“Iʼm living the dream” [Gretel Marazzi]

After, down more than 125 pounds.

Meet Gretel Marazzi from West Haven, Conn. Owner of a mobile dog grooming service, Marazzi has been in business for 43 years and genuinely loves going to work every day. In just over eight months, Marazzi has lost 125 pounds and has a new appreciation for her life and complete faith in the program and staff at Medical Weight Loss Centers. Recently, we interviewed Marazzi about her experience with MWLC. See what she has to say about how losing weight, revolutionizing her life and bettering her future.

Tell us about your experience with Medical Weight Loss Centers.

“This program saved my life. The doctor told me if I didnʼt do something I was going to
die. I had given up all hope. I am 59-years-old, pushing 60, and currently this is the lowest Iʼve weighed since puberty at 14-years-old.

The biggest gift of this program for me – is my self-esteem. It’s more then the pretty clothes. Every day thereʼs a little discovery and its very subtle. Something comes up in my life and now I say to myself, ‘When I was fat I never used to question that.’ I realize, I have my self-esteem back, but in actuality – I donʼt think I ever had it. A lot of that was due to childhood upbringing, and I have that now – and I hold my head high. I draw boundaries for myself where I used to let people use me – because I wanted them to like me – because I didnʼt view myself as likable because I was fat.

I said to Andy, this program saved my life. The day I wrote the check and made the commitment I cried like a bastard. Here I go again, another freakinʼ diet, except this time Iʼm paying big bucks for it. The simplicity of this program is what works so well for me. Spending my day on the road being able to choose what I want to eat – Iʼve never been hungry since day one. If I do get hungry itʼs because Iʼve gotten so involved in my work that I forgot to eat, and then my stomach reminds me.”

What is your favorite thing about the program?

“How easy it is. The first day I walked out of the place I was totally overwhelmed. I sat down in a quiet place and started to write it down so it would make sense for me. The whole thing about being accountable, itʼs about showing up. The fact that itʼs medically supervised – thereʼs a lot of weight loss programs out there and because they arenʼt medically supervised – they donʼt get you the results as quickly. This program, because of the way itʼs designed, I think thatʼs what triggers people on. My first four weeks, I lost 24 pounds.

Anyone can go out and buy a scale – but the fact that this has medical supervision. This program is designed to the accordance of your needs, thatʼs huge. Once every six weeks you have blood drawn, you can see your progress on a heart and you can see you getting healthier. I was off the BMI range, now I am on the overweight/normal line. I always said I had 150 pounds to lose, and people laughed. When I was a real young kid, I weighed approximately 10 pound more then I did now, the difference between 15 and 59 is huge.”

What’s been the most rewarding experience for you so far in your journey?

“My husband and I love cruising. For eight years, I couldnʼt do any of the excursions I wanted to because there were weight restrictions. One year I talked my husband into parasailing – and he went and asked me ‘Arenʼt you going to go up with me?’ And I said to him, ‘You know I donʼt like heights.’

He was put in the harness, up they went … I photographed the whole thing – and I captured the exhilaration in his eyes – the look of a child on Christmas morning, it was just incredible. Then I looked at the woman beside him, and thought ‘That should of been you.’

Before her weight loss.

Every time I looked at the pictures, I would cry – secretly. I chose to eat a hamburger or whatever I was eating at the time – instead of going with my husband.

This year I decided to go para-sailing. I went up to the man, I was so scared. My friend, said ‘remember the picture.’ The man took us out to the parasailing boat, got me all
strapped in. When we got up there – I looked at Billy, and he looked at me – and the tears we were streaming down both our faces. He said ‘At last’ and I said ‘Yes.’

That was a Kodak moment if there ever was one. All I could tell the guy driving the boat – ‘Take me higher’.”

Cardio or Strength Training for Fat Loss?

Check out founder Andy Rodican‘s newest article on obesity in America, cardio and strength training for weight loss!

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Obesity in the United States

Seventy-percent of Americans are overweight or obese. Obesity is now the number one cause of preventable death in the U.S. Between 1998 and 2006 obesity rates increased by 37% and the cost of obesity increased by 89%. We spend 40% more on the obese patient than normal weight persons on health care ($1429/yr.)

Physiological Aspects of Fat Gain

Many of our patients have insulin resistance as a result of eating too many simple sugars in their diet. Insulin resistance leads to fat gain, diabetes, and a whole host of metabolic issues. However, fat gain is a three-pronged problem consisting of:

• 1. Too little muscle mass
• 2. Too low of a metabolic rate
• 3. Too much fat

Muscle Dictates Metabolism

Consider the fact that the average American loses approximately 6 pounds of muscle mass per decade. Additionally, American adults experience a gradual decrease in resting metabolism; approximately 3-percent reduction per decade. Therefore, weight gain may underestimate fat gain by up to 50% due to unrecognized muscle loss. Since muscle dictates metabolism, we can see how loss of lean tissue (muscle mass) perpetuates this cycle:

• 1. Less muscle tissue
• 2. Lower resting metabolism
• 3. Fewer calories used
• 4. More calories stored in fat cells

Reversing Fat Gain through Diet

Utilizing a protein-sparing modified fast or Very Low Calorie Diet protocol it is possible to lose 3.5-4.5 pounds per week and maintain muscle mass. At our clinic we utilize body composition analysis to measure muscle, water and fat before and after our twelve week program. We also use metabolic testing to evaluate resting energy expenditure (REE.) The vast majority of our patients will increase their percentage of lean muscle mass and increase their metabolic rate after completing the diet. The reason is that we utilize optimal protein (pharmaceutical grade), given 6 times per day, to avoid the leaching of muscle for the amino acids our body needs to perform a variety of functions. The result is rapid fat loss.

Endurance Training vs. Strength Training for Fat Loss

Many people are under the impression that endurance training (cardio) is a good option for weight loss. The fact is strength training is much better for fat loss. Endurance training may improve cardiovascular fitness and burn some fat, but it does not replace muscle mass and does not increase metabolism (resting energy expenditure.) Strength training, on the other hand, replaces muscle, recharges your metabolism, reduces fat and improves musculoskeletal fitness.

Strength Training Benefits

• 1. Fat loss through muscle gain. The average person adds 3 pounds of muscle after 10 to 12 weeks of strength exercise.
• 2. Avoid metabolic rate reduction. Average adult increases resting metabolic rate 7 percent with regular strength exercise.
• 3. Reduced body fat. The average adult loses 4 pounds of fat after 10-12 weeks of strength exercise. About 10 pounds with 1600 calorie/day nutrition plan.
• 4. Improved musculoskeletal fitness. As we age our body can go into a catabolic state (leech minerals from our bones.) Strength training can keep our bones strong and prevent this destructive process.

Recommendations for Beginners

• 1. Keep it simple
• 2. Be time-efficient
• 3. Be practical
• 4. Be effective
• 5. Exercise all muscle groups from larger to smaller
• 6. Train 2-3 days per week
• 7. One training set per exercise and advance (resistance and/or sets) to tolerance