Blockbuster movies and Weight

I went to Blockbuster last nite and it was amazing how they constructed their checkout system. You literally have to walk thru a maze of huge packages of M&Ms, Skittles, popcorn, Snowcaps and bunches of other stuff. You can not avoid traversing this maze to get to the checkout with your movie. Also, signs imploring you to do the special $14.99 deal..2 movies, larges popcorn, 2 sodas....

Checking out at the supermarkets are a similar challenge of seeing all these great loooking snacks.

Bottom line: Do not go to these places before eating your dinner meal and be stalwart in your decision making NOT to buy any of these things that are so prominently displayed. You can enjoy your movie WITHOUT these high-caloric items and you will live many more years to enjoy those movies!

weight and health

I have had my internal medicine practice for over 20 years now and I have had the great fortune of being able to follow many wonderful patients for over 2 decades. Yesterday I saw several medical patients who have had a number of medical problems related to obesity...diabetes, arthritis, heart disease risk factors such as hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. For many years I have implored these patients to lose significant weight because of the risk of developing major medical problems.

The patients I saw yesterday indeed are now in deep problems and their prognoses are very poor. I can only wonder if they did attend to their weight problems years ago, what type of difference in their health would be occurring now.

Once again, the point is the "investment" you make now in reducing your weight will pay long term dividends. It is no "fun" giving up food sources that we love and make us feel good immediately, but it is even worse to have to deal with medical problems that will strip you of your health, happiness and finances. The patients I saw yesterday would trade in one millisecond their years of eating poorly to be able to not have the problems they are now encountering. Be wise...now is the time to be poractive in reducing your weight...before it is too late.

Snow, Ice and weight

For all of you who may have a day off because of the weather conditions, make yourself resolute in NOT turning this into a high-caloric, watch TV and play on computer day. The situation of being housebound lends itself to a certain boredom that results in passing the time by cooking food, baking cookies or snacking in front of the tv or computer.

If you have exercise equipment in the house, please use it!!! Also, this morning, take out a piece of paper and plot out your meals and snacks for the day and do NOT stray off this list.

Also, if you have some extra time, try to "mentate" through some of the challenges that you may be having as this relates to weight issues, and write out some strategies that may be effective for you to combat these challenges.

Put on that heavy winter weather gear and take a long walk! Do not allow your snow day to become a high-caloric day.

weight and energy

Many of our patients notice that when they lose a substantial amount of weight, their energy levels improve markedly. I often hear these patients remark that when they were very overweight, they didn't realize just how low their energy levels had become. It was almost as if their low energy levels gradually took over and they were "lulled" into thinking this energy "status quo" was acceptable. Only when they lost the weight and gained their energy back did they recognize just how bad the situation was.

Can you imagine what it would be like to carry a 30-50 pound weight in your arms the entire day? Just how tired you would be at the end of that day? If you are weighing 30 or more pounds above your acceptable body weight, basically, it is the same concept. Losing that weight makes it much easier for your joints and internal organs to function.

Take a step back and assess your own energy levels: Do you basically "crash" at the end of your workday? Do you find yourself not having the "get up and go" that you used to have? Do you find yourself complaining to your family and/or friends about how tired you are?

Losing weight will allow you to get your energy levels back and let you enjoy life much more!

Metabolism and weight

There is not one person who enters our weight loss program that says: "I have a problem...my metabolism is so fast, all i have to do is look at food and the pounds melt away..."

To the contrary, pretty much everyone, especially our female patients, tells us that their metabolisms are VERY slow and as time goes on, it seems to get slower and slower.

A few helpful hints: make sure to eat frequently during the day...not lots of food...but frequent. When you skip meals, the metabolism slows down. Also, exercise seems to jack up the rate of metabolism. Alcohol seems to very much clow down metabolism.

Even though it is winter, try to find ways of getting that exercise in. I was at the park today with Tanner the Dog and lots of people were out there despite the temperature of 25. People were bundled up but still exercising. (This park thing is becomign an ego buster for me...everyone passes me even though I am "running"...I think even Tanner is embarrassed by my pace!)

weight loss and appearance

This is a very sensitive subject: how we are perceived by others in the professional workplace when we are overweight. Are we less likely to be promoted because we are overweight? When given the competition to be hired for a certain position, do more "inshape" people have a greater chance to be selected? Are we taken less seriously by our colleagues when we are overweight?

