Marcus D’s Weight Loss Evolution

Posted on February 29, 2012 by GreenLite Medicine

GreenLite Medicine is proud to have Alice Radio’s very own DJ Marcus D participating in our Weight Loss Program. Alice Radio listeners will also have the chance to enter to win 2 free months on the GreenLite program and “Win and Lose” alongside Marcus D for the New Year. Follow his progress here on GreenLite’s blog and let him know what you think.

“Not sure about you, but I weigh myself every day. I mean, I walk by one at least twice a day and I HAVE to know. The good news is, ever since I started my journey with Greenlite, the days of “oh man…I’ve gained 15 pounds in the last six months, how am I EVER going to lose this?” are over. Now I can’t WAIT to step on the scale.

By the time I weigh in during my meeting with Holly tomorrow, I anticipate being a full 15 pounds down. That’s HALF of my goal. It’s AMAZING how shedding 15 pounds will make you feel. You KNOW you look good in pictures, no need to do any tricks to make your face look smaller, it already is. I have so much more energy so I’ve stepped up my workouts at the gym to include spinning and basketball. Both total fat burners.

If you are still on the fence about joining Greenlite, you have nothing to lose, except (like me) that extra weight that has been holding you back for so long. The staff have a proven weight-loss method and it WORKS. The time is NOW. If you are reading this and you are in the middle of the program too, don’t get cocky. It’s been easy for me to want to “let up off the gas” because I am feeling SOOO good about myself but my goal of 30 pounds down is in sight! If anything, I need to go harder! If you are, compliment your individual plan with some exercise or cardio that you LOVE. For me, it’s cycling and basketball with my fiancée. We had so much fun ballin’ this week that I forgot it was cardio. I also apparently forgot about my jump-shot too because she absolutely schooled me with her cross-over dribble.

Time to get back after it. Cross your fingers for my weigh in tomorrow. And know that I am rooting for you.”

-Marcus D.”

Client Spotlight Shirley M.

Posted on February 14, 2012 by GreenLite Medicine

“My older brother has challenged each of us to do something “that would push us” on the occasion of our 60th birthdays; he was able to train for and climb Mt. Whitney. I turned 60 this year, so it was my turn to take on a challenge. Although my original plan was a horseback riding adventure in Europe, a series of injuries and personal issues took that off the table. I began to realize it was time to address my weight and fitness levels. I would not only “push” myself, but I was determined to fulfill horseback riding in Europe when the time came. The only way to achieve my goals is if I lost 60 pounds.

Over the years, I’ve tried “one of everything” when it came to dieting, and I had moderate to significant results. Unfortunately, none of them lasted long. After spending almost two months faithfully following a popular eating plan, I actually ended up gaining a couple of pounds. Not knowing what else to do, I reached out to friends who lost a significant amount of weight, and GreenLite came up in several conversations. After some research, I realized that much of the “conventional” diet wisdom (lots of fruit, unlimited veggies, and low protein) didn’t work for my metabolism; and thought perhaps GreenLite’s program would.

I made my first appointment the week after Easter in 2011. I was favorably impressed with the intake process, the requirement for blood work, blood pressure check’s every week, and access to a medical consultant at any time. Molly is my health educator and has been there for me throughout my entire weight loss journey. She not only was supportive and encouraging, but she also helped me realize that my “excuses” would interfere with my weight loss process. The medical provider Kira has given great advice on how to incorporate exercise that is not only strengthening, but also metabolism-boosting.

I chose GreenLite for several reasons: the program has worked for friends, the weekly visits addressed my need for support and encouragement, and it helped counteract my tendency to procrastinate! I’m also able to receive support even after reaching my weight loss goal, and this is important for my long term plan to keep it off!

I started transition and maintenance the week after Christmas the same year. I’m six weeks into maintenance, and still continuing to learn a lot about how I need to live in this new healthy body. Dropping sixty pounds and five clothing sizes has brought not only a new wardrobe, but different possibilities for exercise and fitness including riding lighter, longer and with more balance.

