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Dr Oksana Aron Medical Weight Loss Blog

Weight Loss Motivation. Weight Loss Results.

Dr. Aron brings you fun and important weight loss tips, exciting diet recipes, medical weight loss breakthroughs, and a steady source of weight loss motivation.

Her medical weight loss program provides real results for overweight and obese persons seeking non-surgical medical treatment, with lasting results.

Call now — 718-491-5525 or visit WeightLossNYC.com

Dr Oksana Aron Medical Weight Loss Center

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Simply Delicious

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Aug 7, 2024

Light and Flavorful Vegetarian Burritos

Style them as you wish!

Imagine delicious vegetarian burritos with colorful toppings, garnished with cilantro, and a side of salsa and avocado slices.

Here’s a simple vegetarian burrito recipe with each serving under 200 calories you can adapt to items and seasonings you prefer or have in your cabinet at home. Tortillas come in many kinds, you can even go lower carb by swapping as a lettuce wrap.

Vegetarian Burrito
Veggie Burrito variation

Ingredients (with Calories)

  • 1/2 can of black beans (122.5g, 110 calories), drained and rinsed
  • 1/2 cup of cooked quinoa (92.5g, 111 calories)
  • 1/2 red bell pepper (74.5g, 23 calories), diced
  • 1/2 small red onion (50g, 20 calories), diced
  • 1/2 teaspoon of olive oil (20 calories)
  • 1/2 teaspoon of cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon of chili powder
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Juice of 1/2 lime
  • 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh cilantro
  • Whole wheat tortillas (approx. 60 calories per tortilla)
  • Optional topping ideas: salsa, avocado slices, Greek yogurt

Recipe Instructions

  1. In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced red bell pepper and red onion. Cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes.
  2. Add the black beans, cooked quinoa, cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper to the skillet. Stir well to combine and cook for an additional 2 minutes.
  3. Remove the skillet from heat and stir in the lime juice and chopped cilantro.
  4. Warm the whole wheat tortillas in a separate skillet or microwave.
  5. Divide the bean and quinoa mixture among the tortillas, and add any optional toppings of your choice.
  6. Roll up the burritos, tucking in the sides as you go.
  7. Serve the vegetarian burritos warm and enjoy!

Nutritional Information (per serving)

  • Calories: Approximately 180-200
  • Protein: 7-10g
  • Fiber: 4-6g
  • Fat: 5-7g

We hope you enjoy this light version of the vegetarian burritos that are under 200 calories per serving! Let us know if you need any more suggestions.

Expert Weight Loss Guidance

Develop new possibilities with physician supervision:

Visit Dr Aron Medical Weight Loss Center at WeightLossNYC.com and start your medical weight loss program today.

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Fickle Foods that can Fool you

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Mar 11, 2024

Some Foods can be False Friends

Many tempting foods in marketed as low-fat or low-calorie, or even fat-free quite often can be counter-productive to your weight loss goals. Eating real, minimally processed foods is always the best option, along with maintaining a healthy active lifestyle.

Pro tip: Mix up your own healthy fruits into real yogurt

bowl of yogurt with berries
  • Flavored Yogurts

    With yogurts legendary health and wellness appeal, what could be wrong? The marketing spin on flavored yogurts (event low-fat ones) can present flavorful additions like sugary preserves and non-natural sweeteners. Even pro-biotic yogurts present more marketing spin than health benefits. As always, real the label — Look for low-fat Greek yogurt varieties without additional sweeteners.

  • Bagged Salads

    The convenience and comfort of a premade salad can’t be understated, just be mindful of the fillings — bacon or sweeted fruits and nuts, fatty cheeses and meats, plus high-fat salad dressing just negate any intent of Healthy and Salad.

  • Granola Bars

    So much confusion about healthy here. Along with shelf-stabilizers and other additives, consider many granola bars may simply be remarketed cookies. Consider DIY your own granola mix, so you know what is in it and it will taste so much better too. Try with apples and cinnamon or other takes, and make it fun and your own.

  • Coffee

    Coffee on its own is fine — our grind with coffee (sorry, we went there…) is the popular trend of creamy lattes and crazy toppings that just dose you with a big calories spike nobody needs to have.

Weight Loss Help

Visit WeightLossNYC.com to start working with Brooklyn diet doctor Dr. Oksana Aron, medical weight loss physican expert — to help you to lose weight where other methods have not. She will develop an actionable plan for you to start losing weight easily — schedule your first visit today.

