Obesity Science Supports an Adjustable Schedule for Greater Weight Loss

A new study published in the International Journal of Sports and Exercise Medicine details the importance of an adjustable schedule and attention to recovery in order to lose weight.

Personalizing rest periods and dietary intake after exercise results in more permanent weight loss, according to a recent study published in the International Journal of Sports and Exercise Medicine.

Lead author and founder of The Catching Point Transformation, Dr. J. David Prologo, MD, is a dual board certified interventional radiologist and obesity specialist in Atlanta, GA. Dr. Prologo explains that, “A great deal of the diet  failures we see nowadays are because people are trying to follow generalized schedules written for the masses. In reality, each person needs different combinations of time and nutrients to change their bodies after a given workout.” “Coming back and exercising again before the body is ready – because a blanket schedule instructs you too - is like throwing a grenade on a rickety bridge, and most people react by ‘quitting their diets.'”   

"Coming back and exercising again before the body is ready. . . is like throwing a grenade on a rickety bridge. . ."

Instead, Dr. Prologo explains, people need to listen to the feedback from their bodies. When fatigue, soreness, and “the gloom” hit 4 or 5 days into the diet or fitness program – we need a program option that will adjust to that.

“The program we designed is based on the most recent, proven principles of obesity medicine. When that fateful day comes, instead of quitting – the user simply switches the day to a much needed “off” or “recovery” day, and the program recalibrates itself to keep the user on track.”

By “on track” Dr. Prologo means that the dieter won’t need to start over. The program generates a point total at which the person will reach their goals, and instead of “chucking the whole thing,” when your motivation wanes, the program will absorb and accommodate the users need for a day off. The schedule will reorganize accordingly around these needs for breaks, and the person “stays after” their original point total.

“What really matters in the end is how much exercise and how many nutrients a person gets. Not whether or not they can do it on a predetermined schedule.” “This way,” Dr. Prologo explains, “users give their bodies a chance to adjust for the long run.” “Dieters can actually finish a program. Finish and get somewhere.”

Figure. (A) To be successful, it is critical to time your workouts at the end of recovery, that you allow time for the application of stress through exercise or “watering” to induce change. (B) Traditional programs usually just schedule workouts in a grid, without considering individual recovery time, so the workouts come too soon, before recovery is complete – leading to a downward spiral, or a dead flower. 

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