Women hlotoo o ovon nuMMoneJ odds
By Sara Martens
U he premise states that an athlete cannot perform
to the utmost when overweight. It also holds that an
athlete on a crash diet cannot maintain training or the
weight loss attained.
The problem: to slowly lose weight while maintaining a
balanced diet and strenuous athletic training.
The solution may be in a program incorporated in the
UNL women's swimming, diving and volleyball pro
grams. Administered through the food and nutrition depart
ment and women's athletic trainer Karen knortz, coaches
Ray Ruppert and Terry Pettit have put their athletes on a
weight loss program with the aid of computers, body fat
measures, power programs and training.
The swimmers' diet was prompted by Huppert's desire
to set an example for his team. This desire for good health
led Huppert to loose 32 of the 230 pounds he carried on
his six-foot frame.
"I thought it was important for my appearance and
health. I found it a challenge, a motivational type chal
lenge, something I wanted to do," Huppert said.
THE COACH said any athlete with a weight problem
who eats in the residence hall cafeterias probably will pro
long the problem.
"I take nothing away from the dorms. I believe they do
everything possible. But remember, they cook for 3,000
and the ice cream machine doesn't shut off after one
cone," Huppert said.
Hie coach admitted he is not an expert on diet, "but
I've watched through 1 1 years of coaching as individuals
try to loose weight and I've taken to the statement that
we need to learn how to eat to live rather than live to
eat."
With the odds seemingly stacked against a proper diet
and weight loss, Huppert and Pettit have set out to change
the situation.
Huppert said a number of swimmers are concerned
about their weights.
"I coach women. It seems that every woman in the
world is concerned about her weight. Our girls are not
heavy, but some girls do need to loose weight."
The team members began recording their daily intake
Sept. 10. After three days information was put through a
computer to determine the number of calories and
amount of fat, protein, vitamins and other essentials.
THE ATHLETES then must meet with a nutritionist to
discuss diet deficiencies or overloads.
They also will be screened by Knortz to assess basic
fitness, muscle flex and body fat.
Knortz, in her second year at UNL, has been involved
in similar screening with the New York Jets professional
football organization for six years.
Screening is not popular with trainers, she said, because
many do not want to take the time or do not see the need
for it.
"They take care of injuries and forget prevention.
There are good injury stats and a better ability to predict
injuries due to screening," she said.
Knortz said there are no solid statistics to back her
claim of fewer injuries after the screening because the
support comes from clinical research where variables can
not be controlled.
"I believe the proof is in the pudding. The volleyball
team's body fat has dropped 6 percent from last year
with basically the same group. That should be reflected in
their performances. It can't hurt., it just makes sense,"
Knortz said.
They will continue to write down their daily intakes to
make them aware of calorie limitations.
"NOT ONLY ATHLETES, but everyone is more know
ledgeable of what foods we should eat. I noticed in the
last three years the types of things they (the volleyball
players) eat has changed. Now they will bring along nuts
and raisins for a snack rather than Twinkies and cook
ies," Pettit said.
The volleyball team has been on the diet program for
about four weeks and has recorded an average of five to
eight pounds lost per prayer.
"I don't think there are any secrets or gimmicks. You
just have to find a want to motivate people," he said.
Every swimmer will begin the program, but a few who
have trouble because they are overweight during the
season will not be required to continue.
Cindy Agee, a senior co-captain on the team, has such a
problem with weight loss.
"It's supposed to help those who haye trouble main
taining their weight. Maybe it will tell me how to eat
right," she said.
Agee said one of the major problems with the women's
program concerning weight control is the lack of a train
ing table for female athletes.
"A TRAINING TABLE would solve the problem. In
high school I would eat a pound of meat a day. In a house
or dorm you are only given so much. An athlete will burn
up more and have a problem getting enough of what we
need," she said.
Junior Cathy Morrison said the program will enhance
her personal diet plan which has met with "limited
success."
"It's a lot harder to swim overweight," Morrison said,
citing the psychological factor of feeling heavy. "Coach
will be a motivator. I saw him loose that weight over the
summer and it was an inspiration."
Separate from body weight but also a factor in an
athlete's performance is percentage of body fat. Huppert's
goal is to have the team members swim with between 6
percent and 19 percent of their body weights as fat.
"Last year's team average was 20.5 percent. Through a
power program, training and dieting we can attain that
range," Huppert said.
A high body fat percentage is not necessarily reflected
by an individual's weight.
"A girl last year was 5-foot;l, weighed 96 pounds and
had 18 percent body fat," Huppert said.
In addition to better athletic performances, Huppert
said the women will feel better, be healthier and have an
improved attitude toward themselves.
