Nancy Pelosi Under The Knife

The question of the day is: Will your liposuction and facelift be funding healthcare reform? 

So for those of you who have been debating between diet and exercise or lipo, your choice might be getting easier if politicians get their way. By the time Senators get done with our healthcare reform bill, dieting may not sound so bad compared to a proposed 10% luxury tax on cosmetic procedures such as fat reduction enhancements like tummy tucks, liposuction, and breast reductions.

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Last week I wrote about the dangers to our health posed by a government-run healthcare system. In that article, I discussed the cancer survival rates in the current U.S. healthcare system vs. nationalized systems in other nations, and worried about the effects a universal healthcare system would have on our medical care.

I received some emails and comments regarding what readers feel are the pros and cons of such a system. In reading these emails from my own readers, as well as listening to discussion by people during the course of my day working in the medical/healthcare industry, one thing seems to stand out. Many people are using the terms “universal healthcare” and “healthcare reform” synonymously. Let me make it clear that the two can be mutually exclusive and one does not have to equate to the other. 

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This study will probably make some of you cry. I am sure some of the monkeys wept a bit too. But it has a happy ending, so fear not.

Some of you are in the camp of people who want to  maximize your time here on earth regardless of what sacrifices it entails. Others of you probably would rather kick off a bit sooner if it means you get more enjoyment out of life, and some of us equate that enjoyment with food. 

So, whichever group you are in, you will probably find this study about aging and calorie consumption interesting. Although conducted on monkeys and not humans, it seems to indicate that all things being equal regarding quality of diet, with the only difference being fewer calories consumed, the monkeys eating less, lived longer with fewer major diseases. You can read all of the details in this New York Times article.

Certainly, the fact that the results show less diabetes, heart disease and cancer should make up for not getting that second helping at each meal, right? You decide.

An open letter from Fit After Thirty to Obama’s Pick for Surgeon General, Regina Benjamin:

Dear Dr. Benjamin,

Some of your critics are calling you a bad word, that rhymes with bat, hat, and rat. As in, I tip my hat to you: I am going to bat for you; and critics of your weight are a bunch of rats. The bad word they call you begins with “F”. It is a word that we, here at Fit After Thirty, call “the other naughty F word”.

It’s a word that we try not to use in its adjective form, and that we believe is overused in the media and in society at large, to reduce women to nothing more than a number on a scale, while ignoring the various other numbers that may define a woman. Any woman.

Numbers such as her IQ score, her college GPA, her salary, the number of kids she may have mothered, her Scrabble score, to name a few. Numbers like how many grandkids she has loved, the number of hours she’s spent perfecting a skill, the number tears cried for family members she has lost to disease, the number of hours spent caring for those ill loved ones, the people she calls friends, the number of years she’s been alive, and oh, I don’t know, the number of years say, that a woman may have spent in medical school earning a degree, and the number of patients she’s treated with that degree, which qualifies her to be nominated for the position of the top doc in the nation.

Some people overlook those numbers where you (and other women) are concerned, considering such numbers trivial, while making weight and/or waist size the be all and end all. I don’t.

This F word they call you, Dr. Benjamin, is a word that  Fit After Thirty strives not to use as an adjective or as a label in describing a person. This website believes it’s a word that tends to be hurtful and demeaning, rather than supportive, uplifting, or inspiring. Therefore it is a word that we have chosen to spin into an acronym - *f.a.t. - from a positive set of words - Fit After Thirty - in order to create a positive mindset around the naughty “F word”. We hope that the new positive association will encourage and inspire.

Some of your critics say that because this naughty “F word” describes your physicality, that you aren’t a credible expert in the area of health. To that I say, I’ve known a lot of decent hair stylists who have really bad hair- dos, themselves. And I’ve also known of a lot of really lean people with clogged arteries in need of coronary bypass surgery. (David Letterman and Regis Philbin are two who come to mind, who I am sure your critics are familiar with). And let’s not forget; we all know of a Treasury Secretary who doesn’t pay his taxes and whose role as President of The Federal Reserve Bank of New York likely played a huge role in one of the biggest economic crises in our country’s history. And he still gets to play with the White House calculator.  

Lean doesn’t necessarily equate to health. A Surgeon General’s job isn’t only about dealing with the disease of obesity. A body size doesn’t determine the quality of work you do. (Whereas, the quality of work you’ve done in the past, does). And you’ve done quality work, Dr. Benjamin. The way I see it, your confirmation hearings should be a walk in the park, because if Timothy Geithner is qualified to hold a position where he even gets to look at dollar signs, a few extra pounds shouldn’t disqualify you from doing what you have always done well, and with passion and compassion. Medicine.

