The amount of protein found in meal replacements is instrumental in curbing hunger, maintaining muscle mass, and providing energy, not to mention contributing to weight loss.   Here at Smart for Life we recently improved our Chocolate Chip Cookie to include the most protein offered in a meal replacement cookie on the market at a whopping 6 grams per serving. 

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
Medical Director
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Skinny People, More Money in the Bank

I’ve always talked about ways to set an example for your children by eating healthy and organic and taking care of yourself.  I just recently read about another great reason to get rid of your weight and teach your children good eating habits:  their financial future.  Consider these costs which can affect their financial security.

Food.  Some may say that fast food is inexpensive but it can certainly cost you in the long run.  Most people are overweight because they consume more calories than they should, which usually means fast food.  But for some it’s indulging in that decadent chocolate cream cake or French pastry.  And it’s also indulging into your wallet.

Illness.  According to a Rand study, obese people spend 36% more on health services than people of normal weight.  They also tend to suffer from a higher incidence of chronic disease.  This can lead to intensive recovery, recuperation, more time off the job and higher overall medical bills.

Life insurance.  This will cost more if you’re heavy.  The longer you’re likely to live, the lower the chance that an insurance company will have to pay a claim.  On average, obese people live seven years less and insurers account for these differences.  In group plans, while age, smoking and gender can impact rates, obesity isn’t used as a factor, at least not yet.

Net worth.  You already know studies have shown that better looking people earn more.  Being thin helps too.  A study by the Center for Human Resources Research at Ohio State University found that the obese accumulate only about half the net worth of Americans who were not obese.

Earnings.  The Ohio State study found that on average a typical woman earned $314 less annually for every one point increase in BMI (body mass index). While a male counterpart earned $161 less.  Another study found that for women a 1% increase in BMI led to a 0.6% decrease in income and a 0.4% decrease in job “prestige.” 

We always want to blame fast food companies as being a large part of the obesity issue but it all begins with good habits.  And those originate from our parents.  So Mom and Dad, remember these findings and start teaching your kids healthy eating habits that will last them a lifetime.

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
Medical Director
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I recently heard a discussion on a morning talk radio program where a bride-to-be unashamedly admitted to trying to fatten up her girlfriends so they wouldn’t outshine her on her wedding day.  I have patients who have had difficulties with their family and friends supporting their weight loss efforts, but this is like sabotage.  And for a bride to do it to her supposedly closest friends?  I was more than amazed.

I did a little research and, believe it or not, found two Facebook pages devoted to this idea:  Please God If You Can’t Make Me Thin Make My Friends Fat (View Here) and If You Can’t Make Yourself Look Thin Make Your Friends Look Fat (View Here).

I also read an article where brides-to-be do not necessarily pick their close and dear friends to be in the wedding party.  They choose the acquaintances who outweigh them, thinking they are making themselves look better.  The article also revealed that almost 50% of brides diet before their wedding day.  They should remember - if a bride can diet, why can’t a bridesmaid? J

I hope the recently-engaged reading this will consider past and future friendship when selecting their bridal party.  If need be, everyone can diet together and have an instant support network.  Your wedding day will be remembered joyously, no matter what.

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
Medical Director
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A lot has changed since we were kids.  Remember when we’d take our bikes out in the morning and not come home until the street lights were coming on.  We would go all day long and never slow down.  Nowadays kids are holed up indoors in front of the computer, television or video game.  We didn’t have time to gain weight!

Kids today have fast food which is easily accessible.  When I was young, the tooth fairy gave me a quarter.  I certainly couldn’t buy a burger or a happy meal with that.  Nowadays kids get dollar bills and can buy all the cheeseburgers and fast food they want. 

We never hung out in a mall.  We didn’t know what a mall was, let alone a food court!  We had dinner every night as a family, no matter what was going on.  Sure, we could be outside all day but whose ever house was closest is where we had lunch.  And someone’s Mom was there making it for us.  But you had to be home for dinner and it was a square meal with vegetables.  No fast food for us.  And you had water with your meal, if you had anything.  No sodas, no energy drinks, no temper tantrums until we got the sweet we wanted.  Then you got ready for bed and maybe watched a bit of TV.  And no hand-held remotes for us.  I was my Dad’s walking remote control.

We lived for the weekend but when we had school, we walked.  Yes, there were crossing guards but Dad had already left for work and Mom certainly wasn’t going to drive us to school just because we were running late.  You were late, you ran.  And you ran with your lunch in your brown bag.  And that brown bag always contained a piece of fruit.

On lucky days you could ride your bike.  Nowadays all the kids have motorized skateboards or scooters.  We played jump rope, hopscotch, four square, kickball, hula hoops, hide-n-seek, tag, red rover….. we never stopped!  No wonder we were so healthy!

Oh, to have that energy again!  And the time to do it all again!

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
Medical Director
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Many lawmakers are now trying to ban restaurants such as McDonald’s from giving toys to children with their meals.  Something about this just doesn’t sit well with me.

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
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What is your opinion of overweight people?  Do you have one?  Do you see an overweight person and jump to conclusions and make certain assumptions about them?  What if you’re in the medical field and you feel this way? 

Being overweight or obese carries with it a certain stigma.  Overweight people can be regarded as lazy, self-indulgent and blamed for their weight despite the fact they may have to struggle to overcome it.  And they may need sympathy, support and help tailored to their specific circumstances.

Researchers recently conducted a study to assess weight bias among 40 dietetics and health promotion students to measure their attitudes before and after a week-long intervention which required them to follow a calorie restricted diet.  Students reflected their thoughts about following the diet in journal entries.  Results showed that the students significantly improved their attitudes toward obese persons after following the diet and reported more respect for individuals struggling to lose weight.

I think this is a great way to dispel negative assumptions that overweight people are lazy or lacking in self-discipline.  The study reported that students “now better understand why small changes, a supportive environment, and an empathetic counselor can be critical to weight loss.  They also had a better appreciation of the challenges faced by the overweight and obese.”

If you’re having difficulty getting people to see your struggles, ask them to consider spending a week in the life of a person trying to lose weight.  You may create a whole new support network and everyone will feel better for it.

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
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The reason sugar is the main culprit in type 2 diabetes is because the disease of diabetes was virtually unheard of in cultures that did not use sugar or refined flour.

In a study by Luc Tappy and Kim-Anne Le, Physiological Reviews, January 2010, they concluded “chronically high consumption of fructose in rodents leads to hepatic and extrahepatic insulin resistance, obesity, type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.”

They go on to conclude “although there is compelling evidence that high fructose intake can have a deleterious effect in humans as in rodents, the role of fructose in the development of the current epidemic of metabolic disorders remains controversial”.

In a book written by John Yudkin titled Pure, White and Deadly, he clearly demonstrates that countries that consume more sugar have a greater frequency of type 2 diabetes.

Cleve and Campbell in 1966 also clearly showed that fructose and diabetes are related.

Another great affirmation between diabetes and sugar consumption is that between 1903 and 1915, as sugar utilization increases, the rate of diabetes increased.  In 1915, during the war when rationing began, the rate of sugar utilization dropped by almost 50% and so did the rate of diabetes.  In the 1920’s when rationing stopped, sugar intake increased and diabetes followed in almost a straight line.

In 1938 when the war began again and rationing began again, the rate of diabetes and sugar utilization dropped again by 50% together.

Finally, from my own clinical experiences, I have seen many weight loss patients who, once they cut their sugar and white flour intake, lost weight  they “cured” their type 2 diabetes and where able to stop medication or injections.

Unfortunately we are afraid to admit the truth.  If you eat enough sugar and gain enough weight, almost everyone will get type 2 diabetes.

So no twisted thinking here, facts are facts.

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
Medical Director
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You like your job.  You need your job.  But with layoffs happening every day, the economy plummeting and bills piling up, everyone is trying harder to keep their job.  Working longer hours, rushing through tasks, who has time to eat healthy?  The work must get done!  Now!  No time to waste – hurry!  Doughnuts, french fries, pizza . . . anything that’s quick and easy!  Give me comfort!  Gulp!  Gulp!

After work, who doesn’t feel better after chocolate or cookie dough ice cream?  The long hectic day starts to fade away.  You need to sit and veg-out in front of the TV.  Maybe some nachos would help right now.  Ease the tension away.

Ugh - stress adds weight and weight adds more stress.  Yuck.

There isn’t much we as individuals can do to turn around the economy but we can certainly turn around our health and the health of our co-workers.

