Sensitive subject: several female patients in our program have told me that a byproduct of their weight loss has been a very marked change in the attention they get in their professional worlds. When giving lectures or leading a meeting, before their weight loss they noticed that a relative lack of attention from their audience, especially men. When significant weight loss occurred, then it seemed to be the case that the audience was hanging on every word. There was a bit of anger in this realization, because professionally, whether overweight or not, the same person was giving the same talk...but yet, only because of a physical appearance change, the message was being attended to.
It is clearly not "right" or "fair" but it is reality that often we are judged by our physical appearance. When I went to my first meeting of the American Society of Bariatric Physicians, I was surprised to see that over 75% of the physicians were overweight. How much credibility can an overweight phsyician have in trying to help people lose weight?
I know this is a very sensitive subject because we deserve to be judged by what is "inside" of us, not the external package. But, truth is what people first see is the external part. Professionally, career progression is probably influenced to some extent on our ability to present a healthy look.
Please feel free to post comments on this issue. It is a very, very sensitive one for many people.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Friday, June 6, 2008
Serotonin, weight loss and worms
A study summary was released on Reuters yesterday which demonstrated the affects of serotonin on fat metabolism and weight loss. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080603/hl_nm/obesity_eating_dc
The issue of brain chemical balance on appetite/eating behaviors has been well documented previously but this study supports the serotonergic mechanisms involved in weight loss. As we have the only patented oral serotonin supplement in our program, we found this study very interesting.
Brain chemicals modulate many behavioral patterns in humans, and eating behaviors are certainly affected. Why do most people turn to food in times of stress? Why do some people stop eating when confronted with stress?
Just as we inherit eye color, height, etc. from our family, we also inherit brain chemical imbalances. That is why depression, anxiety, OCD, panic disorder and other "psychiatric" conditions seem to occur more commonly in families. Similarly, at least part of the weight problem you notice in a family unit has some basis in inherited chemical issues. Of course, environmental factors plays a large role as well.
Weekend coming up..set up some exercise time for yourself!
The issue of brain chemical balance on appetite/eating behaviors has been well documented previously but this study supports the serotonergic mechanisms involved in weight loss. As we have the only patented oral serotonin supplement in our program, we found this study very interesting.
Brain chemicals modulate many behavioral patterns in humans, and eating behaviors are certainly affected. Why do most people turn to food in times of stress? Why do some people stop eating when confronted with stress?
Just as we inherit eye color, height, etc. from our family, we also inherit brain chemical imbalances. That is why depression, anxiety, OCD, panic disorder and other "psychiatric" conditions seem to occur more commonly in families. Similarly, at least part of the weight problem you notice in a family unit has some basis in inherited chemical issues. Of course, environmental factors plays a large role as well.
Weekend coming up..set up some exercise time for yourself!
Thursday, June 5, 2008
weight loss and exercise
As I was running this morning listening to my IPOD (okay...i know you are curious as to what the 52 year old doctor listens to on his IPOD....here goes: show music, James Taylor, Carol King, Barry Manilow, Neil Diamond...yeah, I said it..Neil Diamond....stop laughing!!!) I started thinking about a conversation I had with a patient yesterday when I asked her about exercise. The patient told me that she "walks alot at work".
W alking is great of course, BUT, a "good" exercise is getting your heart rate to about 75-80% of the maximum heart rate for age (220-yourage=maximum heart rate) and keeping it there for about 20-30 minutes. Unfortunately, for most people, walking at work maybe brings your heart rate to no greater than 90.
PLEASE try to find dedicated time for real exercise...setting aside 30-45 minutes 3-4 times a week to do dedicated exercise. Make it like a business appointment, meaning that you will keep your scheduled time/date as important as you would keep a business meeting. Find activities that are considered "fun" for you as opposed to a burden. Some people HATE treadmills....they will find every reason in the world then not to exercise if the treadmill is their only recouse.
Sorry for the late entry today..storms messsed up schedule..but..I did find the time to run and listen to Forever In Blue Jeans on my IPOD!
