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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 Aron Medical Weight Loss Center

7032 4th Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11209, Directions to office

What's in your diet?

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Feb 10, 2021

Healthy Diet Plan

Food awareness is important for all of us. Whether or not you are trying to lose weight, you still need to be concious of the calories you consume and quality of the nutritional content.

Nowadays, with food labels as available as they are, they don't always capture the complete picture of the quality of your food, most notably the source and processing of the ingredients, as well as informed knowlege of the additives and non-food ingredients therein.

person eating junk food
Keeping a food diary can provide powerful insights into your habits

Best Steps

Your best diet plan starts with choosing real foods with minimal processing, and solid nutritional value. Ideally, if you like to cook, you are able to steer yourself to healthier recipes and freshest ingredients. If cooking is not an option for you, you can still work within your plan and fill in as many healthy options as able, such as a fresh salad bar instead of packaged foods, etc.

Food Journal

Keeping a food diary can be a powerful insight tool, as well as a habit tracker, for what, when and how you are eating. Choose a method that works best for you:

  • Paper Journal This may be the easiest way, as you can just jot down what you are eating and other observations, and go back to fill in any details when you have more time.
  • Online (free) The USDA provides a national database that is most often the source for many other websites, tools and apps. You can access their database to get current food facts, via their MyPlate app.
  • Other apps Many third party food trackers are available if you are more inclined to do your research for which one suits your personal style and needs. Some are visual, some more technical, some incorporate fitness tracking and more. Ideally what will work best is what is easiest for you to maintain on the go, and not be bogged down trying to keep up with a fussy app. Popular apps include Lose it and My Fitness Pal and many more popping up every year.

Thick and Thin

Most importantly now is what to log in your journal (or app). Hopefully, as Dr. Aron advises, you are eating at a mealtime in a relaxed setting, eating mindfully not rushing thoughtlessly at your desk or tv. You can facilitate this in your log:

  • Why am I eating
  • How hungry I am
  • Where I am eating
  • How I am feeling
  • and of course, What am I eating

Include portion sizes and calories as minimal facts, with fat and other elements as you wish to track. Consider any condiments, and snacks and more — be honest with yourself, this is a guide for you only.

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How to motivate yourself into daily fitness

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Feb 9, 2021

Simple steps to start

You’ve got enough in your life, how can you fit fitness into that too? —Oksana Aron, M.D.

pretty woman

Human Nature

Firstly no beating yourself up. It’s human nature to defy all the best logic and intentions and keep the status quo. So acknowledging that lack of inertia is a good place to start. You don’t have to want to start exercising to actually start! In fact ask anyone who does work out regularly, it’s a big part of it to just get yourself to get going each day to keep the habit going too.

Once you start, you will see you will still have good days and bad days, and that is ok. You just need to accept your mood doesn’t have to be the reason you don’t get moving.

Motivators

For many, the fun of fitness includes friends. If you have a workout buddy that does give a lot to help, though be sure you both focus on the fitness part and not fall into just socializing. Lunchtime powerwalks can be an easy place to start. Or morning dog walks (dogs are people too, right?).

Finding and setting up the routine is key here. Do you have a regular place to practice, whether a walking path, or yoga mat, or room in your home to exercise without distraction?

Youtube or even old school DVDs can make for easy access to fun workouts daily. You can keep the same channels and workouts or mix things up when want to break into a new skill or new drill. So even a tv, phone or tablet can be your workout partner and trainer.

Ready or not?

Overcoming any mental or physical constraints of course is essential to moving ahead into new fitness zones. Be mindful of your limitations and start simple, don’t get ahead of yourself, even once begun, keep the bar low to develop the habit not any desired result. Most important is to have compelling cause for wanting to workout. That will drive you ahead when feeling doubt, as much as enjoyment of the activities of choice.

So, finding a time and place, person to workout with, a clear mind and body, and good cause…

Keep it simple

Accept the bare minimum initially — getting suited up and psyched for some activity is first, so once there, just do what you can not what you think you should do. Maybe 15 minutes or walk one mile, or one block — do what you can to feel safely within your limits and return to repeat tomorrow!

You can mix it up too, especially with seasonal and other concerns. Indoor bike or floor stretches on Sunday, Yoga on Monday and Friday, Tuesday and Thursday strength exercises, and Wedneday walk, for example.

