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7 Reasons Why You’re Not Losing Weight Part 2

Hey everyone, it’s Dr. Frank Donaruma and this is part 2 of our 7 part Video Health Tip Series on the 7 reasons you may not be losing weight.

We all know how frustrating it is when you just can’t lose weight? You’re trying to eat right and exercise, but the numbers on the scale just won’t move. Well, as I said in my first video, “it may not be your fault.”

In our last video we looked at our first reason which was, You May Have a Medical Condition That Is Making It Harder to Lose Weight.

Today we will look at reason 2 and many of you are not going to like this one. But if you are honest with yourself you may find this reason to be very true.

Reason Number 2, You Are Addicted to Junk Food.

My friend, the dark side of junk foods is not an unknown fact. Several research studies have significantly shown that fast foods and processed foods are a primary cause of childhood obesity, heart disease as well as diabetes and other chronic degenerative diseases.

And the more junk food you consume, the less likely you are to consume the essential nutrients that your body relies on and the more difficult it becomes to lose weight.

In fact, excess consumption of things like trans fats found in many fried and processed foods can send mixed signals to the brain which makes it very difficult for the brain to process what you have eaten and how really hungry you are. This is probably why you end up overeating.

And don’t forget this, fast foods are specially designed to be addictive in nature with high levels of salts, sugars and fats that make you crave them even more.

This addictive nature of fast food can make your brain crave them even when you are not hungry.

If this is you don’t lose hope, I have helped hundreds of patients overcome junk food addictions with great success. So, if you think junk food addiction applies to you, then speak to your doctor or call us at 908-279-7740 for a free consultation. Why? Because, we at NewLife are in the business of transforming lives to transform the world!

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6 Ways To Break Your Sugar Addiction

Recent research on rats found that they get the same neurochemical kick from sugar as they do from morphine, cocaine, and nicotine. We think that this surge of pleasure is behind sugar addiction in humans, too. (We also think the companies that are selling you added sugar know it and are trying to keep you addicted. But they won’t miss you if you quit.)

The good part: The principles taught to smokers to help them quit will help you kick your sugar habit.

Here are 6 Ways to Set Yourself Up for Success:

Make a Pact With Yourself to Cut Sugar Out of Your Life. Studies show that making a serious commitment to doing whatever it takes to break an addiction is one of the most important steps toward beating it.
Set a Quit Date at Least a Month from Today. Give yourself time to mentally prepare for the quitting journey and clear your pantry, car, desk, and gym locker of sugar in all its forms, including food and drinks containing honey or rice syrup and high-fructose corn syrup (that includes most ketchups, many sports drinks, and even coffee creamer).
Start Walking 30 Minutes a Day. Like sugar, exercise releases mood-enhancing hormones. Later, when sugar abstinence causes a dip in feel-good hormones, you can add a tension-relieving 5-minute walk to this regimen.
Cut Back Gradually. Begin by reducing the sugar you add to tea and coffee. Then, substitute something healthy, like yogurt (without added sugar) and berries or unsweetened applesauce for two or three of the sweet foods you usually have.
Visualize a slimmer, healthier you going for a walk, sipping on water, or practicing deep breathing when you’re stressed. A little role-playing helps you practice alternatives to eating under pressure.
Think of the 3 biggest reasons why you want to live a sugar-free life, write them on a card, and read them several times a day.
With a month of practice behind you, you’ll be ready to weather the cravings that come when you first abstain from sugar. In time, your brain chemistry will readjust, and those cravings will stop. You will beat the addiction the food companies taunt you with. BRAVO!

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7 Reasons Why You’re Not Losing Weight Part 1

Hey everyone, if you don’t know me, my name is Dr. Frank Donaruma and I am the owner and lead doctor of NewLife Wellness and Weight Loss in New Jersey.

So, let me ask you a question. How frustrating is it when you just can’t lose weight? Pretty frustrating, right? You’re trying to eat right and exercise, but the numbers on the scale just won’t move. Well it may not be your fault.

In this 7 part Video Health Tip Series, I will identify 7 reasons why you may not be losing weight.
Each video will focus on just 1 of the 7 reasons you may not be losing weight.

The videos will be very short, so you should be able watch them in just a couple of minutes and obtain valuable information that can help you in your wellness and weight loss journey.

So, let’s begin.
The first reason you may not be able to lose weight is…

  1. You Have a Medical Condition That is Making Things Harder

There are actually some medical conditions that can drive weight gain and make it much harder to lose weight. Some of these conditions include hypothyroidism, polycystic ovarian syndrome, Chronic Stress, Cushing’s Syndrome, Addison’s Disease, Depression, Hormonal Changes, Rheumatoid Arthritis and even sleep apnea.

