Pinkston Medical and Wellness Clinic

04/19/2025

Whatever religion you are, an Easter thought for us all. So true. Sometimes life forces you to change. Better to bend with it than fight. You will be ok. You will find your way. I had a very good friend explain to me that God or the universe whatever you believe in, is like a parent in watching their child go the wrong direction and make mistakes and bad life decisions. You cannot make decisions for them and sometimes they have to learn life lessons the hard way. You have to stand back and allow them to learn that lesson and it’s very very difficult because you love them so much. I feel sometimes God or the universe wants you to go to a different path but as you turn your back and go the other way, God has to watch you make those hard mistakes and learn because you are loved. I think the beauty of that is knowing that God has faith in you to eventually make the right decision or go the right path. We talk about faith in God, but we don’t talk about God‘s faith in us. That statement made so much sense to me and changed my life. Thank you Kirstin McFarlane for making that statement and changing my life. Happy Easter everyone if you celebrate.

04/09/2025

I have had a great year with reaching some major goals. Over 3.2 K sub on my YouTube channel not adding the subsc from iTunes and Spotify or I ❤️Radio. I now carry colleagues on my channel (YouTube) ⬇️⤵️ keep watching friends and Facebook family. Thank you to thise who watch and support me! 3 years now!!

Sponsors MAGNA Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
And Prescription Dispensing Laboratories, Inc

Photo credit Darren Maslach

03/16/2025

I saw someone post celebrating their 10 year mark of sobriety from alcohol which is insane amazing and sir you know who you are... I congratulate you beyond what you can imagine! I thank you for inspiring my words today. It made me think though about addictions. There are so many we don’t recognize. Alcohol or drugs are usually referenced but addictive behavior falls into many categories such as gambling, s*x and p**n, shopping, smoking and va**ng, AND… drumroll… eating and eating disorders. The definition: Addiction is a chronic and relapsing condition characterized by compulsive substance use or engagement in behaviors despite negative consequences. We produce pleasure in the brain when we take in a substance or perform a behavior and brings on a high. The behavior or substance then builds in a habit of reward that we seek over and over. We keep searching for this high that serves to help us cope using maladaptive behavior that has serious consequences. We keep doing the behavior anyway despite the potential to destroy our health and lives. We live in denial and are slaves to this process and its a strong process. The process is difficult to identify and fight and some never recover to realize their disease and disengage. Some are successful and most by definition relapse many times. There are those who ultimately succeed in overcoming this disease. Some fall to a new addiction to replace a previous addiction but those who work hard at accountabiiity and gain support can overcome their addiction to sobriety no matter the substance or behavior. I suffered an addiction to food to the point of being 300lbs and that too was almost 10 years ago. I bring this story to you to bring education and hope. Eating as a way to cope with stress. Eating processed, sweet and/ or salty foods, etc… and inability to fight cravings may not seem like an addiction or eating disorder but foods made by the majority of the food industry has the capacity to produce the reward cycle I describe above. It’s wide spread and pervasive and it not discussed enough. I had this issue and faced it head on with many of the tactics and support used in treatment of alcohol and drugs etc. I had help from Sandi Townsend Ifbb Pro who continues to practice, many years ago and continued with my trainer Sonya Renea locally in San Antonio to keep progressing in my fight to regain my health and control. Childhood trauma and emotional or abuse of any kind can be an underlying set up for this disease also genetic predisposition, so if you see this pattern in family members you are at risk. No matter who you choose, seek help and support. You do not have to and should not have to accomplish success on your own but success is possible. Congratulations to all who just identify it. If you can just identify your issue and start by asking for help, you have managed to win more than half the battle. More than half the battle is a huge place to start and the mountain look half as high. You don’t have to go as far as I did in your weight loss journey and physique. A great physique was one of my trophies to success but great health and inner peace was my ultimate goal. Just choose your trophy and goal and go for it! ❤️

01/03/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/15axkMkePx/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Overweight and obese people found to have structural differences in their brains:

Experts noted that there is a significant difference in the hypothalamus. This brain region regulates body temperature, blood pressure, sleep, s*x drive, and appetite.

According to the study, overweight and obese individuals have larger volumes of the hypothalamus, particularly in areas that control appetite through hormone release. However, it is still unclear whether these structural changes are a cause or an effect of weight changes.

Animal studies have shown that a high-fat diet can lead to inflammation in the hypothalamus, causing insulin resistance and obesity.

