I was amazed when I looked at myself when I was 38 years old and I was 250 pounds. I was at least 75 pounds over weight. I hated myself. I looked at my wife and wondered,  ”how she could have been attracted to me when I was so fat.” My back was always killing me and I could not even keep up with my 5 kids.

I was in my second year of my Emergency Medicine Residency. Yes, a doctor who is morbidly obese. How can that happen? Aren’t doctors supposed to know how to stay healthy? Aren’t doctors taught everything there is about nutrition?

The reality of it is that I, like most of us, had been hit with multiple stressors over several years. To include becoming a disabled United States Air Force Veteran, a herniated L5-S1 vertebral disc, a reconstructed ankle, getting divorced and remarried, moving from Charleston, South Carolina to Lubbock, Texas, starting medical school, graduating after 4 years of grueling school and then moving to Columbia, South Carolina and at this point in time 2 years of grueling Emergency Medicine Residency and the birth of two of my 6 total children. There were a lot of great times and some very hard times. But life as we all live it is never stress free. When we are stressed two things immediately get pushed aside, how we eat or how feed us and how we “move our bodies” (exercise).

As I looked at myself in the mirror one day and said, “I can’t do this anymore.” I realized after 6 years of medical training I had no clue what to do about my nutrition. Should I do a “Low-Carb Diet”?. Should I do a “Low-Fat Diet”?. Should I do a “High-Protein Diet”?. Most doctor, according to a recent Congressional hearing, get less than 3 hours of nutritional education in their entire 4 years of medical training. Most people spend that amount of time watching TV each and every day!!! So I tried Atkins (Low Carb), Sugar-Busters, Slim Fast, The Zone and essentially lost a little bit of weight but then put it right back on.

I started to learn and research everything I could find about nutrition and the science of Obesity and how to treat it. Yes, OBESITY, that is what I have as a diagnosis. I will always have it. Obesity has been defined by just about every medical organization including the World Health Organization as a Chronic Relapsing Medical Disease and I have it.

As I start these Podcasts/Blogs I will explain to you the concepts I have learned about treating myself and thousands of patients for Obesity. The science of nutrition, what is the right combination of Protein, Carbohydrates and Fats. How much and when should your nutrition be eaten. It is not as easy and many people think. If it was we would not have a country and world that has become obese.

After I realized how little I knew about my own nutrition and treating patients for Obesity for several years. I realized that all these patients had one thing in common. They need to be shown what, when, and how to eat. For myself as well as my patients there were several common themes. Not eating often enough, Not eating enough, and a term called Food Amnesia. The beginning of my concept for “CarbEssentials” was born.

Read On!!.

The following is an internet interview that I did for a Mount Shasta Newspaper

Hi Dr. Powell,

Thanks so much for the interview! I’m planning to write a feature article about keeping New Year’s resolutions, and wanted your input in the losing weight section.

How many people have you helped to meet their weight loss goals?

Between my father, Dr. Richard J. Powell, MD and myself we have been practicing Bariatrics (medical treatment of Obesity as a disease) for over 35 years.  I have 4 offices and we see several hundred patients per week.

Why is it important/helpful to be under a physician’s care when losing weight?

Managing your weight is a complex task and depending on a persons initial weight and underlying medical conditions it can be medically dangerous to do it on your own.  There are thousands of diets out there and probably more than half of them are crazy and dangerous.  Whether a person has to lose 20 pounds or 200 pounds I would much rather have a person come in and have it medically managed than to do some crazy over the counter Fad diet that can be medically dangerous.

Is diet or excercise more important for those wanting to make a healthy change in their lives? Or are they equally important?

Exercise is very important for a persons cardiovascular health as well as their mental health.  For weight loss the exercise would have to be very aggressive and almost every day for it to effect your weight.  It should be continued if the person is doing it.  The change in nutritional behaviors and becoming “in-control” of one’s nutrition and being educated on what you are actually putting into your body and actually eating higher quality nutrition in smaller amounts more often is critical to keep the metabolism going.  One of the most critical item I see on a daily basis is that people don’t eat all day long and then they tend to overeat.

What is the one tip you would give to those wanting to lose weight in the new year?