Dr. Benjamin, it makes me sad that people don’t recognize that those who practice medicine, like yourself, are human beings prone to succumbing to the same pitfalls and struggles that the rest of us have. It would be great if all doctors could be genetically superior in the body department, as most of you are in the mind department, but alas, the majority of you are in fact, subject to the same hereditary misfortunes and genetic cruelties as the rest of us. I for one, feel that imperfections such as these make you doctors more human, and better able to understand me and my struggles as a patient.

Your critics believe that since we have an obesity epidemic in this society, that you would be hypocritical or lacking in expertise and motivation to discuss this issue, because you, yourself carry a few extra pounds. Let’s just agree that the next time you hear them say these things, you say to them, “hey, moron - would you take advice from a virgin-sex therapist? (pause) I didn’t think so!” (The “I didn’t think so” is important. Make sure to include that to show you’ve got spunk, Dr. Benjamin.)

I believe most Americans will come to realize that a Surgeon General who has eaten a Twinkee or two, prior to discussing how and why we should give them up, is necessary. Because truly, if you didn’t know how good they taste, then how could we know that you empathize with how difficult it is to give them up? You are relatable, and that’s what I like. 

I for one, think that there may be no better person to help me inspire America and the world to redefine “fat”. To turn the word upside down (for some incline sit ups, perhaps) and to truly lead people to a healthy transformation in mind, body, and spirit. Hell, the fact that every blog and media outlet is raising the decibel level on the obesity problem where you are concerned, is a sign that you could be a powerful force in exacting change in the health of millions. 

And who better, than a woman with a mother who died of lung cancer caused by smoking, a brother who died of HIV, and a father who died with diabetes and high blood pressure, to truly comprehend many of the complicated health issues America faces, not just from the perspective of a doctor in your professional role, but as a human being. As a daughter. As a sister. As a fellow woman in America.

All of these reasons are why I wholeheartedly support your nomination. I hope you’ll take comfort in knowing that during the media mudslinging process and the public debates that ensue regarding your weight, I got your back. Regardless of the size blouse you wear on it.

With Sincere Admiration,

*f.a.t. Suzy

Remember that shampoo commercial where the actress flips her hair around and says, “Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful”?

I think ESPN reporter, Erin Andrews is thinking that exact thing right about now, after hearing the comments of sports writer, Christine Brennan regarding Andrews’ nude Peeping Tom video which hit the internet this week.

If you haven’t heard about this, here is the background: Erin Andrews is a hot, ESPN reporter. (At 31, she qualifies as a true *f.a.t.ty - Fit After Thirty Hotty). A perverted fan drilled a hole in a hotel wall and secretly videotaped her in the nude, and then aired it on You Tube. Christine Brennan is a sports writer who is less hot than Andrews. Brennan decided to write about the incident, and instead of finding fault with the Peeping Tom, she found fault with Andrews. I couldn’t believe Brennan’s comments:

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Recently, I have been researching the content of the proposed universal healthcare bill, and the possible benefits and/or negative ramifications it would have on the health of Americans. A couple things stand out in my research. A provision in the bill states that members of Congress would be exempt from having to participate personally, in a government-run healthcare system. In other words, they get to continue receiving private healthcare. If the government plan would be an improvement in what we have, why wouldn’t Congress members want to be on it?

Also, why are people in countries with free healthcare, currently coming to the United States in droves for their medical treatment, under our private system? If the public healthcare systems in European countries are so good, why do virtually all of the diplomats and VIPs in those countries, come to America for their major healthcare treatments and procedures?

The answer to all of these questions is because the quality of the U.S. private healthcare system is far superior to universal healthcare in other countries. Evidence of this can be seen in these cancer survival rates in the private U.S. system vs. the free/public systems of Canada and Europe.

Obviously, improvements can and probably should be made to the current system, which seems to protect insurance companies to the detriment of patients, at times. But if people think insurance companies put up financial limits and barriers to which treatments they can get, consider that the government would have to implement even more procedure and treatment limitations, in order to make it affordable. What does that mean for you and me? Here are some examples of treatment scenarios that frustrate Canadians, and cause many of them to cross the border into the U.S. to get treatment:

If you want an elective knee surgery in a timely manner, you may wait years. You may not get it paid for at all, if the government doesn’t deem it necessary.

If you want a quick diagnosis for symptoms you are having, you may not get to see a doctor for several months.