The biggest culprit that I have seen when working with hundreds of patients trying to lose weight are thyroid disorders. This includes both men and women but mostly women.

When your immune system messes with your thyroid, it can cause unexplained weight changes. You see Your thyroid helps control your metabolism, so if it’s underactive (which is called “hypothyroidism”), everything slows down.
That’s why common symptoms with thyroid disorders include weight gain, fatigue, constipation, hair loss, and even depression.
In addition to thyroid disorders, certain medications can also make weight loss harder, or even cause weight gain. The more medications you’re taking the harder it is to lose weight.

But don’t lose hope, I have helped hundreds of patients overcome many of these issues with great success.

So, If you think any of these conditions applies to you, then speak to your doctor about your options or call us at 908-279-7740 for a free consultation. Why?

Because, we at NewLife are in the business of transforming lives to transform the world!

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How Do I Control My Food Cravings

We all experience food cravings – whether we’re dieting or not. However, you may experience an increase in cravings when trying to control your weight.

Here are some practical tips for managing food cravings:

Expect Food Cravings. If you are prepared, managing them will be easier. Try to stock your kitchen or office with healthy substitutions. Craving chocolate? Try a fat free pudding cup or individual portion of low-fat chocolate ice cream. Craving salt? Try a 100-calorie pack of salty snack mix. Small treats can easily fit into a healthy diet!
Where is the “Hunger” Coming From? Try to distinguish if it’s your stomach sending the message or your mind. Many of us eat in response to emotions such as stress, sadness or boredom. First, rate your hunger on a scale of 1-5 (1 being starving and 5 being stuffed). If you are not a 1 or 2, ask yourself how you are feeling and what you can do instead. For example, take a brisk walk, call a friend or take a bubble bath. This process will help you become an intuitive eater and connect with your feelings of hunger and fullness.


Reflect on Your Progress. Think about how far you have come and all the positive changes you have accomplished. Accentuating the positive (on a daily basis) keeps you motivated and keeps the momentum going. Try writing down 3 things you feel good about at the end of each day (no matter how small you think they might be).
Cut Calories Elsewhere During the Day. If you find that late night snacks are finding their way into your diet, find a way to cut calories from other meals and snacks. Focus on cutting “extra” calories vs. healthy calories. For example, use less mayo or cheese on your sandwich, less creamer in your coffee, or cut back on portions of meat.
Evaluate Your Eating Habits. Your cravings could very well be validated. Are you skipping meals, eating well below your calorie needs for weight loss or denying certain foods or food groups? If so, cravings can be your body’s natural defense mechanism. Remember, all foods can fit in moderation, and skipping meals or eating too few calories will only work against weight loss in the end.

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9 Top Benefits of Walking

What’s not to love about the single best thing you can do for your health? The simple act of putting one foot in front of the other makes you healthier, gives you more energy, and makes you younger. Plus, doing it lets you talk with friends, think through problems, and see what’s new in the neighborhood. And if you happen to have some new walking gear, walking lets you show it off.

That’s just the beginning. Check out a few other great things walking does for you:

  1. Fends Off the #1 Killer: Regular walkers have fewer heart attacks and strokes, have lower blood pressure, and have higher levels of healthy HDL cholesterol than couch sitters do. In one study of women, a regular walking program did just as much in the heart-protection department as more vigorous exercise did.
  2. Dims Your Chances of Diabetes: Thirty minutes of walking a day makes your muscles more sensitive to insulin. That allows glucose to do its duty inside your cells rather than pile up in your bloodstream (that’s what happens when you have diabetes) and cause other havoc.
  3. Helps You Kick the Habit: Taking a daily 30-minute walk is one of the keys to the success of the “YOU Can Quit” plan. Even just a 5-minute walk cuts down on cigarette cravings — it engages your brain’s emotion centers, unleashing mood-enhancing hormones that decrease cravings and take your mind off that cigarette. And establishing a walking habit proves to you that you have the discipline to stick with your stop-smoking plan.
  4. Slims You Down: Burn more calories than you eat, and — voila! You’re wearing one-size-smaller clothes. Plus, walking can help squelch chocolate cravings and nix the stress and anxiety that often lead to overeating.
  5. Keeps You Sharp: Physical activity nourishes brain tissue and stimulates its production of neurons, synapses, and blood vessels. Some studies have found that walking can counter faltering memories in people over age 50.
  6. Reduces Stress: Anyone who has come back from a walk in a different frame of mind than they went out with can attest to this. Studies back up that walking benefits your mood — and may even ward off depression and anxiety.
  7. Revs Up Your Energy: Not only can a walk perk you up when you need it, but also it helps improve the quality of your sleep, so you’re more energetic all-day long.
  8. Boosts Your Immune System: Walking regularly can lower your risk of arthritis, macular degeneration, and even cancer by an astonishing 50% compared with people who don’t exercise.
  9. Keeps You Going: Walking has the highest compliance rate of any exercise. Make your routine bulletproof: Get a buddy.
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The Psychological Effects of Obesity

