Dr. Posner's Blog
The Serotonin-Plus Weight Loss Blog: Hidden Costs
May 11, 2012 - 0 Comments »
First, I want to thank the NY Fashion Show models for coming out last night for the logistics meeting. The positive energy emanating from the group is intoxicating. The event will be MC’ed by Liz McEwen, head of the former Congressmen’s Spouse Association and her husband, Bob, was a former Congressman from Ohio. Entertainment will come in form of singer/songwriter Brooksie Wells, who played with Bobby Darin (no, Posner will NOT sing Mack the Knife at the event) and Nataliya and Donna are performing an incredible dance routine, which has been practiced for months. This is THE event in the area on May 19, so come on out and be a part of this gala…and bring those clothes for donation to ECHO.
“Costs” are sometime obvious. You go to dinner and pay your bill. The “cost” is on the check. You go to the pharmacy and pick up your blood pressure, diabetic,cholesterol or acid reflux meds. The “cost” is detailed to you by the pharmacy staff. ”Hidden costs” are those that you sometimes cannot see or place a dollar figure on. What are the hidden costs of being overweight? Discrimination at the workplace for promotions or raises, costs of gasoline for your auto, lost time at work secondary to illnesses or hospitalizations and more, Being overweight carries with it lots of hidden “costs”. Yet another reason for you to be resolute about your efforts to lose that weight. It will save you lots of money and emotional distress over time. And emotional issues are most certainly a hidden cost.
The Serotonin-Plus Weight Loss Blog: The Herd Mentality
May 10, 2012 - 2 Comments »
Okay, this may sound like sour grapes because the Rangers lost last night and I was at the game, but here goes: DISGUSTING place!!! I know I am showing my “Grumpy Old Man” side, but the smell of vomit and beer farts pervaded the place. Almost every male (and female actually) were slugging down beers, hot dogs, nuts etc. There were people passed out in the men’s room with vomitus all over them. I took my son in honor of his MBA graduation, and he had a great time as his dad was almost passing out from the stench. Stadiums exemplify the concept of the “herd” mentality. Let me go to another scenario, much more classy, nice smells, etc: A fine restaurant and you are with a group of people. The waiter starts taking “drink” orders and everyone before you orders a club soda or diet soda. Are you hesitant to order that glass of wine? Would you be less hesitant (especially if it was a business dinner) if everyone before you ordered an alcohol drink? Same scenario, but this time the waiter comes witht he dessert cart. If everyone queried by the waiter before you declines, are you hesitant to order the double chocolate cake with ice cream? Would you be less hesitant if everyone before you (especially overweight people) did order a dessert? Even though we are humans of high intellect (well, judging from last night at the Verizon Center at least some ) we still are subject to the “herd mentality” as this relates to our eating and drinking behaviors. For long term success however, learn to separate yourself from the herd and do your “own thing” which is hopefully the correct behaviors for long term health and happiness.
The Serotonin-Plus Weight Loss Blog: Why We are in this Mess
May 9, 2012 - 0 Comments »
Our marketing director told me that she went to a Burke OB’GYN practice to drop off some flyers about the SP Program. We obtain most of our new patients from “word of mouth” referrals, internet marketing and tv ads. A very small number of new patients come from referrals from other physicians. Nataliya was told by the office manager that “they are not interested” and do not leave the materials. Okay, lets dissect this. Does this practice have any overweight patients? With America being 68% overweight I suppose the answer is “yes”. Are these physicians in the practice treating women for issues that may be related to their weight such as abnormal periods, infertility, hypertension,gestational or post partum diabetes? Most likely, the answer is “yes”. Are these physicians offering a weight loss solution to their patients? For sure, I know the answer to this is “no” as I do get many new patients from their practice, not because they were referred, but rather, we are in the same town and they hear about our program from others. Does SP have a reputation as being unsafe or unethical? I really believe the answer to this is “NOOO and NOOO”. So why, pray tell, does the office manager of this practice say “we are not interested”? This story is indicative of one of the major reasons our country is in this healthcare mess. The overwhelming majority of doctors just “don’t get it”. Ply your patients with drugs for disease states, but do little to nothing to prevent them. If you do not offer a solution to a major problem, then refer them to someone who can. I rarely watch tv news, but I believe O’Reilly has a “Patriots and Pinheads” segment. Congratulations OB/GYN practice…You are PINHEADS!
The Serotonin-Plus Weight Loss Blog: Attention
May 8, 2012 - 0 Comments »
Do you like attention? Some people more than others gravitate to be the “center of attention”. What makes that person the COA is usually a combination of personality, aura and looks. As a woman, if you want lots of attention, you know exactly how to dress to get that attention from both men and women. Sometimes you do not intend to become the COA and it is not a good one, such as falling down accidentally at a restaurant. Sometimes the COA cannot be avoided, such as delivering a keynote speech at a conference. Sometimes being COA is very uncomfortable, such as the morbidly obese person trying to get into the airline seat. Your successful weight loss will bring attention along with it, as your family, friends and co-workers will pay more attention to you. You will hear comments about how “good you look“, other, more jealous comments may be: “are you ill?”. Embrace the attention that weight loss brings you as most of it is incredibly positive.
The Serotonin-Plus Weight Loss Blog: The Grill
May 7, 2012 - 4 Comments »
Last night was a great one for firing up the deck grill. I made steaks for everyone and then realized that it is so easy to keep the fire on, throw some chicken breasts on the grill and wrap them up for the next evening, and all they need is to be warmed up. Lots of preparation time was saved for the next night. There is no doubt that most of us are very busy and there really is not much time to prepare meals. However, for successful weight loss, “fast foods” brought in from the local burger or pizza place just won’t cut it. Sometimes, preparation time can be reduced significantly by preparing meals at one time. Another example: for those of you that do not start retching when you think about hard boiled eggs, make a bunch of these on a Sunday and keep them refrigerated for the entire week. A great Phase 1 breakfast would consist of eating 2 of these and a tbsp of cottage cheese and then out the door. If prepared on a Sunday night, your breakfast preparation time is zilch. Use that grill to make several of your dinners for the week. It just makes it easier…and “easier” translates to better chances of the dietary plan being followed.
