Dr. Posner's Blog
The Serotonin-Plus Weight Loss Blog: Getting Help from Your Physician
April 26, 2012 - 1 Comment »
“Eat less and exercise more”… “Here is a 1200 calorie dietary sheet to follow”… ”___________”
If this was the game show “Jeopardy” the question to these answers are: ”What do most physicians advise their patients who are struggling with weight control issues?” If you noticed, the last of the three “answers” was blank, because studies have shown that almost 50% of obese patients report that their own physicians say NOTHING to them about their weight during their checkups. Blood pressure pills, diabetes pills, arthritis pills, cholesterol lowering pills, acid reflux pills, CPAP masks, etc etc are all being prescribed by most physicians for their overweight patients with co-morbidities, but yet the one central unifying cause of all of these, weight, is not being addressed. Sounds insane? Last night I was on a webinar that we hosted for our national physicians to help them with their SP programs. These primary care physicians around different parts of the country are now offering a solution to their patients. Jennie Craig and Mr. Nutrisystem do not give a flying ____ about your medical co-morbidities. They are selling products to Americans and making money. Your physicians do care about you and your health. Unfortunately, the overwhelming majority are misplaced in their priorities, with the treatment of disease states taking precedence over the prevention of them.
The Serotonin-Plus Weight Loss Blog: Neurochemicals and Weight
April 25, 2012 - 1 Comment »
Yesterday I connected via linked in with a person I have not seen in 40 years. This gentlemen and I went to the same summer camp in the mountains in Connecticut in the early 70′s. (Yes, Posner had long hair, long sideburns and the Jewish version of the John Travolta look) Andy has had quite the career in research, and currently is a Professor at the University of North Carolina School of Public health. he was Pfizer’s lead researcher on obesity and now leads up the obesity division of the school of Public Health. Andy is an amazingly accomplished Ph.D. who has authored numerous publications in the field of brain chemicals, gut chemicals and their effects on eating behaviors. We have just exchanged a few e-mails but will talk soon. I started looking more into his published articles and these caused me to think again (and write to you) about the numerous brain and gut chemicals that are involved in a complex way with the eating and satiety mechanisms. Serotonin? Just one of many neurochemicals involved in the process. Has science been able to isolate many others and develop meds/supplements that affects these? Obviously none of us has been able to develop that “magic pill(s)” that impact on many of these neurochemicals. For now, successful weight loss requires behavioral modification and in most cases, support. Meds and supplements remain an adjunct to the process. The Serotonin Weight Management Formula is not a magic pill, phentermine is not a magic pill, Sensa, Hoodia an all the other sh–t you see promoted on internet ads are not the magic pills they are purported to be. Hopefully Andy and his team can develop better and more adjuncts to help what is now the nation’s largest health concern. And by the away, just for informational purposes, Posner weighed all of 155 pounds in summer camp.
The Serotonin-Plus Weight Loss Blog: Good Luck
April 24, 2012 - 0 Comments »
Do you believe in luck? Are certain things that happen in life controlled by some mystical, undefined force? Are some people “lucky” and others “unlucky”? If you do believe in the concept of “luck” can you change your luck? Some people have ritualistic behaviors that they use…wearing a certain outfit to an interview, avoiding certain activities on Friday the 13th, etc. I believe that people make their own ‘luck”. I remember as an internal medicine resident, there were certain doctors who would get crushed their nights on call and while they were in charge of the medicine wards.. They would carry many people on their service and have to work many more hours than other residents. To an extent, it was really their lack of good organization skills that created these busy wards for them. By not efficiently taking care of the patients, the census grew to uncontrollable levels. I don’ think that “luck” had anything to do with the fact they seemed more overworked than others. Whats does this have to do with weight loss? Here goes: Losing weight will affect positively life’s events. Whether it be a promotion, a raise at work, new found friends, etc. Your successful weight loss will set you up for more positive events in life. And just like the concept in sports where they call a situation where a referee does not throw a penalty flag a good “non call”, your weight loss will also result in less chance of having a medical issue develop…. a non “bad luck” situation. Good health is considered good luck, but in fact, it is your efforts to keep yourself healthy that will improve your chances at good health. Genetics and other untoward events are of course not under your control and I suppose it is ‘good luck” to be born to parents who have very healthy family histories of not having cancers, heart disease etc. Try it out. Lose that weight and see if your “luck” changes!
The Serotonin-Plus Weight Loss Blog: Comedy and Weight
April 23, 2012 - 0 Comments »
A sensitive subject, but here goes: Yesterday I saw a movie, 21 Jump Street which starred an actor who has played previously in a number of frat boy pictures, including Superbad, Forgetting Sarah Marshall and others of that genre. The actor had slimmed down quite a bit and as I was watching the movie, I realized that in the other movies much of the comedy was because he was obese. Other comedians have similarly made their living based on being markedly overweight as past of their “shtick”. Jackie Gleason, for those of us old enough to remember The Honeymooners, is a prime example. People tend to laugh lots at “fat” jokes, especially when they are self-deprecating. When someone in a movie is in great shape, there generally is no “comedy” directed at their physical appearance. In real life? I guess we do not know what other’s say about us when we are not in ear’s reach. Of course, one of your reasons for losing weight should NOT be what others “say” about you behind your back. There are many, many more important reasons as to why you should be motivated to lose weight.
The Serotonin-Plus Weight Loss Blog: Image
April 22, 2012 - 1 Comment »
Yesterday Nataliya hosted an Image Consulting talk at the Springfield Country Club and the guest speaker was Sheyla, the owner of a very posh boutique in Georgetown. Sheyla brought lots of dresses and other clothes for the attendees to try on and coordinate an outfit fro the upcoming NY Fashion Show May 19. I ran out of the office a bit early because I wanted to see the end of the event. I was amazed to see the incredible positive energy emanating from the room. There were about 20 people there, all of whom have agreed to be a (Role) Model for the event. The smiles and energy were amazing. Why? Because I believe these women really felt a dramatic improvement of their self-image brought about by their successful weight loss. I would bet that prior to the weight loss, the last thing any of these wonderful ladies would have done was get in front of others and try on clothes. But here we were yesterday, with racks of clothes being looked at and women running to the Ladie’s room to try them on and show the others. Really cool event! And May 19…will be awesome!!!