I’ve spent most of my life really hating exercise and I can’t say I really enjoy it now, but I’m definitely seeing the results. I use a stationary bike 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Mixing up the speeds and resistance give me both a cardio and strength workout. I blew out my knee a year ago, so the bike exercises keep me out of surgery. I’m also horseback riding 3-4 days a week. My horse seems to love his “new” rider, and we’re out longer than ever before. Recently I’ve added an exercise class, Fit45, at a local Dojo. With attendees at all levels of fitness, the class always provides several different intensity levels.

I’ve been a conservative dresser all my life, and I’m blessed with a daughter in her twenties who keeps me out of “old-people” clothes. With the new weight loss, I’m wearing more form-fitting clothes; enjoying styles and fashions I’ve previously by-passed, and even joining my daughter and her friends in costume events!

As the minister of a United Methodist Church, I spend much of the summer working with children and youth at camps. I can’t wait for this summer to try out the “new body” on the trails, swimming, and keeping up with the campers. I got a taste of it last summer when I was 40 lbs down from the previous summers, so this summer will be great! My spare time that is not spent with the horses is dedicated to knitting, spinning and weaving. In the past, I didn’t make clothes for me. It was too much work for the significant chance that I wouldn’t fit them. I’m happily working on (and finished) several garments in the ongoing process of creating an entire new wardrobe!

A favorite easy high-protein snack is grilled Canadian bacon with cheese, almost like a grilled cheese sandwich. Use Pam if you wish, and grill an even-number of Canadian bacon rounds till lightly brown on both sides. Top half with grated non-fat cheddar, and use remainder as the topping for each little sandwich. Keep them on the heat until the cheese melts. Very high protein, very low carb and fat!”

Marcus D’s Weight Loss Evolution

Posted on February 9, 2012 by GreenLite Medicine

“I’ll just eat less. I’ll work-out more. Drink tons of water. Piece of cake.”

Did someone say…cake?

What you don’t realize is that as an adult, there are so many paths to failure with food that it makes losing weight alone an almost insurmountable task. You need direction, you need guidance and past that, you need support. The holidays came and went. So I’m in the clear, right? Wrong. A business trip to Hawaii for a four day live ALICE broadcast from the Disney resort seemed harmless enough. I’ll just live on the beach on salads and ahi poke…no problem. Oh, but in Hawaii there’s fried rice, macaroni salad, loco moco, spam musubi and tropical drinks with slices of pineapple and little umbrellas in them. It made my head spin. But with each passing day and each box of chocolate dipped macadamia nut shortbread cookies that called my name, I realized that my time at Greenlite had taught me a very valuable trait: discipline.

Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t become the “no thank you” guy overnight. I ate my share of barbequed chicken wings and drank a bit of vodka soda. I mean, the 49ers were one game away from the SUPERBOWL, what was I supposed to do? That was “real life.” But the discipline I’ve learned at Greenlite made it possible for me to PASS on the fried rice, pass on the mac salad and anything that had the word “chocolate” in front of it. Instead, I gave myself little rewards, spent my time running on the beach, lifting in the gym (and the spa) and thought about how amazing I am going to feel when I reach my goal. I learned that the more often you ask yourself “Should I eat this, or that?” the more making proper food choices becomes a lifestyle. And the less you have to think about it, the easier it gets to turn down that piece of cake. Suffice to say I couldn’t have done it without the ladies at GreenLite.

Results so far? Eight pounds down, twenty two to go. 1 and a half pounds of muscle gained. And minus FIVE percent total body fat. Now that’s real-life discipline.

-Marcus D.”

Partners for Health

Posted on January 31, 2012 by GreenLite Medicine

Written by Nancy Lepow-Marrone

The past few months I found myself lacking motivation to workout. I have found it harder and harder to get back into my daily routine, which usually consists of going to the gym a few days a week and hiking a couple days a week. Most of the time, I found myself getting home from work and talking myself out of my daily workout with any excuse I could think of: “I’m exhausted, I need to do more laundry, my back hurts,” and the list continues. As time passed, I found that I was becoming more and more creative with the excuses I used for not exercising; as a result I started to feel really bad about myself…What’s wrong with me? I always enjoyed working out, where did my fitness love connection go?