Enlist the help of some of your co-workers and start your own committee to bring the stress and weight gain in your office down.

See about stocking your vending machines with healthier snacks.  Don’t bring in a tray of brownies; bring in a bowl of fruit or raw vegetables.  Ask your cafeteria to stock more wholesome snacks.  Morning meetings do not have to begin with doughnuts.  Fresh fruit and healthy juices will do the trick.  Or how about a tray of Smart for Life Diet Cookies and Cupcakes served with underWAY?

Start a walking program at lunchtime.  Contact local hospitals and health centers and arrange for free health screenings, health fairs, smoking cessation programs, stress reduction workshops, etc.  See about group discounts at a local gym.  Bring in a massage therapist.  Start a company newsletter with beneficial information and healthy recipes. 

Good health isn’t something you shut off at the start of another hectic workday. Healthier lifestyles should be encouraged at work, for the benefit of both the employer and the employee.

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
Medical Director
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Like most of us, you’re probably struggling with how to nicely turn down those well-meaning sugar pushers in your life.  From the person in your office who always brings in sweets to dear sweet grandma who is always making them.

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
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A few weeks ago I wrote about a study that linked pesticides to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and I went on to explain the benefits of organic foods that are pesticide free.

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
Medical Director
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Healthy Eating Tips for the 4^th of July

Happy 4^th of July!     ENJOY!

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
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A study done at the UCLA Laboratory of Neuro Imaging, Department of Neurology,  (LONI) has shown that people with body mass index (BMI) in the obese range have a shrinking of brain size in older age of about 8%.  People who are just overweight have a 4% decrease in size later in life.

Although these changes are measured later in life, the changes begin in midlife.  This association was also seen with people who had type 2 diabetes.  It is important to note that it has been reported that overweight people have a higher frequency of cognitive pathology later in life.

I urge all of you who are overweight and obese to realize what your habits are doing to your brain.  I am also worried that we will see a similar affect in our obese children but at much younger ages, possibly a shrinking of 10% by the age of 45 if the child was obese starting at age 10, for example.

This study, which has been largely ignored by the media, was well done and very relevant, in my opinion, but the media would rather talk about the latest celebrity scandal.  I urge the media to talk about this study and sensitize the public to this very important fact.

I have had many clients tell me they feel depressed and less sharp when they are overweight.  Remarkably many patients tell me they  “think “ better when they lose weight and eat healthier.

Lose weight.  Save your brain

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
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I recently read an article that shows that children under the age of eight are unable to comprehend television commercials and they accept these commercials as truth.  An American Psychological Association (APA) Task Force has determined that this can lead to unhealthy eating habits as evidenced by today's youth obesity epidemic.  For these reasons, the task force is recommending that commercials targeting children under the age of eight be restricted.  This task force estimates the average child watches more than 40,000 television commercials per year.

"Because younger children do not understand persuasive intent in advertising, they are easy targets for commercial persuasion," said psychologist Brian Wilcox, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology and Director of the Center on Children, Families and the Law at the University of Nebraska and chair of the task force. "This is a critical concern because the most common products marketed to children are sugared cereals, candies, sweets, sodas and snack foods.  Such advertising of unhealthy food products to young children contributes to poor nutritional habits that may last a lifetime and be a variable in the current epidemic of obesity among kids."

The research on children's commercials confirms that advertising does typically get young consumers to buy their products.  According to the findings in the report, the APA has developed the following recommendations:

·         Restrict advertising primarily directed to young children of eight years and under.  Policymakers need to take steps to better protect young children from exposure to advertising because of the inherent unfairness of advertising to audiences who lack the capability to evaluate information found in television commercials.

·         Ensure that disclosures and disclaimers in advertising directed to children are conveyed in language clearly comprehensible to the intended audience (e.g., use “You have to put it together” rather than “some assembly required”).

My personal recommendation is to TiVo the shows your kids like and skip the commercials entirely or record the shows and fast forward through the commercials.

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
Medical Director
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I recently received an email from a reader in Massachusetts.  This article was sent from Georgia Rascon who says she “has the passion to share with family and friends tips to help them eat healthy to lower cholesterol and prevent heart disease”.

It is my pleasure to share Georgia’s article with you all.  Thank you Georgia.  We all share your passion.

________________________________________________________________

Little Known Cooking Techniques to Get Rid of High Cholesterol

To cut back the cholesterol and fat in your diet, follow these tips when you're cooking.  A variety of your best recipes can be made healthier merely by substituting lower-fat ingredients.  Consider the menu of ingredients on your own recipe and make the recipe a healthier one with the substituted ingredients.

What Can I Substitute?

·         As an alternative to whole eggs and egg yolks, use egg whites or ¼ cup egg substitute.

·

·         Instead of butter, use liquid or tub margarine, unsaturated vegetable oils, butter-flavored granules, herbs and spices to flavor food

·

·         As an alternative to mayonnaise, use non-fat yogurt, mustard, low-fat or non-fat mayonnaise.

·

·         In place of regular yogurt or sour cream, use non-fat yogurt or non-fat sour cream

·.

·         Rather than whole or 2% milk, use skim or 1% milk.

·

·         Instead of whole-milk ice cream, use ice milk, low-fat frozen yogurt, low-fat or non-fat ice cream or sorbet.

·

·         Instead of whole-milk cheese, use reduced-fat, low-fat or non-fat cheese.

·

·         Instead of whole-milk sour cream, use non-fat or low-fat sour cream or yogurt.

·

·         As an alternative to coconut oil, palm oil and palm kernel oil, use unsaturated oils, like safflower, sunflower, canola, and olive oil.

·

·         Instead of regular salad dressings, use low-fat or non-fat salad dressings and vinegars.

·

Use less fat in recipes.  Where a recipe requires 1 cup of butter, use ½ cup butter and replace the other half with 1/4 cup of prune puree.  You may make prune puree by pureeing 1 1/3 cups of pitted prunes and 6 tablespoons of warm water in a blender or mixer.  This makes one cup of puree.  For baked goods, you could replace 1 cup of butter, oil, margarine or shortening with 1 cup of applesauce and still have a moist, great-tasting item without many of the fat and calories.

Follow these guidelines for the healthiest cooking methods:

·         Bake, broil, roast, steam, microwave, poach, grill or stir-fry with just a little oil.

·

·         Use non-stick pans.

·.

·         Spray a light coating of vegetable oil in place of liquid oil or butter or cook with defatted broth, bouillon, fruit juices or wine.

·

·         Thicken sauces and soups with skim or 1% milk and a little flour or cornstarch rather than whole-milk products.

·

Several times a week, substitute non-animal sources of protein.  For example, tofu, beans, peas, or lentils instead of animal protein.  This can take some getting used to if you are a so-called meat-and-potatoes person.  If it is new for you, examine a few vegetarian cookbooks or magazines to get ideas for preparation methods and spices.

Make gradual changes.  Over time you'll get used to your new meals, plus your tastes will change.  Adding more vegetables can also increase your dietary fiber, which helps reduce your LDL - or bad - cholesterol.

Dietary fiber can be found in oats, oranges, pears, brussel sprouts, carrots, dried peas and beans.

You possibly can choose healthy foods and without realizing it add unhealthy ingredients if you aren't wise about how exactly you add flavor.  Use herbs in place of butter or margarine.  Or use a little unsaturated vegetable oil.  Many cookbooks have lists of herbs that enhance the flavor of foods.  Try some.  You're apt to discover some new flavors that you like.  Try basil on zucchini or use lemon pepper on broccoli.

The word homemade usually makes food sound better.  And, and in addition perhaps, it often tastes better too.  The true key is that it is usually healthier for you.  Use fewer prepackaged foods.  Prepackaged sauces and mixes and instant products, for example instant rice and pasta meals and instant cereals, often contain fat.  It might appear less convenient in the beginning but try recipes for rice dishes from low-fat cookbooks or magazines.

In the event you cannot bring your LDL - the bad cholesterol - down to a healthy level by reducing the quantity of fat and cholesterol you eat, try this.  Add food products such as margarines and salad dressings that lower cholesterol.

Try a simple low cholesterol recipe:  Marinated Barbequed Vegetables.

1 small eggplant, cut into 3/4 inch thick slices

2 small red sweet peppers, seeded and cut into wide strips

3 zucchinis, sliced

6 fresh mushrooms, stems removed

1/4 cup essential olive oil

1/4 cup lemon juice

1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh basil

2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced

Place eggplant, red peppers, zucchinis and fresh mushrooms in a medium bowl.