W alking is great of course, BUT, a "good" exercise is getting your heart rate to about 75-80% of the maximum heart rate for age (220-yourage=maximum heart rate) and keeping it there for about 20-30 minutes. Unfortunately, for most people, walking at work maybe brings your heart rate to no greater than 90.
PLEASE try to find dedicated time for real exercise...setting aside 30-45 minutes 3-4 times a week to do dedicated exercise. Make it like a business appointment, meaning that you will keep your scheduled time/date as important as you would keep a business meeting. Find activities that are considered "fun" for you as opposed to a burden. Some people HATE treadmills....they will find every reason in the world then not to exercise if the treadmill is their only recouse.
Sorry for the late entry today..storms messsed up schedule..but..I did find the time to run and listen to Forever In Blue Jeans on my IPOD!
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Weight loss is easier with a partner!
I had a husband/wife team come into my office yesterday and they have been very successful, in their weight loss efforts. I was talking with them and probing as to how they have been able to be so successful. They almost simultaneously said "doing this together makes it much easier".
It is definitely the case that when a person embarks on an initiative to lose weight, having the support of a family member, friend, co-worker or other can be incredibly helpful. When two or more people decide together to lose weight, each person becomes a "support group" to the other. Friendly challenges such as bets on who reaches goals quicker can even make this more fun.
There is nothing fun about the act of losing weight. It is viewed mostly as sacrifice and deprivation. Giving up "fun" food sources is not an enjoyable act. Counting portions/calories is work...lots of work. Having the support of someone who is doing this alongside of you can be a great motivator. If you are considering a weight loss effort, try to find someone in your world who is willing to roll the sleeves up and get to work with you on this.
On a non-weight loss issue: Please help me understand this one. So we have people running for President...three senators who are currently in office. Each is flying around the country campaigning...millions and millions of dollars being raised for this effort. And if they do make it to be President, fortunes of money are in their future for speeches, books, etc. Why are they still being paid to be senators? Are they working for the people who elected them or are they just running for a higher office 100% of their time? I think all of us still have to do our work that we were hired for in order to be paid. Okay, rant is over. Back to weight loss tomorrow!
It is definitely the case that when a person embarks on an initiative to lose weight, having the support of a family member, friend, co-worker or other can be incredibly helpful. When two or more people decide together to lose weight, each person becomes a "support group" to the other. Friendly challenges such as bets on who reaches goals quicker can even make this more fun.
There is nothing fun about the act of losing weight. It is viewed mostly as sacrifice and deprivation. Giving up "fun" food sources is not an enjoyable act. Counting portions/calories is work...lots of work. Having the support of someone who is doing this alongside of you can be a great motivator. If you are considering a weight loss effort, try to find someone in your world who is willing to roll the sleeves up and get to work with you on this.
On a non-weight loss issue: Please help me understand this one. So we have people running for President...three senators who are currently in office. Each is flying around the country campaigning...millions and millions of dollars being raised for this effort. And if they do make it to be President, fortunes of money are in their future for speeches, books, etc. Why are they still being paid to be senators? Are they working for the people who elected them or are they just running for a higher office 100% of their time? I think all of us still have to do our work that we were hired for in order to be paid. Okay, rant is over. Back to weight loss tomorrow!
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Weight Loss and Word Associations
Okay....fill in the blank: "hamburger and________" "Fish and _______" Hot dog and a _____" "Apple pie and _____"
answers: fries, chips, beer, ice cream
we are sooo used to ordering food sources in these type of combinations...and with it comes excessive calories on top of the high calories of the first food source.
point here is when/if you decide to order the burger, go to the ball game and have the hot dog, etc, you don't HAVE TO also have the accompanying food-association item. Think about what else you tend to eat in combinations and if you cannot avoid one of the high-caloric sources, how to ensure you don't do the other.
answers: fries, chips, beer, ice cream
we are sooo used to ordering food sources in these type of combinations...and with it comes excessive calories on top of the high calories of the first food source.
point here is when/if you decide to order the burger, go to the ball game and have the hot dog, etc, you don't HAVE TO also have the accompanying food-association item. Think about what else you tend to eat in combinations and if you cannot avoid one of the high-caloric sources, how to ensure you don't do the other.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Beware of Marketing Hype
Atkins Bars, sugar-free ice cream, no sugar cookies....all of these sound like very healthy choices that will help keep you on the road to your weight loss goals....
