How can I help my daughter lose her post-baby weight? He's 4 months old already, but she still looks 6 months pregnant!

Since this is your daughter’s problem, she has to make the decision to take off the weight. If it isn’t her decision, nothing you do will make her change her mind or her body. She must want to lose the weight, you can’t lose it for her. You can only support her as a new mother, encourage her to consider her weight and health, and be there when she needs help. I understand your concern but you simply cannot live her life. Be supportive and available. If or when she decides to make a lifestyle change, you can be there. If you nag at your daughter or make her weight the only point of conversation it will backfire and only cause hard feelings. Right now, she is overwhelmed with being a new mother and any help on that end would be the best kind of help you could give her.

I know what I am talking about from direct experience. Even though my family and I follow a healthy lifestyle, I have people that I am close to who are smokers, heavy drinkers and others that are overweight. I can only be there for them, I can’t change them and neither can you. However, you can be there for support. Until then, live YOUR life, be a good influence and enjoy your grandchild.

I walk at least 30 minutes a day and do yoga and pilates on a semi-regular basis. What do you suggest that I add to my routine?

Your routine might be fine just as it is. What is your fitness goal? If you don’t have a fitness goal then anything you do will work since any road will get you there. What you are currently doing is a low level but beneficial routine. If you want to burn more calories, or lose weight this routine is probably not adequate. You will need to add more intensive cardio training like cycling or running or a high energy fitness class at least 2 days a week. If you want to build lean muscle, this routine isn’t adequate. You will need to add some weightlifting to your routine. It’s likely you will want to do upper and lower body lifting to strengthen and tone. This involves moderate weight and numerous reps (12 – 15 per set) probably one or two days a week.

Set a fitness goal and write me back.

I’m a woman who was just told by my doctor that if I don’t lose weight I could develop diabetes. I really like creamy salad dressings so I switched to fat-free dressing on my salads. So far I’m not losing any weight! Please help!

Trying to lose weight with fat free products is fundamentally flawed in three big ways:

1. Women need the nutrients in fat for many different bodily functions, including proper hormone development, energy production and brain function

2. Many fat-free foods including salad dressings are pumped full of sugar to boost taste.  Replacing fats with sugars leaves you feeling empty and unsatisfied

3. Last, and perhaps most important, fat in our foods and salad dressings supports absorption of fat-soluble nutrients in vegetables, such as vitamin K, lycopene, beta-carotene and lutein. Fat-free foods and dressings interfere with this process. 

Since full fat cream dressings can be high in calories I’d suggest choosing an oil-based dressing such as balsamic vinaigrette that has a lot of taste even in small amounts.

Remember that the fat free diet philosophy has led to the most overweight generation in the history of the world. If you want to lose weight the best plan is to eat less and move more.

What causes cellulite? How do I get rid of it? I'm 5 foot 5 inches tall and weigh 125 pounds. I do not want cellulite!

Cellulite refers to a dimpled (orange peel) appearance found mostly on the thighs but also sometimes on the stomach and arms.  Cellulite is technically enlarged fat cells that are poking through weak, loose muscles. The way to get rid of it is to burn it off and increase the muscle mass around it!

Basically if you do regular aerobic exercise (at least 30 minutes, 5 times per week) to reduce body fat, the dimpled skin should go away. You will also want to do regular weight lifting to tighten and increase your muscle mass while you are working to reduce body fat. Unfortunately, there is no cream or pill to reduce cellulite so don’t buy any “secret formulas.” It just takes a healthy diet and regular exercise to get rid of it.

I really want to lose weight for my high school reunion. I heard about this Baby Food Diet that the celebrities are using with great success and I want to try it. Is this a good diet?

The short answer is “yes it will work because it limits your caloric intake.” However it is not a sensible diet that can be sustained long term. You don’t want temporary weight loss do you? So you don’t want a temporary diet either. You want to be able to sustain your weight loss. Pureed foods are OK for babies without teeth but not adults. Baby food is designed for babies, not overweight adults trying to lose weight!  Babies and adults have different calorie and nutrient needs and baby food lacks the fiber, calcium, and vitamin D that adults need. When you choose pureed food over whole foods suitable for adults, you miss out on valuable nutrients and fiber as well as the fun and pleasure that should go along with dining on quality food.

The Baby Food Diet was created by a celebrity trainer named Tracy Anderson. It’s one of the latest weight loss fads and promises to curb cravings, allow eating on the run, and promote quick weight loss. The concept is very simple. Jars of baby food range from 15 to 100 calories.

The basic plan calls for eating 14 jars of baby food throughout the day, with an option to have a healthy adult meal for dinner. The diet requires substituting tiny jars of baby food for higher calorie snacks and meals. The Baby Food Diet consists of replacing one or more meals each day with jars of baby food. There are several variations of the plan; replace all food, replace one or more meals, or just eat baby food as a replacement for high-calorie snacks. The theory is baby food served in portion-controlled jars will prevent overeating and keep you satisfied with smaller portions of food. If you stick to this plan you consume fewer calories which triggers weight loss. There are no guidelines to help dieters keep the weight off or any exercise recommendations with this diet. Do you really want to eat bland, mushy baby food forever?  This is by definition a temporary weight loss plan which makes it just another diet gimmick that won’t last.

I recommend a more substantial change in diet and lifestyle that provides a long term benefit you can maintain.