Sometimes it seems there are as many weight loss programs out there as there are overweight people. Despite replacement meal shakes and programs that claim the Kardashians swear by them, Australia is a country struggling to lose the kilos with almost half of its population overweight. Which makes the release of My Whey seem like a non-event; just another program on an ever-expanding market, right? Perhaps not. My Whey aim not just to tackle the space between people’s thighs, but the bit between their ears too. By providing support, counselling, and the understanding that many mental issues come with excess kilos, the folks at My Whey are hoping theirs is a program with a difference.
My Whey combines meal replacement shakes with an online program. The program itself is free, (the shakes will cost you), and includes a Facebook support forum run by health-care professionals and an initial 15 minute counselling session with a psychologist. Whilst 15 minutes with a psychologist probably isn’t enough to change years of ingrained unhealthy eating patterns, the folks at My Whey have assured me that follow-up counselling is available at a cost. Users can also ask the psychologists questions through the Facebook forum, which is monitored carefully by doctors. The My Whey team doesn’t see overnight weight-loss as a desirable outcome; instead, they want to change the way people think, eat, and live permanently. Director of MyWhey, Stephen Smyth says: “With the MyWhey Weight Management Program, we understand dieting from a psychological perspective, using a variety of proven psychological interventions. Our goal is for you to develop a ‘new eating lifestyle’ and furthermore, one that can help you enjoy life and support wellbeing.”
As for the meal replacement shakes, My Whey were more than happy to reassure me that customers would not be instructed to cut all solid food and instead would be asked to swap one meal a day, (or two, if the customer chooses), for the shake. With My Whey, customers will not starve. “Food represents a deep and emotional attachment for human beings. The body reacts to restriction and diet with powerful forces saying there are too many restrictions in that plan and thus research has shown that the more restrictive the diet the faster the weight regain”, a representative of My Whey explains. Meals should be nutritious and healthy, as is the shake itself, and exercise is encouraged.
Whilst the idea of weight-loss programs and shakes is not original, My Whey seem to be taking the right steps by acknowledging that fighting the obesity problem is not just about weight loss. With the aid of doctors and psychologists, My Whey are addressing the mental issues that surround unhealthy eating and are determined to change peoples’ lives for the better. Weight loss programs may be coming at us thick and fast, but My Whey seem to be ahead of the rest of the pack.
