the ones still caught up in the "Thinderella Syndrome."

Gage's next step, regimentation, refers to "control over food intake." He explains, "Ultimately it is the acceptance of ways to control food intake in some manner that will yield a permanent weight loss." Gage includes many helpful ways to approach weight loss. For example, meals should be eaten at the table, not in front of the TV or while driving. The process of eating should be pleasant. Gage notes that if one is going to splurge on calories, he certainly won't enjoy those extra calories in a doughnut that is being stuffed down his throat while he runs to a meeting. Save those "extra calories" for that special night out. Other techniques include putting down one's fork after taking a bite of food and not picking it up again until the food is swallowed. Taking a few sips of water after every few bites is also recommended. Gage also explains that many people see food as reward or compensation. After a bad day at work, one might reason that (s)he deserves a big piece of cheesecake. Gage suggests other ways in which to reward oneself, such as getting a message or buying a gift for oneself.

A major point of Gage's discussion is that change must be gradual and slow for it to be permanent. He says, "The greater the change, the less likely it is to be successful in the long run. This is why behavior modification works best by making small-step pattern changes that can be practiced, managed and accepted without overwhelming the patient."

Besides explaining many eating techniques, Gage explains how one should be assertive in losing weight. For example, in a restaurant, one could ask the waiter to bring the salad right away instead of the basket of bread. Or if one usually passes a tempting candy shop on the way home, one should make an effort to take another route.

The hardest part of weight loss, notes Gage, is reorientation, which refers to a change in lifestyle that will keep the weight off. The change must be a permanent part of one's life, not just something implemented temporarily. People are often discouraged at this step because it takes the longest to put into practice. Says Gage, "Remember, to diet is to ‘change lifestyle,' and not just to lose weight." Gage gives an example from his practice of a woman weighing 210 pounds who wanted to lose 75 to 85 pounds. When he asked her if she were willing to spend one and a half to two years achieving her goal, she replied that was a long time; but he then pointed out that she had spent 25 years yo-yo dieting without success. Both effort and time must be invested in making a lifestyle change permanent. Gage emphasizes, "You live a diet, you don't do a diet" and "There is very little difference in dieting and maintaining a healthy weight." Those who are serious about their health will appreciate Gage's straightforward explanations and benefit from his many logical and pleasant ways to approach weight loss.

Danita Stokes
Freelance Writer

 

 

 

 

 

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