If you are considered too old, or your disease too terminal, you may be told that it’s not worth the cost to treat you.

Perhaps there is a reason that the U.S. system is “six times more expensive” than the nationalized plans of other industrialized nations. Because quality products generally cost more.

I’ve recommended HungryGirl.com in the past, and I’m about to applaud her again for her new book, 200 Under 200, (200 Recipes Under 200 Calories). 

I saw Hungry Girl on The View demonstrating some of her new book’s recipes, and the best part is, they were all quick and easy to prepare. These are not froo froo gourmet, recipes made from hard to find ingredients. She takes regular grocery items that most of us already have in our refrigerators, and combines them to make simple, pleasing,  low calorie meals and snacks!

One of my favorites is the cheeseburger quesadilla which uses a whole grain tortilla, cheese, and Boca brand Soy burgers. All who taste it says it does satisfy a craving for a cheeseburger. Some of the recipes get quite creative with the ingredient list, while still retaining the flavors that you are used to in the standard recipe.

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You have probably heard that oil and vinegar dressing is a better dieting choice than Ranch or Bleu Cheese dressing. Like me, you probably assumed it was better for your weight loss efforts because of a lower fat content. Well, that may be true, but new evidence from Japan also gives you another reason to top your salads with the dynamic duo.

Vinegar, long used in folk medicine internally and externally, contains acetic acid, which is now believed to help break down fat accumulation. In a study just published in The Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, (you didn’t know such a Journal existed, did you?), a guy named Tomoo Kondo seems to have proven that a component of vinegar might be your friend in the war against fat.

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Why do people sometimes judge harshly men and women whose list of required attributes in a long term partner includes a fit, healthy body? Not long ago, a friend accused me of being a female version of the movie character Shallow Hal when I refused her attempts to set me up  with a heavyset male friend of hers. “Yes.” I said. “And you know what “Hal” is short for? Hallelujah! Because I’ll be with someone who can keep up with me!”

She didn’t think it was funny. “You’re too picky.” She told me.”  To which I replied, “Comparing me to a movie character won’t make me more open to dating a guy whose activities, energy level, eating habits, overall lifestyle and health for raising future kids are so drastically disparate than mine.” Besides, I had tried overlooking things like that in the past, and knew from personal experience that it just doesn’t work for me.

“By the way”, I went on to explain, “Shallow Hal desiring the more svelte version of Gwynyth Paltrow, as opposed to the obese version, is not a critical flaw in a man, because brain biology compels men to desire those women who are more capable of reproducing and perpetuating the species!”

This is the same brain biology that causes women to seek out, and be attracted to, men who would be good providers. Sure, she gets labeled as a gold digger, in much the same way that Hal is labeled as “shallow” for wanting the healthiest fertile female to bear his children, but in essence, “gold digging” is rooted in her brain biology. And how can you blame a woman for wanting to choose a man who would best be able to provide for their future offspring?  But I have long maintained that fertile women especially, also have a biological need to be concerned with a man’s physicality just as he is with hers. 

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I’ve often wondered why it is that you can see a photo of a celebrity on the beach, looking pudgy and cellulite-ridden one week, and just a few short weeks later, see the same celebrity looking svelte and near-perfect. I always thought the quick change must be due to the magic of Photoshop, and the mercy of a tabloid editor, but the more I learn about mesotherapy, I’m starting to think this could be the secret of Hollywood stars, to looking great when scantily clad.

Mesotherapy is a procedure that uses microinjections of medications into fat cells, to cause the fat to be metabolized in the body. It was first used in Europe, but is now available in the U.S. with a growing number of physicians administering the treatment. 

It is a simple, in-office procedure in which the doctor uses a mixture of natural and prescription medication and injects it into fat and cellulite using a tiny needle. Those who have tried it say it is a miracle. Supposedly, you can lose weight anywhere you have extra fat - including underneath the lower lids! 

Results can be seen after one or two treatments, though some people may need up to seven for stubborn areas. Results can usually be maintained if the patient does not gain a significant amount of weight after the fat has been metaabolized. Costs vary by city and physician. If any of you have tried it, please comment on your results!

Unlike with liposuction, the patient does not run the risk of having uneven results with the fat loss, and in fact, the procedure is often used to correct such problems caused by previous liposuction treatments.

There seem to be mixed reviews of mesotherapy’s effectiveness by patients who have tried it; however, I imagine as with any medical treatment, results may vary based on physician expertise and technique, and quality of medication used. You can read some of these comments on Realself.com.