weight loss and holidays

Once again a reminder....you have/are working very hard to lose weight and feel healthier and happier. This weekend will present lots of challenges...every event you will attend will challenge you with food and alcohol choices that will tempt you to stray off your path of winning the battle.

Learning how to celebrate holidays and events without partaking of extraordinary amounts of high caloric food sources is difficult. Being around lots of people drinking alcohol and consuming tremendous amounts of calories and not joining in is very challenging.

At all times, try to remember why it is so important for you to lose weight and stay steadfast in your approach to not allowing in the derailing food choices that place you in an unhealthy situation.

weight loss and holidays

July 4th weekend coming up..for many it is exit stage left for a long weekend at the beach..for others it is neighorhood barbeques...

No matter what are the plans, inevitably they will include events with high-caloric food sources available including alcohol, desserts etc.

You have/are working very hard to get that weight down and become healthier and happier. It is amazingly how easy it is to take a 3 day weekend and really derail your efforts. Watching fireworks and enjoying the love of your friends and family does not necessitate ingesting lots of calories. Learning how to celebrate an occasion and have fun from the need to ingest high caloric food sources is a necessary component of long term weight loss success.

If you do notice after a weekend that the weight has increased, then have a definitive plan as to how you will work very hard the next weeks to get back on track.. Obviously if you need our help we are here for you.

weight loss and holidays

Memorial Day weekend is here....doesnt it just seem that we were digging out of huge snows???

Okay, the challenge: how to approach a holiday weekend full of barbeques, gatherings, high caloric foods, alcohol abounding etc....

FOCUS on the reasons why you want to lose the weight...those reasons are very important to you...health, clothes, looking younger, self confidence, energy etc....these reasons are very dear to you. Are these reasons more important than the temporary satisfaction we feel eating unhealthy choices? Heck yeah!

Separate the fun of being around your friends and loved ones from the ingestion of high caloric food sources. You can do one without the other.

You are choosing to be healthier, happier, look younger etc...a GREAT choice...do not let old holiday habits derail your efforts.

Weight Loss and Mothers Day

Happy Mothers Day! I certainly wish you all a great day. When holidays and recognition days arrive , usually food is part of the occasion. Whether it be the restaurant out or making the meal in the house, a central piece of any holiday is the food part. Well, here comes Posner again trying to "spoil" the day, but I am really not. I just want to point out that if Mom (or if you are "mom" then 'You") have a weight control issues, do NOT make this day about high-caloric food sources. Showing mother love and affection does not require yoo to bring or feed her high caloric food sources. Plenty of hugs, time together and gifts of pictures, or other non-caloric gifts are BETTER than bringing cakes, cookies and other food sources that would harm Mom's weight loss efforts. Do you really want to contribute to elevating the risk factors for heart disease? Think about it: when you bring high-caloric foods to a person who has weight control issues you are hurting them. When you love someone, that is the very last thing you would want to do.

Pleas try to separate a fun family gathering from the need to have everyone eating high-caloric foods. With America being 68% overweight, the effort to become healthier and happier starts with the family unit.

Once again, Happy Mothers Day!

There was a question about clothes donations for our event. Please call Jennifer Johns at: 703-866-4144

weight and Easter

A very Happy Easter holiday to everyone. A great day to be around family and celebrate the holiday.

Traditionally, there will be many food sources appearing that will not be helpful to your weight loss efforts. If you are preparing the feast, please keep a sensitivity that many around the table may be in a weight control mode so please provide alternatives that will not derail their efforts. HIgh protein choices and vegetables are conducive to the mission to lose weight.

If you are attending someone else's feast, make the smart choices. Remember at all times that you have placed a priority on being healthier, looking younger, having higher self-esteem etc., but to get there you need to NOT give in to food sources that will derail your efforts.

