Weight Loss Docs

I've fought both extremes - though I must admit most of this is self-perception - too skinny and too fat. I recall being in high school and having friends tag me with nicknames like "Slim" and "Stickbone." Though I knew it was good old-fashioned ribbing, it made me feel a bit inferior, especially with girls.

Much to the dismay of my parents, I began drinking protein shakes thinking that this would solve my problems. Now I know these can be used properly, but I was trying to make a quick fix and was guzzling them to extremes. They didn't always stay in my stomach for very long.

My concerned mother contacted my pediatrician and he informed her that I should stop worrying about my weight because college was right around the corner where weight gain seems to be inevitable. I stopped drinking the protein shakes and my doctor was right because a few years later, I began my battle with obesity.

Over the last 15 years, I have gained as much as 60 pounds to what I once weighed in high school. According to my height, 20 additional pounds to my former weight is fine, but definitely not 60.

A few years back, I got back to my ideal weight, but have since ballooned up. This is the time of year when many people make New Year's weight resolutions. I need to make it a lifelong, life-changing reality. I know that I can lose the weight, but once it's gone, I need to make sure it doesn't come back.

It was with these goals in mind that I recently visited the Meyer and Malin Family Practice in Ballston Spa. Located at 418 Geyser Road in the Country Club Plaza, the business is run by doctors Vincent Meyer and Julia Malin.

"There are a number of different things that can affect your weight both up and down. One of the things we do here is we give you the tools you need to manage your weight," Meyer said. "It's a lifelong thing."

While many places give you a diet plan to reach a goal, they don't do a good job of preparing you for life after the goal is reached.

"We all learn to eat when we're two years old and those are the habits we follow our whole lives," Meyer said.

The doctors look for whether or not there's an underlying cause for the weight issues - thyroid, blood sugar etc. Those kinds of issues can make it impossible for someone to lose weight no matter what diet plan they're on.

After the initial get-to-know-you meeting - physical, set up for lab work, blood pressure, conversation etc. - the doctors ask the patient to do nothing different, but keep a diet log.

"That's where we find all of the surprises - the hidden calories, midnight snacks, soft drinks - people don't eat all day and then eat a 5,000 calorie dinner," Meyer said. "People don't realize where their issues are."

Meyer and Malin are true believers in the system as they've lost 30 and 17 pounds themselves respectively.

The diet they teach can be described as high in protein while low in calories and carbohydrates to spare muscle. The doctors also advise against weighing yourself every day as it can drive one mad with just the changes based on something as simple as drinking water.

For protein, the doctors have struck up a relationship with the Vermont-based company Bariatrix. The family-run business has been around for three generations and offers a whole slew of products including cookies, soup, oatmeal and the ever-popular Proti-Bars. After spending a year looking at everybody's program and taste testing the three finalists, the doctors found that Bariatrix overwhelmingly had the best taste.

"The thing we like about them as well is the sheer variety. You get a lot of meal replacement diet plans and basically all you have is shakes - a shake for breakfast, a shake for lunch and a sensible dinner," Malin said. "How boring is that, especially for a lot of us because we like food."

Exercise is also an important part of the equation, but the amount of time needed to be spent at the gym varies from patient to patient.

"The goal from the standpoint of keeping your heart healthy and toning to get the weight down is to be exercising a few times a week, even if that is just going for a brisk walk," Meyer said. "If it gets your heart rate up, that's good."

They admit that the high protein diet isn't for everybody and they will also prescribe diet drugs and/or supervise other diet plans. 

"There's a lot of competition in the market and the biggest are of course the national chains - the Jenny Craigs, Weight Watchers. They all have programs and their programs aren't bad," Meyer said. "What we offer that they don't is we're doctors."

The service is geared specifically for adolescents and up.

"Young children are still growing and we don't want to restrict them. It's more a matter of encouraging them to make healthier choices and be more active," Malin said.

Currently, Meyer and Malin have approximately 3,000 patients in their general practice, which has been around for six years. The weight loss center, which had been discussed for some time, opened in July after the doctors got frustrated with their own weight gain and wanted to do something about it.

For more on the Meyer and Malin Family Practice, visit their website at www.meyerand
malin.com or give them a call at (518) 584-5333.