Calorimeter Machine Helps Dieters Meet Their Weight Loss Goals - WMDT 47 News - Delmarva's Choice

OCEAN CITY, Md. - We're just two weeks into the new year, and some of us are already having trouble sticking with those resolutions, especially if weight loss is the goal.

Well to help you hit that goal, 75th Street Medical in Ocean City has a helpful tool waiting to take your breath away. It's called the "Calorimeter Machine".

"The machine measures your oxygen consumption so we can correlate how much metabolism your body is doing, and that gives us how much your body burns, which is called calories," said Dr. Victor Gong, Medical Director at 75th Street Medical.

I was the test subject, so to get started Dr. Gong measured my height and weight. I found out I grew a quarter of an inch, but it wasn't all good news. I gained six pounds during the holidays, which makes me a good candidate for Dr. Gong's test.

For the next ten minutes, I sat there with a plug on my nose and a tube in my mouth, lightly breathing non-stop. Finally, it was complete and the results printed instantaneously.

"You're exercising about 190 calories a day. Your lifestyle or normal routine, walking around things like that, 546 a day. So you're resting metabolic rate is 1800 calories," said Dr. Gong.

Once I heard that, I knew I had been overeating, thanks to my sweet tooth. So now the hard part: setting a goal and achieving it. Doctor Gong suggests a simple start.

"If you don't exercise at all maybe start walking twice a week. Cut back on your wheat and cut back on your sugar," he suggested.

Doctors also say not to eat too little calories, or your workout will leave you overworked and underfed, which can have you throwing in the towel much sooner.

To take the test, most places charge $150, but at 75th street medical, you can get it done for only $50. No insurance needed. There they can create a customized weight loss program just to fit your needs.

For more information, or to make an appointment call 410-524-0075.