I had a long discussion yesterday with a family practice physician who will be bringing the Serotonin-Plus Weight Loss Program to her practice in Boyton Beach Florida. She has many friends throughout the state of Florida who have their own family practices, and she was telling me that none of them have an interventional program for weight loss. She is a young family physician and her residency program was less than 2 years ago.
I trained in internal medicine almost 20 years ago and we received ZERO teaching about nutrition/psychological aspects of weight problems/how to help people lose weight. We were trained how to manage disease states...not how to prevent them. To hear that years later, the similar concepts occur in training programs amazed and disturbed me. To this day, physicians are receiving little to no training on how to help people lose weight. As mentioned ad nauseum in this blog, weight problems lead to hundreds of thousands of deaths yearly in the United States. How is it possible that there EVERY primary care physician does NOT receive formal training on helping people lose weight?
The growing epidemic of obesity is killing Americans prematurely, and I most certainly hope that medical schools and residency programs start focusing on the most important health problem facing America.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Saturday, February 27, 2010
weight loss: start and stop
Yesterday I entered two very nice medical assistants into our program who are roomates. They are excited about "starting" our program. They asked however if they can "start" in several weeks. The physician they work for, a wonderfully talented, prominent and charismatic physician will be starting the program with them, but the physician is traveling for two weeks and they wanted to coincide their efforts. I strongly recommended to the medical assitants that their efforts should begin immediately.
I often have patients ask me, when entered into the program on a Thursday/Friday whether they can "start" on Monday. Why? Thoughts about shopping for the compatible food sources, clearing the house of tempting high-caloric snacks etc. However, I think that subconsciously many people equate "dieting" with punishment, sacrifice and deprivation. It is not fun, burdensome and a nasty chore...and like most nasty chores, we would love to delay it as much as possible and then "end" it as soon as possible.
From a mindset standpoint, we need to adjust our thinking to NOT think of losing weight as a nasty chore but rather as a great thing to expedite our way to happiness and health. Looking younger, feeling better, higher self esteem, lessening our chances for life-threatening diseases...all of these are a GREAT outcome and anything that gets us there is a wonderful thing.
So, although there needs to be a "start" for these efforts, this start should be yesterday, not some date in the future. End? No such thing...we need to achieve a permanent life-style change that will maintain this healthy and happy weight. We need to rid ourselves of the concept of "diet" that starts at a time not to ruin our weekend plans and "end" when we have achieved our goals.
I often have patients ask me, when entered into the program on a Thursday/Friday whether they can "start" on Monday. Why? Thoughts about shopping for the compatible food sources, clearing the house of tempting high-caloric snacks etc. However, I think that subconsciously many people equate "dieting" with punishment, sacrifice and deprivation. It is not fun, burdensome and a nasty chore...and like most nasty chores, we would love to delay it as much as possible and then "end" it as soon as possible.
From a mindset standpoint, we need to adjust our thinking to NOT think of losing weight as a nasty chore but rather as a great thing to expedite our way to happiness and health. Looking younger, feeling better, higher self esteem, lessening our chances for life-threatening diseases...all of these are a GREAT outcome and anything that gets us there is a wonderful thing.
So, although there needs to be a "start" for these efforts, this start should be yesterday, not some date in the future. End? No such thing...we need to achieve a permanent life-style change that will maintain this healthy and happy weight. We need to rid ourselves of the concept of "diet" that starts at a time not to ruin our weekend plans and "end" when we have achieved our goals.
Friday, February 26, 2010
weight loss and age
I was speaking with a Florida family practice physician yesterday and she has a practice wih mostly Medicare-age patients (65 and above). We were discussing weight loss programs and I informed her that the avearge of of our Serotonin-Plus patients are 48 (females) and 45 (males). We do have a number of patients over 65, but certainly not a majority. Most of the 85-plus age patients coming to us express concern of course about weight related morbidities such as their diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea etc. I never really gave much thought to the confidence/self esteem/desire to obtain an enhanced aesthetic appearance as their motivation.
The physician I spoke to yesterday who sees far greater number of geriatric patients emphasized to me just how important this factor is in her patients'quest to lose weight. Yes, they are concerned about their medical co-morbidities but not unlike our 40 year olds, they want to feel more appealing to themselves and others physically.