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Over-eating, Not Lack of Exercise Causes Obesity

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Feb 6, 2024

Bike or Bite?

A study presented at an international obesity conference in Amsterdam organized by the European Association for the Study of Obesity explains that the obesity epidemic in the U.S. is due to over-eating, and that exercise could not minimize the effects of excess calories.

[To return to 1970s levels] …children would have to cut their intake by about 350 calories a day … and adults by about 500 calories… [equivalent to over 2 hours of exercise per day.]
Woman riding fitness bicycle
Medical Weight Loss Program

Lean on this

Research shows that a decrease in physical exercise is not the primary cause of obesity. It also appears, based on the research, that even though adults step up physical exercise, that it does not negate weight gain caused by over-eating. It was also discovered that changes in physical activity in children had no impact on their gaining weight.

For the US population to return to its leaner, 1970s self, children would have to cut their intake by about 350 calories a day -- equal to one can of fizzy drink and a small portion of French fries, and adults by about 500 calories -- the equivalent of a Big Mac burger.

Alternatively, children would have to walk for an extra two-and-a-half hours a day, and adults for nearly two hours, said Swinburn.

“Getting everybody to walk an extra two hours a day is not really a feasible option for countering the epidemic,” he said.

“We need to limit our expectations of what an increase in physical activity can achieve.”

Weight Loss Facts

In sum, research still holds that physical exercise is necessary for overall health, but eating less is far more important.

In 2005, an estimated 1.6 billion American adults were considered overweight, with at least 400 million of them considered obese.

Lose Weight without Feeling Hungry

Dr Oksana Aron can provide you with the guidance and means to succeed in losing weight where other methods may not have worked for you. Visit her weight loss practice website, Dr Oksana Aron Medical Weight Loss Center and start losing weight today.

Source: AFP; May 8, 2009

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Burning off the Fat Takes More Than You Think

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Jan 19, 2024

Hyperlipidemia

Hyperlipidemia defines an elevated level of lipids — like cholesterol and triglycerides — in your blood. Doctors link this disease to atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and other serious conditions like heart attack, stroke, and peripheral artery disease.

Fat Burner Foods

If you’re like most people, you have no real idea how much effort it takes to whittle down those extra ounces—or pounds—of fat that you just took in with your last meal or snack. You may even be diligent about exercising it off right away by taking long walks after lunch at work, or jumping on the elliptical at the gym when you have had a greasy meal. But sometimes, it's still not enough—and you can still gain weight. Here’s how to make sure you don’t gain more pounds or bite off more than you can burn up.

woman eating sugary breakfast cereal
Weight Loss Nutrition

Know What You’re Eating

Don’t approach food blindly. Read the nutrition labels and find out how many calories, fats and sugars it contains, and portion your meals accordingly.

Go High-Tech

Technology including smart watches and apps will pull you out of the dark when it comes to eating the right foods and learning what to avoid. There are calorie calculators and weight loss apps available to help you, so you have no excuse for not eating right!

Weight Loss Recipe Inspirations
fat burning foods

Learn More About Food

The more educated you are about food, the more responsible your diet choices. Read up on the health benefits of various fruits, vegetables and nuts, and incorporate them in your diet. You can also find healthy weight loss recipes online from a variety of resources, including this blog.

Lose Weight Fast

If you still struggle with a healthy weight loss diet plan, make an appointment with Dr. Oksana Aron and come up with a plan together.

Source: Guardian News

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Building in a Workout to Boost Your Success

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Nov 29, 2023

Accomplishment

We all hear about working out, but how can we make it work in — into our lives?
Patient Success
weight loss success

Weight Loss Success

  • Make it Manageable

    Strive to integrate a workout into your life at a manageable pace. Keep it at 20-30 minutes to start and gradually raise it to keep it attainable.

  • Swing Your Partner Round and Round

    Dance! Or take a walk together. Find something enjoyable that you and a friend can do together. Use the buddy system for motivation and to hold one another accountable.

  • Do a 30-Day Challenge

    See if you can rise to the occasion: Put in rewards and recruit others to be part of it.

  • Make it Routine

    Put your workout in your calendar just as you would an appointment. The consistency will make you more reliable at doing it.

Weight Loss Help is Here

Jump into your game with Dr Oksana Aron Medical Weight Loss Center for actionable advice and guidance on how to lose weight fast, under medical doctor supervision. Call or Visit WeightLossNYC.com for more information and scheduling now.