That night I was talking on the phone with my best friend and venting to her about how I have lost my motivation to exercise, ironically she was going through the same thing but was too embarrassed to tell me. There is no better way to be held accountable than by working out with someone else, so by the end of the phone conversation we made a commitment to one another that we would workout together the next day. I was really determined to get started again, so I made sure I brought my workout clothes to work with me to avoid any risk of getting home and finding an excuse to sabotage my workout.

After our scheduled workout I felt excellent, and actually to be honest it was a heartwarming and enjoyable experience. We were able to chat about our obstacles, teach each other new exercises, push ourselves to stay 15 minutes longer then we planned to, it was great and felt great. It was clear that our fitness levels were different but it didn’t matter, we were working out again! I think the best thing about our workout was that we were able to spend time together; which our schedules usually don’t allow, and we had a chance to gossip and catch up for the week. When we finished we decided that we would make it a point to get together twice a week and so far so good. We have also come up with some great workout routines together!

My husband has noticed how motivated I have become again and it actually has rubbed off on him. The both of us have decided to hike at least twice a week together and we are going to focus on being more creative about where we hike, so that we don’t get bored with the same trail week over week. Mixing it up has really helped with our motivation to get out and get moving. Not to mention, a beautiful hike coupled with a healthy meal makes a great V-day date!

I have to be honest, time flies by when I workout with my best friend or with my husband, and I’m actually having fun doing the workouts! I am no longer looking at my workouts as just another thing “I have to do.” The time spent working out provides quality time together and we get to catch up on life while improving ourselves. So the solution to lacking motivation this month is to focus on loving your heart, figuratively and literally speaking! Jumping back into your routine not only gets you healthy, but it can rub off on others around you too!

NO MORE EXCUSES!!!! Get out there and do something heartfelt for yourself, grab your sweetie, friend, or a relative and get back into getting that heart-pounding! It will make you and your workout partner feel better, both physically and mentally!!!

Project Resolution

Posted on January 10, 2012 by GreenLite Medicine

Happy 2012! For most of us, a new year means a new year’s resolution. While our positivity and motivation are always high when we first set our goals, sometimes we feel them waning by February. This year, stop the cycle of resolving to make a change, but then not following through. Here are a few simple tips on how to hit the ground running and maintain that pace toward a positive change in your life….

1) Set realistic goals — One of my favorite quotes is “Willpower is like a muscle… it gets stronger with use but will ultimately weaken if overloaded.” Make sure the goals you set are challenging but not overwhelming. Concrete, well-defined, and measurable goals, when reached, will provide feelings of achievement and success — this often gives us the drive we need to keep going.

2) Change your environment — Look around… does your space provide what you need (or don’t need) to be successful? Perhaps you need to alter your surroundings to support your new behaviors. Clean out the cabinets, or at least reorganize them so the “bad” stuff is unavailable to you. Purge the fridge and freezer and stock them with the right foods. Dust off the bike in the garage, or pack your gym clothes and put them in your car the night before. Doing just one small thing a day can greatly improve your focus.

3) Ask yourself “What’s in it for me?” — You had a good reason for making that resolution, so don’t forget what it was. Keeping a list of the pro’s and con’s of sticking to your plan will help remind you of the bigger, better picture… and I’ll bet your pro list is way longer than your con list.

4) Announce your intentions — Often times, the best way to stay on track is succumbing to a little peer pressure. Make a public announcement to friends and family about your goal, and ask for their support. It’ll help you feel like you’re not in this alone, and you might even gain some great advice and insight, not to mention inspire others.

5) Anticipate obstacles — Even under the best of circumstances, on your path toward achievement you may encounter occasional obstacles. The key is to plan for them, instead of just reacting on an emotional level when they actually happen. Identifying and thinking through potential temptations beforehand can make a big difference on how we handle and control them when they surface.

6) Focus on the positive — Positive thoughts and actions have a way of self-manifesting. No matter how tough your day is, think of at least one positive thing, one thing that you’re grateful or happy for. Jot it down in a journal so you can look back on your entries. It can be a powerful motivator to continue on a positive trend.

