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The Serotonin-Plus Weight Loss Program Blog:: Diabetes and Dementia

September 21, 2011 - 0 Comments »

There were reports yesterday detailing the association of diabetes mellitus with an increased risk of developing dementia. That would make sense as diabetes leads to premature “hardening of the arteries” and dementia is often the results of a decreased cerebral blood flow. Biggest cause of diabetes? Being overweight. It is estimated by the year 2030 that 35% of the American population is going to have diabetes mellitus. The reason? The ever-growing issue of obesity. What does this mean futuristically? Many more people with co-morbidities developing over time, and add dementia to the list of kidney failure, blindness, heart disease, stroke, arthritis, sleep apnea and cancer. Obesity is literally killing Americans in numbers far beyond terrorism, swine flu and all the other things you read about on page 1. It is most definitely time for all of us to become incredibly serious about our own weight issues as well as others in our lives whom we care about.

The Serotonin-Plus Weight Loss Program Blog:: Confidence

September 20, 2011 - 0 Comments »

How does one measure “self-confidence”? It is a feeling that we either have little, some or lots of. Usually self-confidence is a combination of feeling that our knowledge base is at least on par with anyone else's and physically, we are attractive. How do weight control issues affect self-confidence? Clearly, lots. We see this time and again in our program…when people lose significant weight and they look younger and more attractive, the aura of self-confidence blooms and shines. This is a god thing. Yes, weight loss lowers the risks of serious medical conditions but is amazing to see the improvement in self-confidence that accompanies the weight loss.

The Serotonin-Plus Weight Loss Program Blog:: Football “Good vs Bad”

September 19, 2011 - 0 Comments »

I often have patients who come in after a challenging week and say “I was bad”, or conversely, if an aggressive weight loss occurred, I hear “I was good this week”. This sounds trivial, but I do not think it is: I believe that people should not equate watching their food plan carefully as being a “good person” or if the huh caloric food sources are consumed, that the person feels like a “bad person”. As children, we were told when we were good or bad by our parents and we wanted to please our parents. Try to change the mindset that if you ate foods off the dietary plan, you ate foods off the dietary plan, …you ate not a “bad person”. Just find the resolve to make the next week(s) more successful. Self-loathing is not a health mindset at any point, and when we think of ourselves as “bad”, that is the start of negative cycles.

The Serotonin-Plus Weight Loss Program Blog:: Football Sunday

September 18, 2011 - 0 Comments »

Truly America's sport with millions of Americans in front of their televisions today rooting for their favorite team. Watching football does not derail your weight loss efforts. The chips, beer, nachos, nuts and other football favorites will sabotage your efforts to be happier and healthier. Plan a good, healthy lunch before the 1 o'clock games and obligate yourself not to cart out the aforementioned saboteurs. Separating the enjoyment of an event from the high caloric foods customary to those events is integral for your long term goals. I am glad the Giants aren't playing today because now I will not have to endure angst watching them play like s–t!!!!

The Serotonin-Plus Weight Loss Program Blog:: The Role of Professionals

September 17, 2011 - 0 Comments »

Yesterday Dr. Balda, Tammy Hill, our marketing Director and I went to visit with the Jackson physical therapy folks. They have 12 centers throughout Northern Virginia and Mr. jackson and his staff are incredibly focused on the entire well being of their patients. Clearly, a number of people going through PT to rehab problems have weight issues exacerbating those problems. How much better would an obese chronic back patient be if they shed significant weight? How much quicker would an obese knee replacement patient rehab if lots of weight was lost? The answers are obvious: weight loss will help incredibly. Clearly, if weight loss was as simple as a professional telling his/her patient: “EAT LESS AND EXERCISE MORE”. there would be this obesity epidemic in America. People with chronic weight problems need help in losing weight. Our obligation as healthcare professionals? Either offer a weight loss solution or if there is not enough time or resources to have a program then refer those patients to someone who does. The Jackson Group is very open minded to referring patients for our program. How many other groups or doctors do nothing or do not refer out? Sadly, the overwhelming majority. Most healthcare professionals just “don't get it”. Treating disease states as opposed to the prevention has sadly been too much the norm, and that is why we are in this really treacherous healthcare situation in America. Time for us docs and other healthcare professionals to wake up.