What you see on the outside of someone who is overweight or obese is only a small part of the equation. Much of the time, it is the psychological and social effects that are even more damaging than the physical ones. Obesity has been linked to health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and sleep apnea, but it is also linked to several psychological issues that can have profound effects on your happiness and quality of life. Our weight loss team is here to help you with some of the problems that can affect your life with obesity include.

Low Self-Esteem

Quite often, people that are obese have a poor self-image and suffer from low self-esteem. When you start feeling as if you aren’t worthy of good jobs, friends, relationships and other things in life, your confidence erodes to the point that you want to hide away from the world. Tying your self-worth to the size of your waistline is a dangerous practice, but one that a high percentage of obese people participate in on a daily basis.

Anxiety Issues

Anxiety disorders are another common psychological effect of obesity. Anyone that has suffered with any degree of anxiety knows how debilitating it can be, and when it is tied to your weight, it is just as bad, or worse. Whether it is general anxiety about daily life or full-on panic attacks, it can paralyze your social and professional life.

Depression

Obesity and depression have been closely linked for some time, and in a way the self-esteem issues and anxiety brought on by obesity can all contribute to clinical depression. In a University of Wisconsin-Madison study, researchers found that participants with BMI greater than 35 had the highest rates of clinical depression.

Effects on Daily Life

Not surprisingly, many obese people tend to stay away from social situations where they fear they might be judged, or where they will judge themselves. They may end up with eating disorders and use that food for comfort when they feel depressed or alone. If you are obese, those self-conscious feelings may prevent you from riding on buses, going to movies, seeking dates, going to parties and especially going out to eat in public.

It is important to seek help if you are overweight and feel the psychological strain. Whether that help is from a weight loss professional or a psychiatric professional, it is important to take some kind of action so you can get the help you need and pull yourself out of it.

Don’t let obesity control your life. Our team at New Life Wellness & Weight Loss is here to help.

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3 Steps That Keep Your Joints Healthy

One of the negative side effects of carrying excess weight is joint pain. It stands to reason, that your muscles, joints and ligaments would be heavily burdened by having to cart around more weight than they were designed to handle. For someone who is 50 or 100 lbs. overweight, it’s easy to see how your life could be painful with every step. The team at our weight loss clinic is here to help.

The Burden on Your Lower Body

Joint pain and obesity usually go hand in hand, and it is the joints in your lower body that ends up taking the brunt of the pressure. The joints in your hips, knees and ankles are subject to the most force when you walk, increasing your risk of developing osteoarthritis if you don’t do something to alleviate the problem. After a while, it will become difficult to maintain an active lifestyle, and if you are too heavy, you might not be able to live and function independently.

Aside from pain medication, you don’t really have many options when it comes to controlling joint pain from obesity. All prescription pain medications have side effects and while some are more severe than others are, the best solution to control the pain is always weight loss.

Less Weight Equals Less Stress

Since it is the extra weight that is causing the pain, any amount of weight you lose can help to alleviate it. Even in cases with a firm diagnosis of osteoarthritis, weight loss can delay or prevent surgery and get you on the road to greater mobility. Naturally, exercising with joint pain can be difficult, which is why diet modification should be your first step. If you are seriously overweight and have tried various approaches in the past, it may be time to consult a bariatric surgeon to go over your weight loss surgery options.

If exercise is still a possibility for you, light walking is a good choice, as is swimming or any type of exercise in the water. When you are immersed in water, it’s as if gravity doesn’t exist and the strain is taken off your aching joints. You’ll also engage all your major muscle groups, helping you burn calories and fat more effectively.

As the weight comes off, whether through lifestyle changes or surgery, make a point of strengthening the muscles of your legs, hips, buttocks and back, so your lower body joints have a lot of support and will continue to function well into the future.

Feel free to contact our weight loss team at New Life Wellness & Weight Loss today for more information.