How much of a responsibility do you have in encouraging/faciliting a loved one or friends weight control issues? A very sensitive subject matter to approach with someone special in your life. We all understand how weight issues and the co-morbidities can kill people, yet we find ourselves still "nururing" our loved ones with food sources.
Think of Christmas, birthday celebrations and other holidays/occasions when we bake cookies, cook an abundance of high-caloric food sources and provide these to our loved ones...some or many of whom may have significant weight issues.
It is awkward to approach a loved one and suggest weight control initiatives. We know that the affected person knows he/she is overweight so we are pointing out soemthing that they already know and are senstive about. However, to remain silent and not try to intervene and help is akin to watching a loved one about ready to be hit by a train and not yelling for them to get out of the way.
The first step is for YOU to be a role model. If you have a weight control issue, start working on that problem rigjht now. By you showing the control and initiative, your loved ones may feel compelled to follow suit. You may not only be saving yourswlf, you will be allowing your loved ones to also be healthier and happier,
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Saturday, March 6, 2010
weight loss and buffets
Last night i ventured over to the gaylord hotel for dinner and there was an Italian Market buffet restuarant open. Lots of healthy choices on the buffet..salads, proteins, vegetables etc. However, lots of challenging sources....pasta bar, pizza and of course, the dessert bar. All the food at the same price.
The words always preceding the advertising of a buffet is: "ALL YOU CAN EAT"
Buffet restaurants test the very fabric of human nature....when we pay for something we tend to feel compelled to get our monies' worth.
Stay awai from "All You Can Eat" situations as there will be much less temptation to reach for food sources that will derail your efforts to be happier and healhier.
The words always preceding the advertising of a buffet is: "ALL YOU CAN EAT"
Buffet restaurants test the very fabric of human nature....when we pay for something we tend to feel compelled to get our monies' worth.
Stay awai from "All You Can Eat" situations as there will be much less temptation to reach for food sources that will derail your efforts to be happier and healhier.
Friday, March 5, 2010
weight loss and fast food restaurants
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/mar/03/weight-watchers-mcdonalds-obesity
The above linked was provided by Ellen and dicusses how in New Zealand, Weight Watchers is teaming up with McDonalds to affix the Weight Watchers logo to several of the food items on the McDonalds menus...the chicken sandwich and the McNuggets. This "endorsement" of Weight Watchers will presumably help overweight people feel better about entering the hallowed hallways of the largest fast food chain.
I would point out that when you compare the growth charts of fast food restaurants in America that growth exactly parallels the growth of obesity in America. When our patients tell us baout buying premium salads, taking he buns off of the burgers, only eating a few fries etc, I tell them that it is dangerous and sabotaging to ever go into a fast food restaurant. The marketing of their "value" meals, saving money when you order the larger sizes etc...all of these are sabotaging your efforts to be happier and healthier. The overweight rate in the African American population is over 85% and many fast food tv commercials are geared to appeal to African Americans.
No, you will NEVER see Serotonin-Plus logos at a fast food restaurant. The argument would be "well, if you just eat the chicken, diet soda, etc, you willl not be eating many calories". But my argument is that there exists such a thing as human nature and when an overweight person walks into a fast food resturant, sees the pictures of those big juicy burgers and smells those fries, then control becomes lost and the Big Mac Attack occurs.
I always praised Weight Watchers Company in this blog as their program is based on real food and behavior modification. Today I am a bit disappointed. Walking through the doors of any fast food restaurant for an overweight person is not behavior modicfication and will present incredible challenges.
The above linked was provided by Ellen and dicusses how in New Zealand, Weight Watchers is teaming up with McDonalds to affix the Weight Watchers logo to several of the food items on the McDonalds menus...the chicken sandwich and the McNuggets. This "endorsement" of Weight Watchers will presumably help overweight people feel better about entering the hallowed hallways of the largest fast food chain.
