Journal Agricultural Economics
 
People -- particularly women -- who read food labels while they grocery shop are thinner than people who don't, a new study finds. Women who checked nutritional labels weighed what amounted to nearly 9 pounds less than those who didn't. Nutrition labels tell consumers how many calories are contained in a food portion, as well as levels of sodium, fats, sugars, protein, dietary fiber and key vitamins and minerals.
The study found big differences between the people who read food labels and those who did not. People who live in cities were the most careful about reading food labels. People with high school and college educations also paid more attention to nutritional labels. Fifty-eight percent of men took the time to read labels, compared with 74 percent of women.
 
It can be very difficult trying to read and understand food labels. At KAIZEN TOTAL WELLNESS, when you meet with our nutritionists, this is one of the things we teach our patients.

Kaizen Total Wellness
941-556-7788

Repeated studies have shown that many people who begin an exercise program lose little or no weight. Some even gain weight. The implication is that “active, ‘traditional’ lifestyles may not protect against obesity if diets don’t change to promote decreased caloric consumption. The average professional athlete can easily eat 5000 or more calories a day and stay fit because they are able to burn so many calories when they work out. Unfortunately, the average person/patient is not capable of burning more then 300-500 calories during their “workout”.
I always tell my patients that, in order to lose weight, they have to learn to eat smart and healthy. Diets do not work and never will for long term success. A handful of potato chips or a few bites of pizza will offset an hour of exercise for most people.
So, why exercise at all?
Because feeling fit will make you feel better. It is beneficial for your heart, blood sugar and cholesterol. Regular exercise will also improve cognitive functioning.
But losing weight?
 
Appointments are available with our dietitian.
Easy to change eating habits, easy to maintain them - One small step at a time!

KAIZEN TOTAL WELLNESS
941-556-7788

This is a combination medication for obesity. It consists of PHENTERMINE, which has been on the market for many years. The second drug is TOPAMAX, somewhat newer, but on the market long enough to be generic.
Anytime a patient tries to lose weight, he or she should always try lifestyle changes first. Medications should just be an adjunct to help out.
The reason is that, if you can not make life long changes in lifestyle, you are doomed to gain every ounce back. (How many of my readers actually know anyone who lost 20 or more pounds and actually kept it off?)
Don’t believe some of the negative reviews about phentermine that have been in the papers lately. It is SAFE and I have never had a patient become addicted to it in over 30 years of practice. Yes, it can cause insomnia and elevated blood pressure, but that is why I only prescribe it under strict supervision. An article recently came out that reviewed its safety profile and found it to be safe in seniors and heart patients (who are stable). Another article followed patients on it for two years and found a marked significance in those who were able to keep the weight off, even if they were not able to lose anymore pounds.
Topamax is an anti seizure drug that we use mainly for headaches, depression and chronic pain. By accident, researchers found that many patients ALSO lost weight while taking it. The biggest drawback is that there is a dose dependent relationship to confusion and memory loss that is reversible when the dose is either lowered or discontinued. The worst side effect I have seen so far was a patient who had an eye problem, that resolved when the medicine was stopped.

The major points to remember are:
1. LIFESTYLE CHANGES SHOULD BE THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY (HEALTHY EATING AND EXERCISE)
2.IF, MEDICATIONS ARE INDICATED, I WOULD START WITH PHENTERMINE FIRST, THEN ADD TOPAMAX ONLY IF NECESSARY
3.ALL TREATMENTS MUST BE UNDER MY STRICT SUPERVISION OR I WILL NOT PRESCRIBE THEM

Sometimes, diet, exercise and will power are just not enough to help one lose weight. There are many drugs and supplements available to help. Unfortunately, most are either not FDA approved nor are they safe (HCG).
At our practice, we have been using Phentermine for over 30 years with a lot of success. It is very inexpensive. At one time it cost $5.00/month until a fake shortage was conjured up in the late 1990’s, but the price is still affordable in the mid $20.00 range.
Whenever we place a patient on Phentermine, we require two things from our patients:
 
          1. Adopt a healthier lifestyle. (Use this time to learn how to eat healthy)
          2. Start an exercise program. (Learn to build muscle and burn fat)
 
Even though many patients will develop tolerance to phentermine, studies have shown that, even after two years, those using it still had lower weights then those who stopped it. The risks of cardiovascular side effects were no different then placebo, even in senior citizens.
 
