Dr. Posner's Blog
The Serotonin-Plus Weight Loss Blog: PB
April 1, 2012 - 0 Comments »
First, Jessica, thanks for the very nice comment. I am thrilled that you are getting great results and I know you are going to be a GREAT (role) model at the NY Fashion Show on May 19. (Notice how Posner was able to get a plug in for the Fashion Show that I want ALL of you to attend!!)
We have a number of runners who are in our program and for those runners that are really “into it” and competitive, I have often heard the abbreviation “PB” used. It took me several times to realize that it did not stand for “peanut butter”, but rather, “personal best”. This refers to the time it takes to run the 10K, 1/2 marathon, and in the case of one of our patients, ultra marathons (greater than 50 miles). Losing weight allows runners to improve their time. Obvious reasons: They are lugging around less weight. Similar to jockeys who need to get their weight down to ride. (By the way , it is a bummer that HBO took that new show Luck off the schedule for next year…I thought Dustin Hoffman was great). Losing weight not just allows runners to reach “PBs”. Concerning many issues in our lives, both medical (blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar) and personal (happiness levels), weight loss helps us achieve many “PBs”
The Serotonin-Plus Weight Loss Blog: “They Say”
March 31, 2012 - 1 Comment »
“THEY” say: 1- one glass of red wine is good for you 2- you can “diet” 6 days and then take one day off and eat what you want 3-nuts are healthy 4-popcorn is a healthy snack food
So Dr. Posner has a question: Who are “THEY”??? Are these the same people who told my parents not to let me go swimming after I ate because I would have cramps and drown??? I am going to let you in for a disappointing secret: ”THEY” often do not know what the heck they are talking about. ”Old wives tales” may be a more apt term for things that are held to be “truths” when it comes to weight loss, but are anything but.
The Serotonin-Plus Weight Loss Blog: A Posner Pet Peeve
March 30, 2012 - 1 Comment »
I am certain all of you have your personal “pet peeves”…things that are said or done that really p–s you off. Here is one of mine: When a person says to me with that accompanying smile…”Live every day as if it was your last…”. Well, if I knew today was my last day ever on this earth, I sure would NOT do the same routine things I do every day, but rather, spend my last living moments with the people in my life who are most special to me. I would NOT go to work, NOT write this blog, NOT care about my mortgage payment or my savings for the future…it would strictly be a hedonistic day not caring about what happens tomorrow, because there would be NO tomorrow. Reality check for those people who offer that encouragement of living every day as if it was your last: A person CANNOT do this because there are RESPONSIBILITIES that we all have to address daily that require all of us to do things a times when we would rather be doing something else. So Posner, where does the weight loss angle come in? Here goes: When you are in a weight situation that puts you in a precarious health status, you may be in fact, facing a situation where it may be your last day. A sudden heart attack, stroke, etc can rip life or life as you know it, immediately away from you. But there is sometimes no “warning “on this, meaning that you don’t have the chance to live that last day as if it was your last. Losing weight will allow you many more days before the “last” day.
The Serotonin-Plus Weight Loss Blog: Protein
March 29, 2012 - 0 Comments »
When you look at the nutritional facts on the side of food sources, it provides the % of the different food groups. Protein is present in many types of foods…eggs, chicken, tofu, cheese, beef, pork and other “real” foods, and you can also see protein listed on protein bars and shakes offered as “meal replacements”. We have learned in administering this program for almost 10 years that the “good” protein for weight loss efforts are the aforementioned “real foods”, not replacements. Moreover, protein in the form of fish, seafood, chicken, other poultry and lean red meats are much more compatible for weight loss than the “vegetarian” proteins, such as tofu and beans. For weight loss, it is easy to remember that “real” protein and vegetables are your friends, whereas the carbs, fats and fruits are not.
The Serotonin-Plus Weight Loss Blog: Image
March 28, 2012 - 1 Comment »
I had a great discussion with one of our new patients yesterday. S. owns a boutique in Georgetown and it is a very personal/individualized type of place where S. works one-on-one with her clients to pick out the right clothes and accompaniments to enhance the “image” of that person. When people lose weight, obviously there clothes’ size changes. Moreover, aside form the size, the type s of clothes that can be worn change radically. When obesity is present, can “skinny jeans” be worn? A tight fitting little black dress for the formal event? When the weight is under control, a whole new world opens up. Men? Laughing…collectively, the clothes issues are not even close to the forefront of our minds compared to females. ’Image” is not as much a concern. Men get lots of mulligans on this….not fair, but it is reality. Keep on the lookout for an e-mail announcing an evening of “Image” S. has been invited to come in and provide a lecture about how we can adjust to our new Image when weight loss occurs. This will be a very fun evening.