7) Don’t beat yourself up – Yes, you’re human, and that’s a good thing. If you encounter a setback, forgive yourself and hit the reset button. Don’t use it as an excuse to continue negative behavior, just be realistic and realize that the situation is temporary. Each moment is a chance for a fresh start, so keep trying. And remember… smile every chance you get.

Real Weight Loss Story | Margret B.

Posted on November 8, 2011 by GreenLite Medicine

“I gained approximately 60 pounds because of menopause, which made me feel constantly tired and caused weight gain that seemed out of my control. None of the “diets” I tried were successful and I was heading to a size 18. I first met Dr. Sooji Rugh in my business network group and decided to try the GreenLite program, I had nothing to lose…except weight!!!

I started the GreenLite weight loss program sometime in May 2010. Initially, I met with several health educators before choosing Rochelle for my weekly visits. When Rochelle moved on to get married I began to have my visits with Holly, who I still see occasionally while on the maintenance program. Every health educator I’ve encountered has been a pleasure to work with; I truly felt educated about nutrition and always felt supported when I was going through tough times. I’m glad I was able to speak with the educators every week, their presence and guidance was a big part of my success. I also loved the fact that if I had a question mid week I was able to call or email GreenLite and receive a response promptly. Everyone at GreenLite has been supportive as they truly understand the process both fundamentally and emotionally. Even staff members that aren’t Health Educators or Medical Providers, like Zoe who is the front desk receptionist, made my clinic visits special.

I choose to sign up with GreenLite Medicine for several reasons: Primarily, I had met Dr. Sooji Rugh beforehand and heard her speak about weight loss. She was very educated on the areas of weight loss, nutrition, and positive lifestyle changes, therefore, her knowledge encouraged me to join the program. Also, I knew several people who had tried the program and they were successful with their weight loss. Seeing their success and confidence only solidified my reason to join the program. I was tired of trying to lose the weight myself and never accomplishing anything; in fact, I always seemed to gain weight rather than lose! I knew I had to something different in order to reach my weight loss goals and create a healthier image for myself.

During the weight loss phase I didn’t work out much. I walked and did some stretches but nothing real rigorous. However, once I transitioned into the maintenance program that changed. I now do a walk/run program for 45 minutes a day using a heart monitor to stay at 70% of maximum heart rate, and I follow this by stretching for 10 minutes a day. I’m in the process of returning to Gold’s Gym and hiring a personal trainer to help me with a weight training program. My goal is to gain four pounds of muscle to help with my maintenance program and to assist in stabilizing my weight.

One of the biggest changes since joining GreenLite is that I’m not as tired and as a result I spend less time in bed. I now have more hours in the day to enjoy for myself or to work on my projects. This is a huge adjustment in my daily routine, since before all I ever wanted to do is lie down. Now, people comment and notice my surge of energy, which makes me feel as though I’ve been given a whole new lease on life!

Learning about nutrition and weight loss through the course of the program encouraged me to become a total tracker of low carbs and low/non-sugar products, to the extent that I’ve written a book of online resources for these products! Once the book is completed, it will be uploaded to a website and readers will be able to buy and download it as an eBook. Finding healthy alternatives to the high carb/sugar products, that I used to eat, has become a passion. I feel good about all the people that I’ve passed my website link information on to and I look forward to doing more of this in the future. I no longer see this program as a “diet,” but as a lifestyle change that is healthy, enjoyable and sustainable.

GreenLite has taught me the ”tricks of the trade” for a sucessful weight loss regimen. I now use smaller plates and bowls and I always make sure I have a snack with me, which helps increase my metabolism and eliminates any hunger pains I may feel. One of my favorite brands is Barleans, I love all of the Omega Swirl products offered, and they are perfect on yogurt, salads or straight on a spoon!”

Real Weight Loss Story | Jeff R.

