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  • 2010
    • August
      • Sleeping your way to weight loss
        08/28/10

        Sleeping Through a Diet
        Sleep is a problem these days. Either we don’t get enough because we don’t have time to sleep or we don’t get enough because we can’t fall or stay asleep. It seems that many of us would like to sleep more each night but our many commitments force us to stay

      • If you don't overschedule the fall, then you won't fall off your diet
        08/18/10

        As summer winds down and back-to-school signs clutter the malls, it is time to take a good look at your fall schedule. If you have school-age children, you may have already signed away every afternoon and early evening in order to facilitate their attendance at sports practice, music lessons,

      • What to say when others say too much about your diet
        08/10/10
        Losing weight and keeping it off is difficult, frustrating and sometimes agonizingly slow. And it is a process, like growing out one’s hair after a bad haircut. People differ in whether they want their personal public to acknowledge their weight-loss efforts or act indifferent. It is up to those o

    • July
      • Exercise:The Natural way to Lie about your age
        07/20/10

        If you are 65 or older, expect to be called elderly. This term is used in statements of national health policy and, unfortunately, conjures up a picture of a frail individual, walking very slowly or with the aid of a walker, and needing help getting into a car or over a doorsill. There are obv

      • Carbohydrate Craving satisfaction at the Farmer's Market
        07/20/10


        Farmers markets are one of the joys of the summer. For those of us who typically buy our produce from supermarkets, and are happy if the vegetables and fruits did not have to travel more than several thousand miles to the display bins, being able to buy locally grown fruits and vegetable

      • How to start your diet
        07/12/10

        When people start a new sport, say skiing, running or tennis, they start slowly. A bunny slope for the new skier, jogging for the runner and a tennis partner who expertly hits all the balls into the racket of a brand new tennis player are all appropriate for beginners.
        The new dieter shou

    • June
      • Multitasking while eating
        06/28/10

        In the old days, maybe five years ago, dieters were warned against combining eating with other activities such as reading, watching television, looking at the computer, studying or taking care of desk work. Now talking or texting on the cell phone and perhaps playing with the iPad (if one is l

      • Does socializing always mean eating ?
        06/22/10


        Several weeks ago, we were planning a retirement party at work. The employee had taken upon herself the task of planning parties for others throughout the years, and we all felt she was owed an elaborate send-off. But the plans were dropped after we learned that she was currently a volun

      • Are you getting enough vitamin D?
        06/16/10

        For thousands of years our bodies have relied on the sun to change certain compounds in our skin into vitamin D. Even though this is the natural way of acquiring this essential vitamin, it is not always the most reliable. Even if you don’t live in a part of the world where it is dark six mon

      • The best kind of comfort food
        06/01/10

        A new weight-loss client of mine (let’s call her Susan) was explaining why she had gained almost 80 pounds over the past l8 months. The death of a parent had led to chronic problems with her siblings over the disposition of the mother’s home and possessions. As she explained to me, she fel

    • May
      • Singing about antidepressant weight gain
        05/31/10


        “Next to Normal” is a Broadway musical dealing with the common, but rarely sung about, problems of mental illness and the impact this has on the family. Despite its theme, the musical is often very funny while being uncannily accurate in depicting the symptoms of bipolar disorder and

      • Preventing t.v. commercials from wrecking your diet
        05/22/10

        Television advertisements for highly caloric, yummy-looking foods have been around for so long that some of us avert our eyes when they appear so we won’t immediately give into the temptation to obtain the food. Otherwise, we would be phoning the local pizza place or raiding the freezer ever

      • Television commercials and your diet
        05/20/10

        Television advertisements for highly caloric, yummy-looking foods have been around for so long that some of us avert our eyes when they appear so we won’t immediately give into the temptation to obtain the food. Otherwise, we would be phoning the local pizza place or raiding the freezer ever

      • Chocolate, Depression and PMS
        05/11/10

        A research team from San Diego reported recently that people who are depressed eat more chocolate than non-depressed individuals. Although this news might surprise men, any woman who has experienced premenstrual syndrome takes this for granted. PMS and chocolate cravings go together like pea

    • April
      • Vitamins : Your nutritional travel insurance
        04/26/10

        The newspapers are filled with pictures of people sleeping on cots in airports waiting to get home. Days have passed since the volcano in Iceland erupted, stranding people on both sides of the Atlantic. In addition to stories of people washing their socks—and even their hair—in restroom si

      • Running your troubles away
        04/19/10

        An advertisement by North Face in the May issue of Runner’s World magazine shows an extremely fit runner on a mountain trail. On the opposite page the caption reads ”When life’s problems begin to take their toll on you, take them running.”
        This message describes the beginning of

      • Block that Binge with PEEPS
        04/12/10

        As I was wheeling my supermarket cart toward the checkout area, a display of outrageously colored marshmallows chicks caught my eye. “Of course,” I thought to myself, “it is Peeps season.” Easter was a few days away, and in honor of the traditional junk foods of the holiday, the superm

    • March
      • Why conventional diets don't work if you are antidepressants
        03/23/10

        Diets seem to be divided into two categories—the fad diet of the day and the traditional standbys. The fad diets may include regimens such as eating three protein-fortified cookies a day, cleansing of the colon or eating like skinny Frenchwomen or robust Italians. What they may have in commo

      • Running for your life
        03/08/10
        told a funny story about herself a few days ago. She was about two blocks away from her stop when she saw her bus coming. “I sprinted down the sidewalk,” she said. “Luckily I had my old lady rubber-soled shoes on because I felt as if I was breaking the 4-minute mile. I got to the bus just as l

      • Spring your brain from winter eating
        03/05/10

        Even though it is still snowing in certain parts of the country and mud, rather than grass and flowers, color backyards and parks, it is beginning to feel like spring. Folks are beginning to drag their cool weather clothes out of their storage closets and think hopefully about taking the wint

      • New Forum on Facebook!
        03/01/10
        Hi SPD blog subscribers and fans:

        Beginning March 15th, we will be transferring our community forum completely to our Facebook fan page! If you are not yet a fan, click here to join us:

        http://www.facebook.com/pages/Boston-MA

        If you are a fan, post a question or dis

    • February
      • Accessorizing Your Meals
        02/26/10


        Most women’s magazines advise the reader to use accessories to refresh a winter wardrobe or to update last year’s clothes. Given budgetary restraints, it is obviously much cheaper to buy a belt or necklace to liven up an old dress or boring sweater than to buy an entire set of work a

      • Staying on a very long diet
        02/22/10

        We have a friend who has been losing weight for the past year-and-a-half. He planned a diet and exercise program that would be compatible with the frequent trips and eating out with clients required by his work. Six months ago he was no longer fat; now he is beginning to look thin. But he is s

      • Eat like a runner and you may look like one
        02/15/10

        This winter has seen the typical array of gimmicky diets ranging from cookies to drinking green tea and puréed grass (the last just overheard in the gym). Thus, it was refreshing to come across some sensible advice about eating in a magazine devoted to physical fitness. In the January 2010 is

      • How do you decide what to order from the menu?
        02/05/10

        My dog-walking circuit takes me past several restaurants. Often, in the late afternoon or early evening, I will see people scanning the menus posted on doors or windows. If the dog has stopped to sniff something, I watch the menu readers and wonder what will make them decide to go inside or wa

    • January
      • The Serotonin Appetite Thermostat
        01/30/10


        Last Sunday morning in the dog park, people were gathered around one of the park benches. It was a dog’s first birthday and the owner brought coffee, bagels and cream cheese for the other dog owners. (The dogs had to be content with only smelling the food and each other.) I gratefully

      • The Serotonin Power Diet on Facebook
        01/22/10
        Hi All,

        Judy and I have enjoyed sharing our Serotonin Power Diet blogging with you. We want to make it as easy and fruitful as possible to get the support, practical tips, and inspiration you need for your weight loss success. To that end, we invite you all to join our Facebook Seroton

      • Beating Exercise Boredom
        01/22/10

        A few days ago I was in the health club using the rowing machine. Usually I can tolerate only about 10 to 15 minutes on this machine as I find it particularly boring. However, about a minute before I was going to stop, my iPod started playing an unfamiliar song that a relative had downloaded f

      • Being an emotional eater may be good for your mental health
        01/19/10


        Eating when you feel down, stressed, underappreciated, overwhelmed, frustrated or anxious is so common that it is often the basis of advertisements. Every so often we see, in a TV ad, a lovely looking normal weight woman who falls into a comfortable chair, sighs deeply and then slowly un

      • Waking up the sleepy brain
        01/11/10

        Several years ago I was a guest at a dinner at which a colleague was giving an important after-dinner talk. The dinner itself was elaborate. A long cocktail hour was followed by a four-course dinner with matching wines. Crab cakes with a creamy sauce were followed by cream-based lobster bisque

      • Conversational Heat Beats the Need to Eat
        01/05/10

        I belong to a memoir-writing group. It started as a result of a conversation between two friends who wanted to write about their experiences but needed the support of others to do so. Eventually, six women made up the group, which meets bimonthly to read, discuss, argue and criticize each othe

      • The all or nothing New Year's resolution
        01/03/10

        There has been a steady stream of potential clients visiting my gym this past week, a sure sign that people are taking their New Year’s resolutions seriously. Advertisements for weight-loss programs and products are abundant as well so that anyone motivated by the sight of five extra pounds

  • 2009
    • December
      • The clean plate alumnae society
        12/29/09

        The waiter cleared away our dishes from the main course and came back with small menus in his hand. ”Would any of you like to see the dessert menu?” he asked.
        “No, thank you,” the four of us said simultaneously. The waiter looked startled and we all began to laugh. “ We are all

      • A Handful of Calories
        12/21/09

        I belong to a memoir-writing group. It started as a result of a conversation between two friends who wanted to write about their experiences but needed the support of others to do so. Eventually, six women made up the group, which meets bimonthly to read, discuss, argue and criticize each othe

