A few weeks ago, Joe wrote about the Make This Year Different event that was held from January 4-7 of this year.  The event was a free, four-day program that gave people the opportunity to engage with health care professionals who could help with weight loss questions.

People asked registered dietitians and pharmacists hundreds of questions.  Here are three of the top questions and answers.

1. How do you fit exercise into a busy schedule?  For example, when you work full-time, have kids, etc.  You don’t have to hit the gym or hire a personal trainer to make a real difference in your health. Studies show that moderate exercise—such as walking for 30 minutes every day—can reduce your risk for disease.
The great thing about exercise is its cumulative effect—you don’t have to do it all at once. You can add it to your activities throughout the day by sneaking in a little extra walking into the things you already do.

What's important is including activity regularly in your routine.  Start small and work your way up. Consistency is your goal.  Go to myalli.com for additional information.

2. Do high fiber foods help in weight loss?  Yes.  Adding lean protein and fiber to a diet, especially a low-fat diet, increase satiety.  Many times, high fiber foods are also lower calorie and are a good source of other nutrients.

3. Does alli work for men?  Yes, alli is for overweight women and men.  In fact, there is a message board forum dedicated to the guys on alli.

Even though the chat room and phone line have closed, videos from weight loss experts are still online through the end of January.  You can also continue to get advice from your local pharmacist.  You may not know this, but many pharmacists have earned certification as weight control counselors as part of their continuing education.