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3 Great Tips to Fight Cravings, Lose Weight

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Nov 20, 2023

Avoid Unhealthy Habits

To lose weight, you already know what to do: eat right, diet, exercise, and the pounds will come off, right? It’s not always that simple.

Aside from making these healthy lifestyle choices, you need to address the psychological aspect of weight loss. It’s just as much a physical switch you have to make as a mental one.

Follow these 3 tips for your weight loss success:

fight food cravings
Beat Bad Food Cravings

Eliminate cravings

What’s your #1 weakness, the one treat that foils your dieting plans every time, guaranteed? Whatever it is, keep it out of your refrigerator or pantry to remove the temptation or craving.

Whenever you’re grocery shopping, skip the aisle if you can and certainly, don’t buy it! This is your first step in keeping the weight off and avoiding those vices that contribute to weight gain.

Avoid tantalizing images of bad food

Ever heard the term, “food porn?” Well, it’s called that for a reason. If you’ve ever salivated over a Pinterest board of ooey-gooey chocolate-chip cookies or drooled over a foodie blog’s Instagram of their latest dish while out on the town, you understand the danger!

Scientific research shows that viewing these images can actually make you feel hungrier—and overeat as a result. Instead, look at delicious images of healthy food to inspire your own homemade creations of health-promoting meals to make a healthier difference.

Swap bad cravings with good-for-you ones

It’s easy to say avoid unhealthy foods, but you may still crave them. Rather than deny yourself, satisfy those cravings in a healthier, savory way with alternatives.

If you realize the reason you crave a certain candy bar is because you want something salty or you crave the crunch of almonds, try a small handful of almonds or walnuts instead.

Rather than grabbing a fast-food burger, make turkey burgers with extra-lean meat ahead of time, topping it with fresh veggies in a variety of colors (how about leafy romaine lettuce, white onion, tomato, sprouts, and a little bit of avocado and mustard?) When you get home from work, it will be an easy leftover dinner night. Now that’s fast food, and you don’t have to wait in line for it, either!

Dr. Oksana Aron can Help, call 718-491-5525

Need help figuring out what’s healthy and what’s not? Get started on a weight loss plan that gets results, personally designed for you by Dr. Oksana Aron, by calling us at 718-491-5525 or book online via WeightLossNYC.com

Sources: her fitness hut; womens health mag

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Vegan Weight Loss

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Sep 18, 2023

Why Vegan?

Vegan diets have been shown to have a number of health benefits, including weight loss. Vegan diets are typically lower in calories and fat, and higher in fiber and nutrients than traditional diets.

vegan diet
Weight Loss Program

A study published in the journal Obesity found that people who followed a vegan diet for 12 weeks lost significantly more weight than those who followed a standard low-fat diet. The vegan dieters also had lower body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, and waist circumference.

Similarly, a study in the journal Nutrition Journal, found that people who followed a vegan diet for 18 weeks lost significantly more weight than those who followed a vegetarian diet. The vegan dieters also had lower blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and insulin levels.

These studies and others suggest that vegan diets can be an effective way to lose weight and improve overall health. If you are considering trying a vegan diet (or any diet) for weight loss, consult with Dr Oksana Aron to help you make sure that you are getting the nutrients you need and that your diet is safe and healthy.

Health Benefits

Some additional benefits of vegan diets for weight loss patients inclulde:

  • Vegan diets are typically lower in calories and fat. This can help you create a calorie deficit, which is necessary for weight loss.
  • Vegan diets are higher in fiber. Fiber can help you feel full, which can help you eat less.
  • Vegan diets are typically higher in nutrients. This can help you improve your overall health, which can make weight loss easier.
  • Vegan diets are more environmentally friendly. This can be a motivating factor for some people.

Nutritional Needs

If you are interested in trying a vegan diet for weight loss, it is important to make sure that you are getting enough protein, as most plant-based meals cannot provide enough protein. Protein is essential for weight loss and muscle building. You can supplement protein from a variety of natural plant-based sources, such as beans, lentils, tofu, and tempeh.

For menstruating women, make sure you have enough iron. Iron is important for carrying oxygen in the blood. You can get iron from a variety of plant-based sources, such as dark green vegetables, beans, lentils, and fortified cereals.

It is also important to include enough calcium. Calcium is important for strong bones and teeth. You can get calcium from a variety of plant-based sources, such as dark green vegetables, beans, lentils, and fortified foods.

Switching to Vegan

If you are interested in trying a vegan diet for weight loss, start slowly. Don’t try to change everything overnight. Make small changes over time, such as adding more plant-based foods to your diet. Discuss with Dr Aron — she can help you make sure that you are getting the nutrients you need and that your diet is safe and healthy.