In another bowl whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, basil and garlic.  Pour the mixture over the vegetables, cover and marinate in the refrigerator at least 1 hour.

Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat.

Place vegetables directly on the grill or on skewers.  Cook on the prepared grill 2 to 3 minutes per side, brushing frequently with the marinade or to desired doneness.

Read more from Georgia on her personal hobby blog site focused entirely on ideas to eat healthy to prevent high-cholesterol - www.lowcholesterolrecipe.org. 

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
Medical Director
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You already know I am a big advocate of organic foods for so many different reasons.  A new study has now given me another reason to applaud organics.

LINK TO THE STUDY

Pesticides, all too commonly used on fruits and vegetables, are being found in children and these children are more likely to suffer from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) because of them.  The residue from these chemical compounds seems to be affecting the neural development of children. 

And it’s not the fruit and vegetables your kids don’t like.  It’s the ones they enjoy – berries, peaches, celery.  A 2008 federal report found that 28% of frozen blueberries and 19% of celery contained chemical compounds harmful to our children.

FEDERAL REPORT

Of course the pesticide manufacturers want scientists to conduct more research before making any conclusions.  And I’m sure they will.  But until pesticide and chemical use is further regulated, the research team for the study does have advice for concerned parents:  whenever possible, opt for organics. 

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
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Pop.  Soda.  Cola.  No matter where you live or what you call it, it’s still the same sugary sweet drink that people cannot seem to get enough of.

I recently read a report by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, conducted in the state of California, and their numbers are staggering.  I think, unfortunately, that these statistics are representative of most of our country.

·         41% of children ages 2-11 drink at least one soda every day

·         That number goes up to 62% for adolescents ages 12-17

·         Adults who drink one or more sodas each day are 27% more likely to be overweight or obese

·         The average American consumes 22 teaspoons of added sugar a day vs. the recommended 5-9.  That’s 200–400% more than recommended.

·         One 20 oz. single use bottle of soda has 17 teaspoons of sugar!

·         Soda is the #1 source of added sugar in the American diet

·         The average size of a soda has increased from 6.5 oz. in the 1950’s to 16.2 oz. today (149% increase)

·         Milk consumption, on the other hand, has decreased by 33% in the past 30 years

·         Each additional daily serving of soda increases a child’s chance for obesity by 60%

A medical study done by doctors in Boston and Harvard has found that for each additional serving of sugar-sweetened drink consumed, both body mass index (BMI) and frequency of obesity increased accordingly.

One of the easiest ways to avoid this sugar trap is to avoid the beverage aisle on your next shopping trip.  And continue avoiding it.  Not only will you save money, you’ll lose a few pounds too.

Also, try using calorie-reduced drinks such as underWAY™.  With only 10 calories per 8 oz. serving, you’ll be able to satisfy your sweet tooth all day long!

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
Medical Director
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As a weight loss doctor, I believe these medications, when used correctly, can be a great help for people who are obese.

These appetite suppressants have been used for years and have been proven safe and effective.  Unfortunately, they have an association with Fen-phen, which was a horrible drug with many problems.

I have used them in my practice, on certain patients.  These patients must have an elevated BMI (above 30), a “normal” EKG and have no other risk factors, including high blood pressure.

When I use these medications, I see great results.  A very good New England Journal of Medicine article supports this, when used with a medically supervised weight loss program.

In many cases, trying to get people to lose weight without these drugs is like trying to lower their blood pressure without medication.  I always like to say to doctors who don’t use these drugs that many of the anti-inflammatories they prescribe very liberally have much greater risks associated with them than these medications.

As much as overweight people want to just wish their weight away, it’s not possible and they may need medical help.  If so, there are some guidelines:

·         Do not buy these medications on the internet.

·         Do not use them unless you have had an EKG in the last year.

·         Use them only under a qualified doctor’s supervision.

Get Thin!

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
Medical Director
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I had an interesting case today.  A client who has already lost almost 40 pounds with the Smart for Life^® Cookie Diet had suddenly stopped losing weight for 2 weeks in a row.  When I asked her what’s going on, she told me the following story.

It was her birthday weekend and a few of her friends (who, by the way, are all overweight) took her out dancing.  The friends conspired to add vodka to her non-alcoholic calorie-free drinks that consisted of diet cola and sparkling water.  Every time she would come off the dance floor, her drink was laced with vodka.  She would take a sip then realize it contained alcohol.  She would then be handed a “clean” drink by another friend just to realize it was laced with vodka as well.  By the end of the night, she was drunk.  At this point her friends where literally pouring these laced drinks down her throat.

Resisting alcohol when you have been off it for 16 weeks, and being slightly tipsy, isn’t easy.  These friends completely sabotaged her diet.  They told her they loved her and that’s why they did it.  But in my office, she was crying, asking me “what kind of love is this?”

She tells me they went out the next weekend for another friend’s birthday and they tried to do the same thing.  This time she got smart and sniffed the drink before she drank it.  No alcohol entered her system that night.

Alcohol is a killer for weight loss.  One drink will stop your weight loss for up to 3 days.  Yes, alcohol is full of calories but that’s not the big issue - it’s the effect of alcohol on your liver.  Your liver is the place where fat gets converted to sugar to be burned up as energy.

Remember the philosophy some of your overweight friends may have when they see you losing weight:  “If I can’t be thin, than let all my friends be fat.”

Be strong around your friends when they try to sabotage your diet.  And remember to sniff before you drink!

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
Medical Director
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Want an easy way to keep 10 pounds a year off?  Take the stairs!

Since I was an intern I got used to taking the stairs.  It was much quicker to go up or down a few flights to see sick patients than to wait for a crowded elevator.  The few minutes in the quiet staircase also gave me time to think about the next case, rather than spending the time talking “shop” in the elevator.

Since then I usually take the stairs, unless it’s more than 10 flights or so. J

Our office is located on the third floor, with a garage level.  I go up and down 4 floors twice a day, sometimes, more, every weekday.

I calculate each floor as 2 staircases or 2 flights, and that I use about 2 calories going up and a little less coming down.  That adds up to me burning 10 calories.  I usually go up and down twice daily so that puts me at burning 20 calories per day.  In a year’s time that adds up to 5, 000 calories, if you calculate 250 working days.   That’s a saving of about 1.5 pounds per year or 15 pounds over 10 years.

If you go up and down 20 flights per day, and that could be any combination of one flight 20 times or five flights, four times, it will add up to about 10 pounds.

Other benefits include building some muscle, giving your cardio system a small workout and getting a few quiet moments to yourself to relax.  You also save energy and help the planet.

Get thinner!  Get healthier!  Take the stairs!

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
Medical Director
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In the May 2010 issue of Chatelaine magazine, in a section appropriately named “Smart Cookie”, five of the healthiest, most nutritious cookies were rated.  Our Smart for Life^® diet cookie came in as “most filling.”  The magazine indentified the Smart For Life^®   cookies as the only meal replacing cookie in the group.

Smart for Life^® has received multiple awards, including a 87% rating on dietsinreview.com.  The bakery where our products are manufactured received recently a 100% cleanliness score during an inspection by a major third party.  A 100% score is so rare that even the president of the inspecting company personally wrote us a letter praising this achievement.  The Smart for Life^® Cookie Diet won the Consumers Choice Award in 2007.

The Smart for Life^® Cookie Diet team works very hard to keep these high standards.  After all, we produce a diet product that people eat.  Our team understands how the diet foods we make improve people’s health and helps them lose weight.  This dedication makes us the leader in our industry.

As my good friend and our COO Richard Kayne says, “How often do you see a food or beverage company have a board certified medical doctor who is a weight loss specialist on staff involved in developing the products?  We do and because of this we keep coming up with great products that win us praise.”

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
Medical Director
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Chemicals from this disastrous oil spill may end up traveling through your blood stream in the near future.

What many people don’t realize is how far the toxic chemicals from these types of industrial accidents end up traveling.  For example, some water contaminated with oil will eventually make it to shore.  This water will get into the wildlife’s diet.  Even if we don’t eat this wildlife directly, the wildlife will die with these toxins in its body.  It will penetrate the ground water and enter our water system that we drink. The municipal water treatment plant will then have a minor malfunction and some contaminated water will enter the system.

