by Leigh Ann Otte

Did you have a good Fourth of July? Enjoy the sun? Spend time with family? Eat from the grill till you were stuffed and miserable? Sigh.

One problem many of us have is knowing when we’re full—and stopping eating at that point. In this week’s article, gastroenterologist Patricia Raymond explains this issue and gives tips.

Did you know that your meal should be no bigger than what you can hold in two cupped hands? Yep. Read on …

Leigh Ann Otte is the managing editor of MyFamilyDoctorMag.com and a freelance writer, editor and blogger.

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We came up with eight good reasons you’re not losing weight. Well, maybe.

The truth is, most of us can lose weight and even keep it off if we do the right things. But every once in a while, there really is a good reason those pounds just won’t come off.

In “8 Reasons for Weight Gain That Are Not Your Fault!” we list signs, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment for a variety of causes. Yes, family history and medicine are two of them. But did you know lack of sleep may contribute to weight gain? Stress and depression can too. And then there are serious diseases that are important to get diagnosed, like underactive thyroid and PCOS.

So check ‘em out. If they don’t speak to you, maybe they’ll ring true of a friend. Then the question becomes, how do you delicately forward the article?

Good luck with that.

Pssst … sign up for our free e-newsletter! You’ll get fascinating articles delivered once a month.

by Leigh Ann Otte, managing editor

Just around the corner loom … dum, dum, duuuuum … New Year’s resolutions! Let the dieting begin!

This week, we focus on one type of diet that has not only your waist size but your entire physical health in mind: the food combining theory.

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“Fiber is a type of carbohydrate that your body cannot digest; therefore it adds volume to fill you up without adding extra calories.  Weight loss genius!  A common complaint often expressed by people on a weight loss diet is, “I’m hungry.”  A wise dieter knows that it’s not only how much you eat, but what you eat that makes the difference between a rumbling stomach and a fully belly.

“Fiber creates a sense of fullness that will leave you satisfied and better prepared to pass up seconds. If you build your meals and snacks around high fiber choices like whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and lean proteins and good fats, you’ll have a great combination that will make it less likely you will overeat.”

—What’s Your Diet Type?: Use the Power of Your Personality to Discover Your Best Way to Lose Weight, by Heather K. Jones, R.D., Mary Miscisin, M.S., and Ed Redard, M.D., May 2009, Hatherleigh Press, $19

“Once you announce that you plan to do something, the prospect of doing it becomes more real. At that point someone other than you is expecting something.  Even if that person doesn’t have a stake in your change, it makes a difference to know that someone is aware of your plan.  It’s a form of accountability.  If you don’t do whatever it is you plan to do, someone else will know that you didn’t do it.”

—A User’s Guide to Therapy: What to Expect and How You Can Benefit, by Tamara L. Kaiser, M.S.W., Ph.D., October 2008, W.W. Norton & Co., $18.95

by Leigh Ann Otte, managing editor

It’s time for our monthly Twitter roundup. This time, we have a ton of tweeters and bloggers to highlight. If you’re not on Twitter but like reading health blogs, just skip to the second section.

But before I get to that: a quick plug for our free preview issue since the offer ends Sunday. My Family Doctor is a unique, fun-to-read, trustworthy, magazine written by health-care providers for the general public. We feature the latest information on how to prevent and treat disease, tell you which alternative remedies really work, and tackle widespread myths and rumors.

Now, on to the Twitter fun.

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“For portion control on foods that you pour out of a container, such as cereal and dry pasta, keep the accurate portion-size measuring cup right in the package. This way you can scoop out a portion instead of easily pouring out more food than you need.”

—Janel Ovrut, M.S., R.D., L.D.N., registered dietitian, Fitness Works at Work, Sherborn, Mass.

“Restaurant portions are two to three times what you would serve yourself. Plan ahead by splitting an entrée, or doggy bagging before you even start. The more you are served, the more you are likely to eat, so only serve yourself a reasonable portion.”

—Jill Jayne, M.S., R.D., president and “Rockstar Nutritionist,” Note to Health LLC, with interactive health presentations

How do you save calories? Please share your tips in the comments section.

by James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.

The AARP has teamed up with Carole Carson, author of From Fat to Fit, for a collective 2 month weight loss challenge.  It’s easy to sign up and become a part of this group effort.   Carole gives some great tips.  (note why do I keep writing it “from fit to fat”, must be freudian)

The combined incentives of a group goal, support forums (kind of like a virtual weight watchers), and  Carole’s coaching advice should help you shed that winter insulation.  Two months will give you time to see enough progress in the mirror to continue onward.

A study, earlier this year,  concluded the average person gains weight in the winter, especially during the holidays.  It’s only a few pounds and they lose some the rest of the year.  The problem is they never lose it all.  The cumulative gain of a pound or two adds up.

This challenge is for all ages.  Check it out.

Did you put on a few pounds this winter like me, or were you all good boys and girls?

by James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.

A few days ago I started hearing a lot about the fat virus–not a new concept.  But all of a sudden, the news was on the radio, television, newspapers and Internet that a scientist had discovered that the adenovirus AD-36, which causes the common cold, might make you fat.  The hypothesis is the virus infects fats cells and makes them duplicate so, even without eating more, you gain fat.

I don’t think there was a new study or revelation, so why the big deal?

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