Being around the people you love is what the holiday is truly about. The high-caloric food sources that are available have no love for you and you can easily say "no" to them.

weight loss and holidays

First, I would ask that questions about pricing and other logistical questions about our program be addressed not as a comment to this blog but rather directly to our office: 703-866-4144

The upcomign week is spring break for many with school age children. This often involves travel to areas where it is very challenging to remain on a high protein high vegetable, low carb/low fruit food intake strategy,

If you are in fact leaving the area for soem vacation destination try very hard to seek restaurants that offer you choices compatible with your food needs. Buffet restaurants are not a good choice. Eating meals at theme parks also present a challenge. Additionally, if your trip involves many driving hours, planning in advance where you will stop to eat may have a very favorable effect on your efforts to "stay the course".

Additionally, psychologically, sometimes we mentally feel that we "need a break" from "dieting". Try to mentate throiugh this....we are NOT "dieting" but rather, trying to change lifestyle to allow us to be happier , healthier, look younger etc.

Plan your trip carefully and think about how you can have a great time on your trip and not derail your efforts.

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.

Weight Loss and the Holiday

Happy Thanksgiving eve.....I wish everyone safe travels....


If you are a guest at somone's house and bringing a gift please think of innovative low-caloric food gifts or non-food gifts to say "thanks" to your hosts....

If you are hosting the holiday gathering, please ensure you have healthy, low-caloric offerings available to your guests so they do not feel forced to "break" their improving eating habits....

Feel the warmth of your gathering and realize that the pumpkin pie, stuffing and wine are not as important as the people there who you would love to see for many many years. If we all stay healthy, a much better chance of sharing the experience together!

the big push....

Good morning and happy Labor Day....I wish you all a very relaxing day

The end of the summer brings upon us what I consider the fastest passing time of the year....Fall...football...halloween...thanksgiving.....christmas....new years..... soooooo fast and so many opportunities to put weight back on....especially the Thanksgiving thru New Year's time frame. It is almost impossible to not succumb to some of the holiday foods that are traditional. Our friends and family show their love for us by giving us food.

I implore you to use these next few months to really get serious about your weight loss efforts in anticipation of what will be a very difficult time period as this relates to trying to lose weight. Halloween candy is just around the corner as well as that Thanksgiving feast and then the food and alcohol that accompanies our Christmas and Hannukah celebrations. Get real aggressive in your efforts and if you need our help, please call on us. We are here for you!

weight loss and the holiday weekend

First, I want to thank Laval and Carmen for your very nice comments...I know all of my patients are busy and it is difficult to find the time to breath sometimes, no less log on and read this blog, so it is nice for me to know that this forum is helping some of my patients stay "focused". I have learned so much about why losing weight is so diffcult for so many people. Staying in the "zone" and remaining focused on your efforts is incredibly difficult and as soon as this focus is lost, we find ourselves back in old behavior patterns.

Okay team, we have a holiday weekend upon us. Picnics, parties, get-togethers, opening of colege football season...all of this is out there awaiting us. At every turn, there will be alcohol, high-caloric food sources and other sabotaging items and choices that could derial our efforts to be healthier and happier. Remember the mantra: There is no food i can eat that will taste as good as the weight loss feels.

Plan this weekend to enjoy the events, the people interaction, etc without having to succumb to poor food choices...lets stay focused!!!!

weight loss and holiday weekends

As the summer draws to a close, there is one last event, and that is the 3 day Labor Day weekend. No matter what your plans, whether it be travel out of athe area or parties/picnics locally, there will be many food sources put in front of you that could be detrimental to your weigth loss efforts,

I would implore you now to start thinking about this and planning your days to ensure that you have a solution(s) in the event that you are not in control of your food environment i.e. being at a pasrt, ballgame or other where there tends to be food and drink choices that could derail your efforts.

"Planning" is an important concept with the long term success in weight loss. Please take the time now to think abnout the upcoming weekend and what you can do to not find yourself in situations where you cannot avoid high-caloric foods.

weight loss and holidays

Happy Holiday weekend! We do have office hours this morning and tomorrow (what's next, Dr.Scrooge making people work on Christmas day???) but we are closed this afternoon. The weather is supposed to be very nice so plan some outside recreational activities.

