Northeast Ohio Bariatric Medicine Newsletter

November 2011

In This Issue
Nutrition Classes
How to Gain Weight
Holiday Happiness
Quick Links
Join Our Mailing List
Greetings!
Summer is long past and fall is already winding down. Each season of the year brings its own challenges for weight loss and maintenance. I hope you have enjoyed the beautiful  weather and the opportunity for outdoor activities that it brings. On top of that, summer brings an abundance of healthy vegetables. I hope you have a great Thanksgiving season.
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Nutrition Classes 
6 Week Educational Series

 

ClassroomOur fall nutrition classes are already underway. We are offering the following classes:

 

  • Canceling Your Cravings
  • Stress Management and Weight Loss
  • Manage Your Carbs Manage Your Weight
  • Fats and Proteins: The True Story
  • Pulling It All Together
  • Exercise for Excellence

 

 

 

 

Sign Up Now. Although the fall classes are already filled, call about our winter classes starting in January. One registration fee covers all the classes, materials, and snacks.

 

Winter Nutrition Class Schedule*

Wednesday, January 4th

Wednesday, January 18th

Wednesday, February 1st

Wednesday, February 15th

Wednesday, March 7th

Wednesday, March 21st

 

To register for the winter Nutrition Classes, call now:

(330) 473-4525 or (800) 673-5308

*Schedule may be subject to change

 How to Gain Weight

 

    by Robert Hart, MD
  

It seems that people never ask me how to gain weight...at least not very often. Everyone is worried about losing weight. Let's have some fun and look at the best ways to put on pound non-sensibly.

 

1. DON'T COUNT CALORIES

   Whatever you do, don't think about what you have already eaten. It might cause guilt and slow down your eating. Just eat away and be happy. Writing down your intake only leads to more weight loss!

 

2. THINK ABOUT FOOD ALOT

   The more you think about food, the more weight you will be able to gain. Spend lots of time looking at food advertisements. Keep plenty of crunchy and sugary snacks on your shelves at home. Drive past fast food restaurants often. Buy candles with food scents. Look at lots of magazine and TV advertisements for food.

 

3. EAT A WIDE VARIETY OF FOODS

   Eating a wider variety of fun foods will help you gain weight. If you eat the same old things day after day you will get tired of them and not eat as much as you used to.

 

4. AVOID BREAKFAST

   Why eat anyway if you're not hungry. Avoiding breakfast will help stimulate your hunger hormones and help you gain more weight. Your metabolism will also slow down earlier in the day.

 

5. WATCH OUT FOR VEGETABLES

   Vegetables make people too full and less hungry. Just stick with lots of snack foods that digest easily and keep you hungry longer. Eat lots of pasta, bread, desserts, cereals, ice cream, candies, and any other food that really sounds easy and delicious.

 

6. EAT LOTS OF PROCESSED FOODS

   Processed foods are made to taste good and digest quickly. They will help keep your appetite primed and ready for more. Avoid whole foods since they digest slowly and make you full longer.

 

7. FIND FRIENDS THAT LOVE TO EAT

   If your friends enjoy exercise and outdoor activities, it's time to find some new ones. Find friends that just want to go out and eat all the time. Have lots of food and sweetened beverages. The heavier your friends are, the more likely you will gain weight.

 

8. TAKE A CRUISE

   One of the best ways to gain weight in a hurry is going on a cruise. There's nothing like food 24/7 to stimulate the appetite. Add in a little dramamine to prevent motion sickness and stimulate the appetite, and you are good to go.

 

So much for my suggestions on how to gain weight! (By the way, if you want to lose weight...just do the opposite of all the above.)

 

 

Haystacks
Holiday Happiness
by Robert Hart, MD
         

The holidays seem to be one of the most difficult times of year for healthy eating. if your workplace is anything like mine, there is a constant stream of "junk food" which comes marching in from Thanksgiving until the new year. 

 

 

 

If you want to survive the holidays, plan ahead. If you don't plan ahead, you may be setting yourself up for some serious holiday weight gain. Her are a few of my suggestions for a healthy, happy holiday.

 

Get Plenty of Exercise

 

Don't underestimate the importance of physical activity. It's really not just about burning up calories. The "magic" of exercise lies in the effect that it has on our brain chemistry. Our brain chemistry is dependent on regular exercise for healthy serotonin levels. If you don't get enough exercise, you will be sluggish and lack motivation. You will give in to temptations much easier than usual. Exercise boosts your metabolic rate even for hours after you are done. If you think you're too tired to exercise...then just try pushing ahead and doing it. You will feel less tired and more motivated when you are all done.

 

Consider even the simplest exercise. How about buying a set of pedals to put on the floor while you are watching TV. You may not burn up as many calories as a hard workout, but you may be surprised at how much better you will actually feel.

 

Cut the Carbs

 

Cravings during the holidays are almost always cravings for high carbohydrate foods like baked goods and desserts. If you can avoid these, you are already well on your way to better eating control. Limit your desserts to once weekly. Skip the bread and baked goods. Try a sugar free pumpkin pie.

 

Plan to Eat

 

Holidays are holidays. Give yourself a little slack on the holidays but don't turn the holidays into "holiweeks" or "holimonths". Start your holiday eating off with a high protein breakfast and plan for an afternoon walk between your meals if you are not working. Take along  the family with you. If you eat more slowly and savor all the good food, chances are that you actually will eat a lot less and enjoy it more.

 

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for future newsletters, please contact me. Have a great September. Enjoy the beautiful fall weather.
 
Sincerely,

 


Robert Hart, MD
Northeast Ohio Bariatric Medicine
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September 2011 Protein Bar Coupon