This water may be used for baking by your local bakery or cooking by your favorite restaurant.  Even if used for irrigation, some parts per million will get in.  You will buy the bread or eat the hamburger or perhaps snack on fruit that was irrigated with contaminated water.  The toxins are now traveling through your blood stream.  From the leaking oil well 5000 feet below the ocean to your blood stream may take as little as 6 months.

I recommend that you immediately avoid eating any “food” harvested in the area of the spill such as fish, shrimp, oysters, etc. 

We should never drill an oil well in the middle of the ocean.   It is a foolish idea because we now see how we really cannot control these situations.  If there is a leak, water is the perfect medium to carry these toxins literally around the planet.  By drilling in the middle of the ocean we are asking for trouble.

Make sure your local bakeries and local restaurants where you shop are using triple filtered water.  Here at Smart for Life^® Cookie Diet we have used triple filtered water for the last 4 years.  Starbucks^® also uses triple filtered water because we know that it makes a difference.

Filter your water at home.

Buy as much organic foods as you can because it is usually much cleaner and has less toxic preservatives than non-organic.  We make our diet products with as much organic ingredients as possible.

Let’s all hope they will be able to block this leak and restore our environment as soon as possible.  It is a very sad situation.

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
Medical Director
Smart For Life Cookie Diet
TheCookieDiet.com
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The word diet really means what you eat during the day.  The difference in how long you will live, how much you will weigh, what disease you will get and even how happy you will be depends a lot on what you eat every day or your diet.

A good diet should consist of a balanced source of protein, fiber, complex carbohydrates, good fats, five servings of vegetables and some fruits.  The Smart for Life^® Cookie Diet makes that easy and all these good-for-you diet foods are in our products including diet cookies, diet soups, diet shakes and more.

Our Smart for Life^® diet program will keep you motivated as you will lose a lot of weight fast, usually 4 to 5 pounds the first week and 1.5 to 2.5 lbs. every week after.  (We don’t exaggerate like a lot of other diet companies do.)  These results have been substantiated in a study of the Smart for Life^® Cookie Diet.

A good diet product should also be free of toxic preservatives (find out more about shelf stable food) and made with organic ingredients that are pesticide free.  Filtered water is key because you are sure that it is clean.  We use it to make our Smart for Life^® diet products.  We triple filter all water that comes into our bakeries.

As a board certified bariatric physician (weight loss doctor), I created the Smart for Life^® diet plan and have helped thousands of people diet to a healthier weight  and drop millions of pounds.

Besides offering you great products, we also add ingredients into our diet products that will make you even healthier.  Herofiber™, a super fiber blend, is great for your diet and it’s in most of our products.  Fish oil, another great healthy diet food, is in most of our products.  Also included are plant sterols, inulin, flaxseed, whole oats and canola oil (a much better diet oil).

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
Medical Director
Smart For Life Cookie Diet
TheCookieDiet.com
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You know from my past blogs that I’m a fan of organic foods but you’re probably wondering why.  What’s the difference?

Not just anyone can make organic foods.  Did you know that organic foods come with strict regulations?  They must be certified by the Quality Assurance International group (QAI) which has very high standards and performs rigorous tests.  Once a food has passed their assessment it should be stamped with a Certified Organic by QAI sticker or label.  This ensures that you know the food you are eating is genuinely healthy.

Some claims state that organic foods can help to lower your risk of cancer.  Still today weed and insect killers are used on many fruits and vegetables even though the EPA considers them dangerous.  These chemicals are not used on organic foods hence the claim that organic foods reduce your cancer risk.

I just think organic foods taste better.  And since it tastes better I’m more likely to try other organic foods and improve my health at the same time.  Without the chemicals and pesticides, the soil is cleaner and produces better results, which means better tasting food.  Yummy for us!

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
Medical Director
Smart For Life Cookie Diet
TheCookieDiet.com
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I get asked by parents all the time:  Is peanut butter and jelly good for my kids?  The answer is yes, PBJs are good, but switching to an ABJ is even better.

What’s an ABJ, you ask?  It’s the healthier, more nutritious almond butter and jelly sandwich AND your kids will love it. 

The ever popular peanut butter and jelly sandwich is a great quick meal you can prepare for your kids.  Unfortunately a lot of peanut butter is filled with preservatives and high in saturated fats.  It is better to serve your kids store-ground almond butter, preferably organic and organic source jelly.  You will get a much healthier sandwich and your kids will not notice the difference.

You should also choose your bread carefully to get an even healthier sandwich.  Try whole wheat or thin slice.  Even better yet, use the Smart bagel chips from Smart for Life Cookie Diet.  You do not need to put a top layer on.  Just use one slice of bread or bagel chip.

Here is a quick chart comparing almond butter to peanut butter.  Not only is it lower in saturated fats but the saturated fats in almonds are actually good for you.

The USDA recommends eating foods that contain less than 10% saturated fat per serving.

Almond butter is higher in fiber and minerals and lower in saturated fat.  Once you try it, you’ll like it and your kids will too.  Remember….“ABJ”….you heard it here first! J

We recently conducted a study on 46 subjects who visited our Smart for Life^® Weight Management Center in Boca Raton, Florida.  All subjects lost weight with the average being 13.1 pounds in 35 days.  Five subjects lost over 20 pounds in 35 days and 20 subjects lost over 15 pounds in the first 35 days.  The 46 participants lost a total of 601 pounds with one patient losing 38.7 pounds in 35 days.

This study is very significant because a loss of 5-10% has shown clinical improvement in people’s health which is far greater than the amount of weight they lost. 

The average client’s body mass index (BMI) dropped by 2.5 points from 31.5 to 29.  Most people dropped more than 5% of their body weight and many lost 10%.  I find this clinically significant because we know the health benefits from 5% to 10% weight loss are huge.  When individuals can achieve these results in a short 5 to 6 weeks with relative ease, I see this as a great way for people to start on a path to a healthier lifestyle.

Subjects were instructed to eat 6 Smart for Life^® Diet Cookies a day (or Smart for Life Cupcakes, bagel chips, shakes, soups, crunch, cereals and more that are the equivalent of a cookie).   Each day subjects drank at least 64 ounces of water and ate 6-12 ounces of lean protein with 5 servings of vegetables.  All subjects were seen by a physician before starting and then weighed weekly.

This study proves what our clients already know – that weight loss is achievable.  We have proven that our program is easy and provides quick, safe weight loss.  I believe we are the only one of the “cookie diets” that has released such a study. I always knew we had the best products and this study goes a long way to support our thinking. 

We plan to schedule a longer study with a larger sample group in order to review how its results measure up to these recent findings.

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
Medical Director
Smart For Life Cookie Diet
TheCookieDiet.com
under-way.com
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A new study by researcher Paul Kenny of the Scripps Research Institute has found that those fatty foods you enjoy so much may be as addictive as cocaine and heroin.

The scientists allowed lab rats to stuff themselves round-the-clock on foods such as bacon, sausage and sweet treats and found that it caused addiction-like responses in their brains similar to the reaction rats addicted to cocaine and heroin exhibited in previous studies.

They suspect these same chemical changes that occurred in the rats when they were overeating may also occur in humans.  Paul Kenney explains, “People know intuitively that there’s more to [overeating] than just willpower.  There’s a system in the brain that’s been turned on or over-activated and that’s driving it at some subconscious level.”

Food addiction, like any other addiction, is a challenge to overcome.  Treat it as seriously as you would any other medical condition or addiction.  Eating a Smart for Life cookie instead of the fatty meal will keep you in check.  You cannot cure it, but you can certainly control it.  It could save your life.

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
Medical Director
Smart For Life Cookie Diet
TheCookieDiet.com
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As a weight loss doctor, I get many jokes about dieting.  Sometimes they are really funny and I wanted to share them with you.

Q:  Doctor, I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong your life.  Is this true?  

A:  Your heart is only good for so many beats and that’s it.  Don't waste them on exercise.  Everything wears out eventually.  Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer.  That’s like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving faster.  Want to live longer?  Take a nap.  

Q:  Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?

A:  You must grasp logistical efficiency.  What does a cow eat?  Hay and corn.  And what are these?  Vegetables.  So steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system.  Need grain?  Eat chicken.  Beef is also a good source of field grass, a green leafy vegetable.  And pork chops can give you 100% of the recommended daily allowance of vegetable product. 

Q:  Should I reduce my alcohol intake?   