I would point out that when you compare the growth charts of fast food restaurants in America that growth exactly parallels the growth of obesity in America. When our patients tell us baout buying premium salads, taking he buns off of the burgers, only eating a few fries etc, I tell them that it is dangerous and sabotaging to ever go into a fast food restaurant. The marketing of their "value" meals, saving money when you order the larger sizes etc...all of these are sabotaging your efforts to be happier and healthier. The overweight rate in the African American population is over 85% and many fast food tv commercials are geared to appeal to African Americans.
No, you will NEVER see Serotonin-Plus logos at a fast food restaurant. The argument would be "well, if you just eat the chicken, diet soda, etc, you willl not be eating many calories". But my argument is that there exists such a thing as human nature and when an overweight person walks into a fast food resturant, sees the pictures of those big juicy burgers and smells those fries, then control becomes lost and the Big Mac Attack occurs.
I always praised Weight Watchers Company in this blog as their program is based on real food and behavior modification. Today I am a bit disappointed. Walking through the doors of any fast food restaurant for an overweight person is not behavior modicfication and will present incredible challenges.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
weight loss and immediate gratification
A very quick one-liner from "Anonymous"...."Cause we like the cookies"
This was a response to my blasting the Girl Scouts of America organization for the irresponsibility of selling cookies outside of every supermarket to raise funds. With childhood obesity the most dangerous health concern facing America, how responsible is this to sell high-caloric cookies?
Well, one persons response: "Cause we like them"....I think this reflects most peoples immediate response. Eating a high caloric food cource provides an immediate gratification. Makes us feel good for a few seconds. The taste, the reward, the satiation...all of these are an immediate gratification.
Losing weight lessens risks for serioud medical diseases, makes us look lots younger and more physically attractice , allows us to wear much more fashionable clothes and heightens our energy levels....NONE of which occur immediately. All of these take weeks if not months to realize. The food source is an immediate gratification, the positive effects of weight loss are a delayed gratification.
Unfortunately, our instinctual behavior mechanisms make us , to a great extent, an immediate gratification specie. Least you doubt that, look at the average credit card debt in America and the average savings rate. The widescreen TV sure seems much more important than saving for our retirement.
Yep, we like those cookies but we sure dont like being on a hospital gurney being wheeled into a cardiac cath suite, we don't like being in front of an oncologist talking about the options of chemo vs. radiation for breast cancer, and we don't enjoy running away from people taking pictures because we are embarrassed about how we look. Being healthy, confident with a higher self esteem and wearing those clothes we would love to wear...these are all things we like too. Do you like those more than a girl scout cookie?
Make the donation and leave the cookies on their table. And Girl Scouts of America: Think of something besides cookies to sell America.
This was a response to my blasting the Girl Scouts of America organization for the irresponsibility of selling cookies outside of every supermarket to raise funds. With childhood obesity the most dangerous health concern facing America, how responsible is this to sell high-caloric cookies?
Well, one persons response: "Cause we like them"....I think this reflects most peoples immediate response. Eating a high caloric food cource provides an immediate gratification. Makes us feel good for a few seconds. The taste, the reward, the satiation...all of these are an immediate gratification.
Losing weight lessens risks for serioud medical diseases, makes us look lots younger and more physically attractice , allows us to wear much more fashionable clothes and heightens our energy levels....NONE of which occur immediately. All of these take weeks if not months to realize. The food source is an immediate gratification, the positive effects of weight loss are a delayed gratification.
Unfortunately, our instinctual behavior mechanisms make us , to a great extent, an immediate gratification specie. Least you doubt that, look at the average credit card debt in America and the average savings rate. The widescreen TV sure seems much more important than saving for our retirement.
Yep, we like those cookies but we sure dont like being on a hospital gurney being wheeled into a cardiac cath suite, we don't like being in front of an oncologist talking about the options of chemo vs. radiation for breast cancer, and we don't enjoy running away from people taking pictures because we are embarrassed about how we look. Being healthy, confident with a higher self esteem and wearing those clothes we would love to wear...these are all things we like too. Do you like those more than a girl scout cookie?
