What Really Matters?

Posted: Apr 13 in Clinical Nutrition Center News by Dr. Lazarus

During April, I attended the Obesity Medicine Association’s (OMA) Fall conference in San Francisco. This conference educates doctors on the treatment of obesity. I helped teach their review course (courses on nutrition and diet) and in their main summit, courses on the use of medications.  I presented four hours of lectures in two days!

On Saturday, after several days away from my family, I got an e-mail from my wife that my daughter Zoey had scored 2 goals. Way to go Zoey!

However, on hearing the news, I was not elated that she had gotten 2 goals and won the game for her team. Instead, I was upset that I hadn’t been there to see them. When I called to congratulate her, she reminded me that she had a piano recital the next day. She asked if I would be there. “Sorry, honey. I’m at a conference in San Francisco.” I could tell she was upset.

I remembered a few months ago when I was playing cello in a concert with the Littleton Symphony Orchestra. My mom and dad told me they couldn’t come because they would be out of town. When they saw I was upset, they changed their plane tickets. Remembering how good this made me feel, I informed the conference coordinators that I’d be missing the Sunday conference. I went to the airport, switched my flight to standby, and made it home, barely in time for the recital.  Zoey was ecstatic that Daddy was there to watch her recital, and I was so happy to be there.

What really matters to you? Permanent weight loss is not all about what you eat and how much you exercise. Rather it really stems from finding joy in your life.

-Ethan Lazarus, MD