Obviously the answers to these questions are variable depending on the people/situations involved, but I do think it is fairly certain that being overweight cannot help our professional progression. Some of my patients have expressed this perception about their workplace experiences: "If my boss thinks that I cannot take care of myself, why would he think I can take care of the greater responsibilities required in a promotion position?" Aesthetically, is it the case that "better looking" people get the promotions more readily?

These are difficult issues to discuss because clearly, job promotions and employment should be based 100% on skillsets with zero regard to a waistline size or an aesthetic look. However, reality may be somewhat different. With the economy tanking and layoffs becoming more common, it certainly cannot hurt for all of us to "shape up" as best as possible.

weight loss and lost years

This morning I saw one of our many very successful patients who has lost well over 70 pounds in our program. She told me something that was very enlightening. The patient is now in her 40s and that her morbid obesity basically "ruined" her 30s. She further described her 30s as being basically lost...lost to activities...lost to energy...lost to self-confidence. Her activities were reduced to sitting in front of a television set.

Now, with her weight loss, the patient walks regularly for miles, can bicycle, and do activities that she was not able to do for a decade. Her life has taken a dramatic turn for the better. All because of her commitment to lose weight.

The story is dramatic, but truly life-altering. And, additionally, this story points out the concept that "it is never too late". Although she rues the fact that a decade of her life was not optimal because of her weight problems, she now is emboldened to live life much better going forward.

weight loss and boredom

Face it....the act of losing weight is not fun. What's fun is the end result...feeling much more energy...looking years younger...getting compliments...getting rid of some medications...all of these are lots of fun...but the journey to get there is not a walk in the park. How can you make this less "boring"? How can you make weight loss NOT seem like sacrifice and deprivation? Let's face reality: giving up fun food sources, alcohol containing drinks etc. is not a very easy/fun activity. Being at a restaurant and watching everyone else reach for the bread, order desserts, have several cocktails etc...this takes away from the "fun".

Here are a few suggestions: keep a list handy with you at all times that outline how your life will change if you lose weight. Remember that the reasons why you want to lose weight are so important to you, that you have sacrificed lots of money and time trying to get there. Are you tired of having to take meds for high cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes? Are you tired of feeling uncomfortable in your clothes? Are you just plain tired all the time? Do you feel unattractive to yourself and others? These are the reasons why you embarked on a weight loss effort....remember them. Come up with some innovative food preparation ideas that are tasty yet not high in calories. Share these with your friends who are also trying to lose weight. Exchange e-mails with each other that are helpful hints of how to make this process of losing weight seem less like an ordeal of sacrifice and deprivation. If you can focus on the reasons as to why you want to lose weight, you will be more apt to make the correct choices and be sucessful in your efforts

weight loss and reward systems

One of our wonderful patients told me yesterday of a really cool deal she has with her spouse.

For every 10 pounds she loses on the way to her goal, she receives a "reward" of clothing allowances. Obviously, she can afford her own clothes at anytime, but this has become a sort of contest for them. She will wait until she loses the ten pound increments, and then gets the "reward".

We are so used to rewarding ourselves or have others reward our good deeds with calories. A box of Godiva chocolate, a dinner out, etc. Re-learning how to make reward systems based on non-caloric systems is difficuly, but yet integral for progressing in our weight loss efforts.

Think of reward systems for yourself to help motivate you to reach your goals to be healthier, happier, and looking younger!

The Biggest Loser

The following was found on the internet concerning a gentleman who apparently won "The Biggest Loser" contest on the TV show. Once again, it is important to distinguish between the short term and long term success in weight loss. When people come into our program if their motivation is an upcoming reunion or wedding, then I know their chances of long term success is minimal. When a "finish line" is perceived, as soon as that finish line is passed, the person resumes old behavior patterns. A life style change is what is necessary for long term success. This is much harder to do than "dieting". And certainly, if enough money was on the line, I think all of us could lose lots of weight...as long as we knew the "contest" will end at some point. Truly, the "Biggests Loser" for all of us are those who are the Longest Losers".
(Jan. 15) - Even though third season 'Biggest Loser' champ, Erik Chopin, lost a remarkable 214 pounds on the show, he has gained half his original weight back. Weighing in close to 300 pounds, Chopin says once he stopped getting attention from the show, he fell into depression and stopped exercising. He sat down for an candid interview with Access Hollywood to talk about yo-yo dieting, body lift surgery and getting his weight under control.

