1. Reduce your reliance on temporary and dangerous fast-weight loss programs, on great expectations of having it all done for you and on weight-loss drugs.

2. One of the keys in motivating yourself to reach and maintain your weight goal is to remind yourself that the proverbial buck stops with you.

3. Remember the 3C's: Commitment, - Changes, - Control.

4. In our quest for good health and trim and fitness, we are all pilgrims on the same journey. But some pilgrims have better road maps. If you are ready to make this journey, you should be in the driver's eat. EAT RIGHT - EAT LIGHT - EXERCISE. "Quitters never win, and winners never quit."

Passwater: You certainly understand the problems people have in losing fat, and you offer excellent advice and motivation. We are glad you switched from anesthesiology. Why did you chose to become a physician in the first place?

Conte: Perhaps it was destined! It came about sort of accidentally. I was in the ninth grade at school, back in 1938 and I was running out of time to do a term paper about "What I want to be and why." I had no idea of what to write about . I ran into the library just before it closed and explain my problem to the librarian. She suggested that I consider thinking about becoming a doctor. I opened the encyclopedia to "medicine" and began taking notes. When I went home and thought about it, it was only a dream. I guess the adrenaline was really flowing and I put my heart into writing the best I could. My teacher was so moved (s)he brought my paper to the attention of the principal. The principal called my future high school principal and the two of them planned my curriculum for my remaining years. Previously I was tracked for another school where I could learn something practical like carpentry. My family was not of the economic status to even consider advanced schooling such as college or medical school. The word spread in our small western Pennsylvania town and I received a lot of encouragement. I couldn't let them down.

AS they say, "the rest is history." My family and friends made sacrifices and helped me in numerous ways to reach what had not ever been my goal before that term paper: Becoming a doctor. I knew the financial hardships my family went through. It was shortly after the "great" depression. My father worked on the Pennsylvania Railroad. My brother, an attorney, and I have been very fortunate and appreciative of being raised in this country by our caring parents. I hope I have not disappointed my family and my supporting friends.

Passwater: That's destiny! Thank you Dr. Conte for sharing your wisdom with us.

REFERENCES

1. Increasing prevalence of overweight among US adults: the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, 1960-1991 Kuczmarski, R. J., et al. J. Amer. Med. Assoc. 272:205-11 (1994)

2. Medical hazards of obesity Pi-Sunyer, F. X. Ann. Intern. Med. 119:655-60 (1993)

3. Chromium Picolinate: The Longevity Factor Passwater, Richard A. Keats Publ. Corp., New Canaan, CT., (1993)

4. Economic costs of obesity. Colditz, G. A. Amer. J. Clin. Nutr. 55:503S-507S (1992)

5. Hearing before the Subcommittee on Regulation, Business Opportunities and Energy of the U. S. House of Representatives Committee on Small Business. Testimony of Janet D. Steiger, Chairman, Federal Trade Commission (March 26, 1990).

6. The fattening of America. Pi-Sunyer, F. X. J. Amer. Med. Assoc. 272 (July 20, 1994)

7. A non-prescription alternative in weight reduction therapy. Conte, A. A. The Bariatrician (Summer 1993)

8. The Allendale Study. Conte, A. A. In: Citrin: A revolutionary, Herbal Approach to Weight Management, Rosen, R., et al., eds., New Editions Publ., Burlingame, CA. (1994)

9. The Hilton Head Study II: Citrin 75 Conte, A. A. In: Citrin: A Revolutionary, Herbal Approach to Weight Management, Rosen, R., et al., eds., New Editions Publ., Burlingame, CA. (1994)

10. The effects of (-) Hydroxycitrate and chromium (GTF) on obesity. Conte, A. A. Abstract 60, 35th Annual Meeting Amer. Coll. Nutr., Atlanta, (Oct 1994)