McKenna’s Musings A Newsletter of Health, Fitness and Nutrition Celebrating 30 Years of Improving Lives Since 1992… Reasons Why New Year’s Resolutions Fail! Giada Waffles, Moisturizers 25% Off, Joke of the Day

McKenna’s Musings A Newsletter of Health, Fitness and Nutrition Celebrating 30 Years of Improving Lives Since 1992… Reasons Why New Year’s Resolutions Fail! Giada Waffles, Moisturizers 25% Off, Joke of the Day

McKenna’s Musings
A Newsletter of Health, Fitness and Nutrition

Celebrating 30 Years of Improving Lives Since 1992…

Reasons Why New Year’s Resolutions Fail!

Giada Waffles, Moisturizers 25% Off, Joke of the Day

Mused while contemplating the 30 years I’ve been in practice. Occasionally over this year I will share a short story about a unique patient I was fortunate to help. While I do exclusively cosmetic surgery now, I did a great deal of reconstructive surgery in the past. I was trained to do hand surgery, facial fractures, cleft lips and palates, breast reconstruction, pediatric plastic surgery, microsurgery, and of course, cosmetic surgery. Next week a story about a young lady who fractured every bone in her face.

REASONS WHY NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS FAIL

Neuroscience research has come up with reasons why 88% of all resolutions fail as explained by Jonah Lehrer, the author of “How We Decide”. The part of the brain that keeps us focused, handles short-term memory, and solves abstract problems is called the prefrontal cortex. In general, willpower is weak, so when the prefrontal cortex is overwhelmed, the brain starts to give way to temptation. As you probably know, the more tired you are the harder it is to resist what you want.

Not only does overloading the brain make willpower difficult but also a brain not properly nourished. Studies show that self-control tasks require more energy through caloric intake than those activities that do not require willpower. Since weight loss is such a popular resolution it is important to not starve the brain as it may impact behavior. Smart eating is better than not eating.

(Did You Know? Many individuals with better willpower do so not by showing restraint but by focusing their mind on something other than the activity that they are to avoid according to Walter Mischel at Columbia University.)

Lastly, there’s hope for all of us because the prefrontal cortex can be exercised. Practicing mental discipline in one area can improve others. Ultimately, this makes it easier to resist temptations including holiday sweets!

According to psychologist John Norcross, the key is to not give up, even with a slip or two. He says we get better at achieving our goals with time. He calls it persistence.

LA DOLCE VITA, JOIE DE VIVRE
Giada Waffles

Use a standard waffle mix and add 1 cup of parmesan cheese. Then fold in two egg whites that have been whipped. (It makes the pancakes fluffier.) Pour into waffle machine and add some chopped chives or the green from a green onion. Also top with Italian or breakfast sausage. We used chopped bacon. The savoriness matches the sweetness of maple syrup.

JOKE OF THE DAY:

SKIN CARE:

ALL MOISTURIZERS 25% OFF THE MONTH OF JANUARY!

Personalized Skin Care Products:

WE ARE THE ONLY OFFICE with a DOSE machine in Cincinnati. It mixes a unique formulation of Skinceuticals ingredients that are professionally diagnosed to address the specific needs of your skin. The specific product comes after you answer a questionnaire about your skin, goals and needs. Each bottle is $195 and lasts roughly 3 months.

Happy New Year,

Peter McKenna, M.D.
513.793.5772
mckennamd.com

McKenna Cosmetic Surgery Center | 513.793.5772 |10577 Montgomery Road | Cincinnati, OH 45242
A Cincinnati Magazine “Top Doc” since 1998
Allergan Top 500 Physician
SkinCeuticals “Flagship” Practice

(I do write all the emails and have done so since 2007. -PJM)