We all have noticed that over time, our metabolism seems to become slower and slower. Personally, I went off to college 155 pounds and most definitely ate at least twice as many calories (and drank many more times alcohol) then I do now, and I am about 20 pounds heavier. Additionally, I now exercise every day, and when I went off to college, exercise was more like an intramural softball game. For women, it is incredibly more pronounced as to how much metabolism slows down. This affects almost everywoman, but is most notable in women who have gone through pregnancies.
What can de done to ramp up the metabolism? First and foremost is challenging the GI tract with small amounts of food (high protein especially) frequently...i.e. NOT skipping meals and getting proper snacks in during the day. NOT eating later at night also seems to have a positive effect on metabolism. Regular exercise seems to also benefit the overall metabolic rate.
There is nothing we can do to slow down the calender aging , but there are most certainly things we can do to slow down the adverse metabolic effects of aging. Metabolic slowdown does accompany calender aging but we can all do things to minimize the effects.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
weight loss and conferences
Greetings again from Orlando...
The conference is a cosmetic surgery conference....physicians who specialize in making people look better....every break, social function etc is catered with high-caloric snacks, foods and alcohol...the very food sources that make Americans overweight.
It is difficult to attend conferences and NOT derail your weight loss efforts....Planning is important and seek those food sources in restaurants that are high protein and low carb. AVOID alcohol!!!
Yes, challenging but it can be done...sip on a tonic water as opposed to an alcohol beverage at those nighttime networking functions...
Catch hyou from VA tomorrow
The conference is a cosmetic surgery conference....physicians who specialize in making people look better....every break, social function etc is catered with high-caloric snacks, foods and alcohol...the very food sources that make Americans overweight.
It is difficult to attend conferences and NOT derail your weight loss efforts....Planning is important and seek those food sources in restaurants that are high protein and low carb. AVOID alcohol!!!
Yes, challenging but it can be done...sip on a tonic water as opposed to an alcohol beverage at those nighttime networking functions...
Catch hyou from VA tomorrow
Friday, January 29, 2010
weight loss and physicians
Good morning from Orlando...supposed to be sunny and 75.....(alright, all of you STOP groaning)
re: question about laser liposuction.....seems safe...but always remember...this is NOT a weight loss procedure...it is a resculpturing procedure.
We are on the show floor of a cosmetic surgeons conference meeting physicians and explaining our weight loss program to them. There are MANY booths of laser lipo, injectable botox and other chemicals, skin lasers, etc....we are one of only 2 booths devoted to weight loss and th other is some HCG shot/500 calorie a day plan....
How can it be that the nation's largest medical issue that is killing hundreds of thousands of people per year is represented at a show like this by only two booths and there are well over 100 of the other types of fields, all cosmetic with really no "health" benefit?
ANSWER: MONEY MONEY MONEY
Insurance companies do not recognize weight loss programs and for a physician, sucking fat or injecting botox makes lots of $$$$ compared to sitting down with patients for behavior modification discussions. Also, for many people, the "outside" appearance is more important to them than the "inside". Cosmetic procedures may help psychological issues of poor self-esteem and such but it doesnt rid the person of diabetes, hypertension, heart attack risk, cancer risk etc. Weight loss does it all, but yet physicians do not feel motivated to become involved, not because they do not want their patients to be healthier, but rather because the system does not reward doctors for taking the time to become involved.
Americans are going to be buried financially and physically by the obesity epidemic, and aside from the government, we as phyicians need to play a more active role. No offense Jenny Craig, but physicians are better positioned to really help their patients lose weight and keep it off.
re: question about laser liposuction.....seems safe...but always remember...this is NOT a weight loss procedure...it is a resculpturing procedure.
We are on the show floor of a cosmetic surgeons conference meeting physicians and explaining our weight loss program to them. There are MANY booths of laser lipo, injectable botox and other chemicals, skin lasers, etc....we are one of only 2 booths devoted to weight loss and th other is some HCG shot/500 calorie a day plan....
How can it be that the nation's largest medical issue that is killing hundreds of thousands of people per year is represented at a show like this by only two booths and there are well over 100 of the other types of fields, all cosmetic with really no "health" benefit?