Oops...about ready to burst your bubble (fun reading this on a Monday morning, huh?).
At our weight loss centers, we frequently see patients whose weight loss goals for that week are not being met, and when questioned, we find out that they have been using some of the above mentioned food sources. The advertisement of a "high protein" bar bearing the name of a doctor who was famous for a radical approach to weight loss or dessert sources that purport to not harm weight loss efforts can be quite effective. If we are made to think that we are consumming something that is "healthy" we are more apt to want to do it...and over and over.
I would caution you about reaching for these sources of snacks/desserts because even though they are advertised as something that sounds non-derailing, we find this is not true.
On a non-weight loss note: A tennis win for the old Doctor guy yesterday! After my match I was watching some of the golf guys walking the course drinking a beer as they were walking and I thought of this one: Aerobic golf! winner is not the one who finishes the 18 holes with the least strokes...it is the person who finishes the 18 the quickest...no carts allowed...whack the ball./.run to it....hit it again..etc...this would be a contest of both skill in golf and aerobic conditioning. Okay, maybe ESPN wouldn't carry this...sorry.
Oops...about ready to burst your bubble (fun reading this on a Monday morning, huh?).
At our weight loss centers, we frequently see patients whose weight loss goals for that week are not being met, and when questioned, we find out that they have been using some of the above mentioned food sources. The advertisement of a "high protein" bar bearing the name of a doctor who was famous for a radical approach to weight loss or dessert sources that purport to not harm weight loss efforts can be quite effective. If we are made to think that we are consumming something that is "healthy" we are more apt to want to do it...and over and over.
I would caution you about reaching for these sources of snacks/desserts because even though they are advertised as something that sounds non-derailing, we find this is not true.
On a non-weight loss note: A tennis win for the old Doctor guy yesterday! After my match I was watching some of the golf guys walking the course drinking a beer as they were walking and I thought of this one: Aerobic golf! winner is not the one who finishes the 18 holes with the least strokes...it is the person who finishes the 18 the quickest...no carts allowed...whack the ball./.run to it....hit it again..etc...this would be a contest of both skill in golf and aerobic conditioning. Okay, maybe ESPN wouldn't carry this...sorry.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Nothing Wrong With The "V" Word
When I ask people who enter our weight loss program why they want to lose weight, the politically correct answer is usually: "I want to be healthier and I know my excessive weight puts me at risk for heart disease, diabetes, etc."
Let's be honest though. Very often the major reason we want to lose weight is so that we can look younger, look better, have others think we are more attractive and look much better in clothes that now fit again. We hesitate to admit to these reasons because they sound "VAIN".
Re-establishing a higher level of self-esteem, not feeling we have to hide from cameras, attracting more positive attention: all of these are great reasons as well as the health ramifications as to why we should lose weight. Never feel ashamed about these reasons.
On a related, but non-weight loss issue: I had a medical patient from Brazil who came in looking about 15 years younger than her age, and when I asked her what her secret was she mentioned the name of a local prominent plastic surgeon. This was defintiely not the case in its entirety because this person exercises regularly, does not smoke, eats very healthy and is very active with her chidren. Aside from weight control, clearly these other factors (and I dont mean the plastic surgery!) can play a large role in looking younger than your years.
Let's be honest though. Very often the major reason we want to lose weight is so that we can look younger, look better, have others think we are more attractive and look much better in clothes that now fit again. We hesitate to admit to these reasons because they sound "VAIN".
Re-establishing a higher level of self-esteem, not feeling we have to hide from cameras, attracting more positive attention: all of these are great reasons as well as the health ramifications as to why we should lose weight. Never feel ashamed about these reasons.
On a related, but non-weight loss issue: I had a medical patient from Brazil who came in looking about 15 years younger than her age, and when I asked her what her secret was she mentioned the name of a local prominent plastic surgeon. This was defintiely not the case in its entirety because this person exercises regularly, does not smoke, eats very healthy and is very active with her chidren. Aside from weight control, clearly these other factors (and I dont mean the plastic surgery!) can play a large role in looking younger than your years.
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