For some, variety breaks out of the perception of drudgery and also your body can experience the excitement of something different each workout. For others, the daily drill works best — taking that daily walk can become mentally as well as physically therapeutic. It may seem unlikely now, yet truly once you own your fitness experience it will carry you into higher levels of wellness you cannot walk away from!

Move on up

There is no goal or expectation for when you can exercise for 30 minutes every day. Avoid any talk that makes you feel discouraged or punitive. Compare yourself only to yourself. Hey I am not at my desk or couch. I am outside walking and that is 15 minutes of huge benefit for myself, both by working out, but also by not NOT working out!

Your momentum can carry you over those days when you feel discouraged. Know that the doing is more important than the feeling, and also once you get started your mood will change. Don’t be surprised if that 5, 10 or 15 minute workout turns into 20-30-40... good for you! Yet keep it simple and safe. Getting injured will set you back far more than any extra gains you are striving to achieve today. Remind yourself you are on the lifetime fitness plan!

Keep track

Recognize your interests and attempts,

Decide what your lowest bar is for the particular workout routine you’re wanting to establish (50 steps, 5 minutes of pedaling or jogging, one round of sun salutations) and use this tiny benchmark whenever you catch yourself dreading exercise to at least maintain the framework of the routine.

Focus on the behavior, not the ideal duration or outcome

and find the zones that inspire you most.

You don’t have to keep a fitness log, but may want to mark off what days you worked out and for how long, to give yourself a sense of history and purpose. There are even apps that help track streaks — how long you can maintain a good habit over time.

Shake off the Shoulds

Now you’re getting in stride. It’s called your workout because it is yours. So keep to yourself about your gains and just get into the enjoyment of the game. Healthy habits are priceless, in comparison to doing nothing!

Setup the structure to win, and then get into it!

One pitfall though is to reward yourself for fitness, with something bad! Ouch. Don’t do it. Make fitness the reward! This cannot be understated. Make physical activity the fun highlight for each day.

You have a grocery list, make a fitness list! What are some activities you’ve often aspired to do. Make a list of them, skiing? bike riding? even horseback riding! Reaching those milestones are far more life altering than any food or counterproductive “reward”

Mix it up more now

Fill in fitness to everything you do! Do some easy yoga while the coffee brews. Some leg stretches while you brush your teeth. Take the farther (less crowded!) parking spot and walk those extra blocks. Oh yeah. It’s really that simple. You do not need a gym membership! You just need to use your time the right way.

Even make up some silly rules like:

  • Stand up for instagram — only read social media on your phone while standing!
  • Make extra trips when setting/clearing the table. Carry LESS than you can to make you make more steps — that adds up to a lot over the course of a day, week, year
  • Put down your phone in another room so you have to get up to get to it. Especially if that keeps you from just sitting down and doom scrolling! Don’t carry the phone around, make yourself have to get up to answer it.

Now you’ve got it. There’s no reason to NOT exercise. Just move your body more, stay away from sedentary habits. The more you move, the more you get results. Give yourself a big hug and get walking!

About WeightLossNYC™

Dr. Oksana Aron is medical weight loss physician: A medical expert trained in treatment of overweight and obese persons who may have struggled to lose weight other methods and seeking results where others have failed. Visit weightlossnyc.com for more information about the doctor and her weight loss programs.

Start losing weight today, with Dr. Aron and her team at WeightLossNYC.com

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Walking - How many steps is enough?

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Feb 8, 2021

Heart Health

We’re all familiar with the popular adage 10,000 steps a day, yet recent research has tested this assertion for validity, with helpful results. The origins of this value were the the invention of a pedometer marketing campaign and seemed to have stuck with us ever since. Now we know more:

walking puppet hand
Popular convention asserts 10,000 steps daily, yet how many steps are really needed for health results?
[The] word mile was derived from the Latin phrase mila passum, which means 1,000 paces — about 2,000 steps. [The] average person walks about 100 steps per minute — which would mean it would take a little under 30 minutes for the average person to walk a mile.

Walk on by

With so many health guidelines encouraging fitness in varying degrees, this recent study from Harvard Medical School found 4,400 steps to initiate benefits, with increases up to 7,500 steps a day, as a metric centered on women and mortality risk. Note this also addressed the urgent need to reduce sedentary lifestyle habit, as these values are in comparision to 2,700 daily steps.¹

Fat Metabolism

Fat metabolism is also a component of fitness. Studies have shown walking fewer than 4-5,000 steps per day can affect your fat metabolism the next day.² Many health benefits are associated with low impact fitness, so you can simply try and step up your game to adding more steps each week to maintain a stable plateau of activity.