Start or update your medical weight loss program now, view hours and schedule online at WeightLossNYC.com. With a little planning and effort, you can successfully follow a vegan diet for weight loss, or enhance your current diet plan to one more supportive of reaching your weight loss goals.

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Are Carbs Good or Bad?

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Sep 3, 2023

What are carbs?

A popular theme in weight loss is "cutting carbs" — but not all carbs are the same. In fact you need to eat carbohydrates as a regular part of your diet. So why the bad rap?

plate of pasta
Carbohydrates
There are two types of carbs—simple and complex.

Simple carbs have just two sugar molecules, and they are rapidly digested. …

Complex carbs have more sugar molecules and take longer to digest. [T]hey’re often paired with fiber and other nutrients…

Sugar: The simplest carb molecule is sugar, naturally found in fruits, vegetables, and dairy. Sugar molecules are named ending in -ose, so look for names like sucrose, fructose, lactose, etc.

Starch: A more complex unit made of many sugars is commonly called starch, found in grains, legumes and vegetables.

Fiber: As sugar is recognized to be a culprit in weight gain, here is the difference: Fruits contain fiber, which is the fundamental difference of eating fruits as juices vs whole. Fiber is the most desirable of carbohydrates, one should seek to maximize vs reduction of the other two, especially added sugars and worst being refined sugars.

The terms "low carb" or "net carbs" often appear on product labels. But the Food and Drug Administration doesn’t use these terms, so there's no standard meaning. Typically, the term "net carbs" is used to mean the amount of carbs in a product excluding fiber…

What to do?

Carbs are an essential part of your diet, so the goal is to go for the fiber - whole fruits and vegetables will fill you up and provide the most nutrition and meal satisfaction. Favor lower fat versions of dairy products, and introduce beans, lentils and legumes as a vegetable protein source free of saturated fat.

Carbohydrates and protein both contain 4 calories per gram, so it’s the portion size and type of carb that matters for weight gain.

Weight Loss Diet

Consult with Dr Oksana Aron at her Medical Weight Loss Center in Brooklyn for guidance on the proper diet for achieving your weight loss goals and overall health improvement.

Sources: Eating Well, Mayo Clinic

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Poor Diet Disrupts Deep Sleep

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Aug 11, 2023

Dream Meme

A new study in the journal Obesity looked at what happened to sleep quality when healthy young men ate nutritious meals vs. junk food. Even though both groups slept the exact same number of hours, eating junk food disrupted the quality of deep sleep—making it more shallow and less restorative.

Short-term consumption of a more unhealthy diet alters sleep oscillatory features that regulate the restorative properties of sleep.
Disrupted sleep
Sleep Quality and Diet

This matters because restorative sleep is necessary for hormone production, a healthy metabolism, graceful aging, brain function, mood, and more.

Low fiber and high saturated fat and sugar intake is associated with lighter, less restorative sleep with more [disruptions].

Health Benefits Add Up

Diet and health in public health posed by the U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Health and Human Services (HHS) affirmed:

Strong and consistent evidence demonstrates that dietary patterns associated with decreased risk of cardiovascular disease are characterized by higher consumption of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, low-fat dairy, and seafood, and lower consumption of red and processed meat, and lower intakes of refined grains, and sugar-sweetened foods and beverages relative to less healthy patterns.

Considerable evidence supports the stance that proper diet matters, and you can make simple and meaning changes to your health by making the right food swaps in your daily diet.

Randomized dietary intervention studies have demonstrated that healthy dietary patterns exert clinically meaningful impact on cardiovascular risk factors, including blood lipids and blood pressure. Additionally, research that includes specific nutrients in their description of dietary patterns indicate that patterns that are lower in saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium and richer in fiber, potassium, and unsaturated fats are beneficial for reducing cardiovascular disease risk.

Looking to Improve Your Health?

Schedule a consultation with Dr Oksana Aron via her practice website, Dr Aron Medical Weight Loss Center and find how you can lose weight easily via physician supervision. Her clinical evaluation and guidance can help you improve your fundamental health metrics in the course of participating in her medical weight loss program.