      • Double depression: double weight gain
        12/08/09


        Winter gloom sets many on the path to depression and overeating. Weight gains of 30-50 pounds are not unheard of during the cold months of the year.
        But imagine if you suffered all year from depression, were on antidepressants, gained weight and then, as winter deepened, found yours

    • November
      • Quickie Exercise
        11/25/09

        After Thanksgiving, many of us descend into a tunnel of too little daylight and too many obligations. Even though the days start to lengthen by December 22 (although who notices the difference?), the sense of having too much to do and too little time to do it lasts through the New Year. Our r

      • Is there such a thing as healthy Thanksgiving dinner?
        11/22/09

        What happened to the traditional Thanksgiving menu? I was in the gym today, hungrily watching the Food Channel as one show after another presented ideas for Thanksgiving dinner. Turkey was featured but on one show it was slathered with truffle butter and doused with olive oil and in another

      • Would you rather eat a tapeworm or potato to lose weight?
        11/16/09

        People do extraordinary things to lose weight. On the Tyra Banks show on Nov 9th a guest talked about having staples inserted inside her ear (no, they are not sold at STAPLES) that somehow allowed her to control her eating. Another showed her tongue with a mesh cover sewn on that preventing he

      • Skypeing, Twittering and Face-booking your way to weight loss
        11/10/09


        Recently I had a houseguest who is extremely computer literate. Full disclosure: she is my college- age granddaughter.
        After only a day, my computer contained more songs in a playlist than I will listen to in a lifetime, I learned how to use the video camera on Skype and how to send

      • Are You wearing the side effects of your antidepressant?
        11/06/09

        I have a relative by marriage whom I see no more than every five or 10 years, usually at funerals and occasionally at weddings. A few weeks ago, I saw her, after a funeral, in the living room of a mutual relative. I was shocked at her appearance. Her formerly model-thin frame was hidden under

    • October
      • Stop Halloween Pounds from Haunting you
        10/27/09

        Although is seems hard to believe, Halloween was not always associated with packaged candy in mountain-size piles in every supermarket and drug store. Apples, small bags of home-popped popcorn, and cookies from a favorite neighbor used to be the treats available in my neighborhood when I was g

      • Bulking up your brain cells with exercise
        10/16/09


        Is everyone worried about memory loss or just everyone I see these days? Get together with friends or have a casual conversation at work and eventually someone is talking about a relative or friend who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Mention that you couldn’t find your c

      • Are you a calorie tight-wad or spend-thrift?
        10/10/09


        In an article entitled “Born Cheap” in New York magazine, the writer, Adam Sternbergh, asks whether we inherit the tendency to be frugal or extravagant with money. He describes families in which the sibling’s spending behavior reflects that of their parents. If one parent is obsess

    • September
      • Staying Thin in Italy
        09/22/09


        The first course, a pasta dish, arrived and my husband and I looked at each other in surprise. There couldn’t have been more than a cup of skinny spaghetti on the small, salad-size plate. The waiter came over, sprinkled some freshly grated cheese on the sauce and left us to enjoy the

      • Shorter Days, Wider Waistlines
        09/15/09

        Even though the season is still summer, the later sunrises and earlier sunsets warn us of the approach of fall and return to standard time. Those of us who get up early and return home late notice that the extra hours of daylight we could count on have disappeared. And some of us are already f

      • Fat Malnorished Children
        09/09/09

        Pictures of obese children seem to appear weekly in the media to warn us about the health problems the kids will face unless they lose weight and become fit. Many Web sites are devoted to discussions on how to deal with one’s children, who may be gaining too much weight, without throwing the

    • August
      • Your health and your sweet tooth
        08/31/09

        Get away from that sugar bowl! According to a just published report from the American Heart Association (AHA), we as a nation are consuming entirely too much of the white stuff. On average we are eating about 355 calories or 22 teaspoons of sugar a day. About one third of this sugar comes fr

      • When the weight you lost at the spa won't stay off
        08/25/09


        Last weekend I saw an acquaintance at an organization meeting I attend once a year. Last year she had completed a month-long stay at an all-inclusive spa dedicated to getting its clients to lose weight, eat sensibly, exercise regularly and accept a permanent healthy life style. Pat (not

      • The Power of Food to take away Hunger
        08/20/09

        A serviceman who came to our home to fix the hot water heater saw a copy of my book, The Serotonin Power Diet, and engaged me in a discussion about his weight. “I just lost 35 pounds on a liquid protein diet,” he told me. “But now I am struggling, I was determined to eat breakfast before

      • When a binge is simply overeating
        08/09/09
        Disorder

        My dog would be a candidate for the dachshund chapter of overeaters anonymous if I did not keep a careful eye on how much and what he eats. Although he weighs a very long 11 pounds, he could probably consume half his weight in roasted chicken or cheese if given the chance. He is

      • The Starchy Way to Lose Weight
        08/03/09


        If you are slim in Canada, it is because you eat lots of carbohydrate. The Canadian Community Health Survey Cycle conducted a study of eating habits and the weight of almost 4500 Canadians age 18 and older. The survey took place in 2004-5 and the results were just published in the Journa

    • July
      • Summer time and the weight loss should be easy!
        07/26/09


        A few days ago I met a friend hobbling down the sidewalk. When I asked if she had injured herself, she told me that she had spent the entire weekend picking blueberries and could barely straighten her back. “Our blueberry patch is on a very steep hill and so I have to balance myself so

      • How do you know if you are obese: the scale may not tell you
        07/14/09


        If you have been a normal weight all your life and find yourself gaining weight while on antidepressants, how will you know if or when your medication may make you obese? It is doubtful that your doctor will tell you; he or she usually does not have a scale in the office or a height/weig

      • The Tortoise Approach to Weight Loss
        07/10/09

        I contribute to a website that offers to answer questions about the best way to lose weight. Several times each month someone writes in to find out how he or she can lose 15-40 pounds in the next two to three weeks. It seems as if the writer, having decided to go on a diet, wants the results i

    • June
      • Cottage cheese, exercise and healthy bones
        06/28/09

        “How many ways can I eat cottage cheese? “ Laura, my neighbor asked me. “My doctor told me the results of my bone scan. I have lost 18% of my bone density in the last five years. She told me to increase my calcium and vitamin D over the next year to see if it would help my bones. If it d

      • Comforting the Carbo-phobic
        06/21/09


        Carbohydrates have been regarded as comfort foods long before anyone understood how they comforted. When people think of what they want to eat when they are upset, they almost invariably think of starchy foods like cookies or potatoes or sweets such as ice cream or cookies. Very few peo

      • Fibromyalgia and Weight Loss
        06/19/09


        It is hard to diet and harder still to keep weight off once it has been lost. Successful dieters claim a tight control over their food choices and portion sizes and often a commitment to consistent physical activity. But what if you suffer from a chronic condition that makes you hurt all

      • Will the afternoon munchies destroy your diet?
        06/11/09

        Over the holiday weekend, we had a houseguest who was in the middle of a weight-loss program. She had joined a national weight- loss group and was very pleased with her results. Not only had she lost six pounds in under six weeks, but as she told us, her food choices were much more sensible an

      • How to prevent the afternoon munchies from ruining your diet
        06/08/09


        Over the holiday weekend, we had a houseguest who was in the middle of a weight-loss program. She had joined a national weight- loss group and was very pleased with her results. Not only had she lost six pounds in under six weeks, but as she told us, her food choices were much more sensi

    • May
      • Will eating like everyone else make you fat?
        05/21/09

        In the high school where I tutor kids in science, everyone is always eating. As soon as the students get settled in the classroom they reach into their knapsacks to open bags of salty crunchy snacks. Apparently it is allowed as long as the crunching noises are kept to a minimum. School starts

      • Would you eat vegetables if you were not on a diet?
        05/12/09


        “Salad Days” was a termed coined by William Shakespeare to describe a time of youth and innocence. Today the phrase “salad days” could just as well describe the first few days on a diet since one of the first things people do when they take the plunge into the routine of a weigh

      • Looking Young on Exercise
        05/04/09



        “You couldn’t be sixty. I don’t believe it.” This astonished pronouncement came from a woman talking to another while waiting for a yoga class to begin. I was nearby and was astonished myself. The sixty year-old looked about 40; she was trim and muscular and I knew from p

    • April
      • How to lose those antidepressant pounds
        04/30/09


        Almost everyone who takes antidepressants gains at least15 pounds. Add mood stabilizers to the mix of medications and weight can shoot up by 75 pounds or more. This is not a new side effect. Patients and their psychiatrists have been dealing with this unpleasant, unwanted and unneeded s

      • Can Diets Destroy your Eating Demons?
        04/19/09


        The diet plans never stop coming. A quick look at those listed in women’s magazines offer weight-loss plans that melt 40 pounds in 10 weeks, flatten your belly, increase your metabolism, keep weight off permanently or allow you to eat dessert three times a day and still lose those poun

      • Your Bones and Serotonin
        04/13/09


        I was losing the argument. According to my neighbor, it was possible to take serotonin as a supplement and not only lose weight but also vanquish the symptoms of stress, PMS and menopause. “Just go to the website and you will see all the testimonials from people who have been helped b

      • Dining on Boredom
        04/05/09


        “My son is staying with us until he can find a job,” a friend told me. “ And he is gaining weight by the minute. When I asked him about it—I still am his mother, after all—he said that he is bored. So he spends his time eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.”

    • March
      • Sugar and the Stock Market
        03/30/09


        A few days ago The New York Times ran an article about the increase in candy consumption in New York. Apparently, these days stores that specialize in selling candy by the ounce are doing extremely well. The explanation seems to be that as the stock market goes down or at least up and th

      • Waiting to Exercise
        03/26/09


        The woman who cuts my hair complained to me about the continuing pain caused by a car accident she was in several months ago. Her physical therapist told her that unless she continued to do her exercise routine and walked, the stiffness she was experiencing would not get better. “Well,

      • Talking Yourself into Eating Less
        03/20/09


        I went to a working lunch a few days ago and left hungry. I was so busy talking that I forgot to eat. My lunch companions are serious talkers, and we were all so eager to share information about a project we were working on that I suspect they didn’t eat too much either.