If you want to increase how many steps you get daily or want to move more, one easy way to do that is to increase your current step count by about 2,000 steps a day. … And given that even small amounts of physical activity positively impact your health, taking regular breaks to move around if you’re working at a desk all day will easily get more physical activity.

Learn More

If you are looking to improve your health and fitness outcomes in a weight loss context, visit WeightLossNYC.com for more actionable advice and information on how to lose weight.

¹,² Sources: gratisography, inverse, cited research studies: Walking and Measurement, Daily Step Count and Fat Metabolism, Effects of Moderate/Intermittent Low-Intensity Exercise on Lipidemia

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Fat-Burning Lipotropics, B Vitamins, and Weight Loss

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Feb 1, 2021
B Vitamins and fat burning
green vegetables

What are Vitamins?

Vitamins are a group of … compounds which are essential for normal [function] but which are not synthesized … by the body and [must be included] in small quantities from the diet. In total, humans require adequate amounts of 13 vitamins: four fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) and nine water soluble vitamins, which comprise vitamin C and the eight B vitamins… {NIH}

Lipotropics

  • Improve appetite suppression & increase fat burning
  • Increase energy & mental clarity
  • Improve sense of well being
  • Improve skin, hair, and nails
  • Decrease inflammation
Lipotropics are a class of nutrients that target body fat and aid in its metabolism. Particularly, choline, inositol, and methionine have clinically shown to increase fat metabolism thus aid in weight loss. {NIH}

Along with B vitamins, these may be administered to intensify fat burning. B vitamins help convert energy from the compound protein, carbohydrates, and fats you eat.

What are B Vitamins?

These vitamins help a variety of enzymes do their jobs, ranging from releasing energy from carbohydrates and fat to breaking down amino acids and transporting oxygen and energy-containing nutrients around the body. {HSPH}

  • B1 (Thiamine): Conversion of carbohydrates into energy and glucose metabolism. Important in nerve, muscle, and heart functions, as well as brain and digestive systems.
  • B2 (Riboflavin): Breaking down proteins, fats, and carbohydrates; maintaining the body's energy supply; assists in blood circulation and thyroid activity.
  • B3 (Niacin): Helps lower LDL cholesterol
  • B5 (Pantothenic Acid) Production of blood cells, skin, hair, and eyes; assists functions of the nervous system, liver and  digestive system.
  • B6 (Pyridoxine): Improve mood and promotes brain health
  • B7 (Biotin) Metabolizes food components into energy; and aids in blood glucose levels, insulin resistance and glucose tolerance.
  • B9 (Folate, Folic acid) Helpful in a number of domains including memory loss, sleep problems, nerve and muscle pain, also in prevention of high blood pressure and heart disease.
  • B12 (Cobalamin) Improve mood and symptoms of depression and provides an energy boost -- helps with fatigue and weakness.

B-ring it on

Vitamins help the process your body uses to get or make energy from the food you eat. They also help in development of core components such as red blood cells. B vitamin deficiencies can also cause disease. Your best plan is to seek out foods that naturally contain the vitamins and nutrients your body needs for normal, healthful, growth and development.

Learn More

Dr Oksana Aron can help guide you to proper food choices to aid in weight loss and fundamental good life practices. Visit weightlossnyc.com to learn more about her medical weight loss programs and also for additional online weight loss resources.

Sources: NIH, HSPH, WeightLossNYC.com

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Simple Ways to Stay Slim, not Sedentary, at home

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Jan 30, 2021
yellow flowers

Healthy Habits at Home

A common complaint these days is staying home has only made maintaining or even achieving weight loss success a greater challenge than ever before. Whether its reduced social engagement or remote work that's kept you more bound for cabin-fever, we've got your back with a few simple tips to stay slim while home.

  • Activity

    Perhaps the most obvious and least achieved, yet you can surely spend just half an hour daily following your favorite youtube fitness type online, be it eXercise, Yoga, Zumba or another other alpha fitness. Best to schedule the same time each day, or at least a regular interval each day that you can guarantee yourself to be there and aware. Better still if you've got a friend or family member at home willing to keep you on track and join in the fitness fun.

