drmarcellestastny

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The weight issue- if diets don’t work, what does?

Diet

Diets don’t work. (www.drmarcellestastny.co.za/diets do not work) An obese woman has a one in 677 chance of achieving a normal weight in a year. An obese man has a one in 1 290 chance of being a normal weight in a year. A major risk factor for being 5kg heavier in a year from now is to be on a diet now. All recommendations seem to be that whatever you do it must be “simple, flexible and sustainable.” Kilojoule restriction for weight loss does not work. Permanent modifications to diet and lifestyle do work. If you have been gaining 2kg every…

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Let’s talk about self care- introduction

Family

We are biological beings. At a basic level everybody knows that for a plant to flourish it needs water, nutrient rich soil, air and sunshine. Human beings aren’t that different. To thrive and avoid disease we need at minimum a healthy diet, exercise, fresh air and like our chlorophyll infused friends- sunshine. It seems obvious, doesn’t it? When we are hungry, we should eat. When we are tired, we should rest. Yet, for many in my practice, meeting these basic biological needs seems like an indulgence. An unobtainable luxury. Success is often driven by grit, determination and a high threshold…

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Let’s talk about food

Diet

I am taking a break over the holidays. For the next four weeks I will be republishing a few of my favourite blogs. In continuing with thoughts about selfcare, I would like to talk about food. I hosted a dinner party the other night and there was a vegetarian, someone who was Banting-it and a gluten intolerant guest. We generally agreed that Trump was a disaster, wailed about corruption in SA politics and lamented the drought. But when we got to food, the opinions clashed and arguments got heated. I bet that Mrs Cavewoman host did not have these problems.…

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Please note my new address: 1 Denbigh Rd, Constantia

Mental health

I am a psychiatrist. Psychiatrists are medical doctors who work to prevent, diagnose and treat mental illnesses. As such, we can prescribe medication to restore balances within the brain. The brain is an organ, like any other in the body and is not exempt from getting sick. It is not just an organ. It is also that amorphous construct, that which we call mind. The mind can make the brain sick and the brain can influence and alter the mind. Accessing the mind is tricky. That is why psychiatrists have a sound understanding of psychology and possess psychotherapeutic skills. Being…

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