When the show originally aired, Chopin was the center of attention and media coverage, having went from 407 to 193 pounds. While in the public eye, he kept his weight maintained and even underwent a dramatic body lift surgery in 2007 to get rid of the excess body fat, sagging around his waist. During the surgery, doctors removed over 10 pounds of skin.
The Long Island native told Access Hollywood that once people stopped caring about his weight loss, he fell into depression and quit exercising. "I started to feel cornered and trapped. I started to put weight back on, and it just continued," he said.
"The weight started to creep back on... I felt like I let everybody down, first and foremost my family," he said, stating he is currently weighing in over 300 pounds.
On Monday, Chopin went public about his relapse on 'The Oprah Winfrey Show.' He admitted that seeing her talk about her yo-yo dieting and weight gain made him feel like he was not alone.
Now he is finally ready to turn his life around before his weight gets "out of control," he told Oprah. While he doesn't expect to get down to 193 pounds again, he admits he just wants to be healthy. "This time I am not going to get involved with a number. I want to be healthy and fit," he said. "I just got back from the gym. I feel psyched. This is awesome," Chopin said, citing his cycling classes as a great weight loss exercise.

Weight loss and alcohol

As mentioned in previous entries, the use of alcohol really slows down the rate of weight loss. There is something that alcohol does to the metabolism over and beyond its caloric content. Many people, by habit, drink several glasses of wine every night. They are not alcoholics...there are no DUIs, family tension, poor work performance etc...the alcohol does not impair the persons life either professionally or personally. However, weight may very well be affected by this alcohol consumption. When I see a patient who has a difficult week and the scale either stayed the same or went up, the first question I always ask is about alcohol consumption that week, and inevitably, the answer is "Yes, I had a few drinks".

Last week a patient in our program who is doing well told me that the way she avoids the alcohol on weekends is always offering to be the designated driver. This "forces" her to not drink at all. Yes, she admitted that she misses the weekend alcohol consumption, but for her, the weight loss is more important. Making weight loss your priority will allow you to be healthier and happier.

weight loss and the military

An article in the Washington Post today made note that almost 50 thousand young men and women were turned down from joining the Army this year because of weight problems.

Most recruits are 18-24 , so this once again points out the growing epidemic of childhood obesity and the dire consequences to overall health if we cannot start reversing this trend.

For a multitude of reasons, the young generation is struggling with weight issues to the point where their life expectancy is LESS than their parents.

If in your family unit there are overweight young ones, please aggressively address this issue and become part of the solution as opposed to an enabler of the problem. Reward your young ones with NON caloric treats. Be a good role model for them. Learn how to nurture your loved ones with things other than high-caloric food sources. Have a family meeting to discuss these issues.

If we are not able to start intervening with the epidemic of childhood obesity, our nation will suffer a worsening problem with healthcare expenditures and clearly as recent events have pointed out, the last thing we all need right now is even more stress to the economy. Make your family units healthier!

weight loss and diet pills

Sometimes, I have new patients come in for a consultation for our weight loss program and when I explain that we use a prescription appetite suppressant, the person will tell me they have to clear this through their physician. Almost 100% of the time, I will never see that patient again. As soon as they mention the word "phentermine" to their doctor, usually that physician will give grave warnings about using appetite suppressants...."they are dangerous". Where does that come from? I have to be honest. I was the same up until I started this program over 6 years ago and heavily researched these medications. In medical school and residency training, we are schooled in the treatment of disease states. We learn very well how to treat diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, etc. We learn how to use drugs to approach these disease states. What we dont learn however is how to PREVENT them. Of course we are taught that if someone is overweight, you need to "tell them to lose weight". But, we are not schooled in HOW to help them lose the weight. You can hand out diet plans, refer people to nutritionists, etc, but these interventions are rarely successful. It is amazing how little we learn about how to approach obesity, which is by far and away the most important risk factor for disease states that kill millions of Americans every year. Physicians universally are not "scared" of prescribing hypertensives, diabetic meds, cholesterol meds, antidepressants, etc. for their obese patients that are walking time bombs for a disastrous medical event, yet most physicians abhor the use of a medication that can help people significantly lose weight. The last I looked, the deaths in America due to phentermine usage is very very small (as a matter of fact, I have not recently read of any cases of death directly attributed to phentermine usage at all) yet deaths in America due to diabetes complications, heart disease, etc are in the millions. So what truly is more "dangerous" for an obese patient? A medication used under strict medical supervision to help a person lose a significant amount of weight or the disease states that accompany the untreated obesity? Many of my colleagues need to take a different look at this situation and realize that their obese patients KNOW already that they need to eat less and exercise more to lose the weight. Handing them a 1200 calorie diet sheet or giving them a name of a nutritionist is not enough. The obese patient often needs more support during the process and a part of this support, initially, can be a "jumpstart" by using , under good supervision, a diet pill.

