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The Serotonin-Plus Weight Loss Blog: The Good Guys

May 4, 2013 - 1 Comment »

Often, I use this forum to rant a rave a bit about companies/people that I believe contribute to the obesity epidemic by offering up “solutions” (and making lots of $$$) that really have no chance of producing long term results, and they know it.  The companies/people that sell the public meal replacements, shakes and bars, “miracle” pills (reading this Dr. Oz???) etc. are all part of the problem.  However, I often do not acknowledge the “good ones” out there trying their best to truly help people lose weight.  I believe Weight Watchers offers a very sound program based on behavioral modification with support all while teaching people how to eat “real” food in different proportions.  There are many physicians and nutritionists out there that focus on behavioral modification, support patients well and really try to help people change their life-styles.  Also, many personal trainers work with people that previously had zero interest and even loathed exercise and the trainers work with them to see this differently, eventually getting their clients to incorporate exercise routinely into their schedules.  So, kudos to the “Good Guys and Gals” out there that are really trying to make a difference.

The Serotonin-Plus Weight Loss Blog: Parental Responsibility

May 2, 2013 - 0 Comments »

First, thanks for the comments to yesterday’s entry about how the “judgment” of others outside the U.S. is viewed differently.  I saw online today a video from South Carolina about a middle school that called a number of overweight kids out of class, sat them in a meeting and at this meeting they were offered nutritional counseling.  When they got home, their parents were mortified.  Some of these parents were interviewed and they expressed outrage that their children were separated out from others, placed into a group situation with other overweight kids, and quickly, the story spread through the school that the “fat kids” had to go to a special meeting.  Why would the middle school officials do this?  Because they felt they were helping the children, and as childhood obesity is the most serious health issue in America, the officials felt they were doing the “right” thing.  Clearly, it was probably very poor form to separate these children out, as they already feel stigmatized enough and probably subjected to bullying and cruel treatment from other children.  The parents that were interviewed?  It should not come as a surprise that all were obese.  My thoughts?  The school handled this poorly.  More thoughts?  Children do not decide to be a part of “childhood obesity”…parents are responsible for the health and well-being of their children from birth to the time that the children can make an informed decision about aspects of their lives.  Should the parents perhaps consider being better role models for their children and create healthier environment for their children?  I believe they should.  I once had a 13 year old brought into my office for consideration of the program and he was 430 pounds and his 17 year old brother we could not weigh (scale goes as high as 480 lbs), but my guess was over 500 pounds.  The mother?  Obese.  Is this a form  of child abuse?  Does the state/county have an obligation to remove these children from that household?  Was it my responsibility to contact the authorities about this situation?  These children did not make an informed decision to be at this weight.  Parents allowed this to happen.  Very sensitive issues but a topic that needs to be brought out for thought and discussion.

The Serotonin-Plus Weight Loss Blog: Judgement

May 2, 2013 - 1 Comment »

A common human nature tendency is the “judgement” of others.  We try not to, as inherently, we know this is probably not a “right” thing to do.  Have you ever been in a 7/11 buying some item and in front of you is a coughing, wheezing person buying a carton of cigarettes?  Can you truly say that you do not have thoughts about how stupid that person is?  How about being at a social event for charity, you are introduced to another couple and the woman has a really low cut top on proudly displaying her fake boobs (with a butterfly tattooed on one), and a face very clearly injected multiple times with Botox…do you not have some hidden thoughts about this person?  A third example, more pertinent to this blog:  Have you ever been shopping at the grocery store, the person checking out in front of you is morbidly obese, and you see the items in the basket including ice cream, non-diet Pepsi and chips…does your mind wander to the appropriateness of those items being bought?  Nataliya tells me that in the Ukraine, if a morbidly obese person is walking in the  streets, strangers will approach the person and admonish him/her about the weight issue.  That is a horrifying thought for us in the United States.  However, there is no doubt in the U.S. that even though  people walk by that morbidly obese person and do not say a thing, judgement is being made.  This is a sensitive subject, but it is reality:  We judge others and others judge us based on appearance.  When it comes to strangers passing by on the street, that judgement is 100% irrelevant.  However, when it comes to promotions at work or new employment, this will matter lots.  The judgement will not be obvious, it will not be stated and it will not be recorded, but it will be made.  This is not the major, or even in the top 10 reasons as to why you should be steadfast in your weight loss efforts, but it is a reality.

The Serotonin-Plus Weight Loss Blog: Mind Games

May 1, 2013 - 0 Comments »

I had an interesting discussion yesterday with one of our patients that lost lots of weight a number of months ago, came back into the program after believing he put back on 12 pounds or so, and in reality it was 18 pounds. The patient told me that he kept telling himself that he will lose some weight and THEN come back into the program.  Why wait?  Some of this was embarrassment about having put weight back on.   The other is a misconception, as his mind was telling him a weight gain that was not reality.  I believe every one of you reading this has played mind games with yourself during your weight loss journey.  I have had other patients tell me that they never saw themselves as being overweight, and then a picture is taken at work and they see themselves in the picture and say “Holy s–, that can’t be me!!!”  Mind games again, with their being a subconscious self deception about the physical appearance. More mind games?  Telling yourself you can eat that hot fudge sundae because you can exercise more the next day.  Yep, great luck in finding that extra 1.5 hours to work off the 1200 calories you consumed (which by the way, took 10 minutes to eat).  Do not allow your mind to play games with you as you are going along the path to better health and happiness. 

The Serotonin-Plus Weight Loss Blog: Happy Endings

April 30, 2013 - 0 Comments »

Okay, for all of those out there expecting some MA-rating entry this morning, fuggetaboutit.   Okay, here is the PG entry:  Starting out as children, and continuing through adolescence and then adulthood, we all root for happy endings to movies, books, tv programs, and most important, our lives.  I believe we all strive for our last years on this earth being happy, filled with heart-warming family time, and then,very peacefully, we pass on.  No prolonged hospitalizations, no nursing homes, no IVs/feeding tubes/ventilators etc.  Just a sweet, calm, peaceful happy ending to our lives.  Maybe none of you think about these issues, but my suspicion is that any of us out there that are now on the proverbial other side of the mountain of life, do, in fact, think about these issues sometimes.(Especially around birthdays…ugh).  Well, you know what I am going to say:  Your successful weight loss efforts most definitely will improve your chances of lots of happiness, including a happy ending.  Not only will you be more at peace, but your family and friends will also be happier to see this process unfold instead of that morbid process that involves lots of medical intervention.  Weight loss will make you happier now, but also, will make you happier at the inevitable end of life.  Sorry for this kind of morbid discussion this morning, but I am still reeling from the birthday thing!