ASK THE "DON'T DIET" DOCTOR

Dear Dr. Dorie:  The day after Thanksgiving, my husband usually fasts for an entire day to compensate for the feast from the day before. Is this dangerous?  What other ways can he deal with his fear of weight gain?
- Feast or Famine

Dear Feast or Famine: 
For some, Thanksgiving can become permission to engage in an all-out binge. People play the 'diet tomorrow' game, where they allow themselves to indulge because they plan to compensate for the excess calories the next day. However, this all-or-nothing attitude does have its consequences.

Gorging on food can result in extreme physical discomfort from being overstuffed. Consuming large amounts of food in a single sitting is hard on the digestive system, which functions more efficiently with moderate portions spaced throughout the day. Also, overeating can trigger feelings of guilt and fears of weight gain. These can lead to desperate efforts to compensate for the calories consumed.

Fasting is one of many methods people use to control weight after overeating. However, this approach can lead to fatigue, weakness, irritability and other consequences. Also, the nutrients stored from a binge the day before are not enough to provide the body with all that it needs to sustain itself. The body will convert its own protein stores -- its muscle tissue -- into glucose to stay alive. This results in a slowing of metabolism making it easier to gain weight in the long run.

The best way to address your husband's concern of weight gain is to prevent overeating in the first place. He needs to learn that it is possible to enjoy Thanksgiving without overindulging. If he pays attention to his hunger and fullness signals, he can eat all the foods he likes and stop eating before he becomes too full. Sometimes hunger and fullness signals can be hard to detect, especially if your husband has been a dieter in the past. However, with practice, he can learn to recognize these signals again.

If your husband feels that he has overeaten, encourage him to 'eat normally' the next few days instead of fasting. If he responds accurately to his hunger and fullness cues he will probably find that he is not as hungry and does not require as much food as usual to feel satisfied. He will be able to consume less naturally, which is the body's way of regulating its weight.

Forget about fasting to prevent the accumulation of excess pounds. Instead, use hunger and fullness signals as a guide to reduce overeating and regulate weight.

© 2006 Dr. Dorie McCubbrey, all rights reserved.  As one of America's leading experts on obesity and eating disorders, Dr. Dorie is the author of How Much Does Your Soul Weigh? (HarperCollins, 2003).  Visit www.DrDorie.com for more diet-free solutions to your food, weight and body worries.

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