Lately, we have been adding Topamax to Phentermine and have been able to increase weight loss in some of our patients. Topamax is actually an anti-seizure drug but can be very effective in helping patients lose weight. It was only by mistake that the medical world discovered patients on it were losing weight. We use it mainly for chronic pain and migraines.
 
Both Phentermine and Topamax are safe for long term use, but like any other medications, side effects can be seen.  The most common side effect with Phentermine is nervousness and insomnia. Topamax may cause drowsiness and confusion. These side effects are reversible when the medications are stopped. Please note that, medicine is an art and not a science. Results are NEVER guaranteed as we can never predict how the human body will react.
 
These medications may or may not be appropriate for you. Only your PHYSICIAN can tell you if it is appropriate to use.
 
In our practice, our patients must be seen on a monthly basis to get their prescriptions renewed.
 

Here is another reason to lose weight: The heavier you are, the more likely you are to not only suffer from migraine headaches but also have more severe attacks.


“Researchers from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine found that if you are overweight and you have migraines, they are more likely to be severe, and the greater your body mass index, the more frequently they will occur.
The researchers looked at patients (predominantly female) who had headaches 10 to 15 days per month. In the normal weight group, this amounted to 4.4 percent of the patients. In the overweight group, it rose to 5.8 percent, in the obese group it was 13.6 percent, and in the morbidly obese group it was 20.7 percent. So what you weigh has a direct relation on how many migraines you have and how severe they are.
A later study found that people who were overweight were more likely to have depression and anxiety. This in turn could trigger more frequent and severe migraines.
The American Academy of Neurology also found that those with larger waistlines were more likely to suffer with migraines than those who were slim.
Although obese sufferers are routinely advised to lose weight for health-preserving reasons, it wasn’t known until recently whether this would actually diminish the symptoms of migraine.
Then, patients who had undergone gastric bypass operations reported to them that their migraines had reduced in frequency and severity, just six months after surgery. This provided evidence that weight loss is an important tool for the treatment and prevention of migraine.

Why Are Body Fat and Migraines Linked?
Doctors are still looking into the reasons why overweight people get more migraines, but it may be because:
• Overweight people are more likely to be depressed and stress can trigger migraines.

•Overweight people are more likely to have a poor diet.

• Overweight people are more likely to suffer from hypertension (high blood pressure) which can trigger migraines.

• There may be a genetic element involved”

We all would like to lose weight without any effort. Which of the following products have you tried?
This list was just released from Consumerlab.com.
If you have some free time, why don’t you Google some of these products and read the propaganda and hype...and, oh yeah Don’t forget your credit card!
 
 Recalls and Warnings

FDA Warns Consumers Against Eighteen Weight Loss Products Containing Drugs

On October 18, 2011, the U.S. FDA advised consumers not to purchase or use eighteen different weight loss products found to contain undeclared drug ingredients.
Ja Dera 100% Natural Weight Loss Supplement
Lishou
PhentraBurn Slimming Capsules
Leisure 18 Slimming Coffee
Slender Slim 11
Pai You Guo Slim Tea
Tengda
Sheng Yuan Fang
Advanced Slim 5
Dream Body Slimming Capsule
Magic Slim Tea
Fruit Plant Lossing Fat Capsule
Botanical Slimming
Lose Weight Coffee
A-Slim 100% Natural Slimming Capsule
Magic Slim Weight Reduction Capsule
Acai Berry Soft Gel ABC
P57 Hoodia

Kaizen Total Wellness has partnered with Venice Nutrition to offer a comprehensive nutrition and lifestyle program which will allow you to make permanent lifestyle changes to achieve any health goal you may have.  Venice Nutrition was developed by Mark McDonald, and his book Body Confidence was recently released and is already a New York Times Best Seller. We partnered with this program because it is based on science, the way your body was meant to be fed.
 