weight and the frigid cold

I took Tanner out for a walk at 530 AM and it felt like the tundra out there! VERY frigid, very dark and even later, there is no way you will want to be outside for any length of time. I believe the forecast is the same for the weekend. This will mean substantial "housetime". Sometimes, when we found ourselves bound to the house, either because of snow or really cold temperatures a certain boredom sets in. Sometimes this boredom leads us to the kitchen, either to create something fun, like a really cool cake or hit the fridge several times to see what nice things await us. If we are watching Rocky for the 25th time, we will also strongly consider microwaving up some popcorn to keep our hands busy as we watch.

Bottom line: Lots of housetime may lead to eating/snacking behaviors that are not conducive with our efforts to lose weight. Try very hard not to fall into this trap. Hopefully, you have some exercise equipment at home, and this housetime can be converted to a more aggressive exercise day. Also, small repetitive food sources such as nuts, popcorn, trailmix, etc should NOT be used while watching TV or a video. Distracted eating will cause much more intake then you planned. If you go out to the movies, do not be tempted by that huge bag of popcorn. Go to the movies right after lunch or dinner so you do not feel any hunger for that snack food at the theatres. You will also save lots of money!!! (4 dollars for a flat 20 ounce soda, are they kidding???) Have a great weekend! Catch you tomorrow!!!!

Weight and Pancreatic cancer

The news recently has been containing stories about the Founder/CEO of Apple, Steve Jobs and the actor Patrick Swayze, both of whom have been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Unfortunately, most cases of pancreatic cancer result in a very bad outcome. Once diagnosed, life expectancy is usually about a year.

One of the major risk factors for pancreatic cancer is obesity. Excessive alcohol usage is another.

We often think of the medical ramifications of being obese are mostly heart related...heart attacks, strokes, etc. However, obesity is linked as a risk factor to a number of malignancies including some of the most common..breast, colon and pancreatic.

Yes, when we lose weight we become more attractive to ourselves and others, but also, internally we are lessening our chances of developing life threatening illnesses.

Exercise and weight loss

When you go to a gym and watch people on treadmills, elliptical machines, stairclimbers, etc. almost everyone is wearing an IPOD, headphones, watching tv, etc. Reason? Most of us need distraction when we are exercising because the act of exercise is boring in most cases and it doesnt feel very good when you are doing it. Perhaps a tennis match or some other activity in which you are distracted by the competitive nature results in having "fun" while exercising. For most people (including me) exercise is not "fun". When it is over, and you feel the endorphine release, and you shower, then you are glad you did it. But while you are exercising, in most cases, it doesnt feel great...thats why we seek distractions.

Trying to find activities that are as least distasteful as possible is important for long term weight loss. For example, some people hate treadmills. Obviously, those people will find every reason in the world NOT to exercise if a treadmill is their only option. Having equipment in your house makes it much easier and is a wonderful investment for your long term weight loss. On dark very cold morning such as this, it is very difficult to get out of your house and exercise outside or drive to a gym. Many people will find lots of excuses why today is just not a good day to exercise. Having the equipment in your basement with good heat and lighting and perhaps a good flat screen to watch may make things easier.

Relative Values

Let's talk business: The value of your house has fallen dramatically. The value of your retirement account(s) have fallen by almost 1/2. The value of your other investments has fallen tremendously as well.