        No

      • Stop Gaining Weight
        03/08/09


        Gaining weight is, unfortunately, one of the easiest things we do. While there are people who fret because they seem to lose weight too easily, for the rest of us the scale seems to go up much more regularly than we would like.

        A few nights ago, I had a conversation with a nei

      • Calories count afterall when trying to lose weight
        03/06/09

        Everybody knows somebody who knows the best way to lose weight. If you miss the latest diet fad discussed on a morning talk show, you can be sure the topic will come up during a coffee break, waiting to pick up your kids at school or while having your hair cut. And the kookier the diet, the mo

    • February
      • Breaking the bonds of weight gain depression
        02/23/09


        “I gained so much weight this past year from my antidepressant that I no longer have a social life,” writes a reader. She goes on to say that she used to be thin and never worried about what she looked like. “But now I look at my bulging body and see how dreadful I look in jeans an

      • Surviving Television Weight Loss
        02/12/09


        For those willing to endure the pain and hardship of struggling with their weight in the public eye, television has made weight loss a competitive sport with large monetary prizes. These contestants have to be admired for sticking with the long and difficult program that results in sub

      • Running to Sleep
        02/04/09


        Sleep complaints are so common that the first question often asked over breakfast is, “How did you sleep last night?” An article by Ohayon and Roth on insomnia in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research in 2001 noted that about l0% of the population experience insomnia nightly and 30%

    • January
      • Can Dieting Make you Dumb?
        01/31/09


        Although there are lots of dumb diets that one can follow (eating only foods of a single color on a certain day of the week may be one of them), very few diets have been accused of making people less smart—until now. According to a study coming out of Tufts University, women who were

      • Combating antidepressant -related weight gain
        01/26/09


        Combating Antidepressant-Related Weight Gain

        Gaining weight on antidepressants is all too common. To the horror of many formerly thin patients, six or more months on any of the commonly prescribed medications for depression, panic attacks, anxiety or even chronic pain like fi

      • Boning up on calcium ( and vitamin D)
        01/19/09


        “I can walk for 12 minutes on the treadmill,“ boasted Shirley to me when I bumped into her as she emerged from our neighborhood gym. “This is the first time in my 76 years that I have ever exercised. But my doctor told me I had to for my bones. Now I have a trainer and I am even li

      • Why Oprah Gained Weight
        01/10/09


        This week the print media is filled with interviews Oprah has given in regard to her weight gain. According to her, she has once again reached the big 200 and like anyone who has been battling weight gain for decades is understandably dismayed.

        Coming as it does around the ti

  • 2008
    • December
      • Exercise has nothing to do with why I go to the gym
        12/31/08


        Many Americans will be joining or re-joining their neighborhood gym on January 2nd to fill one of their New Year’s resolutions; i.e. to get fit. New athletic shoes will be bought or removed from under the bed, workout clothes will be retrieved from the bottom of the laundry basket and

      • Stone Soup for Supper
        12/26/08


        There is a wonderful story about a soldier who traveled through Europe during a time of great famine. He would come to a village and announce that he was making soup from a stone. After placing his “magic” stone in a cauldron and filling it with water, he would wait until the water b

      • A tasty way to clog your arteries
        12/20/08


        The departure area in the Boston airport has been updated and as my husband and I walked around waiting to board our plane, we glanced at some of the new restaurants that had just opened. My husband called me over to check out a pub-like area advertising Pub Breakfasts. “If I ate anyth

      • Why Are You So Tired?
        12/16/08


        After worry about the economy, tiredness seems to be our second ailment. A friend of mine expressed it best when she told me, “I am always tired, but these days I am even more tired than usual.”

        Tiredness, or lack of energy, used to represent the way our bodies felt after

      • Is there such a thing as a low calorie Christmas?
        12/06/08


        Entertaining during the Christmas holidays is always associated with excess. Even this year of self-imposed frugality will not eliminate the inevitable batter-dipped appetizers, cheese platters, meat carving stations and fat-laden dips at “important” parties and platters of homemade

      • Is your weight loss diet making you fat?
        12/01/08


        Last week a friend and I were strolling around a local book fair. As we stopped to look at cookbooks, my friend told me that she had just gained a pound after a week on a new diet. “My doctor gave me this new diet to follow,” she told me. “The first day I ate 2 tablespoons of cotta

      • Darkness at Noon
        12/01/08


        Barrow, Alaska, saw the last of the sun a few days ago. It won’t return until January 23rd. When I read that in the newspaper, I tried to imagine what it would be like to go through the entire day in darkness, day after day. It was depressing simply to contemplate the possibility. And

    • November
      • The Diet Enforcer
        11/17/08


        I was talking with a friend about the amazing amount of weight contestants on the reality weight-loss shows lose. “How can they be so successful when everyone else is struggling to hard to stay on a diet?” I asked. She laughed and told me not to be so naïve. “You would lose weigh

      • Tis The Season to Gain Weight
        11/17/08


        If gym attendance is falling off, and sales of sugar, eggs and cream are going up, the holidays must be upon us. Is there a witch of weight gain who decreed many years ago that five or more pounds would be attached to our bodies as we eat our way from Halloween to New Year’s Day?
      • Would a Bark Collar work for Weight Loss?
        11/11/08

        I once traveled to Europe with someone who took a fast-acting sleeping pill right before dinner was served. He ate most of the meal but was not able to finish dessert before the pill started to take effect. The flight attendant removed the tray right before his head sunk into the chocolate mou

      • HELP, FOOD NETWORK
        11/06/08


        There is something wrong with this picture. I am pushing the pedals on the elliptical trainer, which has me climbing a hill without end. As I sweat my way through the workout, I distract myself by looking at a program on the Food Network shown on the overhead TV screen. I watch as a skin

    • October
      • Are You Feeding Your Guests too Much Food?
        10/28/08

        I was asked to bring dessert to a potluck dinner and found a seasonally appropriate recipe on the Web: apple-cranberry crisp. As the paper came off the printer I noticed that the calories per serving were listed in a corner of the page. “No way,” I thought. “This dish couldn’t have a

      • Sunshine, SAD and the Scale
        10/27/08


        “It is so dark when I get up,” complained my neighbor as we opened our doors to get our morning newspapers. I nodded, as it was hard not to notice that 6 AM is as dark as 3 AM these days. “But,“ she went on, “ it seems worse when we put the clocks back and it gets dark before

      • Are Your Eyes Bigger Than Your Appetite
        10/14/08

        How do you know how much to eat when you sit in front of a plate or bowl of food? Restaurant food usually comes in portions too large for a dieter or someone trying to maintain weight loss.

        People on diets are told to weigh and measure their food before serving themselves, so they

      • Getting Fat while getting well
        10/05/08

        We have a friend who was treated with prednisone ( a form of cortisone) for several weeks before his physicians figured out that he had Lyme disease. He was describing his ordeal and mentioned that along with thinking he had a variety of incurable diseases, he also gained a lot of weight. “

      • Can Sugar Substitutes Make You Fat?
        10/04/08

        People use sugar substitutes for all sorts of reasons. Some must not consume sugar because of diabetes or high triglyceride levels in their blood (triglycerides are fat molecules). Others equate sugary foods with nutritionally empty calories and so avoid them. Dieters on a high- protein, low-c

    • September
      • Walking To Get Somewhere
        09/29/08


        A town near where I live has decided that kids should start walking to school. Houses are close together, there are sidewalks, school crossing guards and now walking (not car) pools. Neighborhood Moms organize themselves into morning and afternoon walkers, taking turns escorting a group

      • Why we are always tired
        09/22/08

        It is a rare person who has not complained about being tired. And interestingly, most of time, tiredness comes not from physical exertion but from mental and emotional activity.

        Sure, you feel tired after a long walk, a vigorous workout at the gym, several hours of yard work, runni

      • Why we don't eat Brussels Sprouts when we are stressed
        09/15/08


        There may be some people who boil up a batch of Brussels sprouts to munch on after a stressful event. But I doubt they are in the majority. For as good (to some) as these mini cabbage-like vegetables are, they just don’t have the stress-relieving power of many other foods.

      • Can the clothes iin your closet make you fat?
        09/10/08


        A few days ago, someone who will go nameless was wearing a pair of jeans that were at least two sizes too big. They had been purchased when the wearer was much heavier and were a favorite article of clothing. But now, after a few months of much exercise and careful eating, the jeans were

      • Back to School: The food is awful and there is no time to eat
        09/04/08


        Everywhere one looks there are advertisements for back-to-school stuff. Doesn’t anyone wear last year’s clothes or use pens that were still working in May? Lunch boxes and snack-size packages of cookies, crackers, chips and pretzels are being pushed to the front of supermarket shelve

    • August
      • A good eating system or GES
        08/26/08

        A few days ago we purchased a portable GPS. As someone with no sense of direction and a tendency to get lost, even in department stores (I can never find the down escalator), I look upon this support system with great anticipation because the system always knows where you are, even when you do

      • Do We Eat When We Don't Get What We Want?
        08/19/08


        An article in by Ellen Tien in the September 2008 O magazine discussed the reluctance of people to state directly what they want. She was not talking about ordering a meal in a restaurant or buying items from the Web. She was referring to women and men being unable to confront others, su

      • Do You Know what Your Children are Eating?
        08/19/08

        The Center for Science in the Public Interest, a nutritional watchdog organization, reported recently that the special “children’s meals’” offered in fast-food restaurants are extremely high in calories, saturated fats, sugar and salt. This news should not be surprising; meals consisti

      • Why Exercise
        08/11/08


        When our hospital based, weight-loss clinic first opened, we asked new clients to fill out a questionnaire about the kind of physical activity they did. Included were activities such as carrying toddlers or their strollers up and down steps, bringing groceries into the house, walking or

    • July
      • Gaining weight on your medication
        07/31/08

        Most, if not all, medications have the potential to cause side effects. These may range from annoying, such as feeling slightly tired to fatal (toxic chemotherapeutic agents). However, we usually don’t think of obesity as a side effect of taking medicine. But it can be. Antidepressants, anti

      • The Best Kind of Diet
        07/28/08



        Several days ago, many newspapers reported the results of a two-year weight-loss study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The study, which took place in Tel Aviv, followed males and a handful of women for 24 months to see which of three kinds of diet program would pr

      • Don't Eat, Laugh
        07/20/08

        Have you noticed how difficult it is to eat while you are laughing? Unlike talking and crying, it is almost impossible to chew and laugh at the same time. This came to mind when I received an e-mail from a friend who had gone to see this summer’s funny movie, “You Don’t Mess with the Zo

      • Fiting your diet into your life
        07/14/08


        Even though clothes sometimes come with a label saying ”One size fits all” or as a friend says, “One size fits no one,” the same cannot be said of a diet plan.