  • Hydrate

    Before you reach for that morning joe, get some water into your system. Consider you've been fasting all night and likewise needing to rehydrate too. You may even find your caffeine urges will temper once you've had some morning water, before, during and after a workout too.

  • Sleep

    We've blogged a few times on this, the easiest weight loss tip ever. Your body needs to recharge and provide all the regenerative benefits that go along with a solid night's sleep. No surprise that fitting fitness into your life will help you sleep better at night too. Being too sedentary robs you of all the natural rhythms of life you need for balance.

  • Nutrition

    Eating proper meals at mealtimes is the best way to keep energy high and hunger cravings low. Now that you're at home, guess what -- you're always steps away from preparing your own healthy meals instead of so many tempting and unhealthy ways from your on the go ways.

    Keep tabs on yourself though, by avoiding temptation to graze around the kitchen when home.

  • More to go on

    Consider breaking out of the habit of staying in house clothes all day too. Get up on a regular schedule and gear up and groom for a real day ahead. Having a steady routine is fundamental for all things mental and physical too. You can do this! and you may pick up some great lifetime habits along the way.

    Learn more

    Visit WeightLossNYC.com to learn more about ways to lose weight and how Oksana Aron, M.D. can help you achieve weight loss success where other methods may have failed you.

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Fickle Foods that can Fool you

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Jan 29, 2021

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.

bowl of yogurt with berries
Pro tip: Mix up your own healthy fruits into real yogurt
  • 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.

Learn More Weight Loss tips

Visit weightlossnyc.com and start working with Dr. Oksana Aron, medical weight loss physican and diet doctor, able to help you to lose weight where other methods have not.

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Brooklyn voted WeightLossNYC Best Medical Weight Loss Center

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC May 12, 2020

Brooklyn voted WeightLossNYC™ Best Medical Weight Loss 2020

WeightLossNYC™ • 
7032 4th Ave • Brooklyn
 • 718-491-5525

Losing weight is a daunting and frustrating challenge that many Americans face. Weight loss doctor Oksana Aron, MD, of Bay Ridge’s WeightLossNYC™ is here to help you lose weight and feel comfortable in your own body. Dr. Aron, a licensed physician who has received special training in Bariatric Medicine — the medical treatment of the overweight and obese — will guide you with programs based on the latest developments in the fields of nutrition and weight control through comprehensive non-surgical approaches. The time is now to do something that can truly change how you look, feel and your overall wellbeing! — Best of Bk

Thank you for all who voted for us, we are appreciative of the honor of recognition and distinction by our community.

— Dr Oksana Aron and staff of WeightLossNYC™

About Dr Aron and WeightLossNYC™

Dr Aron provides a structured diet program that promotes faster weight loss, and supporting methods to achieve fast weight loss.

More patient testimonials.

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Your Momma's BMI is So High...

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Nov 9, 2018

… It could lead to a much higher mortality risk for you, too

”Adult children of mothers who were overweight or obese had up to a 90% higher risk of dying from heart disease or stroke compared with peers born to mothers who were not overweight or obese, a study[1] indicated. The results were presented at the American Heart Association meeting.”

With fewer than 1,200 medical weight loss doctors for over 100 million obese Americans[2], it’s time you take control of your own health and wellness. Don’t be a weight loss mortality statistic — be a weight loss success.

Learn how to lose weight quickly.



Woman holding child

Medical Weight Loss

Get the latest information on medical weight loss and health tips from Oksana Aron, M.D. at WeightLossNYC. Her medical weight loss program has helped thousands of New Yorkers lose weight where other methods did not.

Sources:

  1. American Heart Association, Study links mother’s BMI, later heart risk for children
  2. Medpage, U.S. Still Poorly Prepared to Treat Obesity

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Grumbling about Ghrelin - the hunger hormone

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Sep 7, 2017

Energy and Hunger Management

Our bodies are made of complex systems that constantly control and self-regulate countless aspects including temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, and hunger…

Ghrelin: from the acronym GHR (“growth hormone-releasing peptide”) +‎ -lin (common hormone suffix), with an incidental pun on prefix greh- (“to grow”) and English growling.[1]
ghrelin hunger hormone

The Hunger Game

As we have blogged before, ghrelin is a powerful protein that our bodies use to signal hunger to the brain, a naturally produced hormone which we can indirectly affect by application of some good habits.

