Sorry.....just kidding (that is if you thought it was about dollars....you might get emotionally or intellectually rich instead though!)
I am STILL a blogging novice, after all this time. So if someone would be kind enough to tell me how or why they ended up at my blog, I would be more than grateful.
Thank you from the luddite who is writing to you from time to time. By the way, I'm so glad that ANYONE is reading me!
Monday, November 19, 2012
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Treating Super Obese People with Respect. The Big Body Squad.
Channel 90, Gem, Monday nights at 7.30. A program called "Big Body Squad". This is the FIRST television program in which I have seen extremely large people treated with kindness, understanding and RESPECT.
This is a shout out to the hospital and ambulance staff who appeared in the program - thank you for your ability to see the person inside the excess weight, and not pass judgement. Your great attitude may be one of the things that helps these people on their journey to regain their lives.
And don't forget the camera crew who, although they are not visible, must have been on the same page, too.
I know a lot of medical professionals who could learn something from this approach. Too many of my clients have been hounded by their GPs, told "why don't you just eat less?" and can't even go to the doctor with a sore throat, because they'll be told to lose weight. If it was just about eating less, and we were able to, we'd all look like Jennifer Aniston (well, except the blokes of course).
A bit more understanding, and a bit less judgement, please. Sometimes a sore throat is just a sore throat.
This is a shout out to the hospital and ambulance staff who appeared in the program - thank you for your ability to see the person inside the excess weight, and not pass judgement. Your great attitude may be one of the things that helps these people on their journey to regain their lives.
And don't forget the camera crew who, although they are not visible, must have been on the same page, too.
I know a lot of medical professionals who could learn something from this approach. Too many of my clients have been hounded by their GPs, told "why don't you just eat less?" and can't even go to the doctor with a sore throat, because they'll be told to lose weight. If it was just about eating less, and we were able to, we'd all look like Jennifer Aniston (well, except the blokes of course).
A bit more understanding, and a bit less judgement, please. Sometimes a sore throat is just a sore throat.
The "See-Food" Diet.
Happy Friday one and all,
I've just spotted an article about Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City (which oddly enough is in Missouri - go figure). This hospital, as part of a health overhaul, has completely removed all sugary drink machines from the hospital.
They also only advertise healthy options available from their cafeteria and low fat and sodium "wellness" meals are available both there and on the patient wards, too. Fruit bowls will be placed at cash registers. In the next three years, they will eliminate all deep fryers from their food services.
Additionally, another local hospital closed its McDonalds outlet.
Remember, we are on the "see food" diet - we see food and we eat it. And what we see these days is calorie dense and nutrient low. The global obesity surge is often referred to as a "normal response to an abnormal environment".
“There is no research that any one specific change is going to change people’s eating behavior long-term,” Summar said. “But what we do know is that when the healthy choice is the easy choice, people are more likely to make it.”
So if the environment changes, our choices will change. The overabundance and overavailability of high fat, sugar and salt foods skews our decisions, with negative health and wellbeing results.
And what better place to start to tackle the environment than a children's hospital. God Bless 'em! Next stop The Alfred, please - then St Vincents, Childrens, Royal Melbourne .......
Kansas City here I come!
I've just spotted an article about Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City (which oddly enough is in Missouri - go figure). This hospital, as part of a health overhaul, has completely removed all sugary drink machines from the hospital.
They also only advertise healthy options available from their cafeteria and low fat and sodium "wellness" meals are available both there and on the patient wards, too. Fruit bowls will be placed at cash registers. In the next three years, they will eliminate all deep fryers from their food services.
Additionally, another local hospital closed its McDonalds outlet.
Remember, we are on the "see food" diet - we see food and we eat it. And what we see these days is calorie dense and nutrient low. The global obesity surge is often referred to as a "normal response to an abnormal environment".
“There is no research that any one specific change is going to change people’s eating behavior long-term,” Summar said. “But what we do know is that when the healthy choice is the easy choice, people are more likely to make it.”
