Yesterday I was informed that WUSA, Channel 9, will be doing a story about our weight loss program on their news in April. We have been asked to provide a person who has lost lots of weight and is almost at his/her goal. The staff and I started thinking about all of our patients who may fit the criteria. We started jotting down lots of names but then we started discussing the concept of who would be happy to be in front of a camera and who would probably be shy.
I started thinking about how we are all different as this relates to wanting to be "noticed" about our weight loss effort or wanting complete confidentiality. Clearly, some of us are more "outgoing" in our personalities, and we have no problem sharing with the world our stories and adventures along the way of weight loss. Others are very private and do not want to discuss it.
When I started the program over 7 years ago, I was amazed that we were not getting more "word of mouth" referrals. We were sending so many people back to their workplaces, familiy etc losing so much weight , yet, they were not telling people how they were doing it. Reason? fear of failure! Although successful, they wanted to make sure the weight would stay off. If they were to gain weight back, they woiuld feel embarrassed. Moreover, some also felt they would look "weak" if they confessed they were getting help in their weight loss efforts.
Be proud of your efforts....this does not mean you need to go in front of a tv program...but please pat yourself on the back for becoming healthier, happier and taking control.
Oh, by the way, if you want to be a star and interested in the Channel 9 story, please e-mail us at: srangbar@spdiet.com
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
weight loss and infomercials
Yesterday before leaving for the airport, I was flipping thru Sunday morning tv and there are a plethora of "infomercials" spanning subjects from how to become an internet millionaire to how to make lots of $$ on foreclosures to how to lose weight EASILY.
One of the infomercials I stopped to marvel at was one that was all about the "SKINNY SWITCH". Seems that the spokesperson (some weight loss guru complete with blonde tipped hair and no degree behind his name) developed the "secret" to truning on the "skinny switch" that we all have inside of us that allows us to eat EVERYTHING that we want and lose weight. It had to be true! They had "real" people telling their story about how they allowed this guy to help them find the switch and some of them lost well over hundred pounds while eating their favorite foods. During the infomercial, they showed very overweight people eating spaghetti, meatballs and garlic bread, others eating cupcakes, while still others smiling and eating pizza. All of the testimonial people looked as happy as could be. They did show one woman trying to lose weight the old fashioned way...they showed her on a treadmill looking sooo miserable.
I know that my patient population has a very high intellect, so I guess you do not need to hear from me about the falsities and scamming that goes on with television infomercials. I did want to point out that people trying to lose weight are often vulnerable, and at times, we all wish there was a "magic pill" to help us lose weight. However, effort is required, meaning the conscious counting of calories, bypassing high-caloric foods, exercise etc. But the work is really worth while. And along the way, do not be tempted to spend money on "shortcuts" that you see advertised on television that make it sound simple.
One of the infomercials I stopped to marvel at was one that was all about the "SKINNY SWITCH". Seems that the spokesperson (some weight loss guru complete with blonde tipped hair and no degree behind his name) developed the "secret" to truning on the "skinny switch" that we all have inside of us that allows us to eat EVERYTHING that we want and lose weight. It had to be true! They had "real" people telling their story about how they allowed this guy to help them find the switch and some of them lost well over hundred pounds while eating their favorite foods. During the infomercial, they showed very overweight people eating spaghetti, meatballs and garlic bread, others eating cupcakes, while still others smiling and eating pizza. All of the testimonial people looked as happy as could be. They did show one woman trying to lose weight the old fashioned way...they showed her on a treadmill looking sooo miserable.
I know that my patient population has a very high intellect, so I guess you do not need to hear from me about the falsities and scamming that goes on with television infomercials. I did want to point out that people trying to lose weight are often vulnerable, and at times, we all wish there was a "magic pill" to help us lose weight. However, effort is required, meaning the conscious counting of calories, bypassing high-caloric foods, exercise etc. But the work is really worth while. And along the way, do not be tempted to spend money on "shortcuts" that you see advertised on television that make it sound simple.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Advances in Medical Knowledge and Weight
Last night in Florida we saw a show called "Beatlemania". This was a tribute to the Fab Four, and the stars were really good...especially the Paul McCartney character. In the background at various points, there was video footage from the 60s and early 70s...the Ed Sullivan Show, Woodstock, etc. The old black and white videos were very nostalgic, and it is amazing how society has changed...the types of clothes, the style of the hair, what people would have rallies about etc. Also, there seemed to be sooo much more cigarette smoking back then. Obviously, the advancement of medical knowledge over the year as this relates to the association of cigarette smoking and early death resulted in a much less smoking society.
