“Lard and rolls are not allowed”: we decided to lose weight with the Ministry of Health
In March, the regional Ministry of Health announced the start of the fifth season of the weight loss project. As the announcement said, more than 400 Ulyanovsk residents have already been able to change their lives for the better by getting rid of the hated kilograms. Naturally, there was one in the editorial office of 73online.ru who decided to try the wonderful effects of the program on herself. Moreover, there is excess fat. Let’s talk about first impressions.
Some statistics
The problem of obesity is not new to the region. Every year, doctors detect excess weight in three out of every five patients, with all sorts of ensuing consequences: high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases. In advanced cases, obesity leads to oncology, diabetes, liver hepatosis and joint diseases.
According to statistics, women are more prone to being overweight, but for men, excess weight is more dangerous. If women have a resource for accumulating fat, inherent genetically, then the stronger sex is prone to abdominal obesity – in the abdominal area.
According to the candidate of medical sciences, associate professor at Ulyanovsk State University, gastroenterologist, nutritionist and pediatrician Elena Deryabina, There is no need to be self-willed. The human body is an individual thing. If for one person a diet from the Internet is the path to salvation, for another there are dire consequences. You also need to be smart about physical activity.
Lose weight with the Ministry of Health
In March, the regional Ministry of Health announced a call for people willing to take part in the new season of the project “Remote monitoring of the process of reducing excess body weight,” which offers consultations on rational nutrition, physical activity and proper daily routine. With a curator, the usual but harmful way of life changes.
It turned out to be easy to sign up – you just need to call, and then show up at the appointed time at the appointed place, where the test subject’s blood was taken, sugar and cholesterol levels were measured on the spot using special instruments, and the condition of the heart and body weight were checked.
They checked the volume of the lungs separately – you need to blow into a special tube strictly according to the doctor’s command (you won’t figure it out right away) – it worked the second time. Then they tested the strength of the arms, measured the size and weight (mine is 72 kg).
Based on the results of the manipulations, it was stated that, most likely, I would not be accepted into the project because I was not thick enough, although I was slightly overweight. Advised to eat less and move more (it would seem much more – four workouts a week). The analysis showed that cholesterol was slightly elevated, but I believe this was due to the dumplings that were destroyed the day before during the “night watch.”
The diagnostic apparatus, which does not understand the Cyrillic alphabet, identified me as “Caucasian,” which in the scientific community means the Caucasian race. I noted for myself that it was mostly women who came to lose weight, and not to say that they were very fat. Probably because men are beautiful as they are – in all their states of aggregation! There are contraindications for participation in the project: tumors, chronic diseases, heart problems.
They gave me a tonometer and scales
Two weeks later they called me back and told me that I needed to come to clinic No. 1 on Gagarin Street (apparently, still a bit thick). Later I found out that all participants were distributed according to their place of registration: more than a hundred people decided to lose weight with the Ministry of Health. At the clinic I found a woman sitting alone: “Are you also looking to lose weight?” She learned about the program from telegram channels.
We spent the next 15 minutes alone. Are there really only two strange women in the entire Leninsky district who decided to lose weight in this way, I thought. As it turns out, no. There are 15 of them. Another lady diluted our anticipation with funny stories about trying to lose weight on her own:
– When I was younger, I lost weight quickly. You shake your abs, do some squats and that’s it. And now? I decided to try to eat healthy. I even upset my family. And what? I don’t want to eat breast meat! I can’t sleep at night – I want candy! I’m not even too lazy to get out of bed.
– Exactly, exactly. “I came here early and while I was waiting, I managed to go get some pies,” another participant echoes her.
After another 15 minutes, a surprised question from a nurse was heard from the other end of the dark corridor:
– Are we losing weight? Where else should you lose weight?
You need to buy batteries yourself
We filled out questionnaires about how many times a month we eat different foods, how actively we move, and whether we have any bad habits. Equipment was issued against signature: tonometer, pedometer and scales. One document aroused particular interest: there you need to sign for permission to use “before” and “after” photos on departmental websites and in the media.
– In what form is the photo? — I asked.
“Don’t worry, not in swimsuits,” a relieved sigh was heard from those present.
We were given a short lecture on nutrition from the “more proteins and less carbohydrates” series.
— Can I have lard? And the rolls? – asked the participants. The answer was categorical – it’s impossible.
Every three days you need to enter data in your personal account on the DoctorPM website. Android owners are luckier – there is a special application, while Apple users will have to do this from a computer. There are also links to videos with exercises. The next meeting at the clinic is in a month, the project lasts six months. That is, the mission to “lose weight by summer” has failed in absentia.
To be honest, I wanted something more. At a minimum, consultations with nutritionists at least once a week, a general chat with participants and doctors, where you can support each other. It would be nice to arrange a couple of sessions with a psychologist. Overeating is their thing too. So far it feels like all this was done for show. At the same time, all the doctors and medical staff were very polite and good-natured. Overall, the project proves one thing – there is no magic weight loss pill. Physical activity and proper nutrition are the key to success.