Medical weight loss addresses the hunger factor to help you reduce cravings and shed weight naturally by the body’s natural pathways. The benefits of losing weight may be obvious, yet worth considering some of the less familiar aspects as well.

Manage Your Weight, Improve Your Health

You can discover how easy it can be to lose weight with physician supervision. Dr Aron is a bariatric physician — medical specialist in the field of weight loss.

Contact her office to schedule an appointment or visit online at WeightLossNYC.com


[1] Sources/Image: Wikimedia, Wikipedia; Dr Aron Medical Weight Loss Blog

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Food & Nutrition: Tomato Power and Pals

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Dec 1, 2016

Top Tomato Tips

healthy

Tomatoes are a very popular fruit, or vegetable… No matter how you slice it they are a very versatile and nutritious ingredient that can be enjoyed raw or cooked in so many ways including juice and sauces, grilled, and in salads. Also the variety of tomatoes from heath beefsteak to pop sized cherry bites give all the more encouragement to include them in your diet.

Some fun facts

  1. One cup of tomatoes can provide:
    • 8 percent of your recommended daily fiber intake
    • 15 percent of your daily B6
    • 12 percent of your iron
  2. Sorry oranges! One tomato can provide 28 percent of your vitamin C for the day
  3. Cooking tomatoes can provide the highest levels of lycopene, a nutrient known for many essential health benefits
  4. Hydration too: fresh tomato juice can provide antioxidant benefits, just caution on high sodium store bought brands. Eating raw tomatoes also can fill you up due to the high water content.

Healthy Buddies

Lentils

Adding cooked lentils to your tomato sauce can provide much needed protein (about 9 grams per half cup lentils) as well as iron. This also aids in making a heartier, more filling sauce without the negatives of other means.

Shredded Kale

Lightly cooked kale adds a big nutritional boost to any dish. Including into your tomato sauce a few minutes before serving can rock your vitamins A, C, And selenium, plus dozens more antioxidant flavonoids

What’s in your Diet?

If your are looking for healthier meal plan to help you lose weight fast without suffering, check out Dr Aron Medical Weight Loss Center at WeightLossNYC™ today.

Phone: 718-491-5525 or Web: WeightLossNYC.com

Some links to more of our tomato related blog posts

Source: Organic Connect

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Weight Loss Pills: What Works?

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Nov 11, 2015

What weight loss supplements are safe?

Weight Loss pills
FDA Approved Medications

You want to lose weight—and fast. You’re willing to try almost any weight loss product promising a miracle, but will it work? And more importantly, is it safe?

FTC cracks down on false weight loss claims

Looks like the Federal Trade Commission is cracking down on companies hawking weight loss products with bogus claims and here’s what’s happening right now.

Products that the FTC says are making false claims include Sensa and a “slimming” body cream by L’Occitane. The FTC is also working to get consumers their money back for purchasing such products and is going to urge the companies to stop the false advertising.

Some common false claims:

  • Eat whatever you want and still lose weight
  • No diet or exercise required
  • Just take this pill and you’ll lose weight

Where’s the miracle?

“The chances of being successful at substantial weight loss just by sprinkling something on your food, rubbing creams on your body or just using a supplement, well, they’re slim to none” — Jessica Rich, Director of the FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection

There are no miracle weight loss pills, no matter what those companies try to get you to believe. Buying these supplements from unscrupulous sources online without a doctor’s supervision is dangerous. Not only do they not work—they could cause you serious harm or even death.

The only legal (and legitimate) weight loss medications are those approved by the FDA, and are only available by prescription. These include Phentermine, Phendimetrizine, Qsymia,… See complete list: FDA Approved Medical Weight Loss Pills

Your best option is to work with a medical weight loss doctor who can advise you safely on what your body needs in order to lose weight.

Are you Overweight? Do you want to lose weight?

Find out how to lose weight fast and in a safe manner by speaking with licensed bariatric physician Dr. Aron. To schedule your first appointment, give us a call at 718-491-5525 or visit WeightLossNYC.com

Cite: NBCNews

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Eat This Fruit and Lose Weight

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Aug 26, 2015

The Green Fruit

Avocado halved
Avocado Garden Salad

Got Avocado?