So if the environment changes, our choices will change. The overabundance and overavailability of high fat, sugar and salt foods skews our decisions, with negative health and wellbeing results.
And what better place to start to tackle the environment than a children's hospital. God Bless 'em! Next stop The Alfred, please - then St Vincents, Childrens, Royal Melbourne .......
Kansas City here I come!
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
A moment on the lips...a lifetime on the hips (and brain, too)
Boo hoo....
As if the battle of the bulge wasn't hard enough, recent research indicates that fatty, sugary foods also have an effect on the brain.
The article states:
"Diets high in saturated fat and refined sugar lead people on the path to obesity, while also changing their brains, which may provoke overconsumption of those same foods and make losing weight very challenging."
The good news (yes, there is some) is that it is not known at what point the brain changes occur. So there is hope that your urge to eat calorie dense, fatty, sugary foods may still be a response to emotions, rather than a permanent brain change.
What to do? PUT THAT DONUT DOWN IMMEDIATELY! Get in touch with the specific emotions for which you are using food as a coping strategy. And remember the three "D's" - after you've identified the emotion either:
As if the battle of the bulge wasn't hard enough, recent research indicates that fatty, sugary foods also have an effect on the brain.
The article states:
"Diets high in saturated fat and refined sugar lead people on the path to obesity, while also changing their brains, which may provoke overconsumption of those same foods and make losing weight very challenging."
The good news (yes, there is some) is that it is not known at what point the brain changes occur. So there is hope that your urge to eat calorie dense, fatty, sugary foods may still be a response to emotions, rather than a permanent brain change.
What to do? PUT THAT DONUT DOWN IMMEDIATELY! Get in touch with the specific emotions for which you are using food as a coping strategy. And remember the three "D's" - after you've identified the emotion either:
- Deal with it direct i.e. do something,
- Distract yourself, or
- Do nothing i.e. sit with the feeling.
Seems like its a triple D day (see today's other blog).
Here's the article link.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/251218.php
Binge Eating Tactics
A client recently sent me the following picture - thank you N. I love its ambition.
Remember, any version of the above is a great step forward. If you're really angry or stressed, counting to ten with a gulp of water in between each number (and a big burp afterwards!) may be the best you can do at the time, before ripping open that packet of Tim Tams. But it is better than going straight to the biscuits. And the next time you might be able to do 15 or 20 (and an even bigger burp afterwards!).
Remember, its that all or nothing thinking that gets us every time. This image represents an ideal - by the end of this process you'll be full of water and quite likely the urge to binge has completely passed. Think of this as a strategy or tactic to help instigate change, have us pause before bingeing and give us time to let the thinking process kick in. "How do I feel?" "What do I need" "Can I deal with it, distract myself or just do nothing i.e. sit with the feeling"
Happy burping!
Remember, any version of the above is a great step forward. If you're really angry or stressed, counting to ten with a gulp of water in between each number (and a big burp afterwards!) may be the best you can do at the time, before ripping open that packet of Tim Tams. But it is better than going straight to the biscuits. And the next time you might be able to do 15 or 20 (and an even bigger burp afterwards!).
Remember, its that all or nothing thinking that gets us every time. This image represents an ideal - by the end of this process you'll be full of water and quite likely the urge to binge has completely passed. Think of this as a strategy or tactic to help instigate change, have us pause before bingeing and give us time to let the thinking process kick in. "How do I feel?" "What do I need" "Can I deal with it, distract myself or just do nothing i.e. sit with the feeling"
Happy burping!
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Fact Sheets on Eating Disorders
The National Eating Disorders Consortium has published a series of fact sheets on the whole spectrum of eating disorders.
These can be useful for personal use or passing on to someone who finds it difficult to understand the nature of eating disorders.
http://www.nedc.com.au/fact-sheets
Useful information from a reliable and well-respected source.
These can be useful for personal use or passing on to someone who finds it difficult to understand the nature of eating disorders.
http://www.nedc.com.au/fact-sheets
Useful information from a reliable and well-respected source.
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