Published: September 01. 2010 2:00AM

By Kondria Woods
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

What could be more of a contradiction: burning fat while actually consuming more food? Though it sounds like a hoax, it is just one factual part of a larger trend that is buzzing around weight loss programs. One can burn fat while eating more frequently, and there are organizations that are actively engaged with helping individuals understand how to make it happen.

“This is good advice,” said Kevin Pickens, owner of a Jenny Craig Weight Loss Center. “Our clients eat up to six times during the day. We tell them, ‘Don't allow yourself to get hungry.' That's when overeating happens. More meals equal a speedier metabolism when done right.”

A huge principle of Jenny Craig, Pickens said, is the focus on food, body and mind. The medically based program encourages clients to change their eating behaviors and recognize compulsions.

“One of the first things that clients learn about is the myth that certain foods are bad for them,” he said. “We start our clients with planned menus that allow them to try a variety of foods. The meals are prepackaged so portion sizes and nutrition are already addressed. We also offer weekly, one-on-one consultation with a Jenny Craig personal consultant to help our clients learn what they need to know. All of the information when starting many diets can be overwhelming, but our consultants help clients to focus on creating lifestyle change that is personally relevant to them.”

Pickens said more people are seeking long-term results and moving away from “yo-yo dieting.”

“We don't even use the word ‘diet,'” he said. “It's really the word ‘die' with a ‘t' at the end. I've personally lost 25 pounds with Jenny Craig, and I've kept them off. The organization's 25-year record of success has really shown that the one-on-one contact between clients and consultants has been a main factor.”

The accountability and camaraderie of working on weight loss goals in a group setting is also finding many fans. Tisha Oates, Weight Watchers leader for the Upstate South Carolina area, has seen an increase in new members.

“Weight Watchers is seeing a lot more young people,” Oates said. “A lot of these members are dealing with health issues that aren't typically seen until much later in age. Many want to change their unhealthy habits and develop new, healthier lifestyles. We have new moms coming to lose baby weight, women who want to lose weight to get healthy for a pregnancy and we have more men than ever attending our meetings. They are very interested in good health and are finding that Weight Watchers is a good fit for their weight-loss goals.”

According to Oates, herself a lifetime member of Weight Watchers after losing 40 pounds and keeping the weight off for the past four years, all members begin with a “getting started” session. Nutritious eating options and portion sizes are discussed and weight loss goals are set. They also learn that there are no “wrong foods.”

“I think this is the thing people love about Weight Watchers,” she said. “We encourage our members to include the foods they love, and to learn how to incorporate them in a balanced way. They learn new habits and learn not only what and how much to eat but why they eat as well. They learn to include foods they love in a positive way that includes portion control and the ability to eat what they enjoy as part of a new healthy lifestyle. Attending a weekly meeting and journaling helps them keep track of their progress. The groups can include 20 to 40 people at any given time, and there's a lot of interaction. We also have eTools on our website, which are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

Oates said the idea of “eating more” is a definite fit with the Weight Watchers philosophy.

“We encourage our members to stay ahead of hunger,” she said. “It's good to have several small snacks across the day around regular meals. Don't let yourself get too hungry. You're going to make poorer choices and you're going to set yourself up for binge moments.”

By teaching members to seek satisfaction from “filling foods” like fruits, vegetables and lean proteins, they realize that it's possible to fuel their bodies with a lot fewer calories, Oates said. And contrary to popular belief, those infamous weigh-ins are all confidential.

“(Members) get to eat real food,” she said, “food they can prepare themselves from the grocery store, or regular food at restaurants. The meetings and online support provide the ongoing structure and accountability to stick with their weight loss goals, because we all need a little help and support for the long term.”