        The Serotonin Power Diet, however, does fit everyone’s brain by making sure that you are making sufficient

      • Sweetening Our Lilves
        07/07/08


        One of the stories about the effects of high gas prices mentioned the increase in candy bar sales at gas stations. Apparently after paying upwards of $40.00 for gas (and sometimes much more) people pay another dollar for a candy bar. It is unclear whether the reasons are: a) What is an e

    • June
      • What's New About Obesity?
        06/30/08


        Earlier this month, the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology Metabolism published a review article by Dr Daniel Bessesen on the best approaches to help obese individuals. There was a lot of “good news” in the paper, especially the report that the number of people becoming obese in the

      • Summer Well-Being
        06/20/08


        We are at the peak mental and physical energy time of year. June 20th marks the longest day. If you live in the northern tier of states, you finally are rewarded for putting up with winter sunsets at 3:45 in the afternoon along with lethargy, difficulty in getting yourself out of the hou

      • Sugar in the I.V.
        06/17/08
        " Do you know that they put sugar in my mother's intravenous solution? How can they do this? Sugar is so bad for you.”

        These questions were put to a physician friend of mine by the young adult child of his patient who was in the hospital for a surgical procedure. The young

      • Calories Everywhere and Nothing to Eat
        06/11/08


        Would knowing in advance how many calories are in the restaurant food you are eating keep you from ordering it? Would you decide to eat something with fewer calories, ignore the information or even go to another restaurant? We may be faced with these, and related, options if the Califor

      • Mirror, Mirror, Tell Me Today, Is My Weight Loss Going to Stay?
        06/05/08
        One of the most frustrating aspects of trying not to gain weight is to keep track of what you weigh from day to day. It should be easy; just hop on the scale and look. But as many of us know, scales can give false readings. Some scales are absolutely unreliable. There is a scale in my gym that shou

    • May
      • Mindless Eating
        05/31/08

        How many of us really keep track of how much we eat on a given day? People who are ingesting nothing but powdered soups and juices or microwavable meals ordered from an Internet weight-loss program know. And if you are on one of the currently popular juice fasts, and are drinking nothing but p

      • When your hormones make you feel fat
        05/30/08


        Years ago I used to work with a woman who every month would wail, “ I feel fat.” Then she would point to her bulging stomach, puffy cheeks and swollen feet and ask, “ See, don’t I look fat?” Of course the rest of us in the research facility would laugh and someone would reply,

      • Oscar Wilde and the importance of eating carbohydrate
        05/19/08



        A few nights ago, I went to a production of Oscar Wilde’s comedy “The Importance of Being Earnest.” In the last act, two young men who have just been rejected by their girl friends are served tea by the butler. As they discuss with some agitation what to do, one of them meth

      • Doh't Travel On Empty
        05/15/08


        A few weeks ago I was sitting in an airport waiting to board a very delayed plane. A flight attendant who was traveling on the same plane to pick up an assignment was seated next to me. When she opened the travel bag I glanced at its contents. To my surprise, it was filled with containe

      • Lipstick or Chocolate
        05/10/08



        Lipstick is becoming the default purchase by women who do not want to spend excessive amounts of money on clothing or accessories. A recent article in the New York Times mentioned several Manhattan shoppers who, discouraged from buying blouses or shoes because of their increased pr

      • Is a Bad Economy Good for your Waistline?
        05/06/08


        Newspapers, radio, television shows are filled with stories of how people are changing their lifestyles to cope with raising costs of food and transportation. A recent story on NPR mentioned a couple who were going to start raising chickens (presumably they do not live in an urban high-

    • April
      • Marie Antoinette and carbohydrates
        04/27/08

        Marie Antoinette was supposed to have remarked, “Let them eat cake” when told that her subjects were unable to afford bread because of the scarcity and high cost of flour. Actually the “cake” she referred to was not something from a French bakery but the yeast starter used to make the

      • Five Pounds by Friday
        04/21/08
        Within a few weeks, the weeks of spring/summer celebrations will begin. Graduations, reunions, Mother and Father Days, engagement parties and weddings will crowd the calendar. Many of these events require dressing up and looking one’s best. And that means, of course, losing those five pounds that

      • How can I lose weight if I love food
        04/20/08



        Three times this past week I have had friends people tell me, with a sigh, that they really should lose weight but they all say, “What can I do? I love to eat.” I nod sympathetically but say nothing. After all, I want these people to remain friends and I am not sure they woul

      • I carry my stress on my hips
        04/14/08

        Recently I ran into a friend I had not seen for almost a year and was shocked at how she looked. She had gained at least 40 pounds since I had last seen her and I barely recognized her. Jane, not her real name, was one of those people who in her fifties could still fit into the skirts she wor

      • Diet Friendly Foods
        04/10/08
        The other day I was chopping up celery for a fish stew and of course, as I worked, I crunched on a couple of stalks. I had not eaten celery for several weeks, as it is a vegetable I rarely buy unless I need it as an ingredient. It tasted, well like celery, but it kept my mouth and fingers from reac

      • A Fair Way of Gaining Weight
        04/08/08
        I was scanning the events section of the newspaper and saw a full-page description of a county fair coming to South Florida. Some of the more unusual events included pigs racing for chocolate chip cookies, a live shark event and a daily Mardi Gras parade. But none competed for my attention as much a

      • Hot Flushes and Weight
        04/06/08
        The woman sitting next to me in the concert hall was fanning herself vigorously with her program. It was not hot in the hall; indeed most people had on sweaters or jackets as the hall was drafty and it was very cold outside.

        "Hot flushes?" I asked knowingly. "Yes," sh

      • Alcohol and Overeating
        04/01/08
        Nine times out of ten, a client will ask us whether he or she can consume alcohol on our diet. Our somewhat reluctant but realistic answer is, “ Yes, as long as it is only one small drink.” Alcohol contains calories, approximately l00 per ounce, but our feeing is that as long as the dieter is p

    • March
      • The Food Network and Calories
        03/25/08
        Full disclosure requires me to admit that I rarely, if ever, make the recipes I see prepared on the Food Network. I watch certain programs because they are on the same time I am at the gym and I would rather watch someone cooking than someone playing golf or football. But I may switch to sports from

      • Dutch Treat: eating french fries with mayonnaise and staying thin
        03/22/08

        "How do they stay so thin?" I asked my husband for the 100th time as we walked down a main street in Amsterdam. Everyone was eating. There were hot French fries dipped in globs of mayonnaise, croissants filled with cheese, ham or both, and large squares of thick Belgian waffles coate

      • Hot Flushes, Antidepressants, and Weight
        03/17/08
        The woman sitting next to me in the concert hall was fanning herself vigorously with her program. It was not hot in the hall; indeed most people had on sweaters or jackets as the hall was drafty and it was very cold outside.

        "Hot flushes?" I asked knowingly. "Yes," sh

      • Have you had your vitamine drink today?
        03/11/08
        In the old days, nutritionists told us to eat a variety of foods in order to get the nutrients our bodies demanded. Oranges provided vitamin C, bananas gave potassium, green leafy vegetables contained that important vitamin, folic acid, and dairy products supplied calcium.

        But now it see

      • Why Weird Diets Don't Work
        03/07/08
        When I was in college, several of my friends and I decided to drink nothing but V8 juice for two weeks in order to lose all the weight we had gained during the semester. Someone's mother had gone on this diet and supposedly lost 15 pounds in the same number of days. Well hope as they say, sprin

      • Doughnuts, the campaign trail and muddled brains
        03/03/08
        An article on the amount of money various presidential campaigners have spent buying doughnuts was published in the New York Times recently. One candidate spent almost $2000 at Dunkin' Doughnuts in New Hampshire and Florida and about $500 at Krispy Kreme in South Carolina. Spending on doughnuts

    • February
      • Why Do I Crave Sugar?
        02/25/08
        "I know I shouldn't be eating sugary foods but I just can't stop myself," complained a friend as we both helped ourselves to some chocolate-chip mini-meringues. "I tell myself that if I had more will power I would be happy with an apple but every afternoon I stalk the kitche

      • It's not exercise, it's life
        02/22/08
        I bumped into a friend in the supermarket parking lot whom I had not seen for several weeks. She looked marvelous and I told her so. "Think so?" she said. "It's my new trainer. I have been working out at least twice a day. "Now I was really mystified. My friend, let's c

      • Those Pesky Leftovers and Your Diet
        02/16/08

        When I was in college, every week we ate two dishes charmingly named "garbage soup and garbage salad." Every freshman was told that the composition of these dishes depended on what foods were left over during the preceding weeks' lunches and dinners and that there were absolutel

      • You, "First", and Sharing with Others
        02/11/08
        The February 25th issue of "First" for women magazine has helped us spread the word about the power of carbs, and serotonin, to help you lose weight and feel good about yourself. Out this past week, Judy and our book are featured in the cover story. We hope more and more people, as a res

      • Sugar Coating Valentine's Day
        02/10/08
        Valentine's Day has taken over the candy aisles of my local drug store chain. Wandering through the aisles, I saw pink M&M's and marshmallow hearts and heart-shaped Snickers in pink wrappers. There were also shelves of heart-shaped boxes of sugar candies that said "I love you"

      • Can a Diet increase your stress?
        02/08/08
        When stress comes into our lives, as it seems to do too often, many of us start eating. We may not search out available snacks immediately; after all, if your washing machine is overflowing or you learn you are going to be audited by the IRS, you may first want to call your plumber or accountant. B

      • The food is awful and the portions are too small
        02/07/08
        A few days ago, my husband and I went to an event preceded by a catered meal. The food was pretty bad: lumpy overcooked rice, soggy vegetables floating in a sea of oil, and a pan of pale chicken wings and drumsticks. Even the dessert - stale tasteless cookies - was inedible.