Make the donation and leave the cookies on their table. And Girl Scouts of America: Think of something besides cookies to sell America.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
weight loss and fashion
I cannot believe I slammed the Girlscouts Organization yesterday and I didnt get one comment calling me out....where are my feisty anonymous posters????
We are starting to move aggressively on event planning for our First Annual Serotonin-Plus Fashion Show. We are having difficulty finding the best charity to work with to donate clothes. We contacted the "Dress For Success" organization and they were pretty complacent about their interest in partnering with us so we are seeking a more local charity that collects clothes and distributes to people who are down on their luck and needing clothes to get back into the workplace. Anyone have thoughts on this??? Local church group that does this??? Other organiztion??? We are trying to keep the clothes local to the DC, Maryland, Virginia area.
Event will be Saturday, June 19, 2010...at Bobby McKeys piano bar at the National Harbor. I spoke with Bobby two weeks ago and he is thrilled to host our event. He has a really fun place for those of you who have not been there previously. We will have the entire place for ourselves, a great stage that will serve as our runway, a piano player providing the music that each person would like to accompany their stroll and Serotonin-Plus will provide lots of snacks, mostly compatible with your weight loss efforts. A cash bar will be open. This event will be beyond fun and it will also be doing some great stuff for the charity we choose. I have invited Ms. Obama and a number of local politicians (hope they dont read my blog about the stuff I write about politicians). There will be physicians coming in from other areas of the country who are now doing our program in their practices. They would love to meet our patients. We will also be seeking local media coverage for the event. PLEASE attend the event even if you do not want to stroll the runway. We would LOVE for you to be there and certainly participate. MARK JUNE !( ON YOUR CALENDER!!!!! 3PM!!!!!!
We are starting to move aggressively on event planning for our First Annual Serotonin-Plus Fashion Show. We are having difficulty finding the best charity to work with to donate clothes. We contacted the "Dress For Success" organization and they were pretty complacent about their interest in partnering with us so we are seeking a more local charity that collects clothes and distributes to people who are down on their luck and needing clothes to get back into the workplace. Anyone have thoughts on this??? Local church group that does this??? Other organiztion??? We are trying to keep the clothes local to the DC, Maryland, Virginia area.
Event will be Saturday, June 19, 2010...at Bobby McKeys piano bar at the National Harbor. I spoke with Bobby two weeks ago and he is thrilled to host our event. He has a really fun place for those of you who have not been there previously. We will have the entire place for ourselves, a great stage that will serve as our runway, a piano player providing the music that each person would like to accompany their stroll and Serotonin-Plus will provide lots of snacks, mostly compatible with your weight loss efforts. A cash bar will be open. This event will be beyond fun and it will also be doing some great stuff for the charity we choose. I have invited Ms. Obama and a number of local politicians (hope they dont read my blog about the stuff I write about politicians). There will be physicians coming in from other areas of the country who are now doing our program in their practices. They would love to meet our patients. We will also be seeking local media coverage for the event. PLEASE attend the event even if you do not want to stroll the runway. We would LOVE for you to be there and certainly participate. MARK JUNE !( ON YOUR CALENDER!!!!! 3PM!!!!!!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
weight loss and the Girl Scouts
Uh oh...today's entry is going to be sacriligious....Posner is going aftet the Girl Scout Organization.
You cannot exit any supermarket now without having very sweet girls approach you and offer to sell you boxes of cookies, with the money being directed to support the organiztion and activities. Of coursem the Girl Scouts is a wonderful organization, but why cookies??? The nation's largest health problem is childhood obesity and here is an organization for children selling the most high-caloric cookies imaginable (ever look at the calorie count of the Tag Alongs??).
People have said "Just make a donation...dont get the cookies.."..but for an overweight person who is challenged daily in their lives, it is easy to part with a monetary donation and forego the gift that is offered? Hardly easy for sure. Human nature often does not allow us to walk away without the cookies. Some of the groups are offering to send the cookies to soldiers. I postede a blog entry months ago about the military having difficulty recruiting members because of weight problems.
