Dr Oz

Doctor Oz’s wife, Lisa Oz, recently published a book called US: Transforming Ourselves and the Relationships that Matter Most and joined Dr. Oz on his television show to help another family to grow closer.  Is your family as close and connected as you would like?  Try Dr. Oz & Lisa Oz’s 3 step plan to build family unity!

The family Lisa Oz was mentoring consists of a husband who is the assistant fire chief, a wife who is the senior program director at their YMCA and works 6 days a week, and a daughter and son.  They want more family time, and always try to have dinner together.  The father is annoyed by how the son is constantly sending text messages, even at dinner.

Dr. Oz & Lisa Oz’s 3 Step Plan to Build Family Unity:

1.  Create a Family Values Document

You should sit down as a family and write down what your family’s values are: honesty, responsibility, trust, sharing, etc.  Lisa Oz said that this gives everybody ownership, including your kids and it makes parent’s commit to walking the talk!  The list doesn’t have to be extremely long, as long as each person contributes at least one adjective.  A few that the family came up with was sharing (objects like laptops, computers, and sharing time to cheer someone up if they are upset), communication (like communicating in formats other than texting), and helpfulness.

2.  Make a Family Date Night

Schedule a family date night and put it down on the calendar.  Sunday nights are a good time, because people’s schedules are usually free then.  Don’t sit in front of the tv for your family date night – do something like bowling, playing a board game or reading out loud.  Do you have fun ideas for family date nights?  Leave your ideas in the comment section below!

3.  Volunteer as a Family

It is important to volunteer as a family to build a stronger connection to the outside.  Part of Dr. Oz & Lisa Oz’s children’s allowance goes to a charity, and they are required to visit people in retirement homes and bring flowers.  The other mother works with disabled children and adults and brings her son.

Doctor Oz had Belinda & Brandy, a pair of twins, on his show because Brandy has lost 100 pounds, but Belinda is still very overweight. Brandy said Belinda has a lot of excuses and she is scared for Belinda. Belinda said it was easier for Brandy because she has no children, but Brandy does have a busy lifestyle, so this is not a good excuse… besides we always need to take care of ourselves first, otherwise we won’t even be there for our children or others.

Belinda’s Truth Tube Results:

- Weight: 360 pounds
- HDL cholesterol (healthy cholesterol that you want at least 45): 46 (so she is borderline)
- Percentage Body Fat: Dr. Oz couldn’t measure it because is machine cuts off at 50%.  Belinda is more than 1/2 adipose tissue.
- Waist Size: 61.5″ (and you want this number to be less than half of your height)
- Number of antacids per week: 21,000 mg (she is basically taking antacids all the time to control heart burn, which does effect you eventually)
- Real Age: 38 (in real life she is 28 and her twin’s real age is 26)

Bill and Jim Germanakos successfully lost lots of weight and became healthy on the Biggest Loser television show.  Bill and Jim will support Belinda and gave her the following advice:

Bill & Jim Germanakos Diet & Recipes from Dr. Oz:

1.  Eight is Enough

You can have a frittata or omelet of eight egg whites, onion and pepper for less calories than 1.5 eggs.

2.  Bill G’s Breakfast Brownies

Protein packed, delicious, and 6 pancakes are under 300 calories.  Try Bill G’s Recipe for Breakfast Brownies!

3.  Exercise!

Belinda has a 6 month membership to the YMCA in her area, and Dr. Oz said a great way to get started is to swim or walk in the pool.