Our medical knowledge has adanced dramatically in other areas as well..infertility and cancer treatment, the development of new antidepressants and antihypertensives....aggrssive cholesterol control, etc. So, if our medical knowledge and product development is so much more advanced than the 60s, then why is obesity rate rising? We all know the association of weight issues with early heart disease, diabetes, etc, and data since the 60s have clearly demonstrated the association with cancers of the breast, pancreas and colon. So again, why, if we, as a society has greatly lessened the smoking rate, can we not turn the tide on obesity? Lots of reasons...to be continued tomorrow.
Our medical knowledge has adanced dramatically in other areas as well..infertility and cancer treatment, the development of new antidepressants and antihypertensives....aggrssive cholesterol control, etc. So, if our medical knowledge and product development is so much more advanced than the 60s, then why is obesity rate rising? We all know the association of weight issues with early heart disease, diabetes, etc, and data since the 60s have clearly demonstrated the association with cancers of the breast, pancreas and colon. So again, why, if we, as a society has greatly lessened the smoking rate, can we not turn the tide on obesity? Lots of reasons...to be continued tomorrow.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Eating and addiction
I am in Ft. Lauderdale for the weekend and last night we wandered into the Seminole Hard Rock Casino. Despite the recession, the place seemed packed with eager people willing to throw hundreds onto the blackjack tables, roulette, slot machines etc. The place was really smoky...at the end of the night, my clothes smelled like I took a tour of the Winston tobacco company.
Gambling is one of those things wheree going into it, you know the odds are strongly in favor that you are going to lose money to the casino. You may win a hand, hit a good slot machine, ot throw the dice well for awhile, but if you stay there long enough, you will give back every dime, and more to the casino. They will win and you will lose. So, why do we do it?
I was thinking about this last night also in terms of all the major addictions...drugs, alcohol, gambling and eating. These are activities that can be quite detrimental, but we still persist. Obviously, for each individual, not every addiction occurs and a number of people have no addictions at all. For others, they can partake of these activities in small amounts without being "addicted" at all.
The "thrill" of a winning streak in the casino, the thrill of feeling high. the thrill of feeling a good piece of chocolate go into our mouths: all of these share some chemical basis. The neurochemical dopamine has been impicated as one of the chemicals involved in the addictive pattern. I am certain there are many other brain and body chemcials involved as well. As individuals, we are all subject to a unique admixture of these chemcials and that is why, aside from the environmental component, why some of us are more prone to addictive behaviors than others.
As this relates to your weight loss efforts, try to identify when you make the "wrong" food choices and under what circumstances this action occurs. Perhaps by identifying this, you can avoid the behavior pattern.
Oh, by the way, I was really hot at the tables!!! My dopamine levels were raging!!!
Gambling is one of those things wheree going into it, you know the odds are strongly in favor that you are going to lose money to the casino. You may win a hand, hit a good slot machine, ot throw the dice well for awhile, but if you stay there long enough, you will give back every dime, and more to the casino. They will win and you will lose. So, why do we do it?
I was thinking about this last night also in terms of all the major addictions...drugs, alcohol, gambling and eating. These are activities that can be quite detrimental, but we still persist. Obviously, for each individual, not every addiction occurs and a number of people have no addictions at all. For others, they can partake of these activities in small amounts without being "addicted" at all.
The "thrill" of a winning streak in the casino, the thrill of feeling high. the thrill of feeling a good piece of chocolate go into our mouths: all of these share some chemical basis. The neurochemical dopamine has been impicated as one of the chemicals involved in the addictive pattern. I am certain there are many other brain and body chemcials involved as well. As individuals, we are all subject to a unique admixture of these chemcials and that is why, aside from the environmental component, why some of us are more prone to addictive behaviors than others.
As this relates to your weight loss efforts, try to identify when you make the "wrong" food choices and under what circumstances this action occurs. Perhaps by identifying this, you can avoid the behavior pattern.
Oh, by the way, I was really hot at the tables!!! My dopamine levels were raging!!!
Friday, March 27, 2009
Weight Loss and airplanes
Sometimes I feel that I need to address some relatively sensitive subjects in this blog. It is not very fun for an overweight person to be confronted with situations that point out to he/she how others around them react to them. Last nite, I took a Southeast airlines flight to Florida, and this airline has "open seating", which means that the people who enter the plane first choose their seats and then the later people fill in. Of course, the window and aisle seats fill up first leaving the middle seats for those people entering the plane last. I was watching this situation carefully last night, as I was one of the first people on the plane. It was obvious that the later people boarding, would walk by the rows that had overweight people in either the aisle or window seat in that row. As the plane was a full capacity flight, only at the end would those middle seats fill in, and you could almost see some angst on the faces of the people having to squeeze into that middle seat between the overweight people on the aisle and window seats.
I believe at one point this same airline was discussing making it mandatory for a person above a certain size to purchase 2 seats.