A:  No, not at all.  Wine is made from fruit.  Brandy is distilled wine.  That means they take water out of fruit bits so you get even more goodness that way.  Beer is also made of grain.  Bottoms up! 

Q:  How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?  

A:  Well, if you have a body and you have fat, your ratio is one to one.  If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc. 

Q:  What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?

A:  Can't think of single one, sorry.  My philosophy is:  No pain...good!

Q:  Aren't fried foods bad for you?   
A:  YOU ARE NOT LISTENING!  Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil.  In fact, they are permeated by it.  How could getting more vegetables be bad for you?!?   

Q:  Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?  
A:  Definitely not!  When you exercise muscle, it gets bigger.  You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.  

Q:  Is chocolate bad for me?   
A:  Are you crazy?  HEL-LO-O!!  Cocoa beans!  Another vegetable!  It’s the best feel-good food around! 

Get thin!

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
Medical Director
Smart For Life Cookie Diet
TheCookieDiet.com
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Although I don’t believe in point systems and counting calories, I get so many requests to give values of our food in Weight Watchers points that I decided to give in.  Finally, here it is:

Cookies and muffins                       2 points

Shakes                                              3 points

Zilch                                                   0 points

Soup without noodles                     2 points

Soup with noodles                          3 points

Bagel chips                                       1 point

So there it is -- use it and lose it!

But isn’t it easier just to eat 6 cookies or their equivalent a day and a lean protein and salad……..and six cookies are only 12 points. J

If Weight Watchers works for you, use it.  The points are listed above.  Good luck.  Many people have had weight loss success with Weight Watchers and I have always respected their program but by eating our products you get 60% organic healthy stuff into your body.  Remember, no matter which program, stay away from shelf stable foods.

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
Medical Director
Smart For Life Cookie Diet
TheCookieDiet.com
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I recently began seeing an overweight couple at our Smart for Life Cookie Diet Center.  The gentleman was 60 pounds overweight and his wife was 50 pounds overweight.  They both started out quite well, losing a combined 17 pounds in the first two weeks.  But the next visit with me, which was on a Thursday, they lost nothing for that week.  In fact, the wife gained a pound.  I went over their eating history very closely.  They denied any cheating and claimed they were sticking to the Smart for Life Cookie Diet as they always did.  I told them we’ll watch what happens over the next week and decide then.

On the Sunday following their visit, I went to the mall to pick up a new pair of running shoes.  As I was walking by the food court, I see this couple.  They are with two children, sitting with plates of French fries and other fast food.  They were completely oblivious to me.  I was going to go over and say hello but I said to myself, let’s see if they tell me about this at our next weekly accountability meeting.  I also noticed the children were both very overweight.

The couple arrived at their next week’s appointment.  The wife lost nothing and her husband was up one pound.  I asked them how their week was, what they ate over the weekend, etc.  They claimed they did not cheat.  I then bluntly told them I saw them at the food court.  I wasn’t spying but I would not be doing my job if I didn’t tell them.  A discussion ensued where I pointed out to them that both kids were overweight and they could not afford to eat like this as a family.  I hope they got the message.  We will see.

The point is that people so casually in our society get into the habit of eating poorly.  They don’t even see how they are robbing themselves.  It reminds me of an old story where a poor farmer would bring bales of hay into the city every month for sale.  Since the farmer didn’t know how to count, the buyer would put a penny into a cup every time the farmer carried a bale in from the wagon.  When the farmer was finished, the buyer would count the pennies and give him 25 cents for each penny.  But the farmer would steal a few pennies here and there from the cup when the buyer wasn’t looking, not knowing that he is actually stealing from himself.   Don’t be like this farmer.  When you eat poorly you are robbing yourself from life, health and happiness.

Furthermore, if you have kids, you are overweight and you eat poorly, you have a double obligation to you and your children.  If both parents are overweight, their kids have an 80% chance of being obese.  I may sound harsh but it’s the truth, the whole truth and nothing but….

Two great resources for parents, and their children, to learn more about healthy eating are http://www.fda.gov/spottheblock and www.spottheblock.com.

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
Medical Director
Smart For Life Cookie Diet
TheCookieDiet.com
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We all know the disadvantages of sugar and how bad it is for you but now the American Heart Association is urging consumers to seriously cut back on the amount of sugar they get from foods such as soft drinks, cookies and ice cream.  You may not think you are consuming that much sugar but you know there have been times when you have had all three of these foods in one day.

Studies show that women should limit their sugar intake to 100 calories, or about six teaspoons, a day; for men, 150 calories, or nine teaspoons.  Sound like a lot?  Just one 12-ounce can of cola has about 130 calories, or eight teaspoons of sugar.  One soda and you’ve reached or passed your daily sugar allowance. 

A national survey has shown that Americans consume on average 355 calories, or more than 22 teaspoons, of sugar a day.  That’s just crazy.  Our bodies are not meant or designed to process so much sugar.  That is why we have an obesity and diabetic epidemic.

The American Heart Association has continually warned us to watch our sugar intake but now it is suggesting specific limits.  These limits apply to what are known as added sugars - those that are added to foods during manufacturing, or by consumers.  They do not include sugar that occurs naturally in fruits, vegetables, dairy products and other foods.

I urge you to keep track of your sugar intake.  You may not realize all the sugar you are eating.  It’s mostly found in soft drinks, candy, desserts such as cakes and cookies, fruit drinks and sweetened dairy products, including ice cream and yogurt.  Don’t forget that sugar in alcoholic beverages also counts as added sugar.  All these added sugars do not give you any health benefit whatsoever.  All they do for you is add calories.

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
Medical Director
Smart For Life Cookie Diet
TheCookieDiet.com
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Lighten Up Your Favorite Recipes – Here Are Some Ideas                                                                

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
Medical Director
Smart For Life Cookie Diet
TheCookieDiet.com
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First Lady Michelle Obama has announced her new campaign against childhood obesity -Let’s Move!  And that’s just what she wants children to do.  And just because she knows the big man in the White House, do not expect the government to fund this initiative.

As parents, you need to take the first step in helping your child to a strong and healthy future.

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
Medical Director
Smart For Life Cookie Diet
TheCookieDiet.com
under-way.com
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Many times I see patients or hear of clients who tend to blame others or certain circumstances for their weight gain.  They say things such as “I was invited to a party and they had nothing healthy to eat” or “I was on vacation and I just had to eat”.  You get the idea.

Although there are definitely a group of individuals who are overweight due to no fault of their own, it is a small group usually related to metabolic issues or taking medication such as prednisone or certain antidepressant drugs.  The rest of us just eat too much and it’s our own fault.

Like Micheal Jackson says in his song “The Man in the Mirror”:  I'm starting with the man in the mirror.  I'm asking him to change his ways.  Maybe it’s time to change your ways.

Look within yourself to see if you are at fault for your weight issues.  Have you been eating too much?  Eating junk food?  Going back for seconds or thirds?  Many people start a diet and throw in the towel way too quickly.  Did you ever do that?  If you are at fault, then make a change.  It’s never too late.  It may be hard and there will be some suffering, but it’s a lot less than the suffering of being, to be blunt, “fat and sick”.  Trust me.  The suffering people go through from being overweight, both emotionally and due to medical health consequences, are much worse than resisting some tempting food.

If you can’t do it alone, seek help from your friends, your doctors or Smart for Life^® Cookie Diet.  You have to do it because the rewards are so great.

Enough already!  Get thin!

With tough love,?

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
Medical Director
Smart For Life Cookie Diet
TheCookieDiet.com
under-way.com
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Recently I shared with you an alert from the American Society of Bariatric Physicians regarding a counterfeit version of Alli 60 mg. capsules which contained the controlled substance sibutramine.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has now issued a warning about not using sibutramine (Meridia) in patients with a history of cardiovascular disease.

The FDA notified healthcare professionals that the review of additional data indicates an increased risk of heart attack and stroke in patients with a history of cardiovascular disease using sibutramine.  Based on the serious nature of the review findings, the FDA requested and the manufacturer agreed to add a new contraindication to the sibutramine drug label stating that sibutramine is not to be used in patients with a history of cardiovascular disease, including:

History of coronary artery disease (e.g., heart attack, angina)

History of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA)

History of heart arrhythmias

History of congestive heart failure

History of peripheral arterial disease

Uncontrolled hypertension (e.g., > 145/90 mmHg)

Patients currently using sibutramine should talk with their healthcare professional to determine if continued use of sibutramine is appropriate and discuss any questions they may have about their treatment.

