Dear Yvonne,
I am a 50-year-old-man who has lost all interest in — and avoided — sex with my partner since she has gained weight. Watching her gobble a double pie a la mode for a nighttime snack was like an anti-Viagra for me. When I met her 3 years ago, she was perhaps 30 pounds thinner. I noticed an older photo of her and she appeared to be perhaps 50 pounds heavier. Do women lose weight to meet a man and seek commitment as if crossing a finish line to find the food again?
—JK 

Dear JK,
Both men and women often seek to be physically fit in order to attract a potential partner. Many do “let themselves go” once they have the commitment since they feel that the woo’ing phase of the relationship no longer requires work. However, it’s hard to say, if your partner intentionally lost weight to “nab” you, and then didn’t have a care in the world when she put the weight back on.

The reasons why people put on weight are very complicated and numerous. Factors that lead to weight gain include:

          o Diets high in calories (sodas), saturated fat (fried foods), and/or sugar (candy)
          o A lack of exercise
          o Not getting enough sleep
          o Stress
          o Health problems, for example, hypothyroidism
          o Medications
          o Menopause

In order to reclaim your sex life, try to spend quality time with your lover in ways that keep both of you active and eating healthy meals. Instead of being critical, try to be compassionate by expressing concern for her health, and offer to be of assistance in any way possible. Feeling sorry for yourself won’t do you or her any good.

Dr. Yvonne Kristín Fulbright is a sex educator, relationship expert, columnist and founder of Sexuality Source Inc. She is the author of several books including, “Touch Me There! A Hands-On Guide to Your Orgasmic Hot Spots.”

Eighty-five percent of the women in the United States experience hot flashes as they approach menopause. Researchers suggest that women with higher body weights actually have more hot flashes that their leaner counterparts. It is believed that hot flashes may be the body’s attempt at dispersing heat, but unfortunately fat seems to act as insulation that prevents the heat from spreading, which usually causes overheating to take place.

Therefore, studies have shown that women who followed a low-fat diet high in fiber-filled foods like fruits, vegetables and whole grains experienced fewer hot flashes than women who didn’t. Below is a list of foods that can help you reduce your symptoms:
 
1. Fiber: Recent research has suggested that no other method enhancing regularity has the same effect as fiber.  Fiber absorbs the estrogen, which relieves hot flashes by reducing the amount of estrogen reabsorbed from bile salts released into the intestine to be mixed with stool. It is recommended that women should be consuming 25-30 grams of fiber daily. Enjoy fiber-rich foods throughout the day such as whole grain breads and cereals, apples, pears, broccoli and cauliflower. 

2. Calcium: The National Institutes of Health recommends that menopausal women get 1,000 mg of calcium daily. Calcium cleanses excess estrogen from the liver, making this nutrient vital in reducing hot flashes.  Calcium-rich foods include low-fat milk, low-fat yogurts and low-fat cheeses. 

3. Soy: Recent studies have found that soy, which is rich in phytoestrogens like isoflavones, can also help reduce hot flashes, as well as night sweats and other menopausal symptoms. Opt for tofu, edamame or any other variety of soy beans, as well as low-fat soy yogurts and cheeses.

4. Beans: Almost all beans — not just soy — contain two important compounds; genistein and daidzein.  Which are known for being estrogenic, helping to control hot flashes and other discomforts of menopause.

5. Omega-3 Fatty Acids: New research from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows a common food compound found in omega-3s can ease hot flashes. Salmon, shrimp, walnuts and tofu all contain high levels of omega-3s. 

6. Vitamin E: According to the National Cancer Institute, studies suggest increasing your intake of vitamin E. Vitamin E replenishes necessary electrolytes lost through perspiration during hot flashes.  Mango, sweet potatoes, almonds, peanuts and sunflower seeds are all great sources of vitamin E.

7. Vitamin B: This essential vitamin has been shown to help reduce hot flashes.  Foods like bananas, pistachios, fish, meat, eggs, bananas, beans and whole grains are all wonderful sources of vitamin B.

