weight loss and control

Check out the comment to yesterdays blog entry....the entry is about "control"...how it seems to be the case that the compulsion to eat or the food itself seems to control us as opposed to us controlling the food intake. Why/how does this happen?

There are many things that occur during the day that are not under our control..from the inclement weather to a traffic jam on our commute to a foul mood of a supervisor..often our entire day is full of things/events that are beyond our control.

One of the few things that really is under our control is the food and liquids we ingest. However, at times, it seems that we lose control of this as well. Due to chemical cravings, psychological issues, etc., we often lose control of the ability to make the right choices to be happier and healthier.

Try as best you can to always remember that YOU are the "boss" when it comes to food sources you ingest. YOU decide to bypass the high-caloric derailing food sources (notice I didnt use the words "sweets, treats or goodies") in favor of something that will be much healthier and allow you to look so much younger and feel so miuch better. YOU can exert control and you will be rewarded for this!

weight loss and control

First, Jenny and Karen, thank you very much for the very nice comments....sometimes at 530 am as I am writing this I think to myself: "Are my patients too busy to read this stuff and if they do, is it helping them?"....so to see these comments is my motivation to keep jotting down these thoughts and experiences....

Last night we had a staff dinner to introduce several new members of our team. We have an assistant Medical Director now of the national expansion ..Dr Laura Balda, a family physician from Boynton Beach Florida. She is a very dedicated and committed physician who will be helping other offices around the country set up and administer their Serotonin-Plus Programs. This will allow me to be where I need to be...in BUrke Virginia seeing MY wonderful patients!!!

Food sometimes controls us as opposed to us controlling the food. I sometimes find myself compelled to eat that third slice of pizza (shhhh..dont tell anyone reading this that the self-professed "Guru" of weight loss eats pizza and is even known to eat a Twinkie on occasion). Especially under periods of stress and/or anxiety we find ourselves losing control and reaching for food sources that we know inherently we should not be eating, but yet we do.

WE CONTROL THE FOOD INTAKE. I suggest that if you ever feel in that mode where the food is taking over control, get yourself away from the kitchen or whereever it is that you feel compelled to eat. Think of some other activity that will distract you and reward yourself in some non-caloric way for winning this little mind battle.

Have a great Saturday.

Excuses

On a daily basis, there will be reasons why your weight loss efforts can be derailed...travel where significant time is in the airport, conferences were meals are provided by the sponsor, family trips to visit relatives, holidays and birthday celebrations, stressful times at work....

You have two choices: 1-Let the environment contol you and have a "give up" mentality i.e. "it is not my fault, I had no choice" or 2- YOU CONTROL THE ENVIRONMENT, i.e. despite adversity, you make the right food choices and do not succumb to the natural forces that make us eat and drink high-caloric foods.

For long term weight loss success, you need to adopt the latter attitude, not the former. The environment will not adapt to you...you need to adapt to the environment. If you know you will be at a conference where all there is are sandwiches and chips, bring your own lunch to the event...when you are under stress, convert that time to more exercise to dissipate the stress, not turn to glasses of wine.

This is not easy...I never said it is....but taking control of your actions and environment can be done successfully.