Beautiful. Medicine.

“Straight Talk”, with Dr Rhonda Fine
January 2012
Dear Dr Fine,

I overindulged (eating and drinking) over the holidays and have put on about 11 pounds. I always seem to loose weight when I diet, however I also always gain the weight back within the next few months. I feel like this happens every year! Why does this happen to me and what can I do about it?

Stephie
Biscayne

Dear Stephie,

You are not alone! We all go a little crazy with overeating and our alcohol intake seems to hit it’s peak during this time of year. Remember, weight loss is an internal process. Diets attempt to change what you eat while exercise affects your body’s strength and endurance. Unhealthy eating is the result of poor choices, therefore it is necessary to change our thoughts and learn to restructure our thinking. Everyone is different. Your best chance for success is to sit down with a specialist in Weight Maintenance who can individualize specific strategies. Success requires the right attitude in addition to the proper program.

Dear Dr Fine,

With the holidays and a new baby, do you think it is possible that my thoughts could get in the way of enjoying sex with my partner? I feel as if we have lost a connection. We are both so busy.

Angela
Coral Springs

Dear Angela,

Congratulations on your new addition! It sounds as if Life is coming at you from all angles. Make time each day to sit down with each other and talk about your day. The conversations that we have with our partner and ourselves are the most important conversations that we can have. The brain is the largest sex organ. Your mind controls your body and your body talks back to your mind. This conversation will either cause sexual excitement or sexual inhibition. Keep an open mind, filled with happy thoughts. 

Dear Dr Fine,

My husband asked me what I wanted for Mother’s Day and all I could think of was a day to myself. To be alone maybe even get a haircut. My husband was quite shocked and told me that wasn’t normal. What do you think?

Sharon A
Gables Estates

Dear Sharon,

When children come into our lives a woman’s focus quickly shifts toward child rearing. Mother’s are the key family caregivers and there is no such thing as a part time mother. However, mothers tend to forget that they are part of the family too and that they, themselves, need to be nurtured.

Even though experts all agree that it is just as important for mothers to take care of themselves nearly 8 out of 10 do not. One of the biggest categories ignored is a woman’s sense of feeling and looking beautiful. Feeling like a woman ends up being more of a wish than a reality. Guilt is often the largest barrier.

Mothers need to learn how to mother themselves. You need to free yourself of past habits and routines. Change your thinking and embrace your own identity. You will be freer and happier than ever before. Your life will be more abundant filled with love and joy.

Let this Mother’s Day and this month inspire you and your husband to ” put you on the list” of family members that need nurturing.

Happy Mother’s Day to you Sharon!

April is Stress Health Awareness month. Dr. Fine answers your questions:

Dear Dr. Fine,

I have been feeling anxious lately? Could this be stress? Exactly what is stress?

Jerry
Aventura

Dear Jerry,

We tend to believe that stress is something that happens to us from the outside, when in fact stress is the result of our emotional reactions to these outside events.

Stress affects us all physically as well as mentally and emotionally. Our bodies have a brilliant protective system for handling acute stress, however this mechanism was not designed to be continually activated. In today’s society most of the stressors that we endure are not acute easily identifiable threats. Instead we are besieged with constant irresolvable worries. These worries may not be life threatening however they do activate our protective system resulting in chronically elevated stress hormones that continually cause wear and tear to our bodies.

According to the Institute of Stress a vast majority of our health problems can be traced back to stress.

Research has shown improving our reaction to stress directly benefits stress mediated illnesses, many chronic illnesses and conditions that are psychophysiological in nature. Learning how to have control over our stress creates a balance between our mind and body. Some of the proven benefits of controlling stress are as follows:

• Boosts the immune system
• Enhances Mediation Skills
• Control of Emotional Eating
• Improves Insomnia
• Improves Physiological and Psychological Well-being
• Influences Anxiety and Depression
• Assists in Pain management
• Influences Hypertension and Irritable bowl Syndrome
• Improves Mental Clarity and Test Taking Ability
• Improves Sports Performance

Realizing that you are in control of your life is necessary to build the foundation of a successful stress management program. In addition to traditional methods I use an evidenced based innovative and interactive stress reduction and emotional management system. This system provides real time feedback that can be practiced at home or on the go. Mastering these techniques allows you to have the key role in promoting emotional wellbeing, physical health as well as influencing longevity.

The goal is to help you create Better Personal Health, Improve Learning, Increase Personal Performance and Better Personal Relationships.

Dear Dr Fine,

Every Spring my family would get involved in the big project of reorganizing and cleaning our house. Since I do not live at home anymore and I don’t own my own home I feel as if that activity now has little significance for me, but I do feel a sense of loss. Any suggestions?

Angel
Hialeah, FL

Dear Angel,

Spring is the transition period between winter and summer. The days get warmer and daylight is longer. Nature awakens, bringing with it new life on earth. Springtime brings the universal energy that springs us forward. It’s a time of Rebirth, Renewal and Regrowth.

Cultures all over the world participate in the ritual of Spring Cleaning. “Out with the old and in with the new”.
I believe Spring is the perfect time to revaluate, renew and to make new, New Years Resolutions.
One of the most important behaviors associated with success is perseverance. To take this time to refocus and recommit to our goals, while reevaluating why we have not been successful thus far this year will bring us closer to our achieving them.

It will also prevent us from feeling as if we have failed for the reminder of the year. Recommitting to our dreams will give us a new motivation and a sense of accomplishment. Spring is a metaphor for the “Start of Better Times and New Beginnings” I suggest you just jump in!

Dear Dr. Fine,

Please tell me what the best aphrodisiac is. I want our Valentine’s Day celebration to be great. Lately I feel my boyfriend slipping away. I did gain a few pounds over the last year so I am hoping that you don’t say it’s chocolate.

Leslie
Miami Lakes

Dear Leslie,

Happy Valentines!