        My husband

      • Getting high on exercise
        02/06/08
        There is a belief that exercise will produce a natural high by releasing endorphins. Endorphins, produced in the brain, make you feel euphoric, excited, and extremely good. However, ask a hundred people who exercise on a regular basis whether they experience this endorphin "high" and you

    • January
      • Fast Food Everywhere and not a Bite to Eat
        01/26/08
        A Dutch couple visiting Florida complained to me about the impossibility of finding anything to eat that would not increase their cholesterol and weight. They described going to swim with manatees in north central Florida and afterwards looking for a place for lunch. They rattled off the names of si

      • Calorie Budget Part II: Eating Out
        01/23/08
        New York has required all city chain restaurants to post calorie content for their foods. you can check out the CNN story here. We tell our clients all the time that they have to weigh and measure their portions. Some of you like to follow the calorie content, too. You'll be more mindful of

      • The Calorie Budget
        01/21/08
        Recently I overheard the following exchange between two women while waiting at an ATM machine.

        "I just can't seem to lose those last five pounds. I go to the gym every day but I pile on those calories at night. I do love my red wine." Her companion responded, "I kno

      • Feeling short and unfit at the gym
        01/13/08
        Even though going to a health club or engaging in any other kind of exercise is an important component of a weight-loss program, many dieters feel embarrassed to be "working out" with thin, fit people. One client told me that she would only walk in her neighborhood when it was dark outsid

      • When your brain is tired, start moving your legs
        01/12/08
        No one believes it unless they try it themselves. How can forcing yourself to exercise lift your body out of the depths of its exhaustion? You have been working since you opened your eyes - carpooling, fighting traffic and pacifying fighting children, taking meetings, teaching, doing housework, and

      • A twelve step program for the treadmill owner
        01/05/08
        For people who easily succumb to guilt, the sight of a treadmill in their den, bedroom or basement often induces deep feelings of shame, reproach and embarrassment. This may be why there is a tendency to cover the device with laundry, hang shopping bags from its handles and dump old magazines on the

  • 2007
    • December
      • It is 2008 and I must lose weight!
        12/31/07

        Does everyone in the United States start on a diet Jan 2? It certainly seems that way, at least according to the number of ads by weight-loss centers that start appearing almost before the New Year's Eve party hats are put away. Despite what the ads promise, it is hard to lose weight in Januar

      • Deep sleep and weight loss
        12/29/07


        Sleeping is a great way to lose weight. Think about it. When you are asleep, you are not eating (unless you are one of those rare people who walks and eats while asleep). A client of ours, who travels through various time zones and is always sleep deprived, told us that when she gets en

      • Getting Back on Track
        12/26/07
        Uh-oh. Somehow, I just gained five pounds.

        Actually, I know exactly how it happened: the kids were sick, the icy weather made it impossible to get out of the driveway to go to the gym or anywhere else, and I was getting less sleep from staying up to take care of things that seemed to b

      • When Your Sweet Tooth Calls
        12/20/07

        Sometimes you just have to eat something sweet. It is more apt to happen during the dark days of winter when your brain is yearning for carbohydrates to make you feel less grumpy and tired.

        But the call from a sweet tooth can come at any time. What should the dieter or the person t

      • "Tis the Season to be Tired
        12/17/07

        "I am so tired" seems to be the mantra for December. People feel as if they are dragging their bodies around like a large sack of potatoes, and even a good night's sleep does not seem to relieve the continuous fatigue.

        Part of the tiredness can be due to unaccustomed physical acti

      • Why Vegetables in a Chinese restaurant taste better than yours
        12/10/07
        to me recently. "Why is it that their broccoli, string beans and carrots are gobbled down and at home, left untouched on the plate?"

        According to a recent article in The Wall Street Journal, it could be because Asian cooking incorporates ingredients that render foods really tasty and savo

      • Diet Sprays
        12/09/07
        A number of people on our online community forum have brought up these nifty spray products with barely any calories like butter and salad dressing and now I see why they're so enthusiastic: I recently tried the I can't believe it's butter spray and I now spray it on bread, bagels, and vegetables (b

      • Low Glycemic Index Serotonin Weight Loss
        12/06/07
        Although I strive for a wholesome diet full of real foods in their natural state (organic and locally grown are certainly a plus), I certainly do not shy away completely from candy, sorbet, sugar in my coffee, and white versions of rice, potatoes, bread, or pasta. I even keep a few butterscotch can

      • The Miami Dolphins and Weight Gain
        12/05/07

        A devoted fan of the Miami Dolphins was struggling to get into her yoga pants at the gym the other day. " Look at me,' she wailed. " I must gain 2 pounds for every game that team has lost this season, and yesterday they lost their 15th in a row. I think I have to switch my loyalties; otherwise

      • Sunset and Snacking
        12/04/07
        As the hours of daylight become shorter and shorter, appetites seem to grow bigger and bigger. This is most noticeable late in the afternoon. In many parts of the country, the sun is setting by 4 PM and usually it is dark by 5 or 5:30 PM everywhere. No matter how much you try to resist, you may find

      • Low Glycemic Index Serotonin Weight Loss
        12/04/07
        Although I strive for a wholesome diet full of real foods in their natural state (organic and locally grown are certainly a plus), I certainly do not shy away completely from candy, sorbet, sugar in my coffee, and white versions of rice, potatoes, bread, or pasta. I even keep a few butterscotch can

      • Hypnosis and Weight Loss
        12/02/07
        We know the power of serotonin and the brain, but how about the mind? Hypnosis, a form relaxed but alert and focused state of mind, has been used for centuries to gain inner strength, get focused on your purpose, and even tap into the connection between you, humanity, and our universe.

    • November
      • Eating your way through boredom
        11/29/07


        Admit it. How many times have you been to a dinner party, reception or family gathering when eating seemed to be the only way to get through the event?

        I recall one such dinner, where I sat between someone who was quite deaf and someone else who insisted on telling me, in ex

      • Holiday frustration and overeating
        11/28/07


        The holiday season tests our frustration level. With too little time to accomplish all that has to get done, few people take kindly to long lines, incompetent cashiers, or the inability to find the perfect blouse in Aunt Marys size. A few days ago I overheard two women talking behind me

      • Working Moms on a Diet? Serotonin to the Rescue
        11/27/07
        So many of our readers and clients are working moms juggling a full-time job, kids, households, the family's social life, pets, etc. And then on top of it you want to add losing weight to that "to do" list? Well, we hear from working moms that on The Serotonin Power Diet, they'

      • Carmel Chocolate Cake Snack: NOT too good to be true!
        11/21/07
        Guiltless Gourmet Dessert Bowls: Black Velvet Cake with Caramel Sauce
        by Charles Stuart Platkin

        The Why: Its low in calories, and will satisfy your sweet tooth. Consumers have flocked to Betty Crocker Warm Delights dessert bowls, but their ingredients include artificial preserv

      • Clearing Clutter to Clear Your Weight
        11/20/07
        Holiday time is when everyone accumulates things: gifts received, gifts to give, festive decorations, clothes to wear for the holidays, and, yes, usually extra food and weight. I really do believe that clearing clutter in your life, including the things in your home and obligations & people you

      • Eating Up Anxiety
        11/19/07
        The weeks between Thanksgiving and the New Year should be a time of festivity, good company and fun. Instead, this time is often spent worrying and eating too much.

        Since most people are already overworked, overwhelmed and overstressed, the extra burden of the holidays can sometimes seem

      • How Much Weight Have You Gained on Antidepressants?
        11/18/07
        Patients complain that their physicians never emphasize the pesky side effect of weight gain on antidepressants. In reply, many physicians defend themselves by claiming that if they talked about weight gain, their patients might refuse to start on the needed medication.

        Moreover, as one d

      • The Thanksgiving Day Myth
        11/14/07


        Every year around Thanksgiving, various people in the media comment on why eating turkey makes people sleepy. It is the tryptophan, a news reporter will say. Turkey has lots of it, which is why we all want to take a nap after the meal.