The basis of the nutrition aspect is blood sugar stabilization. We will educate you on how to maintain stable blood sugar by the choices you make. The 3 main keys to stabilizing your blood sugar include meal intervals, nutrient ratios per meal, and calories per meal.
We can customize a meal plan just for you using the Venice Nutrition software, incorporating the foods you enjoy eating. This software will also give you many additional tools including goal setting, recipes, educational videos. live webinars, and much more. Using this software along with your one-on-one coaching with our Certified Venice Nutrition Coach will give you all everything you need to make your health a priority.
 
We all have done "diets" which are quick fixes we use when we are desperate.  We lose the weight, but it comes right back when we go off. Learning blood sugar stabilization will allow you to achieve permanent results, but you first need  a strong WHY. Knowing what motivates you will allow you to get through the tough times during this process when life shows up. After you determine your why, we will teach you to build a solid structure that works in your lifestyle . Structure and consistency are absolutely necessary if you want to succeed with your health.The 6 parts to health are sleep, nutrition, exercise, water, supplements, and stress management.  Here we will educate you on the importance of each, and work with you individually to help you incorporate each of these into your lifestyle.  We will monitor your weight and body fat bi-weekly, and make any adjustments needed to make sure you succeed.
 
The final part is teaching you to balance your quadrant, that being your health, lifestyle,relationships and profession. After you have learned to maintain your health structure on a day to day basis, you need to stay consistent for life. Whatever challenges you face in any of your quadrants, you will have learned how to deal with it and still be able to control and maintain your health.
Our educational aspect along with a truly individualized meal plan makes our program unique and effective. Our goal is for you to make your health a priority and we are here to lead and coach you every step of the way.

Annette Schuchert, Certified Venice Nutrition Coach                                Kaizen Total Wellness Center       (941)556-7788

www.kaizentotalwellness.com / www.drmishner.com

Hot flashes are among the most common symptoms associated with the changing hormonal balances during menopause.  These sudden feelings of intense heat accompanied by sweating and rapid heartbeat can last from 2 - 30 minutes... they are not over in a 'flash'. Women experience disrupted sleep, work, and social activities, and may feel more anxious or depressed.  Women with higher body mass index (BMI) report more frequent or severe hot flashes compared to women with lower BMI.  A 2010 clinical study showed that overweight or obese women can benefit from behavioral weight loss efforts to decrease the burden of their menopausal symptoms.   Many problems associated with aging are significantly improved or eliminated when extra pounds are shed.  Avoiding Type II Diabetes, back and joint pain, heart disease and stroke are some additional health incentives to keep in mind as you embrace a healthy lifestyle and gradually lose weight through eating well and regular exercise.

Have you noticed that restaurant food is often more salty or fat-laden than anything you eat at home?  When you cook, even simple meals or microwaved steamed vegetables, you have the perfect opportunity to control what you and your family are ingesting, so use that to your advantage.  Cook with a good quality non-stick pan to cut down on cooking oil which has 199 calories and 14 grams of fat in just one tablespoon. (Olive oil has less, and using a spray like PAM is even better.)    Ditch the salt and experiment with herbs and seasonings, or a quick and simple variety of 'Mrs. Dash'.  Did you know you can substitute applesauce for cooking oil in recipes you bake? There are many healthy substitutions to try which will surprise you because neither you nor your family will miss the old ingredients.  Small changes in cooking methods and recipes add up to big health improvements!

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Obese men are at a higher risk of their prostate cancer worsening, even when treated to suppress tumor growth, according to a study.

"Over the past decades, there has been increasing prevalence of obesity in the U.S. and Europe, and a high rate of prostate cancer that is the second-most lethal cancer for men," Christopher J Keto, M.D., a urologic fellow at Duke University Medical Center and lead author of the study was quoted as saying.

Roughly one in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society, and about one in three men is obese.

Keto and Colleagues identified 287 men whose disease prostates had been removed. The men were also give androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), a treatment preventing tumor growth.

