I know I have covered this topic before but here goes again....and this is prompted by the barrage of commercials hitting us now.
Companies know how to push our buttons to get us to take out our credit cards and buy. They prey on our weaknesses often. One of our huge major weaknesses is the search for "easy" weight loss.
In january, weight loss companies know that for many, the new years resolution is to shed pounds. You are seeing tons of Nutrisystems commercials, Subway and the infamous "Cookie Diet". The last one really galls me. The commercial makles it seem that you can lose lots of weigth by "SIMPLY" eating their cookies. Give me a break! What they show in the commercials are people who were primed to lose lots of weigth (most liely paid lots of money to do it) and then they get on and tell you how "simple" it is...just eat cookies. Do they mention that you must also portion control other food intake? The commercials imply that eating the cookies themselves results in weight loss.
Subway? Good old Jared. Why doesn't this Man of the Year explain why every Subway worker pushes the combo meals of chips, adding cheese to their sandwiches and then have those chocolate chip cookies staring you in the face at the check out counter?
Losing weight is WORK. There are no simple panaceas to this national health crisis. Portion control, limiting carbs, eliminating alcohol and exercise are all required. This is reality. Eating cookies is not.
Do not be scammed!
Friday, January 8, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
weight loss and health
Yesterday I had a patient come in for her appointment bearing a copy of laboratory blood testing that she recently had at her physician's office. She happily pointed out a marked decrease in her serum triglycerides, cholesterol and blood sugar that occurred since she began the weight loss program. At one point her physician was recommending medications but now the numbers are not even close to requiring medical intervention.
Weight loss has an incredible positive effect on a number of issues that can affect our health. High lipids leads to the clogging of arteries, which in turn, leads to an increasing risk of stroke, heart atack and peripheral vascular disease. Lowering these numbers lessens your chances.
It is great to see this on paper, so if you have not had recent testing on your lipids or sugar, get this done. This will produce a positive psychological impetus to keep full steam ahead with your efforts.
Receiving positive feedback about your aesthetic improvement that accompanies makes you feel great but also seeing the physiological improvements is another motivator.
Weight loss has an incredible positive effect on a number of issues that can affect our health. High lipids leads to the clogging of arteries, which in turn, leads to an increasing risk of stroke, heart atack and peripheral vascular disease. Lowering these numbers lessens your chances.
It is great to see this on paper, so if you have not had recent testing on your lipids or sugar, get this done. This will produce a positive psychological impetus to keep full steam ahead with your efforts.
Receiving positive feedback about your aesthetic improvement that accompanies makes you feel great but also seeing the physiological improvements is another motivator.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
weight loss and work stress
First, in answer to your inquiry Gaye, the serotonin supplement is compatible with Weight Watchers or any other type of dietary plan.
Yesterday I had a medical patient describe an incredible amount of stress at work. The person is overqualified for the position and many co-workers are jealous and antagonistic. Moreover, she maintains an excellent physical condition and there most likely is a great amount of jealousy from a number of her female co-workers. Due to the stress of this situation, she has been skipping meals, not taking enough calories in and her medical presentation was because of weakness and headaches.
A few people respond to stress by NOT eating. Most people, including your good doctor, often start reaching for food sources when we had a stressful day at work. For many, coming home from a stressful day results in the immediate reach for several alcohol drinks to relax.
Try as best as pssoible to NOT "medicate" stress with alcohol or high-caloric food sources. When you rationally think about it, if you start gaining weight because of this impulse/stress eating, you will only feel more stressed because of the weight situation.
Perhaps a workout and burning off calories, pumping weights or other physical activities can dissipate stress in a more healthy weight. Alcohol and food sources only temporarily ease stress, but the long term effects will only stress you out further.
Yesterday I had a medical patient describe an incredible amount of stress at work. The person is overqualified for the position and many co-workers are jealous and antagonistic. Moreover, she maintains an excellent physical condition and there most likely is a great amount of jealousy from a number of her female co-workers. Due to the stress of this situation, she has been skipping meals, not taking enough calories in and her medical presentation was because of weakness and headaches.
A few people respond to stress by NOT eating. Most people, including your good doctor, often start reaching for food sources when we had a stressful day at work. For many, coming home from a stressful day results in the immediate reach for several alcohol drinks to relax.
Try as best as pssoible to NOT "medicate" stress with alcohol or high-caloric food sources. When you rationally think about it, if you start gaining weight because of this impulse/stress eating, you will only feel more stressed because of the weight situation.
Perhaps a workout and burning off calories, pumping weights or other physical activities can dissipate stress in a more healthy weight. Alcohol and food sources only temporarily ease stress, but the long term effects will only stress you out further.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
weight loss and sensitivity
Yesterday we had many new patients enter our program and many of our established patients braved the scale results to visit with us. I use that word "brave" because many people will cancel their weekly appointment if they have gained weight. That is the exact time to come on in, but there is a psychological downer about getting on the scale and feeling that you are disappointing uswith a less-than-optimal result. Of course we do not get upset with anyone if weight gain occurs. We are YOUR support and here to help you. We NEVER value-judge, act stern or in any othjer way make you feel poorly about a difficult week. We are there to help you get back on track and start getting back into the zone again and see those scale results come down.
Many of my patients told me they received as holiday bgifts cookies, candies, etc. Many of these gifts were from family members and friends who knew the recipient was in a weight losing mode. Sabotage for sure!