"I thank God that I'm in a business, sports, that shone
a light for me," Huppert said. "I believe in 'don't do as I
do, do as I say.' Don't test me. My 'do' I did a long time
ago. But athletics is more reassuring when I can set an
example for both them and me. I hope my determination
can rub off on one or two people in the program."
Readers' losses prompt gains in diet s success
By Betsie Amnions
diet which began with- a humble
small town New York program for cardiac
patients has proved to be a weighty success
for its creator. -
Published in eight countries and examin
ed on every talk show from "Donahue" to
"Tomorrow", the diet has raised the town
of Scarsdale, New York from suburban ob
scurity to international recognition.
The Scarsdale Medical Diet, born in a
modest eight-doctor clinic in the affluent
suburb of 12,000, is the brainchild of Dr.
Herman Tarnower, a self-described
"country doctor."
Tarnower shares his program with the
world in his book "The Complete Scars
dale Medical Diet Plus Dr. Tarnower's Life
time Keep-Slim Program" published by
Rawson, Wade, Inc. of New York, $7.95.
In a telephone interview from Scarsdale,
Tarnower said he received so many re
quests for the diet that he wrote the book
in self-defense.
He said the diet grew from his need to
find a simple, satisfying way for heart
patients to shed dangerous weight.
His patients -gave the diet to their
friends, who gave it to their Friends, ad in
finitum, according to Tarnower.
"It had a chain letter effect," he said.
"It got so that it was the element of
success breeding success." :
THE BOOK has been on the New York
Times non-fiction bestseller list for 33
weeks, and was number one as of Sept. 2.
Tarnower said the hook's success was a
surprise. v
"It's something ! hadn't expected," he
said with a chuckle.
The book's roots lie in two articles
about the diet published in the New York
Times, Tarnower explained, Following the
articles, he received thousands of letters
and was approached by several publishing
companies.
Since it first was published in December
pc3 6
1978, there have been 25 editions and
nearly 600,000 copies sold, according to
Tarnower.
Tarnower said he thinks the diet's
success lies in its simplicity. It calls for two
weeks of concentrated dieting, with pre
scribed menus consisting mostly of fruits,
vegetables and high-protein meats, fish and
poultry.
He contends it is possible to lose up to
20 pounds in the initial stage.
The foods are varied enough that they
don't become boring, Dr. Tarnower said,
and the requirements are straightforward.
"These are foods people eat all the time,
so they are easy to accept," he said. "It is
common sense food."
IN ADDITION to the regular two-week
diet, Tarnower has created the internation
al gourmet, vegetarian and money-saver
programs to fit individual needs.
After the first two weeks, Tamower re
commends that persons stay on his "Life
time Keep-Slim Program". It includes the
same foods the diet does, but allows larger
portions and an occasional treat, such as a
cocktail.
The diet prohibits the usual blacklisted
foods-sugars, carbohydrates, breads,
butter, vand desserts. The only beverages
allowed are coffee or tea. An occasional
egg is alright, but milk is not recommended.
While Tarnower said he thinks exercise
is beneficial, he did not include exercise in
the book.
- "I was asked to do a book on diet," he
said.
However, he said he is considering
another book on how to live a better,
longer life. It would include a complete
program of good nutritional habits and
exercises. '
Tarnowei warns persons over 40 against
attempting a fitness program, stressing that
too much jogging may cause leg and knee
problems and uterine problems inVomen.
DESPITE SCARSDALE 'S Eastern
image, complete with a lifestyle that is
foreign to most Midwesterners, the book
has enjoyed popularity in Nebraska.
Kathy Stasch, manager of the B. Dalton
Bookstore at 13th and O streets, said she
attributes the book's success to people's
willingness to try any new diet.
Stasch added that many famous people
have used the diet publicly which also
may have helped sales.
Sandy Johnson, Nebraska Bookstore
trade book buyer and manager, said she
thinks the book's popularity is totally the
result of an intense publicity campaign.
Johnsdn said she usually opposes diet
books and warns her customers about
them. She called the Scarsdale book "a real
rip-off at $7.95."
"People can find out all they need to
know from women's magazines," she said.
Tarnower said he has made no special
effort to promote the book. In fact, he
said, he declined a proposed trip to
Australia.
THE DOCTOR said he would send any
one a copy of the diet if they sent a self
addressed, stamped envelope.
Tarnower said his life has not changed
much since publication of his bestseller.
He still practices medicine each day at the
Scarsdale Medical Clinic, 16 miles north of
New York City.
Dr. Tarnower said his approach to
medicine always has been simple treat
ment, and that he was practicing long be
fore most modern drugs were developed.
fathom
friday, September 21, 1979