Men who were overweight had a three-fold increased risk of their cancer spreading to the bone compared to normal weight men, and obese men had a five-fold increase.

"We think perhaps obese men may require additional ADT," Keto said. "The dose is the same regardless of weight, while most drugs are dosed according to weight."

The Kaizen approach to eating means no "dieting". Diets simply do not work to develop a healthy, sustainable body weight.  Diets are, by definition, temporary vs. long-term changes in eating behaviors, the only method which helps you gradually achieve your desired weight and keep it.  However, we all know that nothing is more popular in our culture than the latest fad diet. Many are dangerously restrictive or imbalanced and you should check with a dietitian or doctor before starting an extreme diet.  One of the most popular diets we have found which is not extreme, and is relatively healthy and effective for those looking for a short-term plan, is the South Beach diet.  The best part of that plan is it encourages removing refined sugar from your diet.  This should be a goal and permanent intention for anyone.   If you stick with their recommendations, you could also benefit from eating less saturated fats -- which you should avoid to help raise your 'good' cholesterol and lower your 'bad' cholesterol.   One problem with South Beach is that the first-phase menus are so restrictive they can lead to rapid weight loss, followed by relief-binge eating and rapid weight gain.  Often called yo-yo dieting, this process is very unhealthy and hard on your critical body systems.  Also this initial weight loss can be mostly water or even muscle mass.   It is much better to eat more of a variety of foods in smaller portions and thus avoid nutritional deficiencies.  Call the Kaizen Wellness Center (941-556-7788) if you would like a one-time complementary pass to attend the Kaizen Healthy Lifestyle Class, next Monday, 6 -7 p.m. at Dr. Mishner's office in Lakewood Ranch.   One of the topics will be the South Beach Diet. 

During an extended period of time focused on weight loss, there will be weeks when there are more pounds lost than expected, sometimes less than expected and sometimes there are 'plateaus' where the scale just seems stuck for a while.

In Monday's Kaizen Healthy Lifestyle class we discussed how to deal with plateaus so they aren't too discouraging nor lengthy.  Again, keeping a food log is one of the best tools anyone has used which helps us not only be more mindful during the day but can provide important clues when weight loss plateaus and we aren't sure why. Class members shared that looking at the food log helped them break a plateau period by making them more conscious of portion sizes, how much water they were drinking, how frequently they were eating out at restaurants, and how much fiber they ate each day.

In addition to a high-fiber diet reducing your risk of diabetes, digestive disorders, hemorrhoids, certain cancers and heart disease, getting plenty of fiber assists with weight loss and weight maintenance.  The USFDA recommends including 20-30 grams of fiber each day.  Eating fiber adds no calories yet helps to keep you feeling full and satisfied.  When class members paid attention to getting enough fiber they found they were eating more desirable foods like fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and feeling satisfied. They decreased overeating and junk food snacking.

Keeping your eye on fiber has many benefits, and if you want to give your weight loss efforts a boost, read your food labels and choose higher fiber products. For example, for cold cereals, look for more than 5 g of fiber and less than 5 g of sugar per serving.  Adding sliced almonds or walnuts boosts any cereal's fiber without sugar, so try that also.

Another celebrity devotee of the Power Plate, a acceleration training device we use here at Kaizen Total Wellness, is Kelly Osbourne. She shows off a svelte new figure on the cover of Shape Magazine last month and goes on to describe in the article how she lost 50 pounds and is keeping it off.

Her trainer at Blue Clay Fitness in Los Angeles, Sarah Hagaman, says “to prevent boredom and target many muscles at once, we do a variety of strength moves on a Power Plate and Bosu,” says Sarah. “Mixing in cardio between sets keeps the calorie burn high.” The result is a firming-and-burning hour that has turned Kelly into a slim, sculpted, and self-assured star. Follow her plan and start loving what you see in the mirror. We can help!

At Kaizen Total Wellness we are proud to present a selection of HAPPY patients who have seen significant changes in their health, weight, strength and general well-being since enrolling in our programs.

A.E. “I lost 20 pounds and no longer have Type 2 Diabetes as a diagnosis! I recommend this program to everyone!”