We’ve all experienced it at some point in our lives. We feel overwhelmed, downhearted, or disconnected. Our personal failures are blinding, and our optimism is sucked from us by the selfishness and hatred of others. All news seems to be bad news.
Are You Addicted To Food?
3 Lessons Learned from Bariatric Support Group--Greenfield, Indiana
There was one man in the group who touched the core of my soul. He experienced a life-changing event that has impacted his mobility and his independence. When I asked him how this has affected him he didn’t mention the unfairness of his situation. He didn’t express bitterness or anger. He told me he…
Bariatrics in Bedford: Worth the Drive
I was excited to present at the Bedford support group because I’d heard very good things about the people who attend. And the rumors are true—Bedford has a great group! One of the most memorable parts of the evening was when a group veteran explained his thoughts on refusing food offers. He said that…
Elwood Support Group--A Time to Remember
Our discussion was free-flowing, and we covered many topics related to the psychology of behavior change, addiction, and persistence. To me the most memorable part of the night was our discussion about gratitude.
way to go kokomo!
We had quite a crowd for the April Kokomo support group. With this great turnout, I asked myself, “What makes a meeting worth attending?” When it comes to this group, I think I know the answer…
Weight Management: It's Not Always Exciting
Let’s be honest, maintaining weight loss can get a bit tiresome and may even seem a little boring. Developing health routines and saying “no” to foods that most people say “yes” to can lose its appeal over time. It’s easy to forget how bad you used to feel , the compliments eventually come to a halt, and it’s easy to drift back to old behavior.
Support Group Sages: St. Roch
I’ve led a lot of bariatric support groups over the years. I’ll be honest, some are a lot of work. Sometimes it’s hard to keep folks on topic. Occasionally group members are unaware they are over participating, failing to give everyone a chance to speak. I once had to shut down one man’s suggestion to add bourbon to protein shakes. But the group at St. Roch didn’t have these problems. In fact, I don’t know if I really needed to be there at all.
Support Group Sages: Speedway
The March Speedway Support Group was a special time. I saw a few familiar faces and got to spend time with one of my favorite RDs, Melinda Jones. The smaller group size lended itself to honest discussions about motivation, difficulties, and desires related to surgery. To me, three themes emerged from my time with this wonderful group of people.
Support Group Sages: St. Vincent Carmel
Thank you to everyone at the St. Vincent Carmel support group for such a wonderful evening last week. Before I summarize my personal takeaways from the group, I want to thank Linda Rodriguez, the group leader, for all she does for patients at our center.
Support Group Sages: Community Bariatrics
Over the next few months I will be presenting at weight management support groups throughout Indiana. In these meetings, I will share concepts contained in my recently published book, A Size That Fits. My goal is to encourage people who feel stuck or discouraged. For those who are currently riding the train of success, I hope these groups will propel them towards a sustainable long-term commitment to their health.
Although I will mostly present at St. Vincent Bariatrics’ groups, the fine folks at Community Bariatrics were kind enough to invite me to two of their locations. Thanks super RD Sarah Muntel for the invitations!
Here are a few take-aways from my time at Community Hospital...
Vacuuming is Exercise for Some with Excess Weight
I wish I had a Bitcoin for each time someone has asked me if housework, yardwork, or walking the dog counts as exercise. First of all, any activity is better than sitting. Recent research suggests that sitting too much is associated with decreased fitness and increased mortality. So almost anything that causes us to get off the couch or push away from our desk can be beneficial. But are activities of daily living like vacuuming actually exercise?
Intuitive Eating or Calorie Counting: Which is Better for Weight Loss?
I LOVE the idea of intuitive eating. Pay attention to your internal hunger before you eat, stop when you are no longer hungry—nothing is forbidden. Your body knows what it needs and if we listen to it, we’ll make good decisions and live at peace with food. But let me explain why I’m not a fan of the idea that intuitive eating by itself is the one-and-only-way to weight loss.
Managing Weight in a Messed Up World
Naked and Afraid Eating
I can sum up my TV viewing like this—too much cable news, Reds baseball, occasional re-runs of The Big Bang Theory, watching The Walking Dead with my wife (we all make sacrifices), and somewhat regular viewing of Naked and Afraid. Analyze that list however you want.
Life Lessons from Pete Rose
When I was a child, I was a baseball fanatic. I loved fielding, hitting, sliding, and rooting for the Cincinnati Reds. My brother, two neighbor boys, and I played endless games of tennis ball in the neighbor’s yard. The rules were simple--right field was closed, pitcher’s hand, and over the bushes for a home run. I loved those bushes. Don’t tell my sixth-grade teacher, but my parents once allowed me to skip school, hang out with Grandma, and watch the Reds play their opening day game on TV. This was serious stuff.
Overcoming Perfectionism for Long-Term Weight Loss
Striving for excellence is generally a desirable quality and there are times when being precise is important—think eye surgery, space shuttle engineering, and vasectomies. But when our health behaviors are like a light switch (all on or off) our weight is likely to frustratingly cycle up and down.
5 Things Patients Have Taught Me About Obesity
Don’t get me wrong, I love education, research, and scientific discovery. But many of my most valuable insights during my career haven't come from a symposium or a journal article—they've come from my patients. These experiences put a face on a theory or provide meaningful context to scientific principles. Sometimes my patients just teach me life lessons that I relay to future patients—no data required.
It's time to be friends...with your scale
Studies clearly show that self-weighing is related to successful weight management. But we can't reap the benefits if we never step on the scale, or fall apart when we do.
A Memorable Morning
In the stillness of the morning, a cup of hot tea would be my only companion. The microwave hummed as the mug of water heated, drowning out the sound of the howling wind outside.