weight loss and supplements

I wish everyone a very safe, healthy and happy New Years eve...

First, thank you Martac for taking the time to comment!

Yesterday a 6 year study was released demonstrating that the popular supplement sold for memory enhancement, Ginko Biloba, has absolutely no benefit. There was no doubt about the results: very clearly, this supplement does nothing to help people with memory problems or helps prevent memory issues from developing.

This supplement has sold hundreds of millions if not billions of dollars over the past 10 years, How can a supplement of no value be sold to so many people? The answer: marketing hype. Pure and simple scam marketing hype.

So what does this have to do with weight loss? The answer is that starting now, with so many people's New Years Resolution being weight loss, many supplement companies launch their miracle weight loss pills. You will see infomercials, commercials, print ads, radio spots and other advertising venues hawking these products. Many people see the "weight loss is simple...take this pill" ads and they take out their credit cards.

Do not be one of the victims of scam. Weight loss is NEVER a simple matter of taking a pill. Not the supplements you see being hyped, not our serotonin product, not any product. Weight loss requires the work of managing caloric intake, planning your meals and lowering your carb and fruit intake. This is work...work that can save your life.

To quote PT Barnum: "There is a sucker born every minute". Do NOT be one of them!

weight loss and scam supplements

Good Thursday Morning...REMINDER!!!!!!! PATIENT APPRECIATION NITE TOMORROW, FRIDAY 5-7 WE WANT TO SHOW YOU HOW MUCH WE APPRCIATE YOUR CHOOSING OUR PRACTICE TO PROVIDE YOUR MEDICAL AND WEIGHT LOSS NEEDS

Yes, it is that time of year when the scam Direct Response industry (you know, the infomerical folks) start coming out with their miracle weight loss pills. You have seen the commericals...the people holding their pants that are 10 sizes too large now and cry into the camera telling everyone how this miracle pill changed their lives. The DR industry knows too well that as we head towards January, many people have their New Year's Resolution to lose weight. People are susceptible to the message that there exists some easy, "short-cut" to lose weight.

I have mentioned this before and will emphatically state this again: There is no such thing as a pill that allows you to lose weight and jkeep it off without the aggressive caloric restriction and exercise necessary. The commercials make it seem that taking the pill makes it easy.

You will never hear your good Doctor tell you that the Serotonin pill is a "miracle" tablet for weight loss. It is not. We use it as part of an overall program that includes a high protein dietary planm, exercise and also a prescription medication.

Buyer beware....as it relates to weight loss, anything that sounds too good to be true, i.e. making weight loss sound easy, must be scrutinized very carefully. Weight loss long term requires behavior modification.

Supplements

I noticed yesterday that the FDA forced a number of Hydroxycut products off the market, including their weight loss supplement because of a number of serious adverse reactions, including liver failure and death. This, and the ephedra experience indicate that perhaps when weight loss will involve the use of supplements to help, medical supervision is needed. Not necessarily I full blown program such as the Serotonin-Plus program, but even a one-time consult with a physician to discuss the strategy, any supplements contemplated, etc.

Supplements are not held to the same regulatory standards as prescription medications, and it is important to have a good working knowledge about what ingredients are in that supplement and whether you are taking any medications that may interact adversely.

Reminder that Channel 9, (CBS) is doing a story about our program on their 11pm news this Thursday nite. A husband/wife team will be profiled who lost lots of weight. Your doctor was interviewed as well. I believe they also interviewed a weight loss doctor from GW Hospital as a countering viewpoint. I am interested to see how this story is "spun" Tune in!!!

weight loss....multidimensional approach

First, we have a GREAT weather weekend approaching, espeically Saturday so for those who like to do their exercise outside, you have a great opportunity.

Yesterday, the TV producer from WUSA (channel 9) interviewed me at the office and lots of the focus was on the serotonin supplement. I tried very hard to get the point across that a long term weight loss strategy needs to be multidimensional...yes, our serotonin supplement can help the process, but there is much more needed. Such things as planning meals and shopping for the food sources that you need to have available, incorporating exercise as part of the strategy, making a conscious decision to avoid alcohol and small repetitive food sources such as nuts, and other interventions. are all part of the weight loss process. I know that we would all love to have a "pill" that would make all of this planning and enactment of a strategy obsolete, but neither our serotonin pill or any other out there will substitute for the multidimensional approach needed for a long-term weight loss result. As I tell all of our patients coming into the program: The gaining of weight requires no thought or work behind it..do what the body tells you to do and do what is "fun". However, to lose weight requires lots of work and thought.

I want to thank Susan and Don for allowing the TV people to interview them. As I was watching them being filmed at the office, I was thinking about so many of you who have worked so hard at losing the weight and now look so much healthier and happier. I sometimes laugh when a PR person will ask me whether we have any "testimonials" for our program. We have thousands now and many have come in because of the kind referrals from our patients. It is incredibly fun for me to see my patients shedding weight, shedding medications they are taking and shedding negative self-perceptions. I want to thank you all for allowing the Serotonin-Plus staff and me the opportunity to be a part of your quest to be healthier and happier.

weight loss and supplements

I was again perusing the Saturday morning tv shows and lots of "infomercials are present.  Very compelling stories about "easy" ways to lose weight!   Just take this pill, or use this machine 5 minutes a day, and you will have all the weight loss you desire!   To quote PT Barnum "there is a sucker born every minute".   Do NOT be one of those "suckers".  There is no such thing as a pill or machine that passively causes weight loss.  Planning, counting portions, and executing a strategy to reduce caloric intake is what is needed.

I want to thank my VERY wonderful staff for organizing, arranging and being there on Saturdays for our patient appreciation month.   I am VERY proud of my staff for the energy, dedication and planning they bring to the office.  They may be very young (me excluded of course!) but they are years advanced in their skillsets to help us become the very very best weight loss resource any patient could ever ask for.

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".

Yet Another Quck Fix for Weight Loss

Yesterday a patient brought in a print ad for some supplement that supposedly "detoxified the body at the same time causing weight loss". The testimonial "users" of the product in the article were claiming 21 pounds in 21 days of weight loss! A mircale pill! Clear the evil substances out of your body and at the same time you lose a pound a day. The way I figure, that means that they had a pound of really nasty stuff in them a day that needed to leave.

Okay, time for the good Doctor P to burst the bubble: IT DOESN'T WORK.

Clearly, the lose of weight requires "work"...watching calories, elminating damaging food sources, exercising more etc. There is no simple fix. Even the surgial procedures are not the long term answer. We have many people in our program who have gone through various procedures such as lapbands, gastric bypass etc and they gain weight back.

Please always be very leery of any advertised weight loss pill that promises miraculous, easy results. Take it from a guy in the supplement business who markets a serotonin supplement: Thta is why we have a full blown program as well as accompanying literature to our serotonin bottles that we send to people outside the area. Supplements do not work alone: There needs to be some effort on the caloric intake and caloric burnoff sides.

Remember: If something sounds too good to be true, it usually is! (Except the Serotonin-Plus Weight Loss Program...it is GREAT!!!! smiling....okay..enough self-egrandizing for the morning!!!)