The value of your health? This has increased by a tremendous amount. Strictly talking business, this is what I mean: When your house and other holdings were valued at much higher levels, if God forbid you suffered a major health setback, you had lots more financial cushion to fall back on. If you had to be out of work for months, your financial situation allowed for you to maintain your current lifestyle until you were able to return to work. Now, perhaps some/many of us have much less leeway in the event of a disabling illness. A medical illness could cause significant financial hardship to us and/or our loved ones.

Your response? Commit yourself to a healthier lifestyle. If you are overweight (and if you are not, why are you reading this blog???) make every effort possible to lose that weight. Much less chance of heart disease, diabetes and cancers will result. If you are drinking lots of alcohol, cut back significantly. If you are a smoker, obviously find a way to quit.

Your body's value has risen significantly and you owe it to yourself and loved ones to keep that body as healthy as possible.

weight loss and supplements

Once again surfing the stations on satellite TV I couldn't help but notice the plethora of infomercials touting the miracle nature of a weight loss supplement. Very compelling personal stories, completye with tears and amazing "before and after" pictures. Very convincing show hosts telling you how the product changes lives for the incredibly low introductory price of $29.95..."but wait..if you order in the next 10 minutes, you will receive an extra free bottle!"\

This time of year, with weight loss being so many people's new years resolution, supplement companies flood the airways with infomercials that make many of these products seem too good to be true. As I have mentioned previously as this applies to the field of weight loss, if something sounds to be good to be true, it is ALWAYS too good to be true i.e. SCAM!!!

Don't be fooled by products that promise simple weight loss. I developed and patented a "weight loss" supplement, and I will NEVER tell anyone to simply take my serotonin pill and you will lose weight. The loss of weight requires a dietary strategy of reducing carbohydrates, reducing portions, and maximizing proteins and vegetables. Yes, some supplements can work as an adjunct by reducing carb cravings, increasing the sensation of satiety, etc. But to lose weight and keep that weight off, you need to invoke planning, portion control, etc.

To quote P.T. Barnum..."there is a sucker born every minute..." Don't be one of those suckers as this relates to buying "miracle weight loss supplements".

weight loss and challenging yourself

Good morning....Giants at 1PM....not sure i feel great about this game..Phillie kind of hot and Giants really do not have a great number one receiver now...should be a battle...I have a bet with one of my patients, Frank....avid Eagles fan....if Giants win, he has to wear my Eli Manning shirt and bring bagels to my office staff some friday morning...if Eagles win (gag) I need to wear his estbrook jersey and bring Frank and his wife Karen a Chinese dinner,

Okay...enough football (dont worry...baseball season I will not rant about the Mets)

I see promotions all the time for the hit TV show "Biggest Loser"...this of course, is a completely NOT reality because for the tens of millions of people trying/needing to lose lots of weight, there is no network ready to dump lots of money on them for doing it...I love the concept of a "reality" show when it is anything but reality. The reality for all of us is this: losing weight is for YOU...YOUR health...YOUR happiness...YOUR self esteem etc. There is no one out there that will throw money at you for doing this...the fire and desire have to come from within...you need to challenge yourself to rise above the instinctual urges that sabotage our dietary plans. You need to challenge yourself to focus on the long term enhancement of your life that weight loss will allow to happen. Challenge yourself to hit certain goals and reward yourself (non-calorically of course) as you hit certain milestones. Be the Biggest Winner in your own series...this is reality...because if you can, you will live longer, be healthier and be happier.

weight loss and traveling

Hi...back from Puerto Rico..I left 84 degrees and sun and now in freezing rain....UGH!!!!!!!

At the airport today I once again noticed the fine array of culinary delights catering to one's weight loss efforts: Cinnnabons, Burger King, Sbarros and a frozen yogurt/smoothie place...

Reminds me to once again discuss the need for planning your meals on travel days. If you fall victim to having to make an airport choice you are in trouble. Try to pkan your meals, eating a meal before you leave for the airport and bring a snack with you. Eat your next meal at your next destination but have it planned to be at a place that is conducive to your plans for limiting carbs.

