March Newsletter

Hi Everyone!

   I can't believe it's already March! Didn't we just have a foot of snow? I took my doggies out this morning and the quince are budding out in their pretty pink color, my purple crocus are blooming and my mom has daffodils! It's time to start planning for spring break, and graduations and then summer vacations!

   Last month I mentioned I would touch upon diet pills and diets. I have people ask me everyday about this. So what prescription medications are available? Currently there is phentermine (Adipex, Fastin). It is a stimulant and works by suppressing your appetite. It speeds your metabolism up slightly. Side effects can be increased blood pressure and pulse and jitteriness. It is a controlled substance and requires a monthly office visit for weight and blood pressure checks and refills. A new medication is possibly hitting the market called Contrave. If it gets FDA approval it will be the first new weight loss drug to gain FDA approval in over 10 years. Contrave is actually a combination of two already existing drugs: naltrexone, which is used to fight drug and alcohol addiction, and bupropion, an antidepressant. In combination, the two drugs work to increase your metabolism and decrease the desire for food cravings and overall appetite for food.

    Let's talk about diets for a minute. There are a lot out there so I'm just going to mention the ones that I know will work and some that are very popular right now. The HCG diet is the one I get asked about the most. It consists of a severely calorie restricted diet along with HCG drops you take by mouth or injections of HCG which is supposed to "reset/speed up" your metabolism. You can lose weight very quickly, the problem is maintaining as you start adding back foods. This same problem with maintaining is true if you are following a meal replacement or liquid diet such as the ones at UAMS or Baptist Health. What you need in a diet is one you can start with AND stick with that offers the gradual weight loss that is healthy. I lost 65 lbs last year by shifting all my calories to breakfast and lunch. I don't snack at all after 2 pm and rarely eat anything for supper. I have kept my weight off.  Weight Watchers is also great! You don't even have to buy their foods and you can participate online. Another healthy and reasonable alternative is Ideal Protein. You get personalized attention, weight loss of 3-7 lbs per week, and it promotes fat loss and maintains muscle mass. For more info go to http://www.idealweightloss.org/ . You can also contact Ravonda Jones, BS, RN at ravondaj@aol.com . Of course no diet is going to work without a little exercise. Yes, I know, not my favorite thing to do either.

   Last but not least don't forget to freshen up your face for your spring break, class reunion or summer vacation. Botox and Juvederm take just a few minutes and can take years off your face. Erase forehead wrinkles, frown lines and crows feet. Get rid of those deep smile lines and marionette lines; even plump up those lips a little.

   Next month I'm going to try to touch on some basic skin care for the body and face. Until then...here's to a more beautiful and healthy you!

   Don't forget.....sign up for Groupon!!

Anne R Trussell MD

owner/physician

Beautiful You