        Well, all I can say is that you must

      • Antidepressant Weight Gain Connection
        11/12/07
        It comes to my attention that prescribing physicians are still denying the connection between antidepressants and weight gain. I'm not sure how they can deny it - it's so common and, frankly, a well known side effect. It's just that what to do about the weight gain is not well known

      • Diet Meals Dont Have to be Boring
        11/11/07
        From Judy's beloved dachshund, Simon:

        As a dog that lives on a very dull diet, I understand how boring eating the same foods day after day can be. Try kibble. Sometimes when I cannot face another bowl of bland pellets, I will seek a tidbit of cheese or chicken mixed in to tease me in

      • Dieting by the Calender
        11/09/07


        Although losing weight should not be tied to the calendar, there seem to be better and worse times for being on a diet. Dieting between Thanksgiving and New Years is hard for obvious reasons. There is an overabundance of food and too many opportunities to eat and drink. Late sunrises, a

      • Balancing Your Life on a Diet
        11/07/07
        Going on a diet means more than giving up the pounds you want to lose. You also give up the ability to make spontaneous food choices and eating or drinking unlimited amounts of whatever you wish, like chocolate, alcohol and Cheez Doodles. You also give up the chance to do what you want in your spare

      • Our Online Community Forum
        11/06/07
        We're so excited our community forum has become a place to share support, great ideas, challenges and success. We invite you to join in if you haven't already. Here's what some people are saying:

        - Needless to say, this is amazing! If I had not tried it for myself I woul

    • October
      • Ladies: Could your Libido Help You Lose Weight?
        10/31/07
        Women often enjoy a life full of so many components: deep family ties, involved friendships, romantic love, rich motherhood experiences, professional satisfaction, fulfilling hobbies, nurturing self care, and a meaningful spiritual connection to their world. But with all of these elements, it'

      • Hungry on the Diet?
        10/30/07
        Every once in a while, a new client tells us that she is hungry on our diet. And our response is always: eat more. There is absolutely no reason to suffer on a diet. When our female clients feel hungry, it is usually because they need more calories than the 1400 offered by the womens food plan. S

      • Halloween Candy: Scary Eating or Serious Fun?
        10/29/07
        OK, I have to admit I bought M&M's Halloween candy back when it first appeared on the drugstore and supermarket shelves (probably September some time - it all seems to be available earlier and earlier each year and in greater and greater abundance). M&M's are still my favorite can

      • Antidepressants: Can They Prevent Weight Loss?
        10/24/07
        A new client, lets call her Melinda, came to see us recently. She was totally discouraged about losing weight while she was on antidepressants.

        I used to be able to lose weight by dropping in on a Weight Watchers meeting to get motivated, she explained. I would follow the diet and i

      • Unpotato Salad Recipe
        10/21/07
        Having trouble getting in all your vegetables? Bored with the veggies you're eating? Or wanting to add some low-calorie volume to your meals? One of our readers has passed along a great recipe for a "potato" salad made with cauliflower, not potatoes. Delicious! She writes:

      • SAD, Serotonin, and Carbohydrates
        10/18/07

        As the hours of sunlight shrink these weeks of mid fall, our good mood seems to shrink as well. The cheerfulness, energy, patience and enthusiasm that may have characterized us in the spring and summer seem to be replaced by grumpiness, impatience and irritability. As the sun goes down, fatigu

      • Food for Mood: Judy's new weekly program on AM 1020 WHDD
        10/17/07
        We get our health and weight loss information from so many sources these days. Why not radio? Here's another radio resource: Judy has a new weekly radio program called Food for Mood Monday mornings at 9am on AM 1020 WHDD in Connecticut. You can listen to a recent podcast (click on "Food

      • Vending Machine Dieting
        10/16/07
        Is it now possible to eat out of a vending machine and lose weight. Apparently Kraft Foods thinks so. On Diet-blog.com Jim Foster writes:

        "Kraft Foods is rolling out a vending machine stocked with South Beach Diet branded food.

        "Apparently the machines are already i

      • Does Fall Make You Fall Off a Diet?
        10/14/07
        One of the less pleasant aspects of the change in seasons is the decreasing hours of sunlight. Sunrise is noticeably later these days and seems to disappear by late afternoon. As the Northern Hemisphere moves into November, the combination of standard time and proximity of the shortest day of the ye

      • Low Carb? Seriously?
        10/12/07
        If you are participating in our community forum you may have seen these posts written by someone who learned that carbs make her feel good and believes that avoiding them made her feel worse. She wrote, in separate posts:

        "Lowcarbing over the last few years has definitely made me fe

      • A Stroll in New York City
        10/09/07
        We (judy and her husband) were in New York city for a couple of days that overlapped the opening of the U.N. As a consequence streets were blocked off, traffic continually halted for yet another siren blasting motorcade, and rows of long black cars triple parked in front of every mid-town hotel and

      • Zyprexa and Weight Gain Side Effect
        10/08/07
        An article that appeared in The New York Times October 6, 2007 reports that Eli Lilly acknowledges the increased blood sugar and weight gain side effects of Zyprexa, a drug used to treat Schizophrenia and, incidently, Lilly's best-selling drug. The article states:

        "The new lab

      • Overweight Moms and Lack of Sleep
        10/05/07
        Check out this blog on a great blog site called www.blogs.families.com. The author, Lisa Pietsch, writes:

        "Do you crave starchy foods all day? Are you hungry all the time? Is your diet failing because you just can't stop eating?

        "It could be that you simply aren

      • How Much Time Do You Have?
        10/01/07
        The beginning of fall plunges many of us into an extra layer of obligations and commitments. Lurking not terribly far away is the joy/burden of the holidays. Between now and then, committee meetings, courses, after-school programs, lectures, concerts, and raking leaves erodes what little free time y

    • September
      • Keep Motivated to Exercise with New Activities
        09/26/07
        Many of you now know about our new community forum which we hope you all use for support and helpful information. I'm big on ways to make exercise not only efficient but also more interesting. I posted on the forum some tips on how to lift a sagging behind. A few minutes here and there add u

      • Oprah Will Feature Bipolar Disorder on Today's Show
        09/24/07
        For most people in the media, mental health is not a sexy topic, but tens of millions of people in this country are affected by mental disorders. I'm so glad to Oprah addresses topics people need to hear about. Here's the link to Oprah's home page mentioning today's program. T

      • Potatoes, Gender and Serotonin
        09/21/07
        We all accept the fact that men and womens brain are different. As a friend said: women have a special area in their brain called "shoes" whereas the same spot in mens brains is called "superbowl. And now a study looking at gender differences in behavior finds that women and men

      • Emotional Overeating: perils of a perfectionist
        09/17/07
        For most people, trying to get to everything on your "to-do" list is impossible. Even if you do, another thing quickly pops onto that list. If on top of that you're trying to do everything perfectly, you're adding even more stress. Sure, some things like making sure your vehic

      • Driving to Walk
        09/14/07
        Our new house is lovely. Plenty of yard, nice neighborhood, and located in a town with parks and walking trails. The problem is our street. There are no sidewalks and the road is so narrow I wonder what would happen if I did venture outside for a walk particularly if it was dark outside or there

      • Fast Food and Losing Weight
        09/11/07
        A couple of weeks ago, days after our cross-country move, I took my three young kids to the local McDonald's for breakfast. The kids were thrilled. My 4-year old calls it "Old McDonald's". Up until our breakfast outing the kids had never consumed anything there but rather only

      • Antidepressants and Serotonin
        09/09/07
        These comments were posted by someone who found our book on amazon.com:

        "I do not understand...I thought when you go on an anti-depressant...it was supposed to give us more serotonin, not less?? I was first put on an antidepressant when a doctor told me it would help give me energy (

      • Simon Says: Leftovers for Dummies?
        09/05/07
        From Judy's beloved dachshund Simon:

        There should be a book called "Leftovers for Dummies." As someone who is occasionally treated to a yummy but alas usually too small morsel of leftovers, I know how wonderful they can be. Leftovers, or to put it more elegantly, surplus

      • Carbs, blood sugar, and cholesterol
        09/03/07
        "I am very very concerned about the effects this way of eating will have on my cholesterol and triglycerudes." We recently heard this concern from one of our readers and the issue comes up from other readers from time to time. What we tell everyone is that first of all, it's importa

    • August
      • Stress and Weight and Fitness Maintenance
        08/27/07
        The past two weeks have been a big test of my commitment to weight and fitness maintenance. I can't say I get an A+ but I certainly don't get an F. With a cross-country move back to my childhood hometown in the Boston area, there have been a lot of positives like being near family and go

      • Consuming activities prevent consuming snacks
        08/24/07
        The last few days Ive been taking an outdoor painting class. Although it is supposedly for beginners, which I most assuredly am, I am also the least experienced of the group. This doesnt matter to me as long as I manage to get more paint on the canvas than on the grass, keep out of the poison ivy

      • Serotonin-boosting Dinner Ready in your Grocer's Freezer
        08/22/07
        Calorie Bargain: Amys Baked Ziti Kids Meal
        by Charles Stuart Platkin
        You can visit Charles web site www.DietDetective.com for information about Charles and the latest trends in food, nutrition, and fitness.

        Surprise: Perfect for your dinner, too!

        The Why: Kid

      • Continuing Exercise Education
        08/20/07
        Many professional groups require their members take courses yearly to keep them current with the latest information, technology and in some cases, technique. From hairdressers to surgeons, people put aside time to review what they know and learn what they should know.

        For those of us wh

      • Mindfulness for Weight Loss
        08/17/07
        This recent comment from one of our readers inspired me to think about how mindfulness is a key to successful weight loss. He wrote:

        "I just wanted to share what has worked the best for me since my reading of the Serotonin Power Diet and Blog. It is using Horace Fletcher's meth

      • Antidepressant Brownies
        08/15/07
        In the movie Sunday Bloody Sunday, made many years ago, there is a scene of a young woman, dumped by her boyfriend, crying and eating a pan of oven hot brownies. She is so desperate to eat them that she burns her fingers scooping them out of the pan and as she eats, her tears fall onto the uneaten

      • Simon Says: Spice up your Weight Loss
        08/13/07
        A tip from Simon (Judy's beloved Dauchsund):

        Eating the same foods every day can become very tiresome. Just try eating dog food for the rest of your life and you'll know how I feel every day. You're lucky, because if pasta, potatoes, rice and cereal start to taste the sam

      • Passion For Health
        08/10/07
        We wanted to share a great site we came across called Passion for Health started by Mike Kinnaird who suffered 13 years of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome before dramatically improving his health by means of a raw diet. We're not suggesting all of you switch to a raw diet but his site speaks to the he

      • Tips from the Kitchen Counter
        08/08/07
        Sometimes we forget we have appliances in our kitchen that will make our cooking life easier. My food processor spends most of its life pushed into the back of my pots and pan cabinet. But when I rediscover it, every month or so, I marvel at how much it speeds up my food preparation. The slicing d

      • 5-HTP and weight loss
        08/06/07
        We often get asked if it's beneficial to take 5-HTP pills to control appetite and balance your mood as a way to lose weight. The simple answer is: maybe. The reason is that unless you take it in doses that will also put you to sleep, it probably won't help much.