Reminder: at the cookouts and gatherings alcohol will be the number one culprit for derailing your weight loss efforts followed by excessive carb intake. Try to strategize your approach to the events you will be attending and have a "plan" as to how to NOT make the hoiliday weekend an eat and drink-a -thon that will make you get on that scale this week and shake your head in dismay. Learn how to attend these functions and have a great time without having to consume too many calories.

And...if you do gain a bit of weight because of the holiday events, do NOT cancel your appointment next week! We understand that certain times are more challenging than others and the one week NOT to cancel your appointment is the one wheree weight is gained. We can help you refocus and get that weight off.

Enjoy!!!!

losing weight over the holidays

One of the patients I saw yesterday had a very successful weight loss week despite the holiday festivities. I asked her the "secret to success". Her answer: Take only small tastes of the high-caloric foods and not large portions. Also, pick the few items that are most desirable to you and have small portions of those, but leave the other high-caloric foods/desserts that are not as appealing to you completely untouched. Also, she recommended that because there are fewer hours at work during holiday weeks, she scheduled more exercise time. The patient also expressed lots of happiness that she decided to embark on weight loss before the holidays as opposed to packing on the pounds and doing the New Year's Resolution thing.

Alcohol is a major barrier to effective weight loss and if, on New Years Eve you have a choice of doing booze or doing a good dessert...opt for the dessert.

An Idea to Help With These Next Two Weeks...

Everywhere you turn for the next several weeks there will be high-0caloric food and drink choices staring you in the face. You will have people all around you ingesting alcohol, cookies, chocolate and other food and drink choices that will derail your plans to lose weight.

Here is a suggestion: Take the time to sit down with a piece of paper and write out a list of those food and drink sources during this holiday time that will sabotage your efforts to lose weight. These items may include egg nog, Godiva chocolate, Cookies, etc. If you generate a list of 15 or 20 items, then strike out 50-75% of them and put them as "completely off limits". Allow small portions of the remainder. In this way, you will reduce the amount of calories you will take in but at the same time allow yourself some of the holiday food and drink sources that will allow you to not feel totally deprived.

How To Navigate Around The Holidays...

Several patients came in yesterday who had great success during Thanksgiving week in their weight loss efforts. In common, this was their plan of action: they decided not to deprive themselves of any particular food source (excpt alcohol) that was around the table, but they took only "tasting" portions of the different foods. From the mashed potatoes to the stuffing to the sweet potatoe casserole, small spoon-sized portions were tasted. This action seemed to result in not feeling completely "deprived", which is a terrbibly frustrating sensation.

Both patients did'nt lose lots of weight this week...about 1.5 pounds, BUT the important point is that they had a great Thanksgiving holiday, were able to partake of the variou food sources and did not feel deprived.

As the Christmas parties start abounding, consider that strategy to help your weight loss efforts.

Weight Loss Initiatives Before the Holidays

We have had several patients recently who came in for consultations to learn more about the program. All decided to start the program but in common, they voiced the feeling that they should start AFTER the holidays. Already knowing the true reason behind that decision, I asked each of them their rationale. Basically, it came down to not wanting to "mess up" their holidays. Although the intellectual part of our brain tells us that weight loss is a VERY GOOD thing...making us healthier, more confident, etc., there exists the almost universal feeling that "dieting" is basically sacrifice and deprivation. We will be giving up "fun" activities and substituting strict eating behaviors. If we go into a holiday season "dieting" we will have a much less fun holiday. Therefore, why not start January 1???

This is the mindset that we try very hard to change. Anything that makes us overweight, puts our health at risk, and makes us feel less confident is not a "good" thing. A concerted effort to lose those pounds, look younger, rid yourselves of medications, and live longer/healthier is a very good thing. Why wait one more minute to begin a new lifestyle? The holidays bring you and your loved ones together. This is what the important thing is. Ingesting thousands of needless calories should not make this family time any more special. Losing that weight will allow you to spend more Thanksgivings and Christmases with your family. Obesity will cut your life short.

