Mindful Eating

We all know by now there is an obesity problem in the United States. People are eating junk food and too much of it. This is terribly unhealthy and often what drives patients to seek liposuction. The problem is that liposuction is not a weight loss tool. Generally it is not very helpful to perform liposuction for obese people. Your cosmetic surgeon will tell you to lose weight, and try to get close to your ideal weight before liposuction. Of course this is not easy at all. It means changing your diet and exercising. It is a vicious circle for many people, because exercising is not always easy for people who are obese. Let’s look at some helpful and unusual information I came across.

Recently the New York Times published an article about Mindful Eating. Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention non judgmentally. This may be a bit extreme for your average American, but I think we can take a few tips from the ideas presented. Did you know, for instance that only 20% of American families sit down to a family meal each day? This could possibly contribute to obesity. With the fast pace of life in America these days, if we do not take the time to prepare healthy meals, set the table, sit down together, we might just be shoveling whatever we come across into our mouths. So have family meals; make dinner an event. Even if you are single you can light a candle and make your main meal of the day a delightful respite, the food version of a bubble bath. In the article it suggested putting your fork down between each mouthful. This might be easier if you are having a family conversation. Did you know it takes 20 minutes for your brain to register that you are full after you have eaten? So eat slowly, enjoy your food.

Ultimately, it is calories in and calories out that make the difference, but as it turns out some foods give you more bang for your buck, so to speak. Fat has 9 calories per gram, yet fat is what makes you feel full. Also fat is more easily converted into fat in your body. Protein and carbohydrates have 4 calories per gram. So cut down on fat. Also sugar, glucose in particular, the refined sugar you find in highly processed foods as opposed to vegetables, or complex carbohydrates, tends to help your body create fat. By now everyone has heard of low carb diets. But I think a well rounded diet, light exercise and perhaps some mindful family meals would help most patients struggling with obesity.

Little Rock Cosmetic Surgery Center provides liposuction for appropriate candidates. So if you have tough pockets of fat that you cannot work or diet off after losing weight, come see us for your consultation.

Dr. Branman

Call the front desk to set up your consultation 501-227-0707