Why Do I Cook For My Patients? ~Dr. Lou I’d say on average, I cook about 15-20 hours a week, mostly on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I cook for my family, my friends, people I care about. Food really brings happiness to peoples lives. It’s a great way to continue caring for people on the weekend, after a week of caring for people in the office. My mum used to care for us by preparing food. My mother in-law does the same thing. I do the same thing. After 2 years and 65 cooking videos on Youtube, patients often ask when I am going to “cook for us at the office.” The Truth. I can’t cook at the office, but I do want to share my food with those I care about. I spend nearly 50 hours a week at the office. The community of people who come to us for care are people with whom I could easily spend time with outside of the office. We have a uniquely wonderful group of people coming to us each day. Cool people, creative, friendly and compassionate people. I have patients who bring me eggs, who bring me beer, who bring...

Ask Yourself, Which Of These Four Things Makes The Top Of Your List? What would it take to get you to swim with sharks, run through a burning house, or ride a rocket to the moon? Have you ever thought deeply about what motivates us to do things? Usually, we ponder it in passing, but what drives us more than anything? Experts contend that there are four things that make us rise to most challenges. Health. Under appreciated when we have it, once lost, it becomes clear that it trumps money, hobbies, other people, vacations, etc. Without health nothing is possible. Preserving it through maintenance of your body and preventive action and healthy choices gives you the best odds of remaining healthy. When fighting for their lives, people undergo extreme pain and hardship to. regain their health. Their families suffer and their lifestyles often change dramatically. Their endurance is a testament to the extremes people will go to, to survive. Family. Love of family motivates people to work harder than normal, fight harder to survive, succeed and provide. People will fight gangs, swim with sharks, distract attacking bears, just to save their loved ones. Even at the expense of their...

Weight Loss Success Thoughts on the 2014 Weight Loss Challenge Basically one big downer, but it’s the truth and it could help you win next year. On the eve of the “Weigh Out” of my annual weight loss challenge, I thought I would share with you some of the things that sabotage weight loss success and things you can learn from the mistakes of others involved in the 2014 challenge.  Mistakes are what help us grow if we are open and enlightened enough to realize that failure is an opportunity to succeed, great good can come of a less than ideal attempt at reaching your goals..  After reading this, ask yourself how you will respond to some of the observations I’ve posted here.   The first thing that I’ve learned is that those who sign up for my weight loss challenge (WLC) but don’t sign up for the classes, typically fail and never show up at the weigh out.   People who sign up have the best intentions and some motivation but it’s hard to sustain and maintain both.  Weight loss success requires consistency, more effort and a good support system.   People who don’t sign up for the...

      Revisiting A Magical Place Titcomb Mountain Makes Farmington, Maine Awesome   It’s been over 20 years since I’ve had a run at the hill on which I learned to ski.  I went back today with my wife and four year old to meet my good friend Bo and his daughter.  Last time Bo and I were skiing at Titcomb we were probably 16 and I’m turning 41 next week.  As I pulled up to the mountain today I recognized and remembered many things that I think are important.  I have barely been to Farmington since my father’s funeral 2.5 years ago.  The only time between then and now that I’ve been there was for the gathering to celebrate the life of Bo’s father who passed away not too long ago.  Having lost both of my parents so close together and because of some of the things that have transpired since, going back does not bring me much joy.  I’m working on it. Titcomb Mountain makes Farmington awesome.   Today was great.  I want to share a few reasons why you should ski at Titcomb Mountain in Farmington.   Titcomb is a small mountain but it has...

Toxic News 2014   This is part of our problem.  Look at the January 31, 2014 headlines on cnn.com at 11pm.  This is what is reported on in America.  If you read or watch the news, you should stop.  It’s toxic. Sources: Bieber’s plane searched Lawyer: Evidence disputes Christie New twist in Christie bridge scandal   Girl kept as sex slave for 14 years   Relative took her captive at age 13 Felony charges in boulder toppling Beer-delivery drone grounded by FAA Worst January in years for the Dow Bloodied protest leader: I was crucified Murder charge in on-camera beating Teen charged with killing dad, brother Cops: Mom pampered, kids freeze   Mom: My 5-year-old son is suicidal   Cops slice off woman’s hair weave  ...