We think about our weight issues only affecting us..meaning that the increase risk of heart disease, diabetes,, cancer, etc., lower self=esteem etc. However, at times, we get into situations when it is painfully obvious that people will react to us differently, not knowing one thing about the "inner" part of us, just based on weight. This doesn't mean that our goal to lose weight is that some person we will never see again will be happier sitting next to us on a Southeast airlines flight. It does point out though that reality is that people who do not know us at all will often make a quick judgement as to whether they want to be near us based on our weight.
I believe at one point this same airline was discussing making it mandatory for a person above a certain size to purchase 2 seats.
We think about our weight issues only affecting us..meaning that the increase risk of heart disease, diabetes,, cancer, etc., lower self=esteem etc. However, at times, we get into situations when it is painfully obvious that people will react to us differently, not knowing one thing about the "inner" part of us, just based on weight. This doesn't mean that our goal to lose weight is that some person we will never see again will be happier sitting next to us on a Southeast airlines flight. It does point out though that reality is that people who do not know us at all will often make a quick judgement as to whether they want to be near us based on our weight.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
How Much Do You Want It?
I like watching movies...a great escape for me. Last night I was watching a picture and there was a scene where a football coach was rallying his team and he was asking them "How much do you want to win it all?"
What does this have to do with weight loss and this blog? Hmmmmm....well, here goes: Everyone trying to lose weight has a certain priority of reasons as to why it is so important to them. Perhaps the person was just started on blood pressure medication or was recently diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, and their desire to lose weight is fear of early death of disabling medical conditions. For other people, they start realizing that many clothes in the closet do not fit anymore or they see themselves in a picture and are not happy with what they see. Some people are hitting the job market and realize that their prospects for employment woul be better if they presented themselves in a healthier fashion. Whatever the reason(s) to get that weight off, you must give up certain "fun" things that are part of your lifestyle. Maybe it is that nightly 2 glasses of wine or the nighttime snacks. Alternatively, maybe you need to set the alarm 45 minutes earlier to get up and exercise. Proverbially, there is no "free lunch" here. To lose weight, you need to plan and take control. This is work...lots of it. So, let's ask the question: How much do you want it? "It" meaning being healthy, living longer, looking younger and feeling higher levels of confidence and self esteem. I hope your answer is that you "want it" very much!
What does this have to do with weight loss and this blog? Hmmmmm....well, here goes: Everyone trying to lose weight has a certain priority of reasons as to why it is so important to them. Perhaps the person was just started on blood pressure medication or was recently diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, and their desire to lose weight is fear of early death of disabling medical conditions. For other people, they start realizing that many clothes in the closet do not fit anymore or they see themselves in a picture and are not happy with what they see. Some people are hitting the job market and realize that their prospects for employment woul be better if they presented themselves in a healthier fashion. Whatever the reason(s) to get that weight off, you must give up certain "fun" things that are part of your lifestyle. Maybe it is that nightly 2 glasses of wine or the nighttime snacks. Alternatively, maybe you need to set the alarm 45 minutes earlier to get up and exercise. Proverbially, there is no "free lunch" here. To lose weight, you need to plan and take control. This is work...lots of it. So, let's ask the question: How much do you want it? "It" meaning being healthy, living longer, looking younger and feeling higher levels of confidence and self esteem. I hope your answer is that you "want it" very much!
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
weight loss and the enviroment
Many of my patients have occupations that require them to travel frequently. This means hotels, airports, business dinners, etc. In essence, they feel that they lose control of the environment. When at home, thjey can shop for their food, prepare and plan meals, bring lunch, and have a schedule that is condicive for following all of the elements of our transitional dietary plan. However, when in the airport, the choices become Cinnabons or Sbarros pizza. At the nighttime business meeting, everyone is drinking cocktails. The patients feel that the environment is controlling them.
Reality: The environment will NOT conform to your desire to follow a high protein/low carb dietary plan. YOU need to take control of this environment. At every airport there will be a restaurant where, in fact, you can get a steak, chicken or seafood meal without having to do the Burger King or Sbarros choice. If you get to the airport early enough, you have the time to sit at this retaurant. Consider planning the trip, bringing our approved protein bars as snacks. At the hotel, there is that nice fitness center that requires you to get up 45 minutes earlier to use before your meetings. Take a step back and mentate as to how you can navigate around this difficult environment of travel and still follow the dietary plan that will help you lse the weight you desire. YOU have to adjust to this environment and take control
Reality: The environment will NOT conform to your desire to follow a high protein/low carb dietary plan. YOU need to take control of this environment. At every airport there will be a restaurant where, in fact, you can get a steak, chicken or seafood meal without having to do the Burger King or Sbarros choice. If you get to the airport early enough, you have the time to sit at this retaurant. Consider planning the trip, bringing our approved protein bars as snacks. At the hotel, there is that nice fitness center that requires you to get up 45 minutes earlier to use before your meetings. Take a step back and mentate as to how you can navigate around this difficult environment of travel and still follow the dietary plan that will help you lse the weight you desire. YOU have to adjust to this environment and take control
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