This inflammation can also impact satiety, causing animals to require more food to feel full. The researchers suggest that a similar process may occur in humans, where a high-fat diet triggers inflammation in the appetite control center and disrupts the recognition of satiety and blood sugar regulation, ultimately contributing to weight gain.

The researchers propose that inflammation may explain the observed increase in hypothalamus size in overweight and obese individuals, suggesting that the body responds to inflammation by increasing the size of immune cells in the brain, known as glia. Neuroplasticity in the brain allows for changes in appetite control and eating behavior in response to dietary habits and environmental cues

01/01/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/18G2BzxM7P/?mibextid=wwXIfr

The Science of Fat: What happens to your fat cells when you lose weight?

When you lose weight, your fat cells do not burn or disappear. They simply shrink in size. When you consume more calories than your body needs for its daily activities, the excess calories are stored in fat cells.

As these cells store more fat, they expand in size, leading to weight gain. However, when you consume fewer calories than your body uses, it starts to use stored fat for energy. This causes fat cells to release their stored fat content, leading to a reduction in their size.

The number of fat cells remains relatively constant. The process of gaining or losing weight typically involves changes in the size of fat cells, not the number. While it's possible to increase the number of fat cells (a process known as hyperplasia), this is less common and usually occurs under specific conditions, such as extreme and prolonged excess calorie intake. In adults, the number of fat cells is relatively stable.

Even after significant weight loss, the number of fat cells tends to remain constant; they just become smaller. There are certain medical procedures, like liposuction, that can physically remove fat cells from the body. However, these procedures do not affect the body's overall tendency to store fat, and new fat cells can form if the underlying causes of weight gain are not addressed.

If you lose fat quickly with crash diets or intensive weight-loss regimes, your fat cells will become more prone to regaining that fat later on. This may explain why some people regain a substantial portion, if not all, of the weight they initially lost

12/17/2024

The science of s*x:

When a person or***ms, the brain looks the same as a person on he**in. Here's how it works:

During an or**sm, the brain experiences a flood of dopamine, the neurotransmitter responsible for pleasure and reward. This dopamine surge mirrors the intense euphoria seen in individuals using he**in or other opioids.

In fact, brain scans show that the regions activated during an or**sm are strikingly similar to those engaged during drug use, which explains the euphoric high associated with both experiences.

The release of dopamine isn’t the only chemical change during s*x.

Oxytocin, often called the "love hormone," is also released in large amounts, promoting feelings of bonding and attachment. This hormone fosters emotional closeness between partners, contributing to the deep connection many people feel after s*x. In combination, these chemicals create a powerful feedback loop, driving not just physical pleasure but emotional satisfaction as well.

The similarity between s*xual pleasure and drug-induced euphoria underscores why s*x can be so compelling and addictive. However, unlike harmful substances, s*x—when consensual and safe—can provide numerous benefits, including stress relief, improved mood, and strengthened relationships.

This intricate dance of brain chemistry shows how our biology is wired to make intimate connections deeply rewarding.

11/06/2024

I have to say Thank you to Viking
Viking Cruises. As a corporation they accommodated a large portion of us who could not sign up for the Vatican and Sistine Chapel. Count how much money into their profits they must have cut to accommodate about 70 of us. They lengthened our stay in Rome a few hours. They hired another bus two hours there and back. Tour guide. Both of those working after hours. Restaurant to feed us great food and unlimited wine. And drum roll… an after hours PRIVATE AND PERSONAL tour of the Vatican and Sistine Chapel. I can’t imagine how much this costs. Now most corporations would just give you the I’m so sorry Charlie. There are 70 of us grateful as we came a long way.

11/01/2024

Good morning from Croatia. Got up early to watch my first sunrise at sea. Cold but so peaceful and satisfying. I am grateful this am for my new life. Don’t be afraid to reach out for a new existence and I don’t mean the tangible things. I mean inner peace. It means something different to everyone and I cannot explain mine but I know I faced my inner demon and took a few steps in a different direction. Brave thing to do. You sacrifice so much doing it. There are those that will not be pleased or even hurt as collateral damage and the intention it not to hurt anyone but to strive for what you God set for you. It pleases God in my eyes to reach a point of gratitude and fulfillment beyond the fear that holds you back. I hope that makes sense. I have let fear and approval hold me hostage long enough. Keep your intentions pure in your free will and let God or the Universe manifest the rest.