  Is Football Child Abuse? Knowing but allowing them to play anyway… With the Superbowl next weekend and an article in the January 31 issue of Rolling Stone Magazine, I thought today would be a good day to discuss child abuse.   Wikipedia defines child abuse as “The physical, sexual or emotional mistreatment or neglect of a child or children.”  The CDC and DCF define child maltreatment as “any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or other caregiver that results in harm, potential for harm or threat of harm to a child.”     A new study on football shows permanent brain damage in teens who had never even had a concussion.  Dr. Robert Cantu, chair of neurosurgery at Emerson Hospital and co-director of the Center for Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy (CSTE) and the the nation’s leading authority on concussions says “There’s an epidemic of kids whose normal trajectory is permanently stunted by head injury.”   My question to ponder is this.  If you know now while your kid is playing football that the risk of playing the game is exceptionally high for permanent, even potentially life threatening injury to the brain, is...

The Value Of “No” Weight Loss in Portland, Maine – U.S.A.   There is great value in the use of “NO” when you are trying to lose weight.  Below are a few of the most important that when applied in an appropriate and timely fashion, they will get you closer to “YES! You achieved your goal”. 1. You are putting yourself first.  Putting yourself first, as selfish as it sounds, is an important step in weight loss.  It doesn’t mean you’ll neglect others, it simply means that you are not going to let others get in your way.  It is an empowering step on the way to your goal. 2. You are not accumulating.  Some people “Hoard” obligations.  Don’t collect a bunch of responsibilities and obligations that will bog you down and disperse your focus.  Choose a few good things to say “YES” to and don’t spread yourself too thin. 3. You are taking swift action.  Saying no often means saving time.  If it feels like a bad idea, it probably is.  Say no when you mean to say no, not maybe or I’ll get back to you on that.  If you know your answer, say it and save time. Spend that...

Jaguar Growler & My Change of Heart I was recently watching the 50th anniversary of the Jaguar E-Type on Top Gear, my favorite car show of late.  I love cars.  I have a hard time keeping one for more than a couple years because I like to try new things.  The hard top E-Type Jag is my favorite car of all time.  It is by far and away my favorite looking car, so when I saw the new “Growler” I almost lost my mind. The Growler is the NEW version of the E-Type.  They did an incredible job of making it even better looking than the original.  Unfortunately, they let the price get out of control at $700,000.  Yes you read that right. So I’m sitting on the couch late at night reading about the car online and I ask myself a question and come to a realization. What machine could possibly be worth $700,000 and why/how could I possibly pursue something like that when I have my body for “free”.  It’s not the dollar amount that’s scary, I believe any of us can have anything if we put our mind to it.  Even in terrible shape though, our...

Thoughts From Backstage After 10 years of working with and specializing in musicians health and injuries, I was finally asked to go on tour with a band.  Just 2 days ago I respectfully declined the gig of a lifetime.  Being asked is just as good as doing it, at least that’s what I’m telling myself. My passion for working with musicians has provided me with opportunities that I only dreamed of years ago.  The experiences have been profound and I have learned a lot about working with all people by spending time with some of the most famous people in music today. – People are all the same.  We are individuals with sometimes unique issues but we are all people and we all want to feel better. – We all need a bit of TLC at times.  The distance from the top to feeling as though you are at the bottom is sometimes nothing more than a bad sprain or strain. – All people are valuable and worthy of great care and respect.   Everyone deserves superstar care.  Our problems are important to all of us, whether we’re famous or not, pain doesn’t discriminate. – Musicians are athletes and need to treat themselves as such. – Whether we are millionaire superstars...

Doctors Don’t Listen “The secret to great care is great understanding.  That understanding is achieved through great listening on the part of your doctor.  They may be a great clinician, but if they didn’t hear you when you said that your dog died last week, they aren’t going to understand why you have a headache, your shoulders hurt, you can’t sleep and you’re irritable and depressed.  This will likely result in a prescription for zoloft and imitrex.  As a clinician, if you don’t hear and address the underlying minutiae, you are not most effectively working WITH the patient.”  ~Dr....