8. Vitamin C: One study showed that increasing your intake of vitamin C which contains bioflavonoids; a powerful antioxidant, reduced hot flashes. Grapefruit, oranges, potatoes, broccoli and pineapple are all fabulous sources of vitamin C.

9. Water: Drink a lot of water. Drinking water restores fluids lost to perspiration during hot flashes and can even prevent or minimize the hot flashes themselves.

10. Foods to avoid: Certain foods like, alcohol, caffeine, excess sugar, high-fat meat products and spicy foods rank among the top aggravators of these frustrating episodes.

Tanya Zuckerbrot, MS, RD is a nutritionist and founder of Skinnyandthecity.com.    She is also the creator of The F-Factor Diet™, an innovative nutritional program she has used for more than ten years to provide hundreds of her clients with all the tools they need to achieve easy weight loss and maintenance, improved health and well-being.  For more information log onto www.FFactorDiet.com.

Dear Yvonne,
Could my exercising affect my bra size?
—Flora

Dear Flora,
Breasts are made up of fat tissue. If a female is very physically active or loses a lot of weight, she may lose fat from her breasts. Playing sports and exercising in moderation does not prevent breasts from growing. Losing large amounts of weight and fat nearly always results in some reduction in overall breast size, but, if done through exercise, can increase the firmness of underlying muscles which can give them a sometimes much-needed ‘lift.’

Dr. Yvonne Kristín Fulbright is a sex educator, relationship expert, columnist and founder of Sexuality Source Inc. She is the author of several books including, “Touch Me There! A Hands-On Guide to Your Orgasmic Hot Spots.”

America has been called a “fast food nation” and for good reason. Every day, one out of four Americans eats a fast-food meal. Eating just one fast-food meal can pack enough calories and fat for an entire day. With that said, an obesity epidemic has indeed overtaken the United States, with some two-thirds of Americans now considered overweight, and about one-third categorized as obese.

Studies have indicated eating out as one factor contributing to the spread, and Americans are demeaning restaurants more than ever.  These days, at most fast-food restaurants, they have a menu that is dedicated to eating healthier foods. You will see items such as grilled chicken, salads, baked potatoes, reduced-fat desserts, and many other menu items that can be healthier for you to order. So you can still go to your favorite fast-food restaurants and order tasty, but healthy dishes.

Fast Food Facts:

• According to studies at the University of Minnesota, fast-food consumption has increased in the United States over the past three decades.

• In 1972, we spent 3 billion a year on fast food — today we spend more than $110 billion.

• Harvard Medical Center reported that currently, Americans eat 200 calories more food energy per day than they did 10 years ago; that alone would add 20 pounds annually to one’s weight.

• Portion sizes offered by fast food chains are now two to five times larger than when first introduced in 1950.

• 40 percent of American meals are eaten at chain restaurants.

Tips to help you dine out healthfully:

• Steer clear of large, jumbo and king size orders. Even a medium portion can be big, so share it with a friend. Better yet, opt for the small. The government recommends a three-ounce portion of protein. A great way to make sure you have the correct portion size is by using the “deck of cards” rule. The correct portion size should be about the size of a deck of cards.

• Eat half of what you order. Ask for a doggie bag and take it home. 

• Have a bottle of water or diet soda instead of a regular soda or fruit drink.

• Start your meal with a soup and salad.

• Order vegetables as your side dish.

• Savor your food and put your fork down between bites — this will help you eat less.

Red Lobster
Seafood is a great source of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, but when prepared in butter and sauces, it adds an extra 21g of fat. When ordering dishes at Red Lobster ask for a lemon wedge or cocktail sauce as a healthier compliment to your fish.

Best Appetizer
• Chilled Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail: 6 shrimp = 138 calories, 2g fat, 0g fiber
Shrimp Cocktail is probably one of the best appetizers to order at a seafood restaurant. It is a lean protein, and for 138 calories, you can enjoy six succulent pieces of shrimp.