ANSWER: MONEY MONEY MONEY
Insurance companies do not recognize weight loss programs and for a physician, sucking fat or injecting botox makes lots of $$$$ compared to sitting down with patients for behavior modification discussions. Also, for many people, the "outside" appearance is more important to them than the "inside". Cosmetic procedures may help psychological issues of poor self-esteem and such but it doesnt rid the person of diabetes, hypertension, heart attack risk, cancer risk etc. Weight loss does it all, but yet physicians do not feel motivated to become involved, not because they do not want their patients to be healthier, but rather because the system does not reward doctors for taking the time to become involved.
Americans are going to be buried financially and physically by the obesity epidemic, and aside from the government, we as phyicians need to play a more active role. No offense Jenny Craig, but physicians are better positioned to really help their patients lose weight and keep it off.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
weight loss and appearance
We are in Orlando now at a cosmetic GYN doctors conference.
First, we flew AIRTRAN yesterday and I cannot believe how tight the coach seats are...I had a patient in our program once tell me that one of the great senstivities of her being overweight was fear that she would not be able to fit into an airline seat and as some airlines have smaler seats/seatbelts than others, she would not fly certain airlines. For an overweight person, this airline yesterday would have been very difficult.
The doctors we are meeting today specialize in cosmetics...liposuction, laser hair removal, botox, etc.
It must be remembered that liposuction is NOT a weight loss procedure..it is a body sculpting procedure. Liposuction does not make people healthier or lessen the need for blood presuure or diabetic pills.
Weight loss makes people younger inside AND out....there is nothing that you can do to make yourself look younger and healthier than to lose weight. Sometimes doctors forget this point to...our profession is much beter trained to treat disease states rather than prevent them.
First, we flew AIRTRAN yesterday and I cannot believe how tight the coach seats are...I had a patient in our program once tell me that one of the great senstivities of her being overweight was fear that she would not be able to fit into an airline seat and as some airlines have smaler seats/seatbelts than others, she would not fly certain airlines. For an overweight person, this airline yesterday would have been very difficult.
The doctors we are meeting today specialize in cosmetics...liposuction, laser hair removal, botox, etc.
It must be remembered that liposuction is NOT a weight loss procedure..it is a body sculpting procedure. Liposuction does not make people healthier or lessen the need for blood presuure or diabetic pills.
Weight loss makes people younger inside AND out....there is nothing that you can do to make yourself look younger and healthier than to lose weight. Sometimes doctors forget this point to...our profession is much beter trained to treat disease states rather than prevent them.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
weight loss and incentives
Thanks Ellen for sneding this very interesting link:
http://www.sphere.com/nation/article/whole-foods-staffers-to-pay-less-if-they-weigh-less/19331110?sms_ss=email
Basically, Whole Foods is putting an incentive policy into place that rewards their employess with a "healthier" status to get a higher discount on foods they buy at Whole Foods. There are several parameters that will be looked at including cigarette smoking, BMI, cholesterol levels. People will be divided into 4 groups based on their cumulative health score on these issues and then their discount will range from 30% in the "healthiest" category to 22% in the least healthy group.
The weird thing about this is that the supposedly least healthy group will be less encouraged to buy the foods that Whole Foods is known for...fresh vegetables, organnic foods etc..the foods rthat may lower the BMI.
Reason for this? Whole Foods spent over 150 million dollars last year on healthcare costs for their workers and the CEO says this will only continue to rise if people do not become healthier..
Your thoughts on this? Mine: We, as human beings, are driven often by incentive systems. Least you doubt that, just see what happened with the Cash for Clunkers program, the lines on Friday at 5AM after Thanksgiving, etc...we LOVE incentives and are motivated by them.
I believe that if outside incentives were put into place for us to become healthier, we would. But how far can this go? Tax incentives if you have a normal BMI? Bonuses at work based on BMI? A very controversial topic and I am very interested in your thoughts.
http://www.sphere.com/nation/article/whole-foods-staffers-to-pay-less-if-they-weigh-less/19331110?sms_ss=email
Basically, Whole Foods is putting an incentive policy into place that rewards their employess with a "healthier" status to get a higher discount on foods they buy at Whole Foods. There are several parameters that will be looked at including cigarette smoking, BMI, cholesterol levels. People will be divided into 4 groups based on their cumulative health score on these issues and then their discount will range from 30% in the "healthiest" category to 22% in the least healthy group.
The weird thing about this is that the supposedly least healthy group will be less encouraged to buy the foods that Whole Foods is known for...fresh vegetables, organnic foods etc..the foods rthat may lower the BMI.