Read the complete MedWatch 2010 Safety summary, including a link to the FDA Follow-up Communication and the original MedWatch alert, at:

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm198221.htm.

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
Medical Director
Smart For Life Cookie Diet
TheCookieDiet.com
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Congratulations!  You’ve taken a big step deciding you want to lose weight.  The next step is how you are going to do that.  You’ve looked at different diet programs and have narrowed it down.  But are you sure you know all there is to know about that diet you’re considering?  Is it the right one for YOU and your specific health needs?  If you do not know, you are not alone.

There is not enough information provided by popular diets letting consumers know what the health effects of their particular diet are.  It has become a growing public health concern.  Consumers often make decisions without answers to basic questions.  They are left without information on the benefits, health risks and effectiveness of these popular diets.

You may find information online posted by others but how much can you trust this information when it comes to your health?  You need actual established research that you can trust.

Our website (www.smartforlife.com) provides a diet comparison which provides details on the following specifics for 10 different diets:  physician supervised/available, physical exam, EKG, lab work, metabolic evaluation/treatment, weekly weigh-in, preservatives, vitamins, supplements, organic and natural ingredients and several other categories.

The Smart for Life^® Cookie Diet Medical Program is the only program where you are supervised by a physician.  This is the best way to address the health effects of any diet.  Your questions are immediately answered by a healthcare professional.  There is no guesswork or wondering involved.

It pays to do your homework and get educated about any diet program.  Now that you’ve gotten “smart”, get Smart for Life^®!

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
Medical Director
Smart For Life Cookie Diet
TheCookieDiet.com
under-way.com
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From 1960 to 2004, the rate of obesity in the United States has increased from 13% to 31%.  In 2004, 71% of US adults were overweight or obese!  71%!!  That’s an outrageously high number of our population.

It has been shown in trials and studies that financial incentive-based weight loss programs may work……in the beginning.

One study consisted of three groups.  One group was a “control” group, which was not offered any incentives.  The second group was a “lottery” based group in which participants played a lottery and received the earnings if they achieved or lost more than the target weight.  A “deposit contract” group had participants invest their own money, which they lost if they failed to achieve their weight loss goals. 

The use of these incentives did produce weight loss during the 16 weeks of the study however it was not fully sustained by any group.  These studies show that incentive groups do lose more weight than control groups, but only during the study period.  Once the study was completed, all three groups had gained weight. 

The idea of losing weight is great but you need to be able to maintain it and keep the weight off with a lifestyle program you can live with.

A financial incentive-based program may work for a week but to stay healthy and keep the weight off, you need to follow and maintain a program where the incentives are worth much more.  They are actually priceless!  Your waistline, your cholesterol level, your bone health, your intestinal health, your glucose level, your insulin level, your heart health, your smiling face, your good mood, your happiness…….The best incentive is you!

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
Medical Director
Smart For Life Cookie Diet
TheCookieDiet.com
under-way.com
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Many people, including children, do not realize much of their weight gain comes from drinking calorie-rich drinks.  For example, drinking a regular can of soda per day will add 20 pounds to your weight.  How?  The average soda has 200 calories.  That’s an additional 73,000 calories in a year!  (365 days a year X 200 calories a day)  One pound contains 3,500 calories.  That works out to 20 pounds per year!  (73,000 calories per year divided by 3, 500 calories per pound)  Wow!

Every 10 pounds adds about 2 inches to your waist line, which increases your risk by 17% for many diseases.  The average child needs to gain about 10 pounds per year, not 20 pounds.  Unfortunately many children are gaining even more than that and adding health risks and misery to their lives.

Here are several calorie ranges for popular drinks:

100% apple juice                             192 to 300 calories

100% orange juice                           168 to 280 calories

Lemonade                                         168 to 280 calories

Regular cola, ginger ale, etc.         136 to 227 calories

Sport drinks                                       99 to 165 calories

underWAY                                        20 calories

Unsweetened iced tea                    2 to 4 calories.

Diet soda                                           0 calories

Water                                                  0 calories

I would recommend that you read the labels carefully.  If it contains more than 20 calories per serving, do not buy it and do not bring it home.

Get thin!  Stay thin!

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
Medical Director
Smart For Life Cookie Diet
TheCookieDiet.com
under-way.com
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You know me as someone who is concerned about the health and obesity of the world, as someone who asks people to eat a cookie and lose the weight.  Now I’m asking you to skip a meal, lose the weight, save the money and send it to Haiti.

Since I started Smart for Life^® Cookie Diet - I have never asked anyone to skip a meal.  We all know we need the health and nutrition provided by food.  But today I am urging all Americans to skip one meal, lose the weight along the way and as you save the money on that meal, send it to the disadvantaged people of Haiti.

We eat too much.  They do not eat enough.  We could all afford to skip a meal we probably do not need, and the money we save can be sent to Haiti. 

 We are asking people to donate $10.00 and receive a Smart for Life^® Cookie Diet cookie.  The diet cookie will help you skip a meal without feeling hungry.  We are hoping to give away at least 10,000 Smart for Life^® diet cookies which will raise at least $100,000 for the people of Haiti.  By giving away thousands of our 105 calorie Smart for Life^® diet cookies to help people in the US skip a meal, without feeling the hunger, we can all help assist with the turmoil in Haiti. 

It is estimated that over 300,000 people die a year from obesity (center for disease control).  If you add the millions (world health organization) who die from malnutrition, that is a real disaster.  All these extra calories can be skipped by us and sent as cash to help the people in Haiti.  Think about having nothing to eat at all!

Sending a monetary donation to Haiti is better than food because it helps their local economy and provides them with the opportunity to purchase the provisions they need.  We can aid in improving the health in all areas in both nations.

It sickens me to see people lined up in mall food courts to spend money on garbage food that is going to harm them.  These same people then go home and watch malnourished people lining up in the streets for the little food they can find.  Please skip the meal and send the money you would have spent in the food court to the people of Haiti.

The Smart for Life^® diet cookies will be distributed through our centers, free of charge, one per person.  To locate a Smart for Life^® center, please visit our website at www.smartforlife.com/SFL_Locations.aspx.

Volunteers will also be distributing the Smart for Life^® diet cookies in businesses and malls next week.  To find other ways to help the people of Haiti, please visit www.smartforlife.com/haiti.

Please……… Skip a meal.  Lose the weight.  Save the money.  Send it to Haiti!

I received the following alert from the American Society of Bariatric Physicians and would like to share it with you.

Alli 60 mg capsules (120 count refill kit): Counterfeit Product

FDA notified consumers and healthcare professionals about a counterfeit and potentially harmful version of Alli 60 mg capsules (120 count refill kit).  The counterfeit version contained the controlled substance sibutramine and did not contain orlistat, the active ingredient.  Sibutramine is a drug that should not be used in certain patient populations or without physician oversight.  Sibutramine can also interact in a harmful way with other medications the consumer may be taking.  GSK has determined that the counterfeit product has been sold over the internet.  However, there is no evidence at this time that the counterfeit Alli product has been sold through other channels, such as retail stores. The differences between the counterfeit and authentic products are described in both text and photos in the FDA news release.

Consumers who believe they have received counterfeit Alli are asked to contact the FDA's Office of Criminal Investigations (OCI) by calling 800-551-3989 or by visiting the OCI Web site (http://www.fda.gov/OCI).

Any adverse events that may be related to use should be reported to the FDA's MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program online [at www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report.htm], by phone 1-800-332-1088, or by returning the postage-paid FDA form 3500 [which may be downloaded from the MedWatch "Download Forms" page] by mail [to address on the pre-addressed form] or fax [1-800-FDA-0178].

Read the complete MedWatch 2010 Safety summary, including a link to the FDA news release with photographs and description of differences between the authentic and counterfeit product, at: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm197862.htm

Thank you, once again, to the American Society of Bariatric Physicians (link) for keeping us informed.

Best regards,

Parents had better get a back bone if they want healthy kids!

Parents have become wimps ruled by their kids when it comes to food choices.  Recently in my office, I saw an overweight 12-year-old girl whose concerned parents brought her in because she was 30 pounds overweight and complaining of fatigue. What amazed me most was that during the educational process, this child turned to her parents and basically told them that she will decide what to eat and what to buy, and they can’t do anything about it.  Then she left the center and her parents could not get her back in.