What’s in your brown bag for lunch? While packing a lunch can be difficult (a sandwich again?!), here’s one idea to switch things up a bit and : eating avocado with your lunch can aid weight loss. Here’s how:

An Avocado a Day Keeps the Hunger Away

Consuming up a half of an avocado can help you feel as much as 26% more satisfied and can even keep you from wanting to reach for an afternoon snack later on in the day, according to a study published in Nutrition Journal. Those in the study reported a:

  • 40% decreased desire to eat 3 hours after lunch, and
  • 28% decreased desire to eat 5 hours later

Just a little avocado a day can go a long way in eating a healthy diet without overeating.

What’s in an Avocado

A whole avocado contains 250 calories and 23 grams of fat, most of which is healthy monounsatured fat, which can reduce bad cholesterol levels. It may even be helpful in regulating blood sugar levels, which has yet to be investigated.

Any way you slice it, avocados can be healthy for you and boost your weight loss efforts. Try some in a healthy green salad or spruce up a boring sandwich with it and notice the difference.

Want to lose weight fast?

Become our next success story at WeightLossNYC™. No gimmicks or crash diets, just sound advice for healthy living. Give us a call at 718-491-5525 today.

Cite: MedicalNewsToday.com

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More Obese Americans than Overweight

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Jun 29, 2015
surprised woman

Americans continue to gain weight

Several striking news reports reflect that in the US, more adults who are obese outnumber those who are just overweight. The LA Times reported notes from published in JAMA Internal Medicine quoting “adults who are obese now outnumber those who are merely overweight.”

[Researchers] estimated that 67.6 million Americans over the age of 25 were obese as of 2012, and an additional 65.2 million were overweight.
  • Washington Post remarks “"[this is] a startling shift from 20 years ago when 63 percent of men and 55 percent of women were overweight or obese and a depressing sign that campaigns to get Americans to eat healthier and exercise more may be failing.”
  • CBS News (website) notes the ”analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2007 to 2012 to estimate the prevalence of overweight and obesity.” including details on “15,208 men and women age 25 or older.”
  • TIME magazine iterated “40% of men were overweight and 35% of men were obese” — “30% of women were overweight and 37% were obese.” Numbers “are similar to those estimated by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which suggest that one third of American adults are obese.”
  • and MedPage Today remarked “33% of Americans ages 25 to 54, and 28% of those 55 and older, fell into the normal weight category of having a (BMI) of 18.5-24.9.”

Am I obese? or just Overweight?

You can test your own at WeightLossNYC™ for free online now, and determine your health risk and obesity/overweight metric.

For more results, you can visit for a complete medical evaluation and treatment of your body weight, fat, metabolism and more.

Source AMA medical rounds, JAMA, CDC, and cited news sources

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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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Is Your Favorite Food Making You Sick?

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Mar 9, 2015
sick person on sofa

Is your favorite food making you sick?

A new study in the journal Nature suggests that emulsifiers—commonly used ingredients in many favorite processed foods—may be interfering with bacteria in our digestive tracts and causing increases in metabolic syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, and obesity.

Ingredients such as lecithin, carrageenan, polysorbate80, polyglycerols and xanthan and other “gums” improve the texture and shelf-life of many supermarket foods and keep ingredients such as oils and fats from separating. They are found in many ice creams, baked goods, salad dressings, veggie burgers, non-dairy milks and hamburger patties.

In the study, when fed emulsifiers, the mice who had normal immune systems developed mild intestinal inflammation and a metabolic disorder that led them to eat more. They became obese, hyperglycemic and insulin resistant. The mice with abnormal immune systems developed chronic colitis.

Several commonly used ingredients in many popular processed foods could be interfering with bacteria in our digestive tracts yielding increases in obesity, metabolic syndrome, IBS and more. can help you address many of these health concerns.

Food additives could be inducing inflammation

Emulsifiers seem to change the gut microbiota (or environment) and how bacteria interact with the intestine. This paves the way for inflammation. While emulsifiers may not be the sole cause of the rise in obesity, they could very well be a factor.

Many emulsifiers and food additives are considered safe by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, the FDA has not determined safe levels of consumption, particularly because people consume emulsifiers in so many different foods.

Additional studies on humans are needed to better understand how emulsifiers impact humans.

Are you needing to lose weight?

Oksana Aron, M.D. is a bariatric physician and internist, specializing in medical treatment of overweight and obese persons:

“Through our comprehensive program, many individuals have lost well in excess of 20% of their initial body weight using a combination of appetite suppressants and a low calorie diet, while eating just regular grocery store foods.”

