By Anna Bratulic

The Suburban/October 24, 2007

Munching on cookies is usually not the advice you get when you want to drop a few pounds, but that’s the approach taken at Smart for Life Weight Management Centres.

We’re not talking about Chips Ahoy here. Dieters are put on a regimen of nutritionally balanced meal replacement products, the most popular of which is the Smart Cookie, which comes in chocolate, chocolate raspberry, cinnamon, oatmeal raisin, pina colada, banana, and… pizza flavours. Made with all natural and organic ingredients.

Patients eat six cookies per day — or a combination of other Smart for Life products, such as specially prepared shakes, muffins and soups — and have a high protein, low fat supper in the evening.

"The cookies train your body to eat small multiple meals throughout the day” says Tina Di Salvia, director of the two Smart for Life centres on the island.

“But the important part that people have to remember is that you will not be hungry whatsoever with these cookies. You have a cookie and a glass of water. The combination of both, with the protein, the fibre, the amino acids [in the cookie], and the water, fills you up.”

The physician-monitored program emphasizes a one-on-one approach and Smart for Life patients lose an average of 12 to 15 pounds every four weeks.

Mix 96 radio host Cat Spencer took the Smart for Life weight loss challenge and, since September, has lost 28 pounds “and counting” on his 6’4” frame.

“The day before I started I was very nervous and thought about backing out because I love food and thought it was going to be impossible to change my ways,” says Spencer.

The experience was easier than expected, and Spencer says it shed light on some his bad eating habits. “I now really do believe I had some sort of sugar addiction. I loved sweets and snacking, but within two days of starting the program I lost all cravings for anything sweet.” he says.

Assistant investment advisor Annie Koutrakis learned the hard way that the trickiest part of losing weight is keeping the bad calorie-laden habits at bay. She joined the Smart for Life program three years ago but, like many a dieter, managed to lose the weight only to gain it all back in the coming years.

“I had good results, but unfortunately I didn’t follow their suggestions in their maintenance plan, so I found myself a few years later having put on all the weight. In February I decided to go back.”

Forty pounds lighter these days, Koutrakis is now in the second month of her three-month maintenance plan, and is learning what her food boundaries are.

“[The first time around], I didn’t watch my portions. I didn’t watch my carbs. I have a problem with carbohydrates. I have to know that I can never have a plate of pasta as my main meal. It has to be a quarter of the plate.”

“Patients who follow the maintenance program will keep their weight off” says Tina. “Consumers Choice Award 2007”.

Smart for Life has two locations on the island of Montreal: 5180 Queen Mary Rd., suite 410, tel. 514-489-8840; and in Pierrefonds on 4877 St. Charles Blvd., tel. 514-626-1555. www.smartforlife.com

40 centers across the United States & Canada.