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5 Reasons You May Be Gaining Weight

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Jan 18, 2023

It’s not willpower

hungry man
Weight Loss Motivation

People do not become obese because they lack willpower. Obesity is a complex problem. It involves genetic factors, lack of physical activity, increased caloric consumption, some metabolic abnormalities, appetite regulation problems, and eating disorders, emotional and cultural factors. Overeating, a diet high in simple carbohydrates, slow metabolism, certain medications, psychological factors, and some medical conditions, such as hypothyroidism and many other. Research suggests that overweight people seem to have more fat cells than normal weight individuals. When people gain weight fat cells increase in size until a maximum fat content per cell is achieved. Weight loss can occur if the fat content per cell is reduced.

The reasons people gain weight are varied and complex. In order to be successful in weight loss, it is helpful to understand why.

Genetics

Genetics can play a role in weight gain. Your genetic makeup can influence how much you weigh, as well as how easily you gain or lose weight. Certain genes can also make it more difficult to make healthy food choices.

Physical Inactivity

Physical inactivity is one of the most significant factors contributing to weight gain. Without regular physical activity, our bodies don’t burn enough calories to keep up with what we consume.

Diet

Diet plays an important role in weight gain. Eating too much (especially of calorie-dense, high-fat, and high-sugar foods) can cause you to take in more calories than you need, leading to weight gain.

Metabolic Issues

Issues with the metabolism can also contribute to weight gain. Some metabolic processes, such as thyroid function, can influence how many calories you burn. When these processes are disrupted, it can lead to weight gain.

Appetite Regulation

Problems with appetite regulation contribute to many of the above. Medical weight loss addresses this most effectively.

One treatment, Phentermine, is a prescription drug that is often used as part of a medically supervised weight loss program. It is an appetite suppressant that works by altering the levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain. It is often used in combination with a healthy diet and exercise routine in order to help individuals lose weight.

For those who are overweight or obese and have not been able to lose weight through diet and exercise alone, phentermine may be a useful tool in their weight loss journey. It is important to note that it should be used only under the direct supervision of a doctor. The doctor should monitor the patient’s progress and make any adjustments to the dosage

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She lost 60 lbs before her 60th birthday

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Jul 2, 2019

She’s lost 60 lbs before her 60th birthday — and heading for 20 more

Her kids now in college, she looked at what she wanted to be in this next stage of her life; With most of her 83 pound weight loss goal achieved she joyfully reflects on her healthy regimen with just 20 more pounds to go before her 60th birthday.

Prep School

She’s worked out a solid routine of three healthy meals a day without any mid-meal snacks. Obviously the early weeks were the most daunting, laying down the foundation for what has become her success story 8 months later.

Managing the daily challenges of real life setup some more obstacles in her path: managing the social obligations and even day to day cravings. She worked out some new strategies along the way to making better life habits and healthy choices.

Healthy Meal choices

Some of her magic spells include mashed cauliflower, and wine-free spritzers en verre

Congratulations!

Share your weight loss success story with us like Nancy did.

Images (c) 2018, Cite: Nancy Marland

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Dining Out Doesn't Have to Be Dangerous

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Jun 19, 2015

Weight Loss Tips for Dining Out

Nationwide statistics show Americans dining out for almost 1/3 of their meals, with almost 1/2 of their food budget spent at these establishments.[1]

Given our tendency to dine out, it is worthwhile to consider ways you can manage and maintain your weight loss dieting program on the go. Some simple guidelines follow, as well as some links to some of our more popular posts past:

healthy dining out

Simple Tips for Planning Ahead

  • Avoid unlimited buffets and junk food franchises. Salad bars are good if you choose the healthy staple items not the dangerous ones.
  • Cater to places with extended menus to help you find healthy choices you will like. Favor seafood and salad places for healthier fare. Soups can be good, but know what you are choosing. Ask.
  • Best to plan ahead to dine out instead of splurging on surprise outings. Consider reviewing online menu before going so you will know what you will have.
  • Focus on eating for nutrition, not as a social activity. Make reservations to manage your cravings and limit the temptations to drink and snack while waiting. You can even have some small healthy crudite before leaving home to settle your stomach.
  • Stay away from large portions and fried food places. Know what is reasonable for you to eat and enjoy with your diet.
  • Consider sharing entrees with friends to manage your portions. Don’s be shy about tossing aside bread and extra carbs. Send away any extra munchies the waiter puts on your table. Only eat what you intend to eat.
  • As always, start to drink water as soon as you arrive and while waiting for meal.
  • Ask your server about options — extra salad instead of a heavier side dish. Bring your own dressing if you want to be sure of low calories. Add veggies to your entree to fill you up and slow you down.