Back to football...GO GIANTS TOMORROW!!!!

weight and sleep apnea

Do you or a loved one snore much at night? Do you have periods during the day when you feel very tired? Do you sometimes fall asleep at afternoon meetings? If so, you may have sleep apnea. This is a potentailly dangerous disease because over time, right sided heart failure may develop. In people with sleep apnea, there are times in which the person stops breathing during the nighttime while asleep. In response to this, blood vessels going from the heart to the lungs (pulmoanry arteries) will reflexly spasm, resulting in the right ventricle needing to generate more pressure to pump blood to the lungs. Over a period of time this results in enlargement (hypertrophy) of the right ventricle which can ultimately result in heart failure. Symptomatically, the affected person has an altered sleep pattern with a constant disruption of REM sleep. This altered sleep issue causes narcolepsy and daytime somulence. The treatment for sleep apnea patients is a machine that delivers oxygen under high pressure to keep the airways open ( "CPAP"). However, a much better "treatment" is weight loss. There is a very high association between obesity and sleep apnea. With excessive soft tissue in the neck area, this will lead to the cutting off of breathing during times of the night. With weight loss, this may improve considerably. In our weight loss program, we have had people enter the program who were using a CPAP machine and in short order, were able to come off of it. Once again, another healtgh benefit of weight loss!

Sunny and 84 degrees today...time for the beach! (I am trying not to gloat)

weight loss and joints

greetings from Puerto Rico...sunny and 80 degrees....okay..will not rub this in anymore (not)

During the past week in my medical practice, I saw a number of people who had/will have knee replacements secondary to severe arthritis. All had in common obesity problems. The wear and tear of carrying around large amounts of weight, will, over time, almost ensure chronic joint problems. The weight bearing joints: kness, hips, ankles are subject to incredible stress when required to carry large amounts of weight on a daily basis. Certainly, in the recovery phases of the joint replacements, it is imperative that the person lose considerable weight to enhance their rehab efforts and lengthen the life span of the replacements.

We always think of heart disease, diabetes and other "internal" diseases associated with obesity, but the joints are incredibly affected by weight problems.

Okay...time to put my shorts and shirt on for a run at the beach...oops...rubbed it in again!

weight loss and enlisting help

I am certain that at work there are a number of people who are wanting/thinking about losing weight. It is always easier to embark on a weight loss effort if you have "company". When other people you know are attempting to lose weight, sharing recipes, support meetings, exercise buddies, etc...all of thjese and more can be done to help everyone achieve their goals.

Do not be shy or embarrassed...perhaps post a flyer or send an e-mail out asking if anyone else is interested in "teaming" together for weight loss efforts. You may be surprised as to how many responses you will get. Take charge...organize this. You will be helping yourself and many others.

weight loss and momentum

I was watching football yesterday and I started thinking more about how the games turn around based on one team or the other developing momentum. It may start with a good run back from a punt, a really nice trick play like a flea flicker or some other cool play, and then good things start happening. It seems as if all the players from that team start making good plays, the ball seems to bounce their way, and momentum builds resulting in more and more scores which eventually puts the other team away.

Okay...Dr. Analogy is going to now cross over to the topic of weight loss. Often, we will find ourselves sticking to our dietary plans for a day or 2 or 3, but then come the weekend we succumb to the temptations of increasing food intake, alcohol usage etc. We basically took 5 days of good work to lose weight and turned it over by having a poorly compliant weekend. When you start losing weight, you notice increased energy, the ability to do more physical work, etc. If you can stay on track, remain focused and keep "in the zone", then the weight continues to come off and we feel great about ourselves and our efforts. Momentum builds to keep moving forward with this. The point here is that it is so easy to break your momentum by "taking some days off" as this relates to keeping vigilance of your food and drink intake. Keep the momentum going..if you can, you can win the game!

Womens World Article

Thanks Suzanne for this nice compliment!

We were disappointed in the article because we were hoping that it would discuss much more about the concept of stress eating. Somehow, the discussion seemed to get to "belly fat" and that somehow our dietary plan speciifically targets belly fat. Obviously, weight loss will cause fat loss from all areas.

