Recently I have jumped back on the calorie counting bandwagon. I’m not sure what triggered the recommitment but the forces of human self motivation are somewhat of a mystery to me so I didn’t do a deep dive into the topic. I had been using the myfitnesspal app for a while but I stopped using it for all the reasons that people stop doing things that are good for them. I mostly felt that I had figured out the diet thing well enough to wing it. Unsurprisingly I put on some pounds. So I planned on getting back into calorie counting. Continue reading “Why calorie counting works”
The Trouble With Resolutions
We’re now into 2016, the ball has dropped,the hangover has worn off, and unfortunately, reality has returned. If you’re like many, part of the nog-induced pre-New Years delirium included lofty plans to start exercising and changing your diet. Not right away, I mean the holidays were coming and who can be expected to diet and exercise during the holidays? Let’s get real people! So that was your bargain. You bought an unfettered holiday eating season on credit and it’s time to pay the piper. Continue reading “The Trouble With Resolutions”
Get in it!
It’s really not supposed to be like this. She just had a baby a few months ago and she’s a girl! By virtue of my tiny Y chromosomes I have more lean muscle as a percentage of my body composition. I also didn’t just grow a baby in my body for nine months with all the resultant hormonal and anatomical havoc that comes with that burden. Continue reading “Get in it!”
Musings on Weight Gain and the Clock Change
The leaves are turning, the air is a bit cooler, and the sun is starting to set earlier and earlier. This, of course, means that we are well along on our descent into the darkness of winter. It also means that it’s time to undertake our biannual international moment of temporary insanity when we collectively change our clocks and pretend that astronomical circadian rhythms will accommodate our insanity. In other words, the clocks are about to change.
Continue reading “Musings on Weight Gain and the Clock Change”
The Trouble with Comparisons, Losing Baby Weight, and Spousal Communication
Life in my home has started to settle into a routine after the recent addition of our newest baby Grove to the family. Schedules are starting to be consistent (no he isn’t sleeping through the night), hormone levels are stabilizing, siblings are adjusting. My wife has even started her post-partum exercise plan which has been very successful for births past. Continue reading “The Trouble with Comparisons, Losing Baby Weight, and Spousal Communication”
30 Minute Sesame Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Fall is upon us and this means my wife is looking for recipes with her favorite potato, that being the sweet kind. She found this recipe and has been cooking it up regularly so I can attest to its yumminess. It’s a good healthy option as well. This one comes from pinchofyum.com. Continue reading “30 Minute Sesame Roasted Sweet Potatoes”
Raising Healthy Children…
I am very happy to announce the arrival of my fifth child! With the hectic schedule and lack of sleep that goes with a newborn in the house, I have been a bit lackadaisical about updating the blog. While my wife was at the hospital I was responsible for the other four which was quite a task – much respect to all the mothers out there, especially my wife. All gratitude aside, I was sitting in the hospital holding my new son when I got thinking about the heavy responsibility of parenting. I thought about all the things that we as parents can do to positively impact our child’s future health. I have an entire section in my book explaining all the evidence for the impact of development on future risk of obesity so I thought I would post a snippet on the topic to show you how important it is. Continue reading “Raising Healthy Children…”
The Obvious Weight Loss Trick You Already Know…
I frequently find myself staring at an open refridgerator with an empty stomach and an even emptier mind. I stand there in a fugue-state not knowing how I got there or how long. I know its been too long because I can feel my nose getting colder and my electric bill getting higher. At some moment I remember a piece of wisdom I think I heard from my grandmother that staring at the fridge will not create new food options. The problem is that my brain is paralyzed in a ping pong match between higher and lower brain centers. My hypothalamus groans “I’m hungry” while my higher cortical regions are busy considering recent publications on macronutrient composition while doing a quick estimation of my caloric intake for the day. It is both frustratingly common and annoyingly repetitve and usually ends poorly. It was this conundrum that was in the back of my head when I was alerted to an interesting new study about a strategy to decrease caloric intake that was so simple and obvious that it cannot be ignored. Continue reading “The Obvious Weight Loss Trick You Already Know…”
Low Fat Diets are Better Than Low Carb Diets and the Source of Media Nonsense
This just in! Its blowing up the news and social media! A new study has just found that low fat diets are better than low carb diets for weight loss. Wait, what? Low fat is better than low carb? But haven’t these eggheads been saying that low carb is better for a few years now? Why can’t they make up their minds? Continue reading “Low Fat Diets are Better Than Low Carb Diets and the Source of Media Nonsense”
There’s a new safe non-surgical weight loss procedure
I was sitting the other day with another exasperated obese patient swearing to me up and down that she doesn’t eat that much but that she still can’t lose weight. The hopelessness weighed me down a bit I must admit. It just takes so much time, patience, and will power to succesfully lose weight. I completely understand why people turn to what they perceive as quicker and easier surgical solutions. It only takes a few billboard adds to be convinced that weight loss surgery is the way to go. Haven’t you seen the before and after pictures? It’s fast and amazing, right? Unfortunately it is not always fast and it is often far less than amazing. It is major surgery and there are many potential complications associated with gastric bypass and lap band surgery.Fortunately, there is a new option which may solve some of the problems associated with the risks and complications of the other weight loss procedures.
Continue reading “There’s a new safe non-surgical weight loss procedure”
The Weight Loss Counter Revolution 