You can visit Dr. Aron’s website at

Citations

  • Sima Michaels Dembo, MPH, is a health care consultant and writer. She is a guest contributor to this blog.
  • Chassaing, Benoit, et. al., “Dietary emulsifiers impact the mouse gut microbiota promoting colitis and metabolic syndrome,” Nature, 519, 92-96, Published online 2/25/15. Accessed 3/5/15.
  • Grossman, Elizabeth., “How Emulsifiers Are Messing with Our Guts (and Making Us Fat),” Civil Eats, February 25, 2015. Accessed 3/5/15.

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Contrave and Saxenda, two latest Weight Loss medications receive FDA credentials

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Sep 12, 2014

New Weight Loss Medication Contrave® approved for treatment of Obesity and Overweight conditions

“Several safe and effective prescription medicines can be used to overcome the hurdle of weight loss, the latest of these to receive FDA approval is a combination of two other medications, naltrexone hydrochloride and bupropion hydrochloride extended-release tablets. Additionally, liraglutide has received favorable recognition from the FDA.” –, WeightLossNYC®

“Contrave is a combination of two FDA-approved drugs, naltrexone and bupropion, in an extended-release formulation. Naltrexone is approved to treat alcohol and opioid dependence. Bupropion is approved to treat depression and seasonal affective disorder and as an aid to smoking cessation treatment.

“The effectiveness of Contrave was evaluated in multiple clinical trials that included approximately 4,500 obese and overweight patients with and without significant weight-related conditions treated for one year. All patients received lifestyle modification that consisted of a reduced- calorie diet and regular physical activity.” – FDA statement, Sept.2014
contrave and saxenda, medical weight loss pills

Safe and Effective Weight Regimen

Like similar treatments, medical supervision is highly advised, as part of a . The unique combination of this new medication also underscores compatibility with the current state of health and fitness for any individual. Similarly, an FDA panel greenlighted Saxena® (liraglutide) as another effective candidate for medical weight loss treatment. Whereas most weight loss medications address hunger mechanisms, each approach offers a different biological or neurological pathway, providing alternative options for practitioners and patients to optimize for individual results. Ask Dr. Aron which is the best treatment option for you.


FDA Approved Weight Loss Pills

[ Table of FDA Approved Medical Weight Loss Medications ]

  • Orlistat (Xenical)
  • Diethylpropion (Tenuate, Tenuate dospan)
  • Phendimetrazine (Bontril)
  • Phentermine (Apidex-P, Fastin, Ionamin)
  • Phentermine and Topiramate (Qsymia)
  • Naltrexone HCl/Bupropion HCl (Contrave)
  • Source: WeightLossNYC.com

See also Questions about Weight Loss Medications?


Lose Weight Fast

Oksana Aron M.D. is an internist and bariatric physician in New York City. Her medical weight loss center, WeightLossNYC®, helps you develop and maintain healthy habits and proper structures to build a sustainable, lifelong reduction of weight and weight-related health conditions. Her philosophy is the sum of your actions is the yield of your results. Call for an appointment today at 718-491-5525 or visit her WeightLossNYC practice website at http://WeightLossNYC.com




Sources: ASBP.org, FDA.gov, Takeda/Orexigen, Novo Nordisk, WeightLossNYC.com

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How much does it cost to be Overweight?

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

Obesity Medical Expenses Cost Billions Each Year

Obesity not only takes a toll on your health but your wallet as well, as it costs $147 billion each year in direct medical costs and nearly 10 percent of all medical spending in the U.S.

Roughly one in three Americans are considered obese. An obese person could spend as much as $4,870 per year on health care expenses on Medicare, which is about 41 percent more than a normal weight person spends at $3,400.

Prescription drugs are the majority of medical expenses and can cost an obese person upwards of $1,300 a year, which is 80 percent more than the $700 an average weight person spends.

“…the clear link between rising rates of obesity and increasing medical costs is alarming, but not unexpected,” …the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation said in a statement. “Obesity is the driver of so many chronic conditions — heart disease, diabetes, cancer — that generate the exorbitant costs that are crushing our health-care system,” she said.

“The only way to show real savings in health expenditures in the future is through efforts to reduce the prevalence of obesity and related health conditions,” study author [and] director, RTI Public Health Economics Program, said.

