LIFESTYLE
By: Ashley Caudill
Self-improvement resolutions exercise more, get in shape, eat healthier foods, and lose weight dominate most to-do lists at this time of the year.
We live in a weight-obsessed nation. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s ban on the dietary supplement ephedra, which has been linked to several deaths, made recent headlines. A popular health-and-fitness book, "The South Beach Diet" (former President Bill Clinton is a devotee), has dominated The New York Times’ nonfiction best-seller list for more than 10 months.
Just a few short weeks after making their resolutions for 2004, some people may have already given up. Others, intent on keeping their promises, have boosted enrollment at local workout centers and weight loss clubs.
"New gym memberships increase 10 to 30 percent in January," said Liz Katawick, manager and personal trainer at Pro-Fitness in Hightstown. "Gym traffic (number of times that regular members come to the gym) increases by 20 percent at the start of the year."
Two local sisters determined to make changes in their lives and bodies are finding success in their battles against weight, having lost a combined total of more than 200 pounds.
East Windsor residents Meryl Canape, 52, a project control specialist, and Lora Canape, 50, a computer analyst, have been participating in a weight-loss program for a year and a half at Princeton Weight Management Center. Meryl is 5’1 and her start weight was 220 pounds. She has lost more than 80 pounds. Her initial goal weight was 128, but she realized that was not realistic and has reached her current goal weight of 140 pounds and wears a petite size 8 or 10. Lora is 5’2 and her start weight was over 300 pounds. She has shed more than 130 pounds and is continuing to work on acheiving her goal weight.
The program began with the weight loss phase that lasted for 13 months.
"You are given a specific prescription: Three shakes, two entrees and physical activity of 300 calories a day," Meryl said. "What is different about this program is that is the least amount you must have."
The weight loss program the sisters participated in requires that a person must eat a minimum of the required amount and can add additional food. The additional calories taken in are balanced with increased exercise.
After losing some weight, a minimum of three vegetables and two fruits is added to the daily intake. The sisters found that a focus on minimum instead of being given a maximum or cut-off amount is essential to the program.
Being able to take on the weight battle with a partner has been crucial to the Canape sisters’ success.
"That was the key for me," Lora said.
"Doing it with my sister was great," Meryl said. "It was easy to do it together."
Soon after embarking on the program in the summer of 2002, Meryl and Lora went on vacation to Prince Edward Island. They brought along boxes of the program’s entrees and ate only the prescribed meals. Though the region is known for its seafood, the sisters didn’t feel as though they missed out by sticking to their diet.
"We decided this is what we’re doing," Lora said.
For the entire 13 months that they were on the weight-loss phase of the program they ate nothing that was not in the program nothing but the shakes and entrees, which they say are quite tasty. According to Meryl, initial cost of food on the weight loss program is approximately $120 per week. The cost goes up if more shakes and entrees are added to the diet. There are additional costs for visits to a doctor which will vary based on a person’s insurance and necessity of appointments and laboratory work. There are also monthly fees for the weight loss and maintenance periods. The cost for 18 months of maintenance is approximately $1,200. But prices vary according to a person’s need, how long they are on the program, insurance co-pays, etc.
The sisters agreed that keeping strict records of everything they consumed was also an important part of weight loss.
"You have to be accountable keep records of everything you have and exercise," Meryl said. "To me it was like a formula. Entrees, shakes, water and exercise equals weight loss."
Lora felt it was important not to get discouraged. "You learn that there are patterns of weight loss," she said. "Everyone’s body finds its own rhythm." She discussed how at times she would not lose any weight for weeks and then it would start coming off.
Meryl said she tried dieting in the past, but found she was starving. She would stop the diet and gain all of the weight back. Meryl describes herself as a "volume eater," one likes to consume food in large amounts. By attending her weekly classes, she learned that she does not have to completely change her habits.
"I can still be a volume eater I just have to choose foods that are lower in calories," Meryl said.
Lora has found that the maintaining her weight is more difficult than losing weight.
"When you are in the weight loss phase, it is decision-free," Lora said. "Maintenance is a struggle. You no longer have that tunnel vision."
Medical concerns influenced both sisters’ decision to lose weight. Lora was having trouble with her knees and Meryl had high blood pressure, conditions that have improved greatly since they have lost weight.
The Canape sisters, who grew up in Roosevelt and attended Hightstown High School, have struggled with being overweight for most of their lives.
"Before I would have a hard time finding clothes that fit and would get frustrated," Meryl said. "Now I feel like it’s not my fault. It’s the clothes."
The weight loss has caused a change in their attitudes and perceptions.
"Before I felt like when I would go out people would look at me (in a negative way)," said Lora. "People don’t look at me like that anymore."
Being overweight was a major source of concern for the Canapes.
"I had trouble finding clothes," Lora said. "If I went somewhere I had to wonder if there would be parking close (due to the trouble she was experiencing with her knees), if there would be chairs without arms in a restaurant, if there would be a seatbelt extension on planes, if I would fit in the seat."
Meryl felt limited in her choices and did not feel as though she could participate in some physical activities. She did not feel confident when she was restricted by the extra weight.
"Now I feel I can do what I want," Meryl said.
Exercise is an integral part to the success of the women’s weight loss.
"I can do things now go places, walk places, exercise," Lora noted. Lora has started doing such activities as water aerobics and walking. She joined a gym, does regular aerobics and takes weight or pump classes.
Meryl, who does not enjoy typical exercise regimens, has found the best way for her to exercise is by climbing steps at her workplace. To stay in shape she runs nearly 1,000 steps a day.
Lora has lost 130 pounds and Meryl has lost 80 pounds through the weight loss program at Princeton Weight Loss Center, medically supervised by endocrinologist Dr. Ned Weiss. Though losing weight and maintaining a new body is not easy, the sisters are determined to accomplish their goals. "People want to wish it (the weight) away, but there are no magic bullets it’s work," Meryl said.
With the start of the New Year many who want to accomplish goals similar to the Canape sisters’ goals have joined local gyms.
Ms. Katawick of Pro-Fitness in Hightstown advises that people looking to lose weight should "set reasonable goals. Make sure to drink the proper amount of water, and exercise regularly, but not strenuously."
"Most people try to do too much too soon and end up getting burnt out after four to six weeks," Ms. Katawick warned. "You have to take your time (for the exercise to be) more beneficial."
Sharon LaForge, owner of Evolutions Fitness in Hightstown, says her gym usually sees enrollment increase in late winter and early spring due to the fact that people have been cooped up inside for the winter, are starting to feel a bit of spring fever, and have started thinking about summer.
Ms. LaForge finds that of the people who join her gym "50 percent of people keep coming consistently, 25 percent come and go, and the other 25 percent we don’t know what happens to them."
To lose weight, Ms. LaForge advises "learning how to eat healthy not doing anything drastic. Diets fail because people learn to eat in a way that is not natural … you need to learn about nutrition and food. There is no quick weight loss."