Power Tips — Know your Menu Vocabulary

  • Bad: Buttery, Breaded, Buttered, Fried, Pan-Fried, Creamed, Scalloped, Au Gratin.
  • Better: Grilled, Baked, Steamed, Broiled, Poached, Stir-Fried, Roasted, Blackened.
  • Avoid: Cream sauces, made with milk, mayonnaise, cheese or oil.
  • Look for tomato based sauces instead. Order all sauces on the side and use sparingly.

Follow Your Diet Plan

As always, follow the diet guidelines presented to you by Dr. Aron. She will have told you your calorie limits and suggested foods for you to enjoy and avoid. Fill up on water, salad and vegetables first. Focus on your friends more than the food. Slow down and pace yourself so you can enjoy your meal and not be left hungry and crave more. Your body also needs time to recognize the food in your system to trigger satisfaction. It is also more than OK to leave the table a little hungry. You never need to stuff yourself, be gentle to your body.

Looking for More Motivation to Lose Weight?

Align with Dr. Aron at WeightLossNYC™ and start losing weight today. Call 718-491-5525 or visit WeightLossNYC.com

Sources: [1] USDA, National Restaurant Association. Adapted from Sparkpeople

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Easy Weight Loss: 5 Tips for Portion Control

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Dec 1, 2014

How to Control Your Portions and Your Weight

Portion control can slip up almost anyone no matter how hard you try. How do you know if you're eating the right amount of food? You can measure everything out, teaspoon by teaspoon… or you can try this simple guide.

food portion control
Dr Aron can help you manage your meals

Portion Sizes Made Simple

Looking for a quick, easy way to know you’re eating enough but not too much? Look no further than your own hand! Every time you prepare a meal or sit down to eat outside of the home, you can follow these guides to gauge how much you should be eating by simply looking at your hands. Here’s how to measure your portions with ease.

  • Meat

    A serving of meat should be 3 or 4 oz., but what does that look like? It’s about the size or your palm.

  • Pasta

    This carb-packed food should be no more than a 1/2-cup serving--or the size of your clenched fist.

  • Peanut butter

    A quick snack, you need no more than a tablespoon of peanut butter. The distance of your knuckle to the tip of your thumb is just the right amount.

  • Butter

    Go easy on the butter, but what does that mean? Try 1 teaspoon max on your toast or about the size of the tip of your index finger.

  • Ice cream

    Ice cream can easily pack on the fat and calories, so avoid. A couple spoonfuls to taste; One cup is about the size of your closed fist.

Be in control of your weight

Controlling the number on the scale starts with controlling how much and what you eat. The serving size listed on food packaging isn’t always how much you should eat. But with these guidelines, you can easily keep yourself—and your weight—in check.

Power Tip

Need advice on what’s really going to help you lose the weight? A consultation with a doctor who specializes in medical weight loss is the first step to safely losing up 10 to 20 pounds a month. Call 718-491-5525 to set your first appointment with Bariatric Physician, Dr. Aron of WeightLossNYC™

Sources: lifehacker, guardyourhealth

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Ask the Doctor: Can your friends make you fat?

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC May 3, 2014

You Are Who You Eat With

Friends can be very influential in the way we dress, speak and even eat. So does that mean who we hang around with can make us fat? Obese, even? Researchers decided to look into this to see if that was the case.

women eating snacks together
Friends influence our eating habits

What did researchers find?

Turns out that the people around us can affect what we eat and how much, according to findings from several studies published in The Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

I’ll Have What She’s Having

When people know that others in the group are eating low-calorie food, it makes them more likely to want to eat the same, the data said. The same went for high-calorie food. People also ate similar quantities of food just to fit in. When eating in group settings, people tend to eat like their friends do, whether it's healthy or not.

Real Friends Don't Let Friends Eat Junk

Eating is a social behavior and we can use it for good. When dining out or having friends over for a dinner party, set a healthy trend. Select healthier options on the menu and opt to split a large dish to cut calories. Serve a nutritious spread of fruits, veggies and smaller-portioned foods at your next party.

Overeating and making the wrong food choices can make you gain weight, so it's especially important to mind what you eat when in the company of friends. Be the one to make the first move!

Need to lose weight?

Whether 20, 50, or 100 pounds or more, Dr. Aron is here to listen and help. Read more about her medical weight loss program in New York.

Cite: eurekalert

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Thanksgiving Survival Guide, from Oksana Aron, M.D.

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Nov 19, 2012

How to Have a Happy Thanksgiving without Really Trying

thanksgiving is about the people you spend it with.

We’ve prepared this Thanksgiving Survival Guide* to give you ideas on how to best avoid overeating this Thursday, and keep yourself together on your weight loss program.