Improve Your Health Today

Dr Aron can help you save money by helping you improve your health and wellness. Visit WeightLossNYC.com to learn about her medical weight loss program.

heart health and obesity

Sources: HealthDay News

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Is Organic Milk healthier for you?

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Jul 23, 2014
Topics: Weight Loss, Nutrition, Health

Organic milk: Does it help you lose weight?

Organic or non-organic? Whether we’re talking about fruits, veggies, meats or dairy, opinions abound.

While some claim it doesn't make a difference, a recent study published in PLoS One proves that organic milk is healthier for you than conventional milk. Here’s why:

It’s all about the fatty acids

Cows producing organic milk are fed grass with high omega-3 fatty acids, while cows used for conventional milk are fed corn, which have higher levels of omega-6 fatty acids.

  • Organic milk has a healthier balance of omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids in all types of milk but nonfat milk, which can aid weight loss or help maintain your weight.
  • In the samples taken in the study, the total amount of fat in the organic milk was the same as the conventional milk. But when comparing the types of fatty acids, organic milk had 62 percent more omega-3s and 25 percent fewer omega-6s.
  • Both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are essential to a healthy diet. Omega-3s can be found in fish and flaxseed, while omega-6s can be found in many fried foods. The right balance of both is key. Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids offer health benefits, but when it comes to milk, organic milk may be your healthiest option.

Struggling with your weight?

Weight loss expert Dr. Aron will personalize a healthy weight loss plan just for you so you can lose weight fast. Call 718-491-5525 for your initial consultation, or visit WeightLossNYC.com for more information.

Sources: New York Times

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Ask the Doctor: Is Saturated Fat Bad for You?

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Jul 16, 2014

The Facts on Fat

Topics: Weight Loss, Obesity, Health

Are you trying to eat right? You're probably overwhelmed with dieting tips and information--some good and some downright incorrect. Just when you thought you knew what you were doing, another new study comes out and changes everything.

The Fat and Skinny on Fat

Doctors and dieting gurus have been harping on staying away from saturated fats, but the latest news challenges all that. Surprisingly, new evidence from a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine questions popular advice to cut out saturated fats and to eat polyunsaturated fats to prevent heart disease (and weight gain).

In the University of Cambridge study, researchers found no evidence supporting dietary guidelines of avoiding saturated fats to reduce heart disease risk. They also found that omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid supplements didn't have any significant effect on reducing cardiovascular disease either. Rather than focusing on macronutrients, we should consider the food groups our meals are based on.

Fat is still… fat

So, what do you do now? Should you start eating saturated fats with abandon? Not exactly. Until further research proves saturated fats are completely harmless, the secret to staying healthy, losing weight and lessening your chances of heart disease is still the same advice: eat a healthy diet, stay active and don’t smoke.

Lose Weight Fast without surgery

Want to fit into that little black dress or slimmer wedding gown? You can start making progress on your weight loss today. Call WeightLossNYC at 718-491-5525 and make your first appointment with Dr Aron, Bariatric Physician.

Sources: ScienceDaily; Delish

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Sugar or Sweetener?

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Jun 21, 2014

Taste with Your Brain?

Over recent years many people have been reaching for artificial sweeteners, thinking that it’s healthier than the real thing. It turns out that your tastebuds don’t know the difference between sugar and sweetener — but your brain does.

A new study out of the Netherlands used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to measure brain responses in people sipping two different orangeade drinks — one mixed with sugar and another mixed with four artificial sweeteners (aspartame, acesulfame K, cyclamate and saccharin).

The sugar and sweeteners were found to stimulate the amygdala, which is the part of the brain that detects pleasure. Only the sugared drink stimulated the caudate in the brain, showing that the human brain can tell the difference between a caloric drink and a noncaloric one.

Other research on artificially sweetened beverages include:

  • They can activate parts of the brain that create appetite, but do not satiate it.
  • Increased appetite has been found to occur in people who don’t consume artificially sweetened beverages often.
  • People who drink artificially sweetened beverages regularly tend to weigh more than those who don’t.
  • For those who consume a lot of artificially sweetened beverages, however, their brains, can become used to the sweeteners and may not necessarily cause them to eat more.
weight loss center

Sweet Opportunity

Visit WeightLossNYC.com to learn more about medical weight loss and how you can lose weight fast under physician supervision. Dr. Aron is a leading bariatric physician in Brooklyn.


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