Worst Appetizer
• New England Clam Chowder: 940 calories, 65g fat, 6g fiber
This bowl of cream, milk and butter contains as many calories as 4 custard filled donuts.

Best Entrée
• Broiled Flounder: 240 calories, 5g fat,0g fiber
Lean white fish, like flounder is one of the healthiest fish in the sea. Fish provides protein, vitamins and minerals. Most of the health benefits of sea bass can be attributed to the presence of Omega 3 essential fatty acids.

Worst Entrée
• Cajun Chicken Linguini Alfredo: 1,828 calories, 117.2g fat, 1g fiber
You will be hard-pressed to find any Alfredo dish that isn’t packed with fat and calories. Once this sauce is soaked over the pasta, this dish must be ordered with a side or Lipitor and a heart pump.

Olive Garden
The Olive Garden is one of the most popular Italian food chains in America. When dining at Italian restaurants, pasta is usually the main focus. A main course of pasta in the United States can have as much as 1,000 calories — that’s more than half your total calories for the day.  Therefore, pasta-rich dishes probably aren’t on the menu for you, but there are many yummy dishes to order instead. But you can shave roughly 200 calories off any pasta dish by ordering a lunch portion (any time of day). To its credit, Olive Garden offers unlimited salad or soup with all entrees. Ask for half the dressing and it’s an offer you can’t refuse. Another plus: a side of vegetables comes with most dishes.

Best Appetizer:
• Minestrone Soup: 120 calories, 1.5g fat, 1g fiber
Ordering minestrone soup can be a great starter during these cold winter months. One cup contains a whopping amount of fiber, allowing you to fill up without filling out. Starting a meal with a vegetable-based soup will enable you to eat less of your entrée while remaining full and satisfied.  Your best bet is to always start your meal with a soup and a small salad with the dressing on the side. This combination helps to provide both fiber and protein, and fills you up while adding a minimal amount of calories.

Worst Appetizer:
• Hot artichoke and Spinach Dip: 1099 calories, 94g fat, 4g fiber
Don’t be fooled by the fact that this dish has vegetables in it.  Most dips are made with regular mayonnaise and/or sour cream, which contain ample amounts of calories and fat. This appetizer is the highest in calories and fat on the menu.

Best Entrée:
• Venetian Apricot Chicken: 380 calories, 4g fat, 8g fiber
This dish is a scrumptious twist to a classic chicken cutlet. The apricots provide you with a boost of fiber, making this a great fiber and protein combination.

Worst Entrée:
• Stuffed Chicken Marsala with Garlic Mashed Potatoes: 1315 calories, 86g fat, 8g fiber
While you may think you’re choosing to be healthy because you not ordering pasta, any chicken drenched in a buttery sauce with a side of mashed potatoes, will only put you at greater risk for a heart attack.

Boston Market
Boston Market has been highly praised for its home-style menu. They are known for their rotisseries and side dishes, but choose wisely as the calories and fat can definitely throw you. Dark meat with the skin can even be as fattening as prime rib, so go with the breast meat, no skin.

• Usually the meals come with 2 side dishes so try to choose at least one healthy side like steamed veggies and the other not so healthy.

Best Entrée:
• White Rotisserie Chicken with 2 sides: 210 calories, 2g fat
White meat chicken is one of the leanest proteins you can choose.  Ordering two sides of vegetables provides you with the ultimate combination of fiber and protein. Fiber and protein are the two nutrients that take the longest to digest and have the fewest calories.  These foods keep your serum glucose levels consistent, leading to improved energy throughout the day

Worst Entrée:
• Pastry Top Chicken Pot Pie: 780 calories, 47g fat, 2g fiber
A flaky crust plus a rich, gravy-like filling, chicken, potatoes, carrots, and onions, probably sounds like the closest thing to heaven. However this artery clogging dish is one of the worst items on the menu. 

