Dr. Posner's Blog
The Serotonin-Plus Weight Loss Blog: Part of the Solution or Part of the Problem?
May 20, 2013 - 0 Comments »
My movie trivia contest last week was a hit, so let’s continue: Which movie had this line (no Googling or using the internet or smart phone in any way)? ”There are two types of people in this world…those who like Neil Diamond and those that do not..” Well, the way I see the world is that we are confronted both individually and collectively with a series of challenges that require solutions. And, there are two types of people in this world, those that are part of the problem and those that are part of the solution. Let’s bring this discussion to the weight control arena. With obesity being the nation’s most serious health issue and the co-morbidities costing astronomically more money than any other health issues, then this is obviously a major problem. Are you part of the problem or part of the solution? If you bring that extra Halloween candy to work, thereby facilitating your overweight co-workers to get even more overweight, you are part of the problem. If you stand beside that really cute daughter selling boxes of Girl Scout cookies to a society that is 68% overweight, you are part of the problem (oops…that one will sure get me some comments). If individually, you do not make headway on your own weight control issue, you are part of the problem. If you organize the lunchtime walking group at work instead of eating at the cafeteria, you are part of the solution. If you do not see the need for rewarding your children with candy, ice cream and other high caloric food sources, and instead, instill in them ideas of good nutrition, you are part of the solution. Individually, if you are steadfast and committed to your own weight loss success, you are part of the solution. If collectively, we all become part of the solution and not part of the problem, then there will be no problem at all!
The Serotonin-Plus Weight Loss Blog: Fear of Failure
May 19, 2013 - 0 Comments »
Sometimes, it is the fear of failure that drives us to heightened resolve and fortitude. However, at times, fear of failure results in a lack of even trying and therefore a self-fulfilling failure. The fear is 1- that you will let yourself down and 2- you will disappoint others around you whose opinion/judgement affect you. When it comes to losing weight, I believe everyone that has struggles chronically with weight control can relate to the sensation of “fear of failure”. Frequently, I have patients tell me that their entry to the SP Program is their “secret” and they do not tell the spouse, friends and family. The reason? The fear that they will put the weight back on. Is fear of failure a productive human emotion? Well, if 60,000 home fans are screaming at the kicker about ready to kick that game winning field goal, perhaps that fear of missing the kick and disappointing millions of fans watching and believing in you will propel that kicker to the best kick of his life. If the overweight person is paralyzed in his/her efforts because of fear of failure, then this is very detrimental. Focus on the wonderful ed-results of your successful weight loss efforts as opposed to the fear of failure. What awaits you are improved health, more energy, looking younger, ridding yourself of medications and having much higher levels of confidence. Turn your fear of failure to the eager anticipation of success.
The Serotonin-Plus Weight Loss Blog: I OWE IT TO MY________
May 18, 2013 - 0 Comments »
Fill in the blank: I OWE IT TO MY___________ TO LOSE THE WEIGHT. Here are some that come to mind:
- Your children: They want their mom and dad to be alive in good health. You mean so much to them and your absence or serious illness would take away time with them and their children. Also, as you age, you never want to be a “burden” on the children, and a serious illness and incapacitation may require their help and vigilance…the last thing you wanted to happen.
- Your friends: They are your “friends” for a reason….they have been there for you and you have been there for them.
- Your profession: You have probably been/are a very important part of your profession/work team and your absence may diminish the quality of the work and the positive impact on society.
But here is the most important one:
- YOURSELF: You have worked very hard to get where you are…going to school, raising a family, making a name for yourself in your profession and countless other aspects of your life that make life so worthwhile. Do you deserve to have those, and more, taken away from you? Absolutely not. Your successful weight loss will strengthen your chances of enjoying all the wonderful people and things in your life. You owe it to yourself.
The Serotonin-Plus Weight Loss Blog: Mel Brooks Trivia Time..and Yogurt
May 17, 2013 - 3 Comments »
Okay, any Mel Brooks fans out there? He is the director of classic spoof pictures such as Young Frankenstein (Where Wolf? There Wolf) and Blazing Saddles (the eating beans around the camp fire scene). One of my favorites: Spaceballs, which spoofed all the Star Wars pictures. There was a scene when the Harrison Ford /Hans Solo character (played by Bill Pullman) lands on a planet and meets the Yoder character. However, the Yoder is called Yogurt, and is played by Mel Brooks himself as a little leprechaun-type character with a Jewish/Yiddish accent. Hans Solo and the Chewbaca character (played by the late John Candy) are overtaken with awe as they meet Yogurt and say: ”It’s Yogurt, the magnificent”, “Its Yogurt the Almighty”, “It’s Yogurt, the Wonderful”….and then the Yogurt character says, in a very funny Yiddish/Jewish accent, “No, No, No boys, no more fuss…I am just PLAIN YOGURT.” So now, as all of you are thinking that Posner has finally lost it and writing old movie reviews instead of a focused blog that may help your weight loss efforts, here goes: The “Greek Yogurt” that everyone is now infatuated with is NOT the type of protein we stress in the SP Program. As long as your yogurt intake (considered a dairy in our program) is 80 calories or less, I do not care whether it is Greek, acidophilus containing or PLAIN yogurt. The Greek yogurt should NOT be used in the counting of your protein exchanges. We have found that the “traditional” proteins, in the forms of poultry, seafood, fish, edges, and yes, even red meat are much better for weight loss than any other form of protein, including the “Greek” yogurt. And now, WITHOUT THE USE OF THE INTERNET, the first 10 people that answer this trivia question correctly get a free bottle of Serotonin-Plus: Which actress played the Princess Leia character in Spaceballs?
The Serotonin-Plus Weight Loss Blog: Summer
May 16, 2013 - 0 Comments »
Finally, we are seeing temperatures where they should be this time of year and as difficult as it is to believe, next week all of the community pools open up. Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial commencing of the summer season and for most, pools and beaches are part of the summer. This also means wearing swimsuits and being “seen” by others. Does weight control affect our desire to avoid these situations? Is there a gender difference in this sensitivity? I believe that no one will dispute that at a more ideal body weight, most people will have no problem wearing a pretty revealing bathing suit out in public. I believe that females tend to be more sensitive about this situation, as once again, guys get more of a social “mulligan” on these issues. There are so many fun events, parties and other social functions during the summer that revolve around a water setting, and to avoid these functions because of a weight sensitivity is unfortunate. How to correct this? 1- Try to NOT let a perception that others will “judge” you based on your weight affect your desire to attend and 2- lose the weight so you do not feel self-conscious. Clearly, on the priority list of why you should lose weight, this reason falls close to the bottom, but when your company has that special pool side function and you are getting ready for this and feel the need to just not show up, then this reason does come a bit higher on the list. Losing weight allows you to be more comfortable around others and heightens self-confidence. There is no immediate gratification food source that does this.