I know our marketing consultants will not want me openly discussing this topic, but shhhh....it is just my blog, right? I laugh at some of the stuff I see touted on these magazine covers..."Miracle cures"...."10 pounds of weight loss in 1 week"..."astounding results with little effort"...all the hype and glamour that sell magazines. Reality? bulls--t. We all know there is no simple solution...we all keep hoping that there will be some easy, quick fix to our weight issues, but I have yet to see it. Pills from pharmaceutical companies, hyped diet plans, magazines that purport to have the secret inside (and you can buy it for just $1.79!!!). Our book is on Amazon right now and I see other weight loss books...all have an angle...all have catchy pictures...but reality? You have to eat less calories to lose weight and most of the foods we love have high calories. Weight loss requires working at it...yes, there are some helpful hints that are available to learn from us as well as others....but you still have to work. The work is worth while!

Seasonal Affective Disorder, Serotonin and Weight

The Christmas trees are coming down, holiday gifts put away and the stark realization is that every morning is dark and cold, no more time off. 1/2 days at work or holiday festivities to look forward to. What we have in front of us are many weeks of work waking up to no sun.

Many of us feel a definite mood change during this time of year. "Seasonal Affective Disorder" (also referred to as "SAD") is a seasonal depression syndrome and it is widely thought that serotonin imbalance is responsible for much of this. The neurotransmitter, serotonin,is manufactured in the brain from the amino acid tryptophan. Sunlight, when it hits the retina of the eye, causes an increased production of serotonin. Thereforte, during the darker months, less serotonin is made leading to depression symptoms and carbohydrate cravings.

How to combat this? Ensure adequate lighting in the house and consider increasing the dosage of Serotonin-Plus to three times a day. Many of our patients tell us that by increasing the serotonin dosage, they are able to thwart the effects of the decreased natural production of serotonin.

Women's World Magazine

The cover of this weeks issue of Womens World magazine has a story about some elements of our dietary plan and there also is an inside story. If you cannot buy a copy, you can actually see this on line...go to: www.stresseaterdiet.com and look under "Press"...hit the link for Womens World and you will see the article....Some of the people who have done our diet plan are in the magazine.

We are coming out with our book in the next several weeks. We are planning some type of really fun book signing event at the office and will keep you posted as to the date.

Set a weight loss goal for the next 3 months...get on that scale today and write down on that clipboard next to your scale, the weight now. Write that weight down once a week. Set a realistic goal and make it happen. If you need our help, call us. If you can do this on your own, go for it. In either case, keep a firm determination and make it happen. Do not get distracted and never ever "give up".

"New Year's Resolution"???

A happy new year to all...goodbye 2008...I think lots of people are happy to see this year go bye-bye.

The overwhelming majority of people who make "New Year's Resolutions" usually focus on health issues...stop smoking, decrease drinking, exercise more, etc...but the biggest one by far is the resolve to "lose weight". Every year the resolution is made and pretty much every year the resolution is broken somewhere along the line. Why does this happen? It is the proverbial battle between the intellectual part of the brain vs. the instinctual part of the brain. The intellectual part tells you, because of health reasons, aesthetic issues, self-confidence, etc to lose weight. But in order to lose weight you have to go against the instinctual part of the brain which compells you to eat high-caloric food sources. The slowing of metabolism, the social nature of eating and drinking, the immediate gratification of food..all of these lead to weight gain. If your goal is to gain weight, this does not require one second of thought process. If your goal is to lose weight, this requires constant thinking, planning, counting portions, eliminating good tasting foods etc...essentially lots and lots of work. And it is not fun work either. So how do you win the war? Obviously, there is no simple answer but I strongly advise you to make a list: On one side write down all the reasons why you want to live longer, look younger and feel better: reasons such as wanting to be around to see your grandchildren grow up, wanting to not feel tired during the day, wanting to have people look at you and think how good you look or younger than your age, etc. Make a list. Then, on the other side, make a list of the activities that keep you overweight: drining wine daily, overeating at meals, snacking on chocolates/ice cream, not exercising, etc. Compare the lists. Which is more important to you? Seeing your grandchild graduate from college or eating snickers? Not having your knees and back hurt or having 2 glasses of wine every nite? Make a full list so you can see and evaluate your choices. Because it does come down to making choices. I will not try to convince you that losing weight does not involve sacrificing some really fun behaviors. It is a choice...your choice as to whether you want to be healthier and look better or give in to the daily food sources that screw up your weight. Make a choice and then stick with it. Don't waver back and forth. Look at your list daily if you have to. You know what the smart choice is. As our Serotonin-Plus tee shirt says on the back: "Just Lose It!".