Best Sides:
• Fresh Steamed Vegetables: 60 calories, 1g fat, 3g fiber
• Caesar salad with dressing on the side: 40 calories, 2g fat, 1g fiber

Worst Sides:
• Sweet Potato Casserole: 460 calories, 17g fat, 3g fiber
• Market  chopped salad: 450 calories, 43g fat, 4g fiber (dressing: 360, 39)
Steer clear of the word casserole. Casseroles are loaded with butter, cream and sugar — nothing good to maintain a healthy weight.

You may also be surprised to learn that the market chopped salad is the highest caloric and most fattening side on their menu. This is because it is dressed in cream based dressing that contains a whopping 360 calories. To avoid salad sabotage, ask for the dressing on the side and always dip your fork lightly in the dressing before digging into each bite. This will drastically reduce your dressing consumption.

PF Chang’s
PF Chang’s is a great Chinese restaurant that exists in so many malls throughout the nation. It is known for its large-style portions because you can dip in to every plate on the table. What makes Chinese cuisine so tasty is usually their delicious sauces. Be cautious of the fact that each tablespoon of oil contains 120 calories and 14g of fat. Limit your intake of fatty meats, fried wontons, egg rolls, shrimp toast, and fried rice (loaded with oil).  Anything labeled “sweet and sour” invariably means fried and coated in a sugary sauce. 

Best Appetizer:
• Seared Ahi Tuna: 210 calories, 9g fat, 1g fiber
You can never go wrong starting a meal with a lean protein, like tuna.

Worst Appetizer:
• Chang’s Spare Ribs: 1356 calories, 89g fat, 1g fiber
While spare ribs are a tempting and tasty menu item, be aware that they can contain more calories than half the entrées on this menu, and this is just a starter.

Best Entrée:
• Cantonese Shrimp: 330 calories, 12g fat, 4g fiber
Shrimp is a healthy and tasty seafood, and paired with veggies or a salad is great combination of fiber and protein which will keep you full on the fewest calories.

Worst Entrée:
• Pork Lo Mein = 1820 calories, 127g fat, 8g fiber
This dish alone contains more calories and fat than the average American eats in one day.

T.G.I.Fridays
When dining at T.G.I. Friday’s, you might have to skip some of the typical appetizers. Most, if not all, are fried, breaded and soaked in sauces. Fried foods are very rich, tasty and crispy. Nowadays, almost all food is fried for added taste and flavor. However, they are high in calories and eating them increases the risk of obesity. They now offer a “lighter” side on their menu. This will help you choose healthier dishes than those loaded with excess calories and fat, and we’re sure your taste buds will be tantalized.

Best Appetizer:
• Strawberry Fields Salad with Chicken: 390 calories, 2g fat, 3g fiber
This salad will satisfy both your sweet and savory cravings. The addition of fresh strawberries adds an extra boost of fiber, making this a one of a kind salad. Ask for the dressing on the side.

Worst Appetizer:
• Cheese and Broccoli Soup: 540 calories,
Although soup may have a reputation as a low-calorie meal option, heavy cream-based soups are most certainly not. This dish may seem like a “fiber and protein option,” but due to its high fat content from the cheese, butter and cream will only provide you with unwanted calories and fat. When ordering soups, opt for broth-based soups or ones filled with vegetables.

Best Entrée:
• Shrimp Key West: 225 calories, 7g fat, 5g fiber
This is a tasty, light dish that will keep you feeling full for less calories.

Worst Entrée:
• Chipotle Grilled Steak Sandwich: 1509 calories, 98g fat, 8g fiber
Some cuts of red meat may contain the highest amount of fat from all other proteins. Within one bite of this sandwich, your arteries will be instantly clogged!

Starbucks
Starbucks is one of the biggest coffee franchises in America today.  They serve the most yummy and unique blends of coffees. Don’t drink your calories. Research shows that our bodies do not register calories from fluids.  Meaning that the amount of calories that your drink contains has absolutely no effect on your satiety level. Starbucks will adapt to your healthy lifestyle by making their tasty beverages in low-fat versions.