Posted on July 19, 2011 by GreenLite Medicine

I was slim throughout my young life until about the age of 25. At that time I began to gain a little weight year after year, my pants and shirt sizes gradually increased. I tried various weight loss methods to lose the extra weight, but nothing seemed to work to drop a significant amount of weight or to keep it off. When I reached the age of 40 I realized I was about 50 lbs overweight. I was finally told by my GP that my cholesterol and blood pressure were too high and that without significant weight loss, I would face some serious health problems in my future.

When I had finally had enough of my increasing weight, I did some online research on medically supervised weight loss centers, and I liked the idea of being overseen by medical experts. I contacted a couple of centers, including Greenlite, but the feedback I read and my preliminary discussions with the staff confirmed that Greenlite was the place for me. They demonstrated very solid results, were friendly and encouraging and had a very knowledgeable team, many of whom have struggled with their own weight.

I began GreenLite shortly after Thanksgiving of 2010 and originally set a weight loss goal of 32 lbs – which seemed like a huge number at the time. I was hopeful but apprenhensive about my ability to make it work. The amount of food I was assigned to eat everyday seemed drastically less than what I was used to eating, I couldn’t imagine how I could possibly endure it. Surprisingly, however, with the help I received from Greenlite and my health educator Molly, I was able to incorporate the program into my life without feeling deprived or overly hungry.

When I started tracking what I was eating, I was amazed at how much extra food I had been consuming. I gradually got into a rhythm with the diet, and as the weight started to come off, I was increasingly motivated to keep losing. I didn’t really experience cravings for carbs and found that I enjoyed eating more fish and poultry than I had been eating previously.

Once my clothes started to feel too big, and other people began to notice my weight loss, I didn’t want to stop until I returned to the weight I was at when I was 25 years old, which meant an additional loss of about 20 lbs. Fortunately, I felt this was not only possible, but would be relatively easy since I was enjoying the food and seeing real results. Eventually I ended up losing 52 lbs. after only six months on the program. I feel great! I feel younger and more confident than I have felt in years, and I have an entirely new wardrobe!

I am particularly excited about using the skills I have learned at Greenlite to continue on as a lifestyle change, rather than a temporary weight loss program. I truly enjoy the lean protein I have been eating, especially the seafood, and I appreciate its health benefits. I also have no cravings for any of the complex carbs I used to eat. I am completely aware of what I consume, and I realize how much sugar was in my “old” diet. When I think about the negative effects of those foods, I am especially motivated to stick to my healthier diet.

I enjoy traveling, which I thought would be especially difficult on the program. While it is certainly isn’t easy to stick to a rigid diet while on vacation, I have found that seeking out healthy restaurants and foods, actually adds to the travel experience by encouraging the sampling of new cuisines. I also found that even if I did deviate from the diet while on a vacation, all of the extra activity really helps to offset the additional calories. On a recent trip to New York, my wife and I experienced some of the best restaurants in the city. I never felt deprived or like I was missing out but didn’t eat completely “perfect “ either. After nine days on vacation, I ended up only putting on a half of a pound, which I was able to quickly take back off when I returned home. That demonstrated to me that it is possible to eat well without being perfect but still maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Now that summer has finally arrived, I am really looking forward to going swimming with my kids. I haven’t been swimming with them in years because I was too self-conscious about my body. This year, we’ll all have some fun in the pool!

Lea’s Weight Loss Evolution | Seeing Past the Donut Hole

Posted on April 1, 2011 by GreenLite Medicine

By Lea McIntosh, CEO, Founder, and host of NestingNewbies.com

The skinny life can spiral away very quickly if you are not focused and committed. I have been maintaining in the 160s for several months and even got as low as 160.4! But the pressures of starting up a company built up to the point that I just got so tired of being “good,” I ended up sabotaging myself. Within this past couple of weeks, I finally let loose and ate just about every indulgence I had been resisting: pizza, fries, candy, cheesecake, ice cream, cheese steaks, taste of root beer (an especially “big” no-no for a former Coca-Cola junkie), and this morning I ate two incredibly delicious, best-ever, sugar glazed-raised donuts from Stan’s and washed them down with a Starbucks Grande Caramel Macchiato (yeah, all 224 calories of it…at least it was “skinny”)! You are probably thinking “YIKES!” and “Where is all of this going”?

