Madison Women's Clinic :: Board Certified Obstetrics and Gynecology

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Truth About Those Calorie Burning Sodas
Enviga and Celsius are two new green tea drinks that claim they will help you burn calories. Celsius touts that a 12 ounce can will burn up to 75 calories in 4 hours and Enviga states that 3 cans a day can burn 60-100 calories extra. The chief ingredient is caffeine and ECGC which is found in green tea. There have been no studies to see if they truly decrease weight. Your metabolism may be increased, but the amount of calories burned is too small to make a difference. People don't gain because they eat 60-100 extra calories: they gain because they over eat hundreds of calories in a day. The cost is a little pricey. $130 for a month's supply of Enviga. Using your money for a gym membership would be more beneficial. REMEMBER, if there was a magic weight loss pill that worked, no one would be overweight.
Energy Boosting Sneakers
If you want to lose weight around the house, quit wearing slippers or socks and change into sneakers. It will put you in the mood to move and you will not be sitting down as often. Remember to count your steps with a pedometer. Your goal should be 10,000 steps a day.

Move to the Rhythm: "Upbeat music helps me move my feet faster during my cardio sessions. Mellow tunes help me keep my weights slow and controlled while I lift."
Cut Calories You Care Least About: "I can deal with light bread. I like Orowheat Light 100% Whole Wheat Bread at 40 calories a slice."
Hide the Remote Control: "Turn off the TV, get more active."
Satisfy Your Cravings: "I have Godiva or Dove dark chocolate if I crave it-2 squares."
Read for Inspiration

Imagine a string attached to the top of your head, and pull it up to the ceiling
Keeep knees relaxed when waiting in line
Watch other people's posture and you will notice your own more
We were built to move, not to stay in one position all day
When sitting, uncross your legs and plant your feet on the floor
Adjust your chair so your hips are slightly higher than your knees
Your abdominals should be firm but not too tight
Your screen should be at eye level
Your back and neck should be relaxed

Probably not caused by early Alzheimer's, but more likely caused by: chronic multitasking, fatigue, depression stress, certain medications (antidepressants and sedatives).
If memory loss affects your job performance, diminishes language skills, or causes a change in your mood or behavior, then maybe a closer look should be taken.
Getting 7-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep at night is a great beginning

A great book by a woman who at 30 weighed 231.6 pounds in 1999.
Over four years ago she lost 100 pounds through a combination of diet and exercise and a "heavy dose of determination" (losing 50 lbs. in six months with Weight Watchers). She dropped another 20 pounds when she started exercising and the last 30 pounds by eating fewer packaged foods and more fresh fruits and vegetables.
She said food was a constant focus when she was growing up. She couldn't pay attention to the conversation until she ordered and her meal came.
She says, "It's still a struggle. I have to deal with people urging me, just one bite. Now I decide when I cave."

She was at her doctor's office in 2001 with dizzy spells. Her LDL (bad cholesterol) was high and she was nearing 300 lbs.
Her doctor gave her a list of foods to avoid and low fat, low calorie alternatives. She lost 20 pounds and lowered her LDL by 20 points by her next doctor visit a month later. This is outstanding as she would have a banana split every night and then go through the drive through for 2 cheeseburger combo meals. She continued to downsize to smaller plates and control her portions, but she scheduled a monthly cheat date. "I stopped that all or nothing thinking. I couldn't completely give up McDonald's, or I'd snap," she said.
Then she added exercise. A Tae Bo tape emerged. It took 1 month of daily attempts for her to finish the eight minute workout and almost twice that long to complete the advanced version. Three months later she dropped 61 pounds. Sherry says she found something better hiding under those layers of fat. And it isn't just muscles, and a waist, and a body half the size it was 6 years ago. It's a healthier, more self-aware and self-assured woman. "I was always focused on making other people happy. Now I'm more content with who I am inside."

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