Ask the Coach
Weight-loss pill Hey, Coach! Hurrah for Alli the new weight loss pill. I don’t even need a prescription for it. I can buy it over the counter.
I hope this pill works. I am wondering how much it will cost.
Do you know how much it is?
Signed….Weight Loss
Dear Weight Loss: It is the Coach’s understanding that Alli is the only federally approved weight-loss product now available over the counter.
Even though no prescription is necessary, it is still suggested that people investigate this new product.
Perhaps a good suggestion is to check with your primary- care physician and/or pharmacist, even though it can be obtained over the counter.
The Coach called a local pharmacy and received the following information:
60 pills for $39.24; 90 pills for $49.63 and 120 pills for $62.88.
The pharmacist said that the pills could be taken up to three times daily, which equates to about $1.50 to $2 a day, and they should be taken with a “fatty meal.”
They should be available next week at the pharmacy that was called, so that may mean that all local pharmacies will have them then, as well.
Of course, the Coach just has to take this opportunity to say that there is no substitute for doing things the good, old fashioned way: Eating a nutritional diet and working out almost daily.
Workout times
Hey, Coach! You put in your column that we should work out for 60 minutes, instead of 30 minutes.
Everything else that I read says 30 minutes.
How come you are always telling us 60 minutes?
Is that because that’s what you like?
Maybe we don’t have the time that you have, so I think 30 minutes should be enough.
Signed…Cardio Girl
Dear Cardio Girl: You pose an interesting question(s). The Coach has to agree with you that most places still encourage us to work out for 30 minutes, which used to be the recommendation for three days per week.
Is that enough?
For most of us, the answer is “no.” The U.S. Department of Health about two years ago doubled its recommendation to 60 minutes of intense cardio activity on most days of the week, which means about five days.
One of the reasons behind “doubling” the recommendation was because our society is getting heavier, which has led to all sorts of health issues, including obesity and diabetes.
In essence, we weren’t getting the job done with 30 minutes thrice weekly.
Of course, we Americans are also eating more, along with being more sedentary.
Thus, the Department of Health doubled its recommendation and guidelines.
So, if you don’t have enough time for 60 minutes, by all means, please continue doing 30, which is better than 20, etc.
Do what works for you, but just know that, in this case, more is better for most of us most of the time.
Still losing it
The Biggest Winner is still at it. Phil Michael lost two and two pounds, respectively, the last two weeks, meaning he has dropped from 386 to 318.
That’s 68 pounds.
The Coach talked with Phil recently about breaking 300, but Phil didn’t seem to be impressed with that number — because he has sights set on something much higher, or lower, as the case may be.
He’s thinking 286, which would be a loss of 100 pounds.
Good luck, Phil.
There’s no sense stopping now.
Coach’s Comments: When you think you’ve exhausted all possibilities, just remember that you really haven’t.
Thanks for making the Coach a part of your day, and have a safe weekend.
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You can contact the Coach at askthecoach2003@yahoo.com.