Don’t Eat Like a Goldfish

This might be my new way to sign out on these (mostly) weekly emails...."Don't Eat Like a Goldfish". Today my son Conner was peeking over my shoulder as I was looking at page 29 our your Medifast Program book "The Secret is Out". That page has a color scan of two brains. He asked what it all meant and I tried to explain the best I could by basically saying that if you eat too much you can get sick and die! Conner replied, "Ohhh, like a goldfish?". "Yes", I said, "like a goldfish".

One brain has larger portion of dopamine (pleasure) receptors than the other brain. Science explains that 30% of the general population has less dopamine receptors which causes us to eat more to feel that same sense of pleasure or fullness. However, about 50% of obese persons possess the brain scan image with less receptors. Less receptors= more eating. Does this mean that we are fat because of pure genetics? Not really, genetics is a definite factor, but as one doctor notes, "Genetics loads the gun, but environment [full of easily obtainable high-calorie foods and lacking access to physical activity] pulls the trigger" (p. 29). The following is taken from a section on page 30: certain foods that are high in sugar and fat stimulate the release of dopamine in a dose-dependent way, which means the more of these food you eat, the more the dopamine gets released. Eating more for satisfaction works to a point, but after that, there appears to be a threshold where pleasure receptors get blunted and no longer recognize the signal". In other words, "Your brain still thinks you're hungry, so you keep eating".

Fortunately, the pharmaceutical grade Medifast meals combined with the structure and support of the TSFL program does two things to help us (even those of us with less dopamine receptors) to avoid the above predicament: 1) the Medifast meals are portion controlled, provide structure, minimizes food choices, keeps you feeling full, and helps break the cycle of bad eating habits. 2) the TSFL (Take Shape for Life) program provides the information and support staff (the nutrition and nurse info lines and me!).

Unless I have a hot topic on my mind, I'll likely email weekly updates that progress through the "Secret is Out" book that came if you signed up under the BeSlim program. For those of you that don't have the book, no worries, you can order the book online just as you would order your meals. Otherwise, we'll slowly chip away and going through this book each week.  Joe, http://www.mojoefitness.com/