Take the time to take care of yourself.  Start spending more time taking care of yourself then you do on your car.  Don’t start on some dangerous fad diet.  If you plan on changing your nutrition drastically seek medical advice.

What is your opinion on th e value of Nintendo’s Wii Fit? (I was considering adding a bit about it into the article).

We have one and it is AWESOME.  Our whole family uses it.  Of course the kids are a bit better at it then us adults.  It is the next generation in video gaming where you actually interact in a physical sense.  I recommend it to the parents of my teenage patients.  It was actually mentioned in lectures at the America Society of Bariatric Physicians in Tampa Florida in October of 2008.

What programs do you offer at the Mount Shasta office?

We offer medically directed programs that follow the guidelines of the National Institute of Health and the American Society of Bariatric Physicians.  We individually customize our programs around the patients medical conditions.  Our programs range from very aggressive Very Low Calorie Nutritional plans to Low Calorie programs.  One of my concepts is that of the “SNEAL”.  It is too long to describe here but please go to my blogs at www.Physiciansplan.net and I have a complete description of a SNEAL.

Plus… a few motivational statistics regarding weight loss… and anything else you think is of interest.

A 10% weight loss is a 57% reduction in risk for medical diseases directly related to weight (high blood pressure, diabetes, cancers, stroke, and many more)

A 10 pound weight loss take 100 pounds per square inch off of your knees.

A very famous statement that I think most of us have either forgotten or never heard is, “Make Your Food Your Medicine”  What an incredible statement.  What we have done is made our food our Poison.  The person who said, “Make Your Food Your Medicine”—–Hippocrates—over 2,000 years ago and we still haven’t figured it out.

Here one of mine, ” The Cure for Hunger is——FOOD!!!”

You need to learn to “SNEAL” (my word) See www.Snealtime.com.  You need to learn to find Quick, Conveinent, High Quality, Single-Serving, Tasty morsels of Food.  It is NOT a snack.  Refer to my previous blogs on my website:

www.Snealtime.com

www.Physiciansplan.net

www.Carbessentials.net

Initially quite often the patients we treat want to have their nutrition taken away from them Temporarily and that is why we have several different aggressive plans where we supplement them with “SNEALS” of our own. We sell tham at each office and we have three separate nutritional stores (Redding, Chico, and on-line @www.Carbessentials.net.

If you’d like to do the interview via phone, that would be great… my number at the office is ——–. I’ll be in most of tomorrow between 8:30 and 2 or so (I know it’s a holiday, so that might not work for you). I’ll also be in and out on Friday and Monday.

I am having an Epidural injection in my back (yeah me) on Friday morning and i will be home the rest of the day.  E-mail me a number that I can reach you on Friday and I will call you.

If hours during the evening are good for you, my cell number is ——–. Or email me a time, and I can call you then. Or, we could do it via email if you’re pressed for time.

Talk to you soon.  I hope this helps

What is Metabolic syndrome?

Screening and diagnosis

Although your doctor is not typically looking for “metabolic syndrome,” the label may apply if you have three or more of the traits associated with this condition. Several organizations have criteria for diagnosing metabolic syndrome. These guidelines were created by the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) with modifications by the American Heart Association. According to these guidelines, you have metabolic syndrome if you have three or more of these traits:

§ Elevated waist circumference, greater than 35 inches for women and 40 inches for men. For people genetically at greater risk of diabetes, the circumference limit is slightly lower; 31 to 35 inches for women and 37 to 39 inches for men.

§ Elevated level of triglycerides of 150 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or higher, or you’re receiving treatment for high triglycerides.

§ Reduced HDL (less than 40 mg/dL in men or less than 50 mg/dL in women) or you’re receiving treatment for low HDL.

§ Elevated blood pressure of 130 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) systolic (the top number) or higher or 85 (mm Hg) diastolic (the bottom number) or higher, or you’re receiving treatment for high blood pressure.

§ Elevated fasting blood sugar (blood glucose) of 100 mg/dL or higher, or you’re receiving treatment for high blood sugar.