Abate Your Appetite; Trounce Temptation

The best way to battle any festival meal, where eating is the presumed focus, is to reduce your appetite thus obviously significantly lowering your temptation. You can follow these steps as guidelines to keep you on track with your diet plan.

Before You Go

  • As always, eat an appropriate breakfast as Dr. Aron has provided for your plan.
  • Be sure to include a real protein source to invoke satiety.
  • Keep up on your hydration. Drinking water will also help keep you feeling full.
  • Likewise, throughout the day, avoid alcoholic beverages for their dehydrating effects and of course insane caloric values.

Boots on the Ground

Once you’re there, keep it simple and safe:

  • Salad is always your friend. Enjoy the simple greens, not salads overladen with extras you know aren’t helpful to your diet.
  • Veggies, again mostly green, also round out your plate nicely and fill you up before looking further.
  • 4 ounce skinless white meat turkey as your meal protein. Keeping to the lower fat cut is the obvious choice.
  • Small samples of gravy or sauces for flavor are ok yet at a minimum. Avoid alcohol drinks entirely.
  • Small portion of potatoes or stuffing are better than breads and rolls.
  • Dessert? Only if you must, enjoy a small one. Better to enjoy a little more turkey, or better yet veggies/salad, we suggest.
“When facing the challenges of dieting during the holidays, remember to keep your focus on what’s really important — the people you’re spending the holidays with."

Remember Why You Came

Truly, the holidays are about getting together with friends and loved ones. Open your mouth more for the laughs and conversation, and keep the focus on the fun not the food. Think ahead when you get back home how much happier you'll be knowing you spent the day in conversation not in consuming unneeded calories.

Leftovers are Left for Others

You’re on a diet plan. You can leave them for others and keep the holiday meal behind as you walk out the door. Weather-permitting, keep on walking … and enjoy more conversation and fresh air as you move your body after a festival meal. When you get home, get back on your regular plan and keep the fond memories of the friends you enjoyed your holiday with.

Happy Thanksgiving, from Dr. Aron and Staff of WeightLossNYC

For more information on safe and healthy weight loss diet plans, visit our website WeightLossNYC.com and start losing weight, today.

*Thanksgiving Survival Guide, from Oksana Aron, M.D. is a copyrighted work by Weight Loss NYC® adapted from HRI Thanksgiving Success Plan. Image adapted from morgueFile.

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7 Weight Loss Nutrition and Beauty Tips

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Aug 7, 2012

Beauty is truly skin deep

The most common goal of following a healthy diet and exercising routinely is to lose weight and help you to get your body looking great. However, most people don’t realize there are so many other countless benefits of following a strict diet and a good workout plan, other than just dropping the pounds. One of the best kept secrets of following a good diet is the huge impact it has on your complexion, which keeps you looking younger.

Cutting back on certain foods can really improve the aging of your skin. The breakdown of sugar, for example, can really damage your collagen, which helps your skin to look smooth and firm. Try cutting back on your daily sugar intake or using substitutes, such as all natural sweetener. Also, hormones that are in certain foods such as dairy products, beef, and even poultry can contribute to acne breakouts. Eating grain-fed beefs and poultry can help make a huge difference in your skins complexion.

weight loss fitness

The many benefits of dieting and exercising

Exercising correctly is equally as important as doing it routinely, and is also a huge plus for your skin. Doing cardio on machines such as the treadmill can be beneficial in burning calories, but weight training helps to tone muscle and prevent sagging. Also, a yoga class is a much better work out to help relieve stress, as well as losing weight. Cutting down your stress level has a large impact on the aging of your skin, and relieving your tension. High tension levels can cause terrible skin breakouts, so try adding in a few yoga sessions to your weekly work outs.

Low Calorie dieting is a good way to lose weight but you can also make your diet beneficial to your body in other ways. Eating foods that are healthier and higher in vitamins can help improve your skin by making it smoother; capable of healing faster, harder to bruise, and can even improve some chronic skin conditions.

Nutrition and Weight Loss Diet Plan

Dr Oksana Aron will guide you to healthy weight loss with her nutritionally sound low calorie diet program, can direct you to lose the weight you want to lose every week. Call WeightLossNYC.com today at 718-491-5525 for more information or to schedule your first appointment with Dr Aron.

Call WeightLossNYC™ today at 718-491-5525

Related reading: 8 Diet and Exercise Mistakes That Age You, Prevention, 2012.