The start of your new, healthier lifestyle should start NOW. There is no reason to delay this!

the Big Push...

11 days till Thanksgiving and then weeks of holiday parties, family gatherings, gift exchanges etc.

Now is the time to be very very vigilant in your weight loss efforts. This is a perfect week to go to Phase 1 for one week and not allow any fruits or carbs in. We all will be challenged in many ways over the next 6 weeks, so use this next 1 1/2 weeks to be especially diligant.

You know the feeling of looking in the mirror in January and feeling remorse that you allowed yourself to put much weight on the previous year. Do not wait until January to start doing the work necessary to make you happier and healthier. Start doing it NOW!

Reminder: We hope you can attend our 20th Anniversary Patient Appreciation Nite on Friday, December 5, 2008 5-730. We will of course have lots of healthy snacks!

Three weeks till thanksgiving...

This is a very important time to get very "strict" in following your plans to lose the weight you would like to lose, because three weeks from today we enter the most difficult time of the year to achieve weight loss...thanksgiving thru new years.

Realizing that in several weeks, you will on a weekly basis be going to parties, gatherings, exchanging gifts, etc., it will be almost impossible to remain very regimented during this time.

NOW is the period to be especially focused and NOT take in food/drink sources that will hinder your weight loss efforts.

Remember: December 5, 5-730 pm at our office...2oth Annual Patient Appreciation Nite!!!! Much fun, HEALTHY foods and Karioke!!!!

Building "wiggle room"

Another weekend upon us...Friday nite party??? Saturday college football gathering??? Sunday NFL football party or tailgating??? Lots of opportunities to reach for high-caloric food sources and derail all the efforts you put in this week. Remember: Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years almost upon us!!! The holiday season is probably the most difficult time of the entire year to lose weight. You know the "usual" drill...you put on 8-10 pounds over the holidays, January rolls in, you get on the scale and say to yourself."New Year's resolution..I am going to lose weight". Start now!!! be EXTRA aggressive in your efforts over the next several weeks so when the holidays are upon us, we will be able to eat a bit extra and not worry too much that we destroyed months of good weight loss work. Do NOT get into that Halloween candy you may have already bought on sale. Also, remember for next week that childhood obesity is probably the most important national health issue at this time, so was it really a good choice to buy Three Musketeer bars to give out to any overweight kids ringing your doorbell???

On another note..PLEASE put on your calenders Friday, December 5th, 2008 from 5-7. We are celebrating our 20th anniversary of providing medical care to the area! This is a very special day for the staff and me. Please join us for some really great holiday fun...and yes, there will be some high-caloric stuff there but also healthier stuff. We are bringing karioke in again which was way too much fun last year. I certainly hope that you are able to stop by that evening!

Halloween and Weight Loss

First issue: My staff and I all dress up for Halloween even during the work day so Friday, October 31, we will be here in from 730 am till 12 noon so if you want to see Elvis come back to life in the form of a middle aged doctor, please feel free to stop by.

Did you buy the candy yet to give out to your trick or treaters? If so, my question to you is: "WHY?" Keeping food items of temptation around the house for prolonged periods of time is not a great idea. If it is in the house and we feel stressed out, we will feel an urge to open one of the bags and indulge in the very food sources that perhaps caused the weight problem to begin with.

Also, are there perhaps "healthier" snacks to purchase to give out on Halloween? With the childhood obesity rate climbing to alarming proportions and the life expectancy of the younger generation being less than their parents, our decision to give out less caloric sources of "treats" is a very socially-conscious decision.

As opposed to looking at high-caloric, low nutritious food sources as "treats and goodies" but rather as saboteurs and killers will hopefully help you avoid purchasing them and giving them out.