Best Beverage:
• Café Misto with Skim milk(grande)70 calories, 0g fat, 0g fiber
Choosing low-fat or skim milk and no cream, will instantly cut your calories in half. Whole milk and skim milk have the same amount of protein, yet 1 cup of whole milk contains 160 calories and 5g of fat versus skim milk which contains 80 calories and 0g fat.

Worst Beverage:
• Strawberries and cream blended frappucino (grande) 570 calories, 15g fat,1g fiber
This drink contains as many calories as a slice of NYC pizza. Instead of ordering regular frappucinos, opt for the light, blended versions, for a savings of over 400 calories. 

Tanya Zuckerbrot, MS, RD is a nutritionist and founder of Skinnyandthecity.com.    She is also the creator of The F-Factor Diet™, an innovative nutritional program she has used for more than ten years to provide hundreds of her clients with all the tools they need to achieve easy weight loss and maintenance, improved health and well-being.  For more information log onto www.FFactorDiet.com.

For millions of Americans, every New Year begins with resolutions about losing weight and getting fit.  But with the arrival of 2009 in particular, it seems like we’re being deluged with messages about how to shed pounds and sculpt our physiques.  It seems like every magazine, newspaper, Internet site and morning show is paying homage to those who have achieved control over their appetites, directed their energies into exercise and emerged healthier, sexier or more powerful. 

“The Biggest Loser” is bigger than ever, not to mention weight-loss programming like the “Joy Fit Club,” “Celebrity Fit Club,” “X-Weighted,” “Big Medicine,” “Bulging Brides” and “I Can Make You Thin.”  Vegetarian kids are getting lots of airtime.  Television segments on eating better in ‘09, women now half their size and The 4-Day Diet seem like an everyday event.

I believe that this intense focus on our bodies — which we may also see echoed in increasing sexual contact between teenagers, increasing teen pregnancy rates, increasing rates of infidelity and even increasing birth rates — could be fueled by our growing sense that we can control little else.  With the global economy in chaos, with the continued threat of terrorism and with our nation at war, it is natural that we would want to show somehow that we are the masters of our own destinies — if only in what number pops up when we stand on a scale, or what our muscles look like when we look in the mirror.

Not all of this is a bad thing, of course.  Fitness is a noble goal that more Americans should embrace.  A focus on physical beauty isn’t the end of the world.  Very few of us are without any interest in whether others perceive us as attractive.  And no one can find fault with creating children we can embrace, love and nurture.

The trouble comes when a desire for control becomes hyperbolic, because it is fueled by social or economic anxieties.  That’s the “breeding ground” not just for increased rates of teen sex and pregnancy, but for increased rates of anorexia and bulimia and steroid use in gyms. 

If all we can believe in is our bodies, then manipulating them into the right size and shape, and using them to assert we are capable, worthwhile and powerful can become a national preoccupation bordering on addiction.  In exactly the same way, more and more of us can fall victim to manipulating our brains to deliver pleasure on demand (when little flows from the world around us) through the use of illicit drugs. 

This literal turning in on ourselves isn’t just fueled by an inability to control the national debt or whether GM goes out of business or whether Americans lose their homes or keep their jobs.  I worry it is also fueled by a lack of trust in individuals and institutions that Americans once believed in.  In a year that starts out with headlines on banks gone bust, CEOs in private jets begging Congress for bailouts, Rod Blagojevich, Bernie Madoff and rogue Attorney Marc Dreier (to name a few), it is as if Americans are reverting to what they know they own — their bodies.  There, they still have a shot at having final say over what happens.  If they trust nothing else, they can trust what they literally consume, see, touch and feel.

What’s that old line about what to do when you feel like you’re lost in a dream — or a nightmare?  Pinch yourself.  (Or pinch an inch.) 

Well, there’s no harm in focusing on our bodies as long as we don’t lose sight of everything else.

Dr. Keith Ablow is a psychiatry correspondent for FOX News Channel and a New York Times bestselling author. His newest book, “Living the Truth: Transform Your Life through the Power of Insight and Honesty” has launched a new self-help movement. Check out Dr. Ablow’s website at livingthetruth.com or e-mail him at info@keithablow.com.

