Saturday, October 29, 2011

Hormonal impact on dieters regain - more evidence


Australian Study of long term hunger hormone changes after Diet


"Our study has provided clues as to why obese people who have lost weight often relapse. The relapse has a strong physiological basis and is not simply the result of the voluntary resumption of old habits," he said.
Dr Proietto said although health promotion campaigns recommended obese people adopt lifestyle changes such as to be more active, they were unlikely to lead to reversal of the obesity epidemic.


Caregivers are slowly getting the word - but ingrained opinions will still be shaping (distorting) medical practice for some time... Institutions have to help change practice with guidelines and with appropriate coverage. Hopefully Secretary Sebelius of HHS will show leadership!

Friday, October 28, 2011

Stigma allows Georgia to Discriminate against Obese



It is hard to believe a State could get away with cutting access to care across the board to any other disease.


CNN Video - thanks to ASMBS for spreading



"Sorry, we no longer can afford chemo, we won't pay"

"You made a decision to become pregnant, we won't pay"

"You crashed your car while over the speed limit, we won't pay"

"Cardiac stents have a rate of restenosis and failure, we won't pay"


We will look back at this years from now with the same disbelief that we have now for other forms of institutionalized discrimination.



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Sunday, October 02, 2011

Adjusted or Maladjusted?

Appetite is so much more than just hunger. Stress creates a desire for food in my life that is recognizably different from sustenance. Luckily, I get to have a front row seat to the struggles of others - sort of a built in support group. Life is always going to be a challenge, but the self image we take forward has a lot of influence.

My attitude will never be sunny all the time, but if I can trust myself to listen, the down days won't spiral out of control. Unrealistic expectations get me in trouble, but happen less as experience finally gives me perspective. Those with innate maturity are lucky!

Anyhow, hope this helps if you are having that sense of being overwhelmed...

What it means for me in practical terms is relieving stress (mostly with exercise) and using Mindfulness to recognize the opportunity here and now to simply be with the situation, without struggling - even if just for one breath (and it's always one breath!)