Weight loss makes us look younger, healthier and we can wear clothes that display our health, not hide our weight. No matter what age, losing weight makes us feel better in many ways.
The physician I spoke to yesterday who sees far greater number of geriatric patients emphasized to me just how important this factor is in her patients'quest to lose weight. Yes, they are concerned about their medical co-morbidities but not unlike our 40 year olds, they want to feel more appealing to themselves and others physically.
Weight loss makes us look younger, healthier and we can wear clothes that display our health, not hide our weight. No matter what age, losing weight makes us feel better in many ways.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
weight loss and confidence
We have selected Saturday, June 19 for the First Annual Serotonin-Plus Fashion Show...Location will be the Bobby McKeys piano bar at the National Harbor in Maryland right over the Wilson Bridge...We are going to be working with a local charity, as the charity part of this function willl be to donate clothes to people who can ill-afford professional clothes for trying to get back into the workplace....
The inspirational part: Showing that when a person loses weight, that person can feel self-confident enough to stroll on a stage in front of others to wear something he/she never would have considered proudly wearing in front of others. When we lose weight, we gain a whole lot of self-confidence. We are asking our patients who have seen many sizes go down to be a part of our very fun event. These same patients will be asked to donate their clothes that no longer fit.
I wrote Michelle Obama a letter yesterday inviting her to this function, as she is focusing many efforts on bringing greater awareness and intervention of childhood obesity. Weight problems in children begin with the parents. We are trying to heighten awareness of the national epidemic of obesity. Losing weight makes us healthier but also makes us more self-confident. A higher self-esteem makes us happier people. Being healhier makes us happier. Taking less medications makes us happier. Lets all strive to be happier.
The inspirational part: Showing that when a person loses weight, that person can feel self-confident enough to stroll on a stage in front of others to wear something he/she never would have considered proudly wearing in front of others. When we lose weight, we gain a whole lot of self-confidence. We are asking our patients who have seen many sizes go down to be a part of our very fun event. These same patients will be asked to donate their clothes that no longer fit.
I wrote Michelle Obama a letter yesterday inviting her to this function, as she is focusing many efforts on bringing greater awareness and intervention of childhood obesity. Weight problems in children begin with the parents. We are trying to heighten awareness of the national epidemic of obesity. Losing weight makes us healthier but also makes us more self-confident. A higher self-esteem makes us happier people. Being healhier makes us happier. Taking less medications makes us happier. Lets all strive to be happier.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
weight loss and planning
This week I had several patients whose week was challenging in the weight loss arena because of a very hectic schedule. These patients found themselves making "decisions on the run", meaning that there was no meal or exoercise planning involved, so they would up making quick food choices and no exercise. That is a formula for weight gain.
Planning your meals and snacks is a very important part of a long-term weight loss strategy. I suggest that you take the time, on your quietist day of the week (Sunday?) to sit down with a piece of paper and plot out your week. For instance, if you know that a certain day will involve travel, what snacks will you bring with you? What eating facility in the airport can deliver a high protein/high vegetable meal? If you need to attend a soccor game that ends late, what type of dinner will you have?
Write down each day and PLAN how you will approach your eating activities. A small amount of planning will go a very long way in helping you achieve your weight loss goals.
Planning your meals and snacks is a very important part of a long-term weight loss strategy. I suggest that you take the time, on your quietist day of the week (Sunday?) to sit down with a piece of paper and plot out your week. For instance, if you know that a certain day will involve travel, what snacks will you bring with you? What eating facility in the airport can deliver a high protein/high vegetable meal? If you need to attend a soccor game that ends late, what type of dinner will you have?
Write down each day and PLAN how you will approach your eating activities. A small amount of planning will go a very long way in helping you achieve your weight loss goals.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
weight loss and The Biggest Loser
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35487357/ns/health-fitness/from/ET
I would like to credit Ellen for providing the above link concerning the very popular show , "The Biggest Loser"
I must admit I do not watch that show because it conflicts with SOAPNET...come on, just teasing, Posner will watch sports and movies on TV but not series!
Anyway, I am certainly aware of the premise of the show, which basically is about people vying to win a 250K prize for losing the most weight in a certain period of time.