Reason for this? Whole Foods spent over 150 million dollars last year on healthcare costs for their workers and the CEO says this will only continue to rise if people do not become healthier..
Your thoughts on this? Mine: We, as human beings, are driven often by incentive systems. Least you doubt that, just see what happened with the Cash for Clunkers program, the lines on Friday at 5AM after Thanksgiving, etc...we LOVE incentives and are motivated by them.
I believe that if outside incentives were put into place for us to become healthier, we would. But how far can this go? Tax incentives if you have a normal BMI? Bonuses at work based on BMI? A very controversial topic and I am very interested in your thoughts.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Weight loss and Americans
First, thanks Deb and Suzanne for the comments....
I saw an article yesterday that quantified how much americans walk yearly compared to europeans: Americans walk 87 miles per year and Europeans 237.
One of the things my new-to-america european patients tell me is that when they get off the plane in America the first thing they notice is: "Oh my God, I have never seen so many overweight people!"
Germany is known for their beer, France for the pastries, Italy for the breads and wine...and yet Europeans are much thinner than Americans....why???
Well, one answer is the above study about walking patterns. We Americans tend to drive much more than walk. Obviously, much of this is necessity as perhaps in Europe, jobs, shoppping etyc may be much closer to the residences. However, there are many times in which perhpas we can walk instead of drive somewhere.
Another reason: portion control.. Europeans are amazed at the portions served here in restaurants.
Yet another reason could be the incredible number of fast food restaurants in the states. Europe doesnt even come close.
If there is a chance to walk some as opposed to driving, take that opportunity. Your long term weight loss goals will be helped.
I saw an article yesterday that quantified how much americans walk yearly compared to europeans: Americans walk 87 miles per year and Europeans 237.
One of the things my new-to-america european patients tell me is that when they get off the plane in America the first thing they notice is: "Oh my God, I have never seen so many overweight people!"
Germany is known for their beer, France for the pastries, Italy for the breads and wine...and yet Europeans are much thinner than Americans....why???
Well, one answer is the above study about walking patterns. We Americans tend to drive much more than walk. Obviously, much of this is necessity as perhaps in Europe, jobs, shoppping etyc may be much closer to the residences. However, there are many times in which perhpas we can walk instead of drive somewhere.
Another reason: portion control.. Europeans are amazed at the portions served here in restaurants.
Yet another reason could be the incredible number of fast food restaurants in the states. Europe doesnt even come close.
If there is a chance to walk some as opposed to driving, take that opportunity. Your long term weight loss goals will be helped.
Monday, January 25, 2010
weight loss and the Drive Thru Diet
A patient of mine from the Pittsburgh area informed me that there is a big promotion going on in that area involving a number of fast food restaurants. The promotion is entitled 'The Drive Thru Diet" and there is some sort of competition to see which of the fast food places can help someone llose the most weight while eating their food.
Okay, time for Posner to start going off about this...When you track the exponential rise of obesity in this countyr, it parallels completely the growth of "fast food" restaurants in America. From the types of meat they use, to the mammoth portions, to the asccompaniments (fries, chips, cookies, sundaes etc) these places are CONTRIBUTING greatly to the declinign health of America. To think that they can be of help is ludicrous. These places are huge money makingh corporations that care less about your health. They gear their commercialw to low income groups that are more obese than the general population to begin with. They advertise with their alliances with kids movies to compell the children to beg their parents to bring them in so they can receive the promotional toys/gifts.
To think that a healthy nutritional pattern is focusing on going to fast food places is erroneous and dangerous. Shame on any radio or TV station for promoting this concept.
Okay, time for Posner to start going off about this...When you track the exponential rise of obesity in this countyr, it parallels completely the growth of "fast food" restaurants in America. From the types of meat they use, to the mammoth portions, to the asccompaniments (fries, chips, cookies, sundaes etc) these places are CONTRIBUTING greatly to the declinign health of America. To think that they can be of help is ludicrous. These places are huge money makingh corporations that care less about your health. They gear their commercialw to low income groups that are more obese than the general population to begin with. They advertise with their alliances with kids movies to compell the children to beg their parents to bring them in so they can receive the promotional toys/gifts.
To think that a healthy nutritional pattern is focusing on going to fast food places is erroneous and dangerous. Shame on any radio or TV station for promoting this concept.
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