A NOTE FROM THE WALDREPS

We ask you this: "What do I want?" in the new year? The theme of the Newsletter this month is The Power of a Positive Attitude.  Simply put, our attitude is the way we see events, people, and circumstances in life.  It is an internal belief system responsible for the quality of our life's experiences.  Ultimately, what we produce or experience depends on attitude.

 
Donald Waldrep   MD,FACS, FASMBS    

Lisa Janks Waldrep  JD, CPC

 Announcements

Join us at SALSA on Wednesday, February 8th at 6 p.m. for Support Group  at the Sutter Roseville Medical Center. Meeting will be held at Conference rooms A & B on the 2nd floor. Support Group meetings are held on the second Saturday of every month. February's guest speaker will be Plastic Surgeon Dr. Scott Green!

For CURE CENTERS, we have our Support Group meetings held at 10 AM on the 3rd Saturday of every month at the Thousand Oaks Surgical Hospital in the South conference rooms on the 2nd floor. This month we will be meeting on Saturday, February 18th with guest speaker Walter Fry, who will be talking about the numerous benefits from a natural source, the Chia seed!! 

Did you know that psychologists claim that one hour of positive visualization is worth seven hours of physical effort? Take the time to vividly and consistently see yourself passing up those second helpings, and make sure you imagine eating healthy, wholesome foods!

Remember, circumstances are uncontrollable.  Life's events happen.  Our responsibility is to choose our responses - our attitudes- consciously.  Situations may color your view of life, but ultimately only you have the power to choose what the color will be.  So let's build on the good in your life and motivate and inspire each other to great health!  

Dreams Have Wings

In the last newsletter, you looked at who you are, and developed several things that you really want to do.  This month, by choosing to FOCUS on what we want, we will activate an important part of us that supports us in achieving our goals - our subconscious minds.

• In order to create a whole, empowered life, you must know what it is that you really want in your life.
• In order to create a BALANCED life, write down at least one goal inEACH life area, (Family; Spouse/Significant Other; Health/Fitness; Friends; Personal Environment/Home; Career; Money; Personal growth; Spirituality; Fun/Recreation; Community; Possessions).
• Remember, one goal is not enough: you must have at least twelve individual goals, one in each of the above areas, so that you can envision balanced success in all aspects of your life.
• List your desires without censoring yourself (i.e., go crazy!).
• Convert your desires into measurable goals.  Many people use the SMART formula:  S= goals must be simple and specific; M= goals must be measurable and meaningful to you personally; A= goals should be achievable and written "as if" they have occured; R= the goals should be realistic (stretching you just a little bit) and responsible; and T= goals should be timed to occur within a specific period and be phased to move you toward something you desire.
• Goals should be written down in detail and repeated often - with emotion (remember, you're on Destiny Idol, your auditioning for the life you want, so sell it!).
• Dream big!  Your goals should be designed to stretch you- just a bit beyond your typical comfort zone.

KEEPING FIT THE RX WAY

WHAT DO YOU REALLY WANT?  AND WHAT EXACTLY WOULD YOU TAKE TO MOTIVATE YOU TO DO IT?   

In preparing this Newsletter, I thought back to a time when my mother and I visited a famous San Diego Marine Park; there we saw a pod of 2 killer whales circling a pen.  With their large bodies and glinting teeth, they were an intimidating pair.  I looked at my 75 year old mother and made her an offer (tongue in cheek);  "Mom, I will give you a dollar if you jump in there and swim to that manmade island in the middle of the pen.  She looked at me as if I'd lost my mind.  So I persisted and asked, "What about a thousand dollars?  Come on, just do it."

After shaking her head in disbelief and gave me one of those looks tha only moms can give, she said, "Lisa, there is nothing that could get me to jump in that water with those monsters.  Nothing!"

She seemed pretty resolved, but then I asked her a different question.  "Mom, what if I was hurt and lying half on the island there in the middle of the pen, about to drown?"

I was tired of people asking me when my baby was due and I was not pregnant. I was just over weight and going through depression. 

My mother died 5 years ago from complications of diabetes. I have six brothers with the same disease and I chose to not to go out that way. I met Dr. Waldrep and decided to have the WRAP surgery on August 11, 2011. I was 204 pounds before and six months later I had lost 40 pounds!

I feel so healthy now and I no longer have to take my blood pressure medication! I'm so grateful that I got this surgery done, and all I can say is that Dr. Waldrep is awesome! I now feel like I have so much more energy than ever! I feel like can do anything! This surgery worked so well for me and I am so glad that I made the decision to go on this weight loss journey.    

~Alicia D Rivera    

THE HEALING CORNER

Did you know.....  Research has confirmed that people who described themselves as highly optimistic a decade ago had lower death rates from cardiovascular disease and lower overall death rates than severe pessimists?

The function of your subconscious is to support your thoughts and behaviors by triggering matching psychological responses. Research indicates that positive thinking and behavior have a powerful impact on personal performance, confidence and even health.  

Positive thinking causes your brain to generate matching, positive chemical and physical responses - such as increased mental alertness and physical energy, improved respiration and circulation, and increased beneficial endorphin release. Thinking positively actually boosts your ability to perform tasks and projects enthusiasm, energy, competence, and confidence.  

Positive thinking is making a conscious effort to think with an optimistic attitude and anticipate positive outcomes. Positive behavior means purposely acting with energy and enthusiasm. When you think and behave positively, you guide your mind toward your goals and generate matching mental and physical energy in your body at the same time!   

Follow this "prescription" from Dr. Waldrep:    

 For 7 days be a happy positive person. This may feel silly and artificial at first, but I promise you won't burst into flames or be hit by a meteor by trying this. On the evening of the seventh day, reflect on your general sense of well-being and the attitude of the people you interacted with that week.

 FOOD FOR THOUGHT       

Mahi Mahi with Macadamia Nut Crust  

4 large portobello mushrooms
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup pineapple juice
2 tablespoons chopped fresh ginger, peeled
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil

Clean mushrooms with a damp cloth and remove their stems. Place in a glass dish, stemless (gill) side up.

To prepare the marinade, in a small bowl whisk together the vinegar, pineapple juice and ginger. Drizzle the marinade over the mushrooms. Cover and let marinate in the refrigerator for about 1 hour, turning mushrooms once.

Prepare a hot fire in a charcoal grill or heat a gas grill or broiler. Away from the heat source, lightly coat the grill rack or broiler pan with cooking spray. Position the cooking rack 4 to 6 inches from the heat source.

Grill or broil the mushrooms on medium heat, turning often, until tender, about 5 minutes on each side. Baste with marinade to keep from drying out. Using tongs, transfer the mushrooms to a serving platter. Garnish with basil and serve immediately.