Why cant they be selling plants, key chains, a piece of artwork, postcards or something else that has nothing to do with calories? I think I know the answer: they would get less donations...Americans love our Girl Scout cookies....
Anyway, sorry to accuse a wonderfully respected establishment of irresponsibility, so bring on those nasty anonymous comments....but I stand by it: Girlscout Organiztion: Think of something to sell to America other than high-caloric cookies.
You cannot exit any supermarket now without having very sweet girls approach you and offer to sell you boxes of cookies, with the money being directed to support the organiztion and activities. Of coursem the Girl Scouts is a wonderful organization, but why cookies??? The nation's largest health problem is childhood obesity and here is an organization for children selling the most high-caloric cookies imaginable (ever look at the calorie count of the Tag Alongs??).
People have said "Just make a donation...dont get the cookies.."..but for an overweight person who is challenged daily in their lives, it is easy to part with a monetary donation and forego the gift that is offered? Hardly easy for sure. Human nature often does not allow us to walk away without the cookies. Some of the groups are offering to send the cookies to soldiers. I postede a blog entry months ago about the military having difficulty recruiting members because of weight problems.
Why cant they be selling plants, key chains, a piece of artwork, postcards or something else that has nothing to do with calories? I think I know the answer: they would get less donations...Americans love our Girl Scout cookies....
Anyway, sorry to accuse a wonderfully respected establishment of irresponsibility, so bring on those nasty anonymous comments....but I stand by it: Girlscout Organiztion: Think of something to sell to America other than high-caloric cookies.
Monday, March 1, 2010
weight loss and healthcare reform
Lst week I was watching a bit of the summit taking place where there were a bunch of politicians jockeying for position as to how to look good to the public in their quest to enact healthcare reform.
I have an easy statrt to this process that would save billions of dollars:
1- TORT REFORM.....Billions of dollars are wasted by physicians ordering unnecessary tests on patients to cover their asses in the event a lawyer comes snooping around the chart. It is a free shot by lawyers against doctors in this country. How about this: Lawyers can sue whatever doctor they want,.,,but if the doctor wins the case, the lawyer and client have to pay for all the court costs, legal fees and time spenrt away from the practice the doctor had to experience. Hey, if they have a good case, they shouldn't worry about that possibility, right? The President has said that tort reform is off the table...my question: Why??? This is an easy way to save billions...you not taxing anyone for the money and not cutting fees or services to anyone...But, one has to wonder how many of the politicians around that table are having their campaigns funded by the American Trial Lawyers Association.
2- Force insurance companies to offer coverage for preventative services...obviously, weight loss is a major preventative service that should be a mandatory coverage. Smoking cessation efforts would be the other major service.
Anyway, these are Posner's thoughts for whatever they are worth. As politicians posture for public approval, billions of dollars of waste are occurring. I suppose we can all do our part by trying to become as healthy as possible.
I have an easy statrt to this process that would save billions of dollars:
1- TORT REFORM.....Billions of dollars are wasted by physicians ordering unnecessary tests on patients to cover their asses in the event a lawyer comes snooping around the chart. It is a free shot by lawyers against doctors in this country. How about this: Lawyers can sue whatever doctor they want,.,,but if the doctor wins the case, the lawyer and client have to pay for all the court costs, legal fees and time spenrt away from the practice the doctor had to experience. Hey, if they have a good case, they shouldn't worry about that possibility, right? The President has said that tort reform is off the table...my question: Why??? This is an easy way to save billions...you not taxing anyone for the money and not cutting fees or services to anyone...But, one has to wonder how many of the politicians around that table are having their campaigns funded by the American Trial Lawyers Association.
2- Force insurance companies to offer coverage for preventative services...obviously, weight loss is a major preventative service that should be a mandatory coverage. Smoking cessation efforts would be the other major service.
Anyway, these are Posner's thoughts for whatever they are worth. As politicians posture for public approval, billions of dollars of waste are occurring. I suppose we can all do our part by trying to become as healthy as possible.
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