Of course, this is an extreme example, but I have seen it too many times.  Parents come in with good intentions and their kids overpowering them with aggressive, degrading speech.  More often than not, the parents just sit there without any significant or meaningful response. I also see it in the shopping carts of parents when buying high fat, high sugar foods to please their kids.  They are simply unable to say ‘No’ to their kids when it comes to these poor choices.

It seems as if everyone is working against the parents: The huge food companies are brainwashing them and their children.  Parents are afraid of controlling their children because they do not want to be called an ‘abuser’.  This fear has been perpetuated by the media who focus on those rare cases where good parents are accused by a state agency.

Parents must get over this and learn to say ‘No’ to poor quality food.  If you have to put it back on the shelf or leave it at the checkout counter, be strong, don’t bring it home.  Remember, if it gets into your home, it will get into your kids.

Another observation, I have watched parents at popular coffee shops be manipulated by 9-year-old children who insist on having a 1000 calorie drink, full of fat and empty calories, and double the price of healthy alternatives.

Enough already!  Just say ‘No’ – the sooner you start the better.  Yes, there will be a tough week or two but stick to your guns and remain firm.  Your kids will thank you when they are older.  I have seen too many overweight, depressed teenagers.  Trust me, the pain from being overweight and depressed at 17 is much greater than not having a sugary drink for a week at the age of 9.

Here are some games/quizzes to share with your kids to start the conversation and introduce new “rules” to the family.   Of course, on-going parenting will continually be necessary from teaching kids about good nutrition and choices to be made.

• Explain the food groups for adequate growth and ask where their favorite foods fall.
• Show the kids the nutrition panels of foods to compare calories, fat, sugars, sodium – that alone may prompt them to make a healthier choice.  Arm them with the information and then they will be able to be in control.  Rarely will a kid seriously choose something unhealthy when given the information.  If they do…put your foot down and tell them that you will not allow it.
• Allow occasional splurges but let the kids earn them and have them keep track of how many per day.  Just cutting back on 1-2 per day will be a start in the right direction.
• For smaller children, be the family’s “Healthy Hero” and challenge them to pick nutritious choices in a fun, light manner.

Keep an eye out for a FREE educational video I am creating especially for parents that will be on youtube.com.  I think it will help some parents improve their parenting skills and stand up to their kids.

Be strong, it’s good to say ‘No’ to your kids when they make poor choices.

Happy New Year!

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
Medical Director
Smart For Life Cookie Diet
TheCookieDiet.com
under-way.com
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Many people do not realize the dangers of shelf stable foods.  A shelf stable food is one normally stored in the refrigerator which has been altered so that it can be stored at room temperature for a long shelf life.

Shelf stable food contains bacteria which do not eat the food.  If bacteria is not eating it, why are you?  Many weight loss companies use shelf stable food as part of their program.  It is easily shipped unrefrigerated, reduces costs and increases profits.  The consumers get all the risks and very few benefits.

The risks arise from the various food preservation techniques used to extend a food’s shelf  life.  Decreasing the amount of water, increasing its acidity, or irradiating/sterilizing the food and then sealing in an air-tight container, can all extend a food’s shelf life.  Additives such as sodium phosphate are used to make food last a very long time unrefrigerated.  Many countries have banned some of the preservatives to produce shelf stable foods that are still allowed in the United States.

Another reason to increase shelf life revolves around common oils and fats that would become rancid quickly if not refrigerated.  Food manufacturers replaced these oils and fats with trans fats in order to delay the onset of rancidity thus increasing shelf life.  Would you eat an unrefrigerated chicken and pasta dish that is over a year old? Yet many weight loss companies want customers to do just that.

Consumers should avoid shelf stable food altogether.  If you think it should be refrigerated or frozen, you are probably right.  Instead use as much fresh, and preferably organic based foods.  Frozen entrees are usually not a problem but the label should be checked to be sure.  I recommend fresh chicken, fish and seafood and frozen is good as well, especially if it is organic.

It pays to be educated about the food you eat and your eating lifestyle.  Once you know what goes into the foods you eat, you can better build your body to be as healthy as possible.

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
Medical Director
Smart For Life Cookie Diet
TheCookieDiet.com
under-way.com
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As a member of the American Society of  Bariatric Physicians , I get these alerts from time to time.

This next alert is one I should share with you.

I would like to thank the ASBP for doing a great job.

Dear ASBP Member,

We would like to bring your attention to a potentially deceptive product called Fastin that many of your patients may be attracted to.

In the past, there was a prescription medication version of phentermine called "Fastin." This brand name drug was manufactured by King Pharmaceuticals. That specific prescription medicine was removed from the market by King in 1998 and is no longer available in the US.

An over-the-counter supplement maker (Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals) has acquired the rights to the name only and is marketing its own version of Fastin in ways similar enough to confuse patients. It is important to know that this is not the same medication! For more information on the ingredients in this new supplement, please visit the website www.fastin.org. 

For more information go to www.asbp.org or the www.fda.gov web site.

Best regards

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
Medical Director
Smart For Life Cookie Diet
TheCookieDiet.com
under-way.com
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Recently I blogged that food advertising is such a science that the average customer has no chance of being able to stop eating high sugar, high fat foods.

Whether you are watching television or walking in a mall, companies are able to get you to salivate for their food.  They persuade you to spend good money on food you do not really need.  If it ends up making you sick, it will cost you more in healthcare dollars.

It amazes me when I see overweight adults and children waiting in line to give their money and health away for a bag of fried, high fat, low nutrient, poor quality food.  Most people in our society are in a trance brought on by millions of television commercials and other forms of advertising where we can’t say “no”.  What chance does a mother have to say no to that burger and fries when her kids have seen a scientifically put- together commercial to get them to purchase this food?

There is no easy solution except other companies need to come up with healthy foods and advertise just as much and educate the public.  Over time, if enough companies began to produce food that is made with good fats, low sugar, more fiber and more nutrients, maybe the public will shift their focus and start waking up from this nightmare that overweight and obesity has unleashed on us and our children.

Ultimately the change will have to come from the public; they have to decide if they want to be a healthy weight or a sick weight.  If they keep spending their hard earned money on poor quality food, these companies will keep making them.  If the public begins to be more demanding and buy less food, these companies will not have so much money to advertise.  They are using our own money to sell us unhealthy food.  We are paying for our own demise.

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
Medical Director
Smart For Life Cookie Diet
TheCookieDiet.com
under-way.com
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In a previous blog I explained many of the benefits Smart for Life^® Cookie Diet provides that other diets do not.  One of those benefits is that we use triple filtered water because most municipal water systems have contaminates in them and sometimes more.

It seems water contamination is in the news every day.  A recent research study shows that an estimated one in 10 Americans have been exposed to drinking water that contains dangerous chemicals.

Because most water pollutants have no scent or taste, many people do not realize they are consuming these chemicals, even after they become sick.

This is why we only use triple filtered water.  We continue to emphasize that the Smart for Life^® Cookie Diet Program is based on sound scientific facts and water contamination is one area that has been studied consistently.

The research study also reported that “because it is difficult to determine what causes diseases like cancer, it is impossible to know how many illnesses are the result of water pollution, or contaminants’ role in the health problems of specific individuals”.

That is why Smart for Life^® Cookie Diet provides clients with support and expert guidance because we know that working together with a doctor will help you achieve weight loss results faster and with more success.  If you have any health conditions or medications that require close attention, our Smart for Life staff and Medical Director (Dr. Sass) are available to you.

You can also check your home’s water as well.  To start, check your water utility’s “Consumer Confidence Report,” which it must mail to you each year before July 1 by law.  The report details where your drinking water comes from, what contaminants have been found in it and how contaminant levels compare to national standards.  You can also call your utility and ask for a copy, or visit http://www.epa.gov/safewater to see if it’s online

The Smart for Life^® Cookie Diet team will continue to go above and beyond the usual requirements to provide a safe and effective program that ensures your short and long term success.  Triple filtered water is just one more beneficial step we add to your weight loss journey.

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
Medical Director
Smart For Life Cookie Diet
TheCookieDiet.com
under-way.com
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We assume our drinking water is safe but little do we know what lurks in our glasses.

I previously blogged about the Smart for Life Cookie Diet's triple filtered water program and talk about it under our Product Philosophy but I wanted to pass along additional information and steps that you can use to protect your own water supply.

·         Ask your public water system for copies of any public notices they have issued regarding violations over the past few years.

·         Ask your public water system for copies of the monitoring results for both regulated and unregulated contaminants in the water.