Treatment

Tackling one of the risk factors of metabolic syndrome is tough, taking on all of them might seem overwhelming. But aggressive lifestyle changes and, in some cases, medication can improve all of the metabolic syndrome components. Getting more physical activity, losing weight and quitting smoking help reduce blood pressure and improve cholesterol and blood sugar levels. These changes are key to reducing your risk.

Exercise. Doctors recommend getting 30 to 60 minutes of moderate intensity exercise, such as brisk walking, every day.

Lose weight. Losing as little as 5 percent to 10 percent of your body weight can reduce insulin levels and blood pressure and decrease your risk of diabetes.

Stop smoking. Smoking cigarettes increases insulin resistance and worsens the health consequences of metabolic syndrome. Talk to your doctor if you need help kicking the cigarette habit.

Work with your doctor to monitor your weight and your blood glucose, cholesterol and blood pressure levels to ensure that lifestyle modifications are working. If you’re not able to achieve your goals with lifestyle changes, your doctor may also prescribe medications to lower blood pressure, control cholesterol or help you lose weight. Insulin sensitizers may be prescribed to help your body use insulin more effectively. Aspirin therapy may help reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke.

Take our Metabolic Syndrome Test.

The Definition of a Sneal

The word Sneal is a new word that yours truly (Dr. Ray Powell) came up with to describe a new way of eating and a way of describing the quality of nutrition to my patients. I use the word as a test with my patients/staff/practitioners to see if they are learning something and WE as a total team effort are teaching them something as they go through our programs from weight loss to weight maintenance.

I want them to learn that from this time forward a “Snack” is a dirty word and should never be used again. It is a dangerous concept created by the American Food Industry. “Snacking” is what has made the American population as overweight and obese as it is.

So the first thing I need to do is define a SNACK,

The “American SNACK” is usually an American “white carbohydrate” (junk) and/or a fat. {Snack = Junky Carb and/or Fat}

The American food industry (grocery store) does not feed us SNEALS. They feed us snacks that have HUGE amount of calories, high in simple, white, sugary, bad carbohydrates. These jack your blood sugar through the ROOF and just to top it off they add in as much FAT as they can to make it REALLY taste good.

No more SNACKING!!!

The Physician’s Plan “SNEAL” A good carbohydrate (fruits and veggies) AND a LEAN Protein. {Sneal = Good Carb + Lean Protein}

OR

just a LEAN Protein.

{Sneal = Lean Protein}

{Range 60 to 250 calories/sneal}

SNEALING–How to do it?

When patients are first learning how to SNEAL and are in the process of losing weight they are started on very high quality SNEALS from the nutritional store that I have created for myself, my family and friends and for my patients and customers. The store is called Carbessentials, because Carbs are essential!!! But so is protein and a small amount of fat.

What I have done, essentially, is I have become the “purchasing agent” for products that fit all the requirements to become a SNEAL.

I initially started with the medical nutritional companies that provide prescription nutritional products to physicians for a medically safe weight loss. I continue to search for unique products from specialized companies that cater to a growing variety of nutritional niches. I have even tapped into the body building industry and have found some excellent products that fit my requirements perfectly.

So to review the concept again, a SNEAL is designed to be a small (60 to 250 calories), convenient, quick, easy, and high quality morsel of food that you eat every 2 to 3 hours.

It is designed in such a way nutritionally to keep the blood sugars leveled by providing the body with at least an equal amount of a complex carbohydrate and an equal amount of a very high quality lean protein or just a lean protein source if desired. What this also does is suppresses hunger and gives you more energy. People that just try to eat only high protein are not getting enough immediate energy because their bodies immediate carbohydrate stores have been depleted and if they don’t feed themselves any carbohydrates (i.e. trying to Atkins Diet) they will feel low energy and like they are running on empty.

So, SNEALING every 2 to 3 hours with nutritional products that have been hand-picked for you by someone with the scientific and medical background and intense desire to continue to learn and research nutrition is an added plus. When you look at nutritional products that are sold at the retail stores, BUYER BEWARE!!! Not all products are created equal and many of these so-called nutritional products are basically expensive looking candy bars.

So keep looking at my website, www.Carbessentials.net. I am always adding new products as I continue to find them in my journeys.

Dr. Ray Powell, MD