I would ask that all of you be judicious in your gifts to others who may have weight control problems. Also, if you are a parent and your child is already showing early signs of weight control issues, do NOT make dinner choices McDonalds and other fast food venues.
Be sensitive to others' weigh control needs, and especially if they are your loved ones, think hard before recognizing them, rewarding them, "treating" them with calories. You are hastening the development of serious edical problems by literally feeding into their problem.
Many of my patients told me they received as holiday bgifts cookies, candies, etc. Many of these gifts were from family members and friends who knew the recipient was in a weight losing mode. Sabotage for sure!
I would ask that all of you be judicious in your gifts to others who may have weight control problems. Also, if you are a parent and your child is already showing early signs of weight control issues, do NOT make dinner choices McDonalds and other fast food venues.
Be sensitive to others' weigh control needs, and especially if they are your loved ones, think hard before recognizing them, rewarding them, "treating" them with calories. You are hastening the development of serious edical problems by literally feeding into their problem.
Monday, January 4, 2010
weight loss and 2010
Okay, the first day back to the regular routine after weeks of holiday celebrations. If you got on your home scale yesterday there is a deent chance you are not happy with what you see. This is normal. People gain weight during holidays.
I want to reassure everyone that if weight gained occurred, this is NOT a problem or a source of embarrassment. If you are not in our program visits now, and weight went up, pick up the phone and call us. Often, people feel embarrassed about "needing our help" but absolutely no embarrassment factor shoudl take place. We are here to help you!!! If weight loss was easy without help, 67% of the American population would not be overweight. If you need a few "tune up" visits, call us and come in.
The average weight gain in America is 7.4 pounds from Thanksgiving thru New Years. If this happened to you, please let us help you. Er are your resource for weight loss and can help you jump start your efforts to become healthier and happier.
I want to reassure everyone that if weight gained occurred, this is NOT a problem or a source of embarrassment. If you are not in our program visits now, and weight went up, pick up the phone and call us. Often, people feel embarrassed about "needing our help" but absolutely no embarrassment factor shoudl take place. We are here to help you!!! If weight loss was easy without help, 67% of the American population would not be overweight. If you need a few "tune up" visits, call us and come in.
The average weight gain in America is 7.4 pounds from Thanksgiving thru New Years. If this happened to you, please let us help you. Er are your resource for weight loss and can help you jump start your efforts to become healthier and happier.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
serotonin, seasonal affective disorder and weight
For many people, we are about to enter a very difficult time of the year. When the holidays are over, decorations down, no time off to look forward to, cold dark morning ahead of us for months, may people feel melancholy. This is referred to as "seasonal affective disorder" ("SAD").
Part of the causation of SAD is that during the winter months, our serotonin levels are less than the summer. Reason? When sunlight hits the retina, this causes more serotonin production in the brain. During the darker months, we manufacture less serotonin. Aside from the mood issues, often our eating will also change, craving those carbohydrates.
Solution: Take that serotonin and stay in the mental zone of counting your portions and following our dietary plan. Keep plenty of light on in your house and remember that sprin and summer are not too far away!
Part of the causation of SAD is that during the winter months, our serotonin levels are less than the summer. Reason? When sunlight hits the retina, this causes more serotonin production in the brain. During the darker months, we manufacture less serotonin. Aside from the mood issues, often our eating will also change, craving those carbohydrates.
Solution: Take that serotonin and stay in the mental zone of counting your portions and following our dietary plan. Keep plenty of light on in your house and remember that sprin and summer are not too far away!
Friday, January 1, 2010
New Year's Resolution
Happy New Year to all of you...I most certainly wiah each and every one of you and your loved ones the very best of health and happiness.
The Christmas trees and decorations are coming down and we look and the mirror and say: "Holy S--- I cannot believe I have gained so much weight...My New Years Resolution is to start a diet and lose weight".
How many times has this happened to all of us? By far and away , losing weight is the most common new years resolution.
But here comes Posner again warning about that "D" word again..DIET....
To lose weight and keep it off, a LIFESTYLE change is warranted...NOT a diet When we think "DIET" we think a short term strategy for losing weight...a start date AND the end date...usually some fad diet as well such as Atkins.
Please mentate through and examine the lifestyle you follow and what elements may contribute to a chronic weight problem. Evaluate each of these factors and think of solutions as to how to change those behaviors to a more healthy pattern. Take the time to write these rthings down so you can comprehensively see what parts of your lifestyle you can change to become healthier and happier.
Once again, a very Happy New Years!!!!
The Christmas trees and decorations are coming down and we look and the mirror and say: "Holy S--- I cannot believe I have gained so much weight...My New Years Resolution is to start a diet and lose weight".
How many times has this happened to all of us? By far and away , losing weight is the most common new years resolution.
But here comes Posner again warning about that "D" word again..DIET....
To lose weight and keep it off, a LIFESTYLE change is warranted...NOT a diet When we think "DIET" we think a short term strategy for losing weight...a start date AND the end date...usually some fad diet as well such as Atkins.
Please mentate through and examine the lifestyle you follow and what elements may contribute to a chronic weight problem. Evaluate each of these factors and think of solutions as to how to change those behaviors to a more healthy pattern. Take the time to write these rthings down so you can comprehensively see what parts of your lifestyle you can change to become healthier and happier.
Once again, a very Happy New Years!!!!
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