        Then again,

      • Soups for Lunch: Recipe for Weight Loss
        08/03/07
        One of our readers who loves soup asked for some tips on what kind of soup she could have for lunch. We love this question because not only do we love soups, but studies show that eating soups can help you eat less because their volume makes them filling. "The Serotonin Power Diet" book

      • Weight as an Emotional Overeating Barometer
        08/01/07
        It's nice to be losing weight and achieving milestone goals along the way. It's also nice to be receiving compliments from others and recognition of all the hard work that goes into it. But how you feel about yourself and your efforts matter more. Especially when it comes to avoiding em

    • July
      • Are Your Friends Making You Fat?
        07/30/07
        Did you hear about the results of a recent study published in The New England Journal of Medicine saying that the likelihood of becoming obese increases when your family or friends become obese?

        The study was a retrospective study analyzing data from the Framingham, MA heart study condu

      • Avoiding Emotional Overeating in Kids
        07/27/07
        Today I caved into my daughter's request for Froot Loops cereal by getting a related version from Whole Foods. Buying them was a whole adventure, but when it came time to enjoy our anticipated treat, that was another adventure altogether. I made sure we spent time choosing which bowl she want

      • The Pearl White Pedicure Diet
        07/25/07
        As I was getting my toes painted a pearly white color at my local walk-in nail salon this afternoon, I was reminded of the importance of the simple and the spontaneous. I love the foot massage and I love how my toes look like sea shells in the bright sunlight for weeks after the pedicure.
        <

      • Crusty Bread Salad Recipe
        07/20/07
        In case you haven't seen this in our book, we're featuring a favorite serotonin-boosting dinner salad here. It's perfect for using the delicious heirloom and other flavorful tomatoes available only at this time of year. For a downloadable pdf of this recipe, click here.

        C

      • Serotonin: The Key to Wellness?
        07/20/07
        Is serotonin now the darling of the wellness movement? Maybe so. According to health and wellness expert Mary Ann Copson, founder of the Evenstar Mood & Energy Wellness Center, having your serotonin in balance can do even more than control your appetite, make you feel good, and help you lose w

      • Antidepressants + Low-Carb Diet = Recipe for Disaster
        07/18/07
        If you're on antidepressants or other mood-stabilizing medications and have gained weight as a result, you may have tried a low carb diet at some point to lose that weight. If you lasted even three days, congratulations. For most, half a day is their limit before getting even more obsessed tha

      • Lasting Attention means Lasting Weight Loss
        07/16/07
        Years ago I read a great article by Judith Hanson Lasater in Yoga Journal called After the Laundry, The Laundry about impermanence. It reminds me of the importance of establishing weight loss habits that ensure you will not only lose weight but keep it off. Weight loss is only permanent if the hab

      • Couscous Salad Recipe
        07/13/07
        Summer is a great time to take advantage of fresh tomatoes, especially the multi-colored heirloom variety if you can find them.

        Couscous salad

        2 cups couscous
        4 cups water
        1 tsp salt
        c chopped carrots
        c chopped yellow pepper
        c chopped red pepper
      • Antidepressants and increased daytime sleepiness
        07/11/07
        We just received this comment posted on our blog and I'm posting it here because I think a lot of people can probably relate. Being tired can have more to do with the quality of sleep not just the number of hours. Read on:

        "Have you noticed anyone taking antidepressants who se

      • Weight Loss Support
        07/09/07
        In our local park every morning, there is a crowd of people doing a boot camp workout. Most of the people are overweight yet I see them carry out numerous push-ups, sprints, and lunges. I even see some of them laughing. What this tells me is that every one of them has reached out for help in thei

      • Gazpacho makes a perfect summer meal
        07/06/07
        You don't have to spend much time in the kitchen during the summer to make meals that satisfy. Making room temperature or chilled dishes means you can cook at your leisure rather than rushing to get hot food on the table. Spend more time outdoors enjoying the warm weather especially for exerc

      • Antidepressant Side Effect: Increased Risk for Bingeing
        07/04/07
        I wish that the increased risk for bingeing were mentioned in the long list of antidepressant side effects. For someone on lexapro, prozac, zoloft, celexa, or any number of other antidepressants or mood stabilizing medication, an emotional stress can make food cravings even worse and lead to a bing

      • Zyprexa for Treatment of Anorexia
        07/02/07
        I'm always amazed at the number of off-label uses for drugs. An estimated 23% of prescriptions, to be exact, according to a 2004 article published in US News and World Report. Most off-label uses are for heart medications, anticonvulsants, and asthma medications. According to an article on F

    • June
      • Investing in Weight Loss
        06/29/07
        I've been thinking about the "extras" I spend on to stay on course with my weight and fitness. At the grocery store, I buy pre-washed, pre-cut packaged vegetables that make including vegetables at any meal (breakfast included!) a snap; single serving packages of crackers and other sn

      • A Crunch in Time
        06/27/07
        A few weeks ago I was waiting for a bus that takes travelers from the airport terminal to a public transit system. The trip had been long; bad weather delayed our departure and I was tired and hungry. As I stood there, I hear a loud crunch, crunch and turned to see what the noise was.

        I

      • Still 250 pounds thinner
        06/26/07
        A wonderfully inspiring story from Judy:

        A few days ago I bumped into a former weight loss clinic of mine who I had not seen for about 3 years; I was so happy to see her, and what she looked like, that I almost cried with delight. For this client was not your ordinary individual seeking w

      • Antidepressants, Sleep Disturbances, and Weight Gain
        06/25/07
        Judy just ran into someone whose 40-ish year old daughter on antidepressants has been following "The Serotonin Power Diet". She told Judy that, for the first time in years, her daughter is sleeping well.

        We all know that lack of sleep can make us change our eating habits, and

      • Gnu Bars: high fiber serotonin-boosting snack
        06/22/07
        Calorie Bargain: Gnu Bars
        by Charles Stuart Platkin

        The Why: It might not be water cooler talk or the most popular dinner time conversation... but most of us have diets sorely lacking in fiber. With 12 grams of fiber per bar (25 grams a day is recommended), Gnu Bars make it

      • Connect with People, Not Food
        06/20/07
        Many people say they eat more when they socialize especially since the focus of so many social gatherings is food, which is often abundant and very enticing.

        But for others, time alone means more time for eating, especially if the food allows them to escape an emotion all too common in ou

      • Walking Tall
        06/18/07
        My mother used to have predictable comments on my appearance (regardless of my age). Stand up straight and get the hair out of your eyes.

        Well the hair is still in my eyes but I have taken her advice about standing up straight. This was after glancing at my hunched over form in a

      • Simon says: Make walking fun
        06/15/07
        Judy's dog Simon tells us about they make walking together fun:

        Walking for exercise can be fun or really boring. For me, a good walk is one in which I can use my long nose to sniff the world around me (which is only 18 off the ground), say hello (more sniffing) to other dogs and ha

      • Low Glycemic Index (GI) Snacks
        06/13/07
        Many of our readers and clients ask for suggestions for low glycemic index
        snacks they can eat while losing weight on The Serotonin Power Diet. These
        requests come up when someone is diabetic, interested in more wholesome
        foods for optimal nutrition, looking for more fiber in their d

      • Skimmed milk -- Straight from the Cow
        06/11/07
        by Charles Stuart Platkin

        Herds of cows producing skimmed milk could soon be roaming our pastures, reports Cath ODriscoll in Chemistry & Industry, the magazine of the SCI. Scientists in New Zealand have discovered that some cows have genes that give them a natural ability to prod

      • Some Stress Reducing Ideas
        06/08/07
        Here is how one of our readers effectively manages her stress:

        Snacking was a long time habit to distress after a busy day. So, "habit breakers" or reconditioning strategies help. I tried having dinner and snack later, going to bed earlier and doing some easy yoga in the even

      • French Toast with Fresh Berries Recipe
        06/07/07
        This makes a lovely (and complete) breakfast your family and guests can enjoy as well (just double, triple, or quadruple as necessary). You don't have to tell anyone else they're following The Serotonin Power Diet, too)

        French Toast with Fresh Berries

        One thick slice

      • Calorie Bargain: Skinny Cow Mint with Fudge Cone
        06/06/07
        by Charles Stuart Platkin

        The Why: When my four year old discovered that we had an extra box of these in the freezer she went berserk, and so did my wife, and everyone on the DietDetective.com staff. Only 150 calories and 3 grams of fat, the refreshingly cool low fat mint ice cream

      • It's all about the journey...and the destination
        06/04/07
        Nina wanted to share something about her own recent weight loss experience:

        My body has never completely bounced back from my three very recent (and practically back-to-back) pregnancies: my tighter hips make previously easy yoga poses a challenge, I have chronic right lower back pain fro

    • May
      • Let Your Fingers Do the Worrying
        05/31/07
        More from Judy's mideast travels:

        Last week my husband and I were in Turkey traveling with friends. While on a fairly long ferry ride, I saw an older man who was constantly fingering his worry beads. I asked our friends whether many people still used worry beads. I had seen them for

      • Travel Can Be Thinning
        05/31/07
        From Judy:

        They say that travel is broadening and these days, that usually means gaining weight. When you leave home, you leave the foods that you routinely eat and are faced with what is available during your travel and once you arrive. Sometimes, of course, the food can be good, in fac

      • Let Go of Stress
        05/22/07
        Here's what Nina wanted to share today:

        I had leftover cheeseburger and steamed zucchini, along with a few strawberries, and coffee with milk for breakfast today. What does this have to do with letting go of stress? It has to do with letting go of certain "rules" that we

      • Sugar for Fibromyalgia Pain Control (and Weight Loss)
        05/21/07
        We have heard from a number of weight loss clients who also suffer from fibromyalgia that sweet and starchy snacks like breakfast cereal, as well as carbohydrate meals such as pasta, particularly eaten in the afternoon and evening, helped relieve their pain. Of course it is well-known that low dose

      • How Often Should you Weigh Yourself?
        05/21/07
        by Charles Stuart Platkin

        Should you weigh yourself every day?