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3 Great Reasons to Eat More Beans

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Apr 4, 2012



Eat your legumes!


Yes, beans really are a miracle food of sorts. Packed with fiber and a high water content, they can also help you stay nice and trim. Here are some great reasons why you should make beans a staple in your diet.

Beans are satisfying

Because they contain a lot of fiber and water, they help you feel full and satisfied -- in a good way. The benefit: You eat less food and snack less, which can help you lose weight as you consume less overall calories. Fill up on healthy foods like beans instead of high-calorie foods with no health benefits!

Stay or get thin

Because you stay fuller longer and eat less, that means you'll be thinner, have less weight around the waist and weigh on average 7 pounds lighter than those who do not regularly consume beans, according to a recent study.

Other health benefits

With a slimmer waistline, you'll also have a decreased chance of diabetes and heart disease. The antioxidants present in beans (1/3 of your daily intake) can also help keep the free radicals at bay and provide some protection against cancer, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

Tip: If you buy canned beans, find a low- or no-salt version.

Source: fitsugar.com

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Emotional Eating and Weight Gain

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Dec 23, 2011


The days are getting shorter and the holidays will soon be far behind us. During the winter months, many people turn to food for comfort and wind up gaining weight. Are you an emotional eater? Find the reasons behind emotional eating and learn how to avoid the weight gain that comes with it.

What is emotional eating?
Eating impulsively when in emotional distress

Why we emotional eat
To deal with and distract yourself from negative emotions such as fear, stress, anger, sadness and loneliness

What it does

It can cause you to gain weight because you may eat too fast when emotional or you eat too much because you are distracted by the negative emotions. It can also cause you to feel even worse over the resulting weight loss, which can trigger an ugly cycle of overeating and feeling bad.

How to get help
-Learn effective ways to cope with your stress, be it everyday stress or a major stressful event in life.
-Find something to do when you get bored instead of reaching for food. Go for a walk, do a craft or clean the house.
-Eat a healthy diet and don't deprive or starve yourself into losing weight. It takes time, so don't stress yourself out about it!
-Get therapy if you find yourself unable to deal with the cause of your emotional eating.
-Make an appointment with Dr. Aron to address your emotional eating and get on a path to weight loss success.

Source: Mayo Clinic

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Skip These Foods at Thanksgiving

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Nov 22, 2011
Thanksgiving could be a minefield for anyone trying to maintain a healthy diet, but a few helpful tips can hold you back from a dieting mistake. These are some of the foods you should skip in lieu of healthier Thanksgiving offerings.

Stuffing
They call it stuffing for a reason. This is one of the fattiest items on the Thanksgiving spread, so be sure to steer clear of this one.

Dark Meat
If you dine on turkey, opt for the white meat, which can save you 50 calories and 4 grams of fat.

Canned Cranberry Sauce
Although cranberries are natural, the added sugars can throw your healthy meal offtrack. Surprisingly, turkey gravy is a slightly healthier choice at 30 calories and 1.5 grams of fat per 1/4-cup serving.

Dinner Rolls
These are easy to keep eating and never stop, and pile on the calories and carbs. If you must, try one roll and go very easy on the butter (like a thin spread, not a pat) or try a dab of olive oil instead.

Pumpkin Pie
Just say no! A slice of pumpkin pie can add as much as 316 calories and 14 grams of fat to your meal.

A good rule of thumb: make choices at Thanksgiving based on what foods are closest to their natural state.

Source: EatingWell.com

Read more weight loss tips here or call to make an appointment with Dr. Aron for your first appointment.

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Americans Are Getting Fatter

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Nov 21, 2011
Things are about to change and it's not for the better. By the year 2020, the majority of American adults will be overweight or obese and will suffer from serious health conditions such as diabetes or pre-diabetic conditions.

In 2020, the following are expected to happen:


  • 83 percent of men and 72 percent of women will be overweight or obese.
  • 77 percent of men and 53 percent of women will have dysglycemia (either diabetes or pre-diabetes).
The reality in America today is that 72 percent of men and 63 percent of women are overweight or obese and 62 percent of men and 43 percent of women have dysglycemia. Less than 5 percent of the population is actually considered to have ideal cardiovascular health.

Don't be one of these statistics. To make a change for the better, you can improve your cardiovascular health by eating a healthy diet, getting physical exercise and being physically active, as well as leading an overall healthy life and avoiding such activities as smoking.

Let Dr. Aron simplify the dieting aspect of your healthy new lifestyle and call to make an appointment today.

Source: ScienceDaily

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