Ask the Dietician: Vitamins not an issue with hunger, weight gain

on May 27, 2009 at 10:06 AM, updated May 27, 2009 at 10:07 AM

Q: I am hesitant to take vitamins because they seem to make me hungrier. Also, I heard vitamins can make you gain weight. Is that true?

-- E.D., Comstock Park

A: There is no connection between vitamins and either hunger or weight gain. I have heard others express this concern recently so I wonder if this myth is making the rounds again.

If you would like to keep your weight in line or lose some weight, here are six weight-loss strategies to use for successful weight control from Mayo Clinic.

The first strategy: Make a commitment and acknowledge permanent weight loss takes time and effort. Success is temporary when you have short-term, extreme goals, such as "lose x amount by June 10." Also, weight loss has to be done for yourself, not for someone who is pressuring you to lose.

Second: Get emotional support from friends and family. Choose people who want to share the healthy lifestyle priorities you have chosen, and who will work toward goals with you. For instance, someone who would love to walk with you while chatting.

Third: Set a realistic goal of slow, steady weight loss. One to two pounds a week of weight loss means you are cutting back 500 to 1,000 calories per day.

Fourth: Include healthier foods. Adding more plant-based foods, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains, while cutting down on fattier snacks, can help fill you and save calories.

Fifth: Be more active. Even though it's true regular aerobic exercise (walking, biking, etc.) can burn body fat, lifestyle activity can be easier to fit into your day. That means parking a distance from the door (I still see people circling around in parking lots for the closest spot -- not a smart weight-control move). Or taking the stairs instead of the elevator.

And last: Make changes in your behavior part of your life. Some people do really well for a while, but if the changes are too different from their typical behaviors, they go back to their old ways.

You need to choose behaviors you can succeed at and make the changes a permanent part of your life (for instance, drinking water instead of high-calorie beverages).

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