        Recent research says it's fine. Frequent self-weighing will not make you depressed, according to researchers at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. The study published in the journal Preventiv

      • Emotional Eating
        05/16/07
        Does these scenarios sound familiar? Your to-do list gets unweildy and you can't stop thinking about a pepperoni pizza. A poor night of sleep (or 2 or 3 or more!) leads you to reach for food every time your energy wanes? Does a draining conversation with a friend or relative drive you to ic

      • Simon says: Wash your windows
        05/15/07
        Wash your windows now that spring is here. It is great exercise for your arms and waist. I would help except my legs are too short.
        - Simon

      • Confirmation on Whole Grains and Heart Health
        05/15/07
        by Charles Stuart Platkin

        A diet high in whole grain foods is associated with a significantly lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke, according to an analysis conducted by researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

      • Online weight loss support groups
        05/10/07
        For most people, the more support you have, the more likely you are to succeed. Weight loss is no exception: people who have a weight loss buddy, regularly scheduled exercise with others, and someone with whom to share your progress (the bad and the good!) lose weight more successfully and keep it

      • Food Assault
        05/07/07
        Yesterday's lunch and tea party get-together to which I took my 5-year old daughter (and 2 and 3 year old sons) was absolutely lovely. The weather was perfect for sitting outside under the shade of the oak trees, the girls were thrilled to be dressed as princesses, and a great time was had by

      • Adjunctive Antidepressant Treatment for Bipolar Depression not found beneficial
        05/02/07
        Is more medication of benefit in alleviating depression symptoms in Bipolar Disorder? Such was the question raised by researchers whose study was published in the April 26, 2007 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine. The study looked at patients treated with mood stabilizers (Depakote, Tegr

      • Spring potato snack
        05/01/07
        Farmers markets are starting to come alive again as spring is in full spring. Many feature wonderful local performers, goods for the home, and artisan bakers. If you have access to crops from your local growers, this is a great opportunity to bring some freshness back into your snacks and meals.

    • April
      • Simon says: Add some fun to your meals
        04/26/07
        Replace the calories you are taking out of your meals with some fun ways of preparing them. Buy an inexpensive milk frother so you can make fat free cappuccino or whipped fat free hot chocolate. Eat purple potatoes, white beets, white asparagus, and ugli fruit. Drink your salad by making gazpacho (a

      • Judy says: Welcome to Simon
        04/23/07
        Since this is his debut appearance, we would like to introduce Judy's dog Simon to you. A dog can be a dieter's best friend. You'll be forced to take him on calorie-burning walks (even if you have to drag him in the worst of weather), you can complain to him when you feel like going

      • exercise can be fun
        04/22/07
        I just rediscovered how easy it is to exercise when your mouth is also moving. Yesterday a friend climbed on a treadmill next to mine in the health club. By the time we finished gossiping , exchanging ideas about what to wear for a wedding we were both going to and talking about some movies we had s

      • Migraine relief
        04/19/07
        Lately we've heard from quite a few readers that The Serotonin Power Diet has reduced both the frequency and severity of their migraines. As described in an article on The Society for Neuroscience website, it is thought that activation of some serotonin receptors has the ability to alleviate m

      • Recipe Makeover: Blueberry Filled Pancakes
        04/19/07
        This is a Williams-Sonoma recipe one of our readers wanted to adapt for The Serotonin Power Diet. She had some excellent modifications herself which we just fine-tuned. The most important thing about adapting recipes is to make sure that you personally are getting enough of the right nutrients. Th

      • Focus your Mind on Non-Food Activities
        04/12/07
        Learning and challenging yourself can take your mind away from food and give you mental energy to help you stick with The Serotonin Power Diet. Judy is a great example of how this works (and she proves that just because you're a grandmother, you don't have to stop learning and taking on n

    • March
      • Does motherhood really cause weight gain?
        03/27/07
        Chocolate chip waffles and sugary yogurt smoothie for breakfast. Chicken nuggets and french fries for lunch. Veggie chips and juice for snack. Mac and cheese and ice cream sandwiches for dinner. Sounds like a sure way to risk childhood obesity and future health problems. But this may not be jus

      • Too much to do, too much to eat
        03/27/07
        "I used to come home after a particularly rough day at work and eat tablespoons of mayonnaise from the jar to calm down," reported one of our clients I'll call Jane. "Sometimes I ate large bags of chips with dip, other days it was an entire large pizza, and, when I had a sweet t

      • PMS and chocolate
        03/26/07
        At a recent dinner party, one of the guests was shocked to learn that we have heard women tell us that they would rather have chocolate than sex, particularly when they have PMS. "You're kidding, right?" he asked. Sadly, no. Chocolate is sought out by women in PMS be it ice cream,

      • Snack or Binge?
        03/22/07
        Many years ago a Boston prize winning marathon runner was asked what he ate each day. In addition to his three large meals, he ate Twinkies, Hostess cupcakes, potato chips, icecream, chocolate chip cookies, brownies and French fries. Every day. The interviewer estimated that he must consume abou

      • Whom do you want to look like?
        03/20/07
        I (Judy) live part time in a place where the young and the old co-mingle which makes for a strange and varied assortment of body sizes, dress and lifestyle. This morning as I was going through my workout in the health club, I noticed that everyone around me seemed to be in perfect shape. Their bodi

      • Treating Menopause: food or drugs?
        03/15/07
        Could a bowl of oatmeal really be your weapon against the hot flashes, mood swings, sleep disruption, vaginal discomfort, and decreased libido of perimenopause and menopause? Yes, indeed. Serotonin-boosting foods can improve the quality of the menopausal years or at least make the symptoms more to

      • Warning: some diets can turn you into a B-!
        03/13/07
        "What do you think is a good diet book? Atkins?" asked the elderly, slightly stout woman in the diet book aisle at my local Barnes and Noble.
        "Well, I recently lost 40 pounds on Atkins," replied the slim 30-something woman.
        I couldn't help jumping in. "Congra

      • On Antidepressants and gaining weight? You are not alone
        03/08/07
        There are tens of millions of people out there baffled and surprised by their weight gain or inability to lose weight since they started taking antidepressants. Maybe weight gain wasn't immediate, but after a month, or two, or even up to a year, the pounds started to creep on. If this is you, y

      • Now What am I Going to Do?
        03/06/07
        The good news about our diet is that you wont feel like snacking in the evening. The bad news about our diet is that you have to find something else to do with yourself in the evening since you wont be snacking.

        A client of ours, Martha, used to spend hours every evening arguing with

    • February
      • Rice: research says it can help you sleep
        02/22/07
        A recent study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition describes how high glycemic rice eaten four hours before bedtime helped men in a clinical study fall asleep more quickly. We hear this all the time as our clients report that by minimizing protein for dinner and sticking to sati

      • Serotonin: the answer to binge eating
        02/08/07
        Did you all hear about the recent study published by Harvard University psychiatrist James Hudson about how binge eating is the most prevalent eating disorder in the US? That kind of out of control overeating to the point where you feel uncomfortably stuffed at least twice a week in a three-month l

    • January
      • Red hot brain candy
        01/25/07
        Your favorite candy might be just the thing to help you lose weight.

        I was thinking about this the other day while I was out doing errands. With Valentine's Day just around the corner, my local drugstore is full of pink, white, and red jelly beans, red hot cinnamon hearts, Necco &q

      • The Serotonin Power Podcast
        01/17/07
        Podcasts, ipods, peapods...are they all part of our daily diet? These days technology is as important as food, it seems. Can technology help you lose weight? Yes. But not excess time sitting at the computer. Download a podcast to your portable player and get your body moving. We have a podca

      • People are following "The Serotonin Power Diet" all over the world
        01/10/07
        The worldwide interest in the book is so heartwarming. We're seeing visitors to our web site from as far away as Mexico, Israel, Canada, England, and Australia not to mention every region of the United States.

        Our diet is adaptable to all ethnic cuisines whether you are eating you

      • Simplify your decision-making process
        01/02/07
        In The Paradox of Choice, author Barry Schwartz, psychology professor at Swarthmore College, points out that, beyond a certain point, having more choices actually makes you unhappy. Its counterintuitive since we all think more choice is better. His point is backed up by lots of cognitive psycho

  • 2006
    • December
      • A Snack in Time Saves Nine
        12/29/06
        I recently was in a cubicle-filled office and saw boxes of crackers, bags of chips, and packs of candy on many of the desks. It reminded me of how many of our clients told us that before starting The Serotonin Power Diet they were constantly munching on cookies, chips, or crackers while at the

    • November
      • Happy hour at home with your teens
        11/30/06
        My neighbor, whom I'll call Jane, says that her teenage daughter's moodiness is leading both of them to overeat every evening especially before dinner which they eat late when Jane's husband comes home. Cheese, crackers, nuts, raisins, chips, and cookies were common to relax them aft

      • Supersized Holidays
        11/20/06
        My research colleagues and I used to dread the approach of Thanksgiving and Christmas because these holidays put a halt to our obesity research. Volunteers in weight loss studies that started in the early fall either stopped showing up for their weigh-ins or told us that they planned on gaining (rem

    • October
      • Oversized snack foods at the local consumer home and electronics store
        10/26/06
        This past weekend my husband and I went to our local consumer home and electronics store to replace our vacuum cleaner. Never mind the daunting array of models available. What struck me was the daunting array of cookies, chips, candies, nuts, and soda at the check-out stand in sizes that rivaled t