The above link discusses the medical issue that losing weight too quickly is DANGEROUS. From gallbladder problems to electrolyte changes, abrupt weight loss can put a person at risk for serious medical issues.
This is why the liquid diet plans, the 500 calorie a day HCG programs are NOT, in my opinion, a "healthy" way to lose weight. If the calorie count is above 1000 a day, I believe people are in a safe zone.
The other thjing I love about "reality" shows is the complete lack of reality....anyone reading this blog: are you being paid 250K to lose weight? Any one of you reading this: are you going to have your 30 minutes of TV fame by losing weight? No, none of you will....you all have jobs, family responsibilities, and other issues that make llosing weight very difficult. You are PAYING to lose weight, no one is paying you....THIS IS REALITY...not The Biggest Loser.
Losing weight aggressively, but gradually and learning new behavior patterns and lifestyle changes is what will help you achieve your weight loss goals and maintain them...this is reality.
I would like to credit Ellen for providing the above link concerning the very popular show , "The Biggest Loser"
I must admit I do not watch that show because it conflicts with SOAPNET...come on, just teasing, Posner will watch sports and movies on TV but not series!
Anyway, I am certainly aware of the premise of the show, which basically is about people vying to win a 250K prize for losing the most weight in a certain period of time.
The above link discusses the medical issue that losing weight too quickly is DANGEROUS. From gallbladder problems to electrolyte changes, abrupt weight loss can put a person at risk for serious medical issues.
This is why the liquid diet plans, the 500 calorie a day HCG programs are NOT, in my opinion, a "healthy" way to lose weight. If the calorie count is above 1000 a day, I believe people are in a safe zone.
The other thjing I love about "reality" shows is the complete lack of reality....anyone reading this blog: are you being paid 250K to lose weight? Any one of you reading this: are you going to have your 30 minutes of TV fame by losing weight? No, none of you will....you all have jobs, family responsibilities, and other issues that make llosing weight very difficult. You are PAYING to lose weight, no one is paying you....THIS IS REALITY...not The Biggest Loser.
Losing weight aggressively, but gradually and learning new behavior patterns and lifestyle changes is what will help you achieve your weight loss goals and maintain them...this is reality.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Weight loss and fast food restaurants
When you track the progression of the increasing prevalence of obesity in America, it parallels the growth of fast food restaurants. Commercials for fast food places dominate the TV airways, inundating not only us, but especially children with their compelling advertisements.
In our program, we plead with our patients NOT to EVER go to a fast food place...they are tricked into believing there are "healthy" choices available....but even the salads, yogurts, burgers without the buns....all of these are NOT compatible with weight loss efforts. Moreover when you enter these places, the smells of the fries, the temptation to purchase their value meals...all of these will eventually result in you giving in to the urge to go back to old behaviors. Similar to the reforming gambler-holic who should never enter a casino, a person with weight control problems should never go into a fast food restaurant.
From a economically-depressed family situation, fast food restaurants provide more calories per dollar than any other alternatives and the rate of childhood obesity is higher in the lower socioeconomic groups.
Obesity is killing us as a society and the rate of childhood obesity is especially alarming and portends catastrophic consequences for America. Kudos to Ms. Obama for becoming actively involved in this major national health crisis. If I could HAVE IT MY WAY or THINK OUTSIDE THE BUN, I would tax the daylights out of these places to pay for all the healthcare needs they are causing.
In our program, we plead with our patients NOT to EVER go to a fast food place...they are tricked into believing there are "healthy" choices available....but even the salads, yogurts, burgers without the buns....all of these are NOT compatible with weight loss efforts. Moreover when you enter these places, the smells of the fries, the temptation to purchase their value meals...all of these will eventually result in you giving in to the urge to go back to old behaviors. Similar to the reforming gambler-holic who should never enter a casino, a person with weight control problems should never go into a fast food restaurant.
From a economically-depressed family situation, fast food restaurants provide more calories per dollar than any other alternatives and the rate of childhood obesity is higher in the lower socioeconomic groups.
Obesity is killing us as a society and the rate of childhood obesity is especially alarming and portends catastrophic consequences for America. Kudos to Ms. Obama for becoming actively involved in this major national health crisis. If I could HAVE IT MY WAY or THINK OUTSIDE THE BUN, I would tax the daylights out of these places to pay for all the healthcare needs they are causing.
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