What I realize is this…believe it or not; I have truly come so far and have really changed my relationship with food. Huh??? You must be thinking how can that be? Eating all of that crappy food, how could I have possibly changed?

Well, the OLD me didn’t give a second thought to what I was eating, and I never took the time to understand the “why” behind my craving crappy food. This morning those two beautifully glazed donuts were an epiphany. I realized that occasionally caving in and eating treats is par for the course while I try to understand my old and new food relationships on this “changing my lifestyle” journey. The metaphor that came to me as I indulged on donuts was that sometimes fear of becoming older makes us crave our youth: pulling out an old yearbook, photo album, or these days hopping onto our computers to visit Facebook, reminiscing about old, young friends. It made perfect sense to me that under great stress, I craved reconnecting with some old food relationships. Just like I’ve left behind so many former friends for good reasons, I still have some foods that I need to leave behind, too.

Well, today I am giving myself permission to occasionally reconnect with some old food relationships. In fact, I think it is healthy and realistic to occasionally fall of the wagon. If I don’t fall off along the way, then I won’t ever truly learn to face my food fears and really get back on track to making better, healthier choices.

Overall, thanks to the ever-evolving nutrition education I am receiving at Greenlite Medicine, I am learning to consistently CRAVE a balanced diet of quality proteins, complex carbohydrates, and an occasional sweet treat. Today, I give a high-five to my yummy glazed donut splurge for the holey reminder that I CHOOSE to live a healthier lifestyle; it doesn’t choose me.

Gym clothes are on right now, I’m heading out the door to 24-hour fitness, and 150s here I come!

Lea McIntosh, CEO, Founder, and host of NestingNewbies.com, has been on her Greenlite journey since October 2008 and has lost a total of 90 pounds. Follow Lea’s Weight Loss Evolution here.

Should Carbohydrates be Treated as an Addiction?

Posted on February 24, 2011 by GreenLite Medicine

By Allison Helms D.O.

Based on recent studies, there has been increased success with treating obesity and disordered eating as a type of addiction to a substance. Addiction is by definition the “compulsive need for and use of a habit-forming substance”. With this definition in mind, should carbohydrates be treated as an addiction? Wouldn’t a successful “addict” be able to achieve life-long “sobriety”? For clinicians that are using this approach toward carbohydrates, the answer is an emphatic yes!

Many people describe cravings for carbohydrates (especially sweets and starchy foods) during times of heightened stress. When people attempt to limit their intake, they experience symptoms similar to “withdrawal”, which include fatigue, irritability, lack of control, increased cravings, anxiety and depression. It may seem extreme to think of food as an addiction compared to a substance such as alcohol or heroin, because with the latter, they are socially unacceptable addictions, and complete abstinence dictates successful remission. Food (including carbohydrates) is what our bodies need for energy and nourishment, so if we feel we are “addicted”, overcoming the physiologic and behavioral factors that drive the addiction can feel impossible to comprehend.

From a physiologic standpoint, researchers have found that obese patients are deficient in the number of dopaminergic (D2) receptors in the brain. The same deficiency of D2 receptors has been attributed to drugs of abuse such as cocaine and heroin, suggesting a link between a range of compulsive behaviors. Furthermore, this lack of D2 receptors in obese individuals makes them less sensitive to reward stimuli, thus increasing their risk for food consumption as a compensatory mechanism.

Treatment with a carbohydrate addiction model has been used by clinicians to help patients understand the struggle with disordered eating and obesity. Sustaining weight loss is not simply a short term goal of reduced caloric intake and exercise, but rather a lifelong process that involves food choices based on the effecting behaviors and reducing cravings. The addiction model also helps patients understand that they will have relapses, and that retaining “carb sobriety” may require almost complete elimination of sweets/starchy foods permanently.

Along with nutritional education, teaching problem solving skills directed toward eating, emotional, and relational management has demonstrated improved maintenance of carb sobriety and weight loss. By recognizing disordered eating as a multi-faceted cause of obesity, using treatments that address each individual’s needs (biochemically, psychologically and socially) will ensure successful long-term maintenance of weight loss and relapse prevention.