Almost as soon as the Times Square ball drops and the confetti is scattered, many people start making resolutions to improve their health and lives. In fact, according to ABC News, 45 percent of Americans vow to lose weight as the New Year approaches. Losing weight after the holidays doesn’t have to be difficult, and with the right plan you can accomplish your goal weight. Here are some tips to get you on the right track.

1. Set realistic goals.

Write down where you would like to be with your weight in 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and then 1 year. You gradually gained the weight over several months and even years, so always remember that you’re in this for the long haul. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, and with this mind set you will be able to create new healthy habits which will ultimately turn your “diet” into a truly healthy lifestyle.

2. Fill up on fiber and protein.

Make sure every meal is a combination of fiber and protein.  Fiber and protein are the two nutrients that take the longest to digest.  It is this perfect combination of foods that keeps your serum glucose levels consistant, leading to improved energy throughout the day.  In addition, since fiber has zero calories per gram, and protein has 4 calories per gram, you are guaranteed the least caloric intake with the most food itake.  Eating small, frequent meals helps to stabilize blood sugar and keep energy levels consistent.  In addition, it helps to prevent you from becoming ravenous at night which leads to poor food choices and less portion control, and eventually leading to overeating. For lunch, have a big salad filled with vegetables and lean protein, and as a snack, have an apple with a piece of string cheese or peanut butter. These meals will keep you stay satiated throughout your days.

3. Don’t skip breakfast.

Most mornings, we barely glance at the kitchen because we’re either in a rush or would rather sleep until noon.  Other people skip breakfast thinking they’re saving on calories, but by mid-morning, that person is starved — leading them to be ravenous throughout the day. Recent research shows that eating breakfast can actually help you shed pounds by jump-starting your metabolism for the day. A breakfast consisting of fiber and protein is the ultimate combination because these nutrients will fill you up on the fewest calories.  Some delicious and satisfying breakfast options include a high fiber cereal (5 grams or more) with skim milk and berries or an egg white omlette with veggies and a slice of whole wheat toast.

4. Lose weight with water.

Water is essential for everybody, and it is also the key to losing weight. Drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of water each day is essential for losing weight. Not only is drinking water important for all bodily functions, but it keeps you hydrated and helps fight fatigue — a symptom that tends to lead to overeating.  If you haven’t been drinking enough water, your body has developed a pattern of storing water. This water retention equals unwanted pounds.  If plain water is too boring for you, add a slice of lemon or lime or a sugar-free flavor packet.

5. Eat more fruits and veggies.

By simply adding more produce to your diet, you may find that you begin eating less and thereby lose weight without making any additional dietary changes. Filling up on fiber-rich vegetables and fruit add bulk and satiety to your diet without excess calories. Plus, you’ll get the extra health benefits of crucial vitamins and minerals.  Some fiber-rich choices include broccoli, cauliflower, artichokes, heart of palm, apples, berries and pears.

6. Snack on pistachios.

In a recent study done at Eastern Illinois University, researchers confirmed that people are more influenced by perception then hunger. When a group of people were given the same amount of pistachios, shelled and unshelled, they ate 45 percent less nuts when they had to open them. This small study shows that by making small changes such as choosing in-shelled pistachios, which slow down consumption time, one can curb calorie intake dramatically. Pistachios also contain the highest amount of fiber compared to most other nuts, as well as heart healthy mono-unsaturated fats, which have been shown to lower cholesterol. 

7. Keep a food journal.

Writing down what you eat can double your weight loss, according to a new study of nearly 1,700 dieters from Kaiser Permanente’s Center for Health Research. Those who documented their food, drinks and exercise everyday lost twice as much over six months as people who did so occasionally or not at all (average difference: 20 pounds compared with 10). Journaling makes you accountable and aware of subconscious eating that packs on the pounds.

