Doctor designs his diet

By Erica Kinnaird, STAFF WRITER May 04, 2004

Local physician develops own plan from popular weight-loss programs


If you're one of the millions of Americans fighting an ever-growing waistline, you'll most likely want to shed some of that excess weight eventually - if you want to stay healthy, that is.


But you've tried every diet on the market, and the weight doesn't seem to stay off. Or, you've never dieted before and don't know where to begin.


Well, first things first.


You need to let go of the tight grip you have on your McDonald's french fries, your delicious fresh-baked bread and your big bowl of pasta.


It's not going to be easy if you aren't serious about it, says Dr. John Walker, a specialist in gastroenterology at High Point Regional Health System.


Walker, who has struggled with his weight for many years, is quickly moving up the ranks in the diet world with his own version of the low-carb diet - the Walker Diet.


It's something he's been testing for about seven years, he says.


Though it is somewhat similar to diets such as South Beach and Atkins, Walker modified the plan to fit his own needs - and it's worked for him and many others who are now on the Walker Diet.


It works because they stick to the plan.


Take Steven Owen, for instance.


Owen, of Jamestown, has been on the diet for close to one year and has lost about 25 pounds, he says.


He describes himself as part of a more health-conscious group of Americans, and he wants to maintain a reasonable weight.


He says his goal is to see 200 pounds again, and if he continues the plan, it's likely to happen - as long as he doesn't include too many french fries and too much bread in his plan.


He hasn't cut those type of carbs out completely but is eating everything in moderation, a key to success.


In addition to moderation, he includes low-carb products offered in the Walker Diet, such as shakes and bars, for convenience.


Fortunately for those on the Walker Diet, there isn't a book to buy, and you don't HAVE to purchase his products in order to be successful.


He offers all the information on his Web site, www.walkerdiet.com.


The site gives detailed descriptions of the three phases of the diet, and it even offers meal suggestions.


Walker says his own interest and education in dieting started many years ago.


"I was very heavy as a child," he explains. "I came from an Italian family. ... I grew up on bread and pasta."


Naturally, Walker struggled to lose weight because he continued eating large amounts of carbohydrates.


"At one point, I weighed 225 pounds," he says.


Although he was able to lose some of the weight by going on low-fat diets, he often gained it right back.


That is until one of his patients told him about a low-carb diet he was trying.


"It made sense to me," he says.


That's when he began experimenting with different low-carb plans.


"Atkins allows too much fat," he says.


So he cut excess fat out of his plan.


His diet also promotes more fiber intake than South Beach, he says.


With a combination of less fat and more fiber, the Walker Diet starts out with the "rapid reduction" phase.


This phase, which generally lasts anywhere from two to four weeks, allows few carbohydrates. Walker says this is the time dieters will lose the most weight.


The weight loss tapers off as you move into phase two, "continued reduction," which introduces more carbohydrates into the diet. Phase three, "maintenance," allows even more carbohydrates, but teaches dieters to control the amount of bread, pasta, etc.


But the diet isn't for everyone, Walker says.


For him, it really took a commitment to lose the weight.


He made the decision to stick to it, though. And he has for years.


"I need to be healthy," he recalls thinking when he first started the diet.


So he started with a little bit at a time.


"When you make a conscious effort, it becomes easier," he admits.


He follows the rules most of the time but allows treats on occasion.


"Pick a day where you get to eat pizza and doughnuts," he says. "You'll come to savor the treats. It becomes a little bit more like a reward."


For someone just starting out on the diet, Walker suggests setting attainable goals. He also says exercise is a vital part of losing weight and maintaining it.


A person could begin "cutting out sugar and bread. That would be a great start," he says.


But it's not exactly easy to stick closely to a low-carb diet without a little help.


That's why the Walker Diet, like many other diets on the market, has its own line of convenience foods, "for those who are on the go," Walker says.


It's just another option out there, he says.


What's more, Walker has taste-tested each and every product he offers.


If he doesn't like the taste of something, it goes back to the drawing board.


His products, he says, offer good sources of protein and fiber, and are all organic.


He's even spent the past two to three years testing different diet shakes.


"A lot of them aren't good," he admits.


Once he finally found the perfect blend, he offered them to his family.


Even his kids drink the shakes, which are loaded with vitamins and other essential nutrients.


"You could drink six shakes a day if you wanted to," he says.


Like his children, who aren't on the diet but regularly consume the products, the Walker Diet is a smart way to live a healthy lifestyle.


"A person who is not overweight can go on a low-carb diet," he says. "It's about eating healthy. I look at it as health food, not diet food."


But, he reminds potential dieters, "you have to have the right mind-set before you decide to go on a diet," he says. "And I'm living proof (that it works)."


Walker Diet products

Walker Diet Shakes: offered in banana creme, chocolate, strawberry, vanilla

Walker Diet Syrups: offered in chocolate, pancake, raspberry and vanilla

Walker Diet Bars: offered in chocolate peanut butter, cookies and cream, and creamy cinnamon bun

Walker Diet Spaghetti

Walker Diet Pretzels: offered in regular and jalapeño

Walker Diet Quick Potatoes: offered in classic, bacon, cheddar and chives, and sour cream and onion


Supplements are also offered, and other products are in the works.


Visit www.vitacost.com/products/walkerdiet or www.walkerdiet.com for product and diet information.



(c) High Point Enterprise 2004 (High Point, North Carolina)