It’s not willpower

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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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.

• 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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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.

Congratulations!

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

Images (c) 2018, Cite: Nancy Marland

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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:

• Dr Aron’s Simple Diet Tips
• Slim Down with Soup
• 7 Easy Eating Tips to Slim Down
• Gain More Self Control, Not Weight
• 5 Unusual Weight Loss Tips
• Your Social Circle Can Make or Break Your Eating Habits
• Fast Weight Loss the Low Fat Way

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

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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.

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™

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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.

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.

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How to Have a Happy Thanksgiving without Really Trying

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." - Oksana Aron, M.D.

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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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 tips for your weight loss success.

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 peanuts 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. 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. Aron, by calling us at 718-491-5525

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• 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).

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Mariah Carey looks amazing just a matter of months after having twins. Her fit figure just may have you wondering, How did she do it? Was it safe? What can I do to drop the weight that fast after having a baby?

Whether you just had a baby or just have some extra pounds to shed, you don’t need a celebrity trainer or a crash diet to get the same results. Work with Dr. Aron and you can safely and effectively lose and keep the weight off with her medical weight loss program.

• Lose as many as 10 to 20 pounds a month
• Receive comprehensive one-on-one treatment
• Lose weight safely without surgery
• Experience weight loss success

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You Are What You Eat…

Calories: 1910
Fat: 137 grams, 12 grams saturated
Sodium: 1350

Calorie Guidelines

Calories: 1520
Saturated fat: 21 grams
Sodium: 2020 milligrams

Calories: 1956
Fat: 133 grams, 56 grams saturated
Sodium: 2741 milligrams

The total fat is comparable to eating nearly a stick and a half of butter!

Start Losing Weight, Today

Call Weight Loss NYC now @ 718-491-5525

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Don't Judge a Box by its Cover

Nutritional labels on prepared foods are meant to guide consumers in making healthy choices. What has evolved in recent years are scores of empty and misleading claims requiring time and perhaps a college degree to decipher which foods really are “good for you.”

Common misleading food labeling includes empty claims that imply health benefits which have no backing. Among these are “Made with natural flavor,” “Doctor recommended,” and “Made with natural goodness.”

Some claims are accurate but don't give the consumer additional information such as pasta packages labeled “no cholesterol” — Plain pasta does not contain cholesterol! More misleading are labels such as on Edy's Dibs Bite Sized Snacks. They boast “0 grams of trans fat!” giving the impression that these chocolate covered morsels of ice cream are heart healthy when in fact a serving contains 16 grams of saturated fat. The Center for Science in the Public Interest recommends that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) prohibit companies from boasting of “0 grams trans fat” on products with more than one gram of saturated food per serving.

Don't Believe the Hype

Many labels for fruit-flavored items suggest that products offer the health benefits of fresh fruit when in reality, real fruit is found in small quantities if at all. Gerber Graduates Juice Treats-marketed for preschoolers- depict six different fruits on the package. The product actually contains grape juice concentrate and less than two percent raspberry and apple juice concentrate. The main ingredients are corn syrup and sugar, 17 grams worth, or about four teaspoons of refined sugars per serving.

One of the most widely used claims capitalizes on the food pyramid's recommendation that “at least half of recommended total grain intake should be whole grains.”^[5] Bread, cereal, cracker and even cookie packages often feature their whole grain and high fiber content. Yet these products often have refined flour as the first ingredient and a minimal amount of whole grains. Furthermore, a number of products which claim to be good sources of fiber are peddling fiber not from traditional sources such as whole grains, beans, vegetables or fruit, but from “isolated fibers” made from chicory root or purified powders of polydextrose and other substances. Unlike traditional sources of fiber, isolated fibers have not been shown to lower blood sugar or cholesterol, two of the key benefits of eating fiber.^[3].

Kellogg’s Froot Loops cereal boxes tout “Good Source of FIBER & Made with WHOLE GRAIN.” (A green leaf adorns the ampersand further fostering the image of healthy food.) While Froot Loops boxes list whole grains among the first five ingredients, the first ingredient is sugar. Ditto for many cereals and cookies labeled “made with whole grains.“

While the Center for Science in the Public Interest continues to urge the FDA to crack down on false and misleading food labeling, consumers can take proactive steps towards better nutrition. Read labels discriminately. When faced with choices among products (such as different yogurts), compare the nutritional facts and choose products with less saturated and trans fats and sugar, fewer artificial ingredients, and more nutrients such as protein and vitamins.

Eat more foods without labels, the foods your great-grandparents would recognize. As food guru Michael Pollan says, “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.”

– Healthcare Author, Sima Michaels Dembo

References:

1. Center for the Science in the Public Interest, www.cspinet.org/new/200912291.html
2. Niman, Nicolette Hahn “Defending &rlquo;Foodies’: A Rancher Takes a Bite out of B.R. Myers,“ February 17, 2011, theatlantic.com/life/archive
3. Parker-Pope, Tara, “Six Meaningless Claims on Food Labels,“ New York Times, January 28, 2010.
4. Wikipedia, Nutritional Facts Label
5. DietaryGuidelines.com

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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.

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 Hi-Tech

New technology such as 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!

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.

Lose Weight Fast

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

Find out what it really takes to burn off the fat:

One portion of Tesco lasagne (560 cal): 45 minutes of spinning

One slice of Domino's pepperoni pizza (198 cal): 45 minutes of swimming

Morrisons' chocolate-chip muffin (476 cal): 58 minutes of climbing

Packet of Walkers cheese and onion crisps (184 cal): 35 minutes of frisbee

Subway tuna wrap (310 cal): 1 hour and 10 minutes of body pump

Bacon sandwich on white bread (430 cal): 58 minutes of football

Coffee Republic ham and cheese toastie (436 cal): 1 hour and 30 minutes of netball

Granny Smith apple (62 cal): 15 minutes of weightlifting

M&S hot cross bun (159 cal): 20 minutes of skipping

Mars bar (280 cal): 50 minutes of aqua aerobics

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Weight Loss Success

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

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 accomplishable

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.

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"In theory, of course, it's possible that you can burn more calories than you eat," says Dr Susan Jebb, head of nutrition and health research at the Medical Research Council, and one of the government's go-to academics for advice on nutrition. "But you have to do an awful lot more exercise than most people realise. To burn off an extra 500 calories is typically an extra two hours of cycling. And that's about two doughnuts."

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Walk This Way

Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise research has shown Americans walking less than other nations studied with lower obesity rates. Their conclusions suggest we try to increase our walking in our daily routines, as USA today has prepared some handy tips.

Fewer than 5,000 steps a day is considered sedentary;
5,000 to 7,499, low active;
7,500 to 9,999, somewhat active;
10,000 or more active

2,000 steps is a mile

Their suggestions are in addition to decreasing caloric intake, to add 3 to 4 thousand steps per day. Excerpts from their chart include:

• Taking a good 20 minute walk at lunchtime can account for 2,000 steps per day
• Four laps around a sports track is one mile, or 2,000 steps.
• At work, consider walking to people near you to communicate, over email or phone. Small distances over the day can add up!
• Take 100 step walk breaks during the day; Try taking longer walks in your routine including longer route to restroom, and extended walking before shopping at a mall.

Am I overweight?

You can use our free online health risk assessment tool to see if you are in the normal weight range for your height; and learn other facts about health and wellness pertaining to even a modest (10%) amount of weight loss.

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