Tanya Zuckerbrot, MS, RD, is a nutritionist and founder of Skinnyandthecity.com.  She is also the creator of The F-Factor Diet™, an innovative nutritional program she has used for more than ten years to provide hundreds of her clients with all the tools they need to achieve easy weight loss and maintenance, improved health and well-being.  For more information log onto www.FFactorDiet.com.

Do you avoid two-piece bathing suits and cover up entirely when you go to the beach or pool, because of aggravated red stretch marks on your abdomen?  Do you avoid certain clothing styles because you don’t want people seeing the silvery stretch marks that appear on your upper arms or décolletage? It doesn’t have to be that way anymore!

Why do I have stretch marks?

Stretch marks are the result of a loss of the body’s normal structural components, including collagen and elastin.  There are five main causes of stretch marks:  pregnancy, growth spurt during adolescence, heavy weight lifting, extreme weight gain/weight loss and medications such as steroid creams or oral steroids. Unfortunately, genetics are also responsible for determining whether you’ll develop them.
  
How can I prevent stretch marks?

Prevent stretch marks during pregnancy by keeping your skin well moisturized at all times.  If you’re genetically susceptible to stretch marks, stay away from oral steroid medications as much as possible and don’t use potent topical steroid creams for conditions like psoriasis and eczema for prolonged periods.
  
What can be done about stretch marks?

While stretch marks have been difficult to treat in the past, we are fortunate to be in an age where there are finally some great treatments available.  There is no magic wand, but now we finally have options that are effective in diminishing the appearance of unwanted stretch marks.  Only topical vitamin A derivatives like Retin-A or Tazorac have shown to be effective in improving the appearance of stretch marks.  However, we do have some new and exciting laser-based technologies, such as the new generation fractional lasers, which after one-to-three treatment sessions can markedly improve the depressed skin, whiteness and redness associated with stretch marks.

Other laser technologies, including pulsed dyed lasers and advanced light source technologies, have also proven helpful in making stretch marks much less visible – giving back the confidence needed to wear that bikini on any upcoming vacations.

Dr. Neil Sadick is one of the most renowned dermatologists and researchers whose multiple discoveries have strongly influenced and transformed the future of dermatology. He is a Professor of Dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College and President of the Cosmetic Surgery Foundation. Dr. Sadick is author, or co-author, of more than 500 articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals and has contributed more than 75 chapters of medical books. Read more at www.sadickdermatology.com.

 A Virginia man lost about 80 pounds in six months by eating nearly every meal at McDonald’s.

Not Big Macs, french fries and chocolate shakes. Mostly salads, wraps and apple dippers without the caramel sauce.

Chris Coleson tipped the scales at 278 pounds in December. The 5-foot-8 Coleson now weighs 199 pounds and his waist size has dropped from 50 to 36.

The 42-year-old businessman from Quinton says he chose McDonald’s because it’s convenient.

The only over-the-counter, federally approved weight loss pill in the U.S. isn’t exactly flying off shelves, but it’s not because Americans are getting any slimmer.

GlaxoSmithKline said Wednesday that 4 million people have tried alli since the drug hit shelves a year ago. Alli is the only nonprescription weight loss pill approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

As a drug that should theoretically trigger huge sales, the preliminary figures are “pretty underwhelming,” said Steve Brozak, an analyst with WBB Securities.

Tipping the scale at 330 pounds, 47-year-old Cindy Schreiner decided to get gastric bypass surgery in 2002.

“I was downtown on 9-11,” Schreiner recounted. “And I couldn’t run … I had a colleague pulling me down the street saying, ‘come on, you can run, you can run’ and I just thought, I can’t move anymore and I was so huge.”

It was turning point for Schreiner, who has lost 185 pounds to date.

But working out daily and changing her eating habits has not helped Schreiner obtain the body she has always wanted.

“I would grab the skin and go I want this gone,” she told FOXNews.com. “Because I had worked so hard to lose the weight and I didn’t see all the benefits because the skin was hanging.” (Continue)