·         Call your state drinking water program to verify the accuracy of the information your water system provides you and to find information your water supplier will not provide.  Beware, however, for some states downplay problems of local water systems.

·         If your water is contaminated, ask your water utility, state regulators, the EPA and elected representative to clean it up.

You may also want to have your own water tested.  You can locate a certified laboratory in your state by contacting the EPA Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791. 

Many people who have water problems have switched to bottled water.  Unfortunately, bottled water is regulated no more strictly than tap water.  Enforcement is minimal so there is no assurance that bottled water is safer to drink than tap water.  To learn more visit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration website at http://www.fda.gov.

Regulations have been changed and improvements are being made but we still have a way to go before our nation’s water supply is pure and essentially free of toxins.

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
Medical Director
Smart For Life Cookie Diet
TheCookieDiet.com
under-way.com
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This week I was asked by an overweight patient if she could stop her Smart for Life^® Cookie Diet over the holidays.  I explained that many people do not realize that being overweight or obese is a serious medical issue with serious consequences.

If you are overweight, you are at risk of spending your holidays in the emergency room.

Many people who overindulge during the holidays get the following symptoms:

Chest pain:  You will never know if it is a heart attack until you go to the ER for an EKG and blood work.  But you will spend at least 12 hours at the ER worrying about whether you are dying or not.  And don’t forget, the family at home who will stop celebrating and start worrying.

Abdominal pain:  It could be gallstones--another common reason for ER visits.  You will spend 4 to 6 hours waiting for blood work and an ultrasound.  If you do have gallstones, you will be enjoying a side of surgery with your Thanksgiving turkey.

Gout:  Also known as a dreaded, painful disease.  If you are lucky, you will spend just 2 to 3 hours getting a prescription for medication. The pain will surely ruin your appetite for any desserts for at least a day or two.

When I worked at the ER, the holidays always brought these kinds of cases in.  I remember one case where a 40-year old, overweight man came in with his wife because he was suffering from chest pain.  It ended up just being gas, but it surely destroyed their holiday.  The amazing part was that his older brother was having the dessert in the waiting room!  The brother also developed chest pain and ended up having a real heart attack.  Thankfully it was mild and he survived.  Are these the memories you want to remember for your family holidays?

Keep in mind that a big meal requires a lot of blood to be diverted to your intestinal system for digestion.  This puts stress on your heart, which substantially increases the risk of a heart attack.

Take home message - if you do not want a side of ER with your holiday dinner, follow these simple guidelines:

1)    Eat a small amount of food; stop when you are no longer hungry.

2)    Teach yourself self-discipline and do not overeat the one food you really enjoy.

3)    Do not drink more than 2 alcoholic drinks.

4)    Eat slowly over time and drink lots of water.

5)    If you are overweight, you are at risk.  Be extra careful.

6)    Learn to say “NO, THANK YOU.”

7)    Instead of lounging on the couch, get the family active with a walk around the block, a game of catch or even charades to keep the body moving.

 Have a great holiday, enjoy your families and make memories you want to have for years to come.

A lot of people are not aware of the facts, but many overweight people who look well-feed are actually in nutritional starvation.

Research has shown that a lot of these people, who may be getting an abundance of calories a day, are getting them without the full complement of nutrients needed.  They are eating foods that do not provide any nutritional benefit whatsoever – empty calories!

The body is a very complex system and although it has the ability to build a lot of the substrates necessary to function, there are many that it cannot make.  These building blocks must be ingested from the foods we eat. We all know about the essential Amino Acids that the body cannot make, but there are essential fats and other nutrients as well.

Generally, these essential nutrients help support the cell membrane (the covering or skin of each cell that acts to protect and control what goes in and out). When these nutrients are lacking, the cell membrane leaks or becomes dysfunctional, allowing the wrong (poisoning) molecules in, and over time, not letting the cell release what it needs to release.

When your cell membranes are sick, you are sick – it is that connected. If your cell membranes are lacking essential fats, the cell will not function effectively. That is why many seemingly well fed people are tired, have poor skin, suffer from headaches, abdominal pain and many more issues.

A person whose diet consists of French fries, hamburgers, fried chicken, and is low in fresh vegetables, whole grains and healthy, preferably organic fruits, is surely malnourished and has starving cells.

To correct this, eat your 5 servings of vegetables and eat 2-3 servings of fruit (unless you are on the Smart for Life program where you will get your fruit nutrients in the cookies until you lose the weight).  Eat fish, drink plenty of water, take a multivitamin, and never eat anything fried.  If you want to go a step farther, eat foods that are high in antioxidants in order to possibly help repair some of the damage you have caused yourself over time.

Eat well, eat less and be healthy.

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
Medical Director
Smart For Life Cookie Diet
TheCookieDiet.com
under-way.com
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I have been working on an appetite suppressing drink for over 3 years.  I am happy to announce that we finally launched this innovative product and it is delicious and it works.  Whether you use it to stop midday or night time snacking, or post-exercise hunger, there are other benefits to drinking underWAY^TM.  Packed with critically important vitamins, this drink also contains HeroFiber^TM.

Here is a list of the vitamins and their benefits:

Benefits of Riboflavin (Vitamin B-2)

ü  Riboflavin acts primarily in the breakdown of carbohydrates and fats to make energy.

ü  It is involved in regenerating glutathione an important component in the body’s antioxidant system.

ü  It is vital in the normal reproduction and repair of body’s tissues including skin, eyes, immune and nervous system.

ü  It is also involved in production of hormones essential for health and well being.

ü  Because our body does not store Riboflavin in great amounts, it is important to get some in our diet regularly.

ü  Common sources of Riboflavin rich food are milk, cheese, eggs, leafy vegetables, organ meats, whole grain and peas, not to mention that a 16 oz. bottle of underWAY^TM has 30% of your daily requirement.

Benefits of Niacin (Vitamin B-3)

ü  Niacin acts to breakdown all major foods to provide energy.

ü  Niacin is needed in the formation of blood cells and some hormones. It also is used in the breakdown drugs and toxicants.

ü  Niacin supports normal brain, skin and digestive track function.

ü  It helps stimulate circulation, blood pressure and triglyceride levels.

ü  It is very effective in lowering LDL (bad cholesterol) and raising HDL (good cholesterol).

ü  Niacin has been shown to improve cognition, dementia, and in high doses, improve mood and psychological function.

ü  Rich sources of Niacin include meat, poultry fish, liver, nuts, peanut butter, brewer’s yeast and wheat germ. A bottle of underWAY^TM provides 30% of your daily requirement.

Benefits of Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)

ü  Vitamin B6 helps convert protein to energy.

ü  It is also critical for good brain function.

ü  B6 works with folic acid and B12 to reduce Homocysteine levels in blood which reduces an individual’s risk for heart disease.

ü  Sources of Vitamin B6 include, poultry, pork, fish, eggs, soybeans, oats, whole grains, bananas, nuts and seeds. A bottle of underWAY^TM has 30% of most people’s requirement of Vitamin B6.

Benefits of Vitamin B12

ü  Vital in maintaining healthy brain function.

ü  Vital in maintaining normal DNA.

ü  Maintaining and increasing energy levels.

ü  Improving red cell function.

ü  B12 has been shown to decrease Homocysteine levels which improve risk of heart disease.

ü  Vitamin B12 is naturally found in meat (especially liver and shellfish), milk and eggs. A bottle of underWAY^TM contains 30% of your daily requirement of B12.

To learn more, visit our informative website:  under-WAY.com.

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
Medical Director
Smart For Life Cookie Diet
TheCookieDiet.com
Follow me on Myspace and Facebook

Smart For Life is more than just a weight loss company.

A lot of you are familiar with the Smart for Life Cookie Diet, but there is a lot more to Smart For Life than just losing weight.

Smart For Life was founded by Dr. Sass, a medical doctor that realized first-hand how food affects our health.

“The concept was developed while I worked as an emergency room doctor and saw the rise in heart attacks in 30 and 40 year old patients.  With this experience, I knew what had to be done,” explains Dr. Sass.  “Many other doctors and food scientist have helped to shape what Smart for Life has become. I believe we have created a revolutionary way for people to eat.”

Smart For Life believes that food should be free of harmful chemicals such as pesticides and preservatives.  That’s why it produces its food with triple-filtered water and pesticide-free Organic ingredients.  Even the equipment is cleaned with eco-friendly products.

Smart For Life also believes that we