Dr. Andrianopoulos Interview

Inspirational. Intelligent. Innovative. There are three adjectives I can use to describe the brilliant Dr. Georgia Andrianopoulos, and the list can go on and on. I have the privilege of knowing the bright author of Retrain Your Brain, Reshape Your Body. This revolutionary brain-changing weight loss plan is the first vibrant weight management program. In the book you will find straight-forward approaches to improve the brain’s ability to regulate eating and weight directly, essentially “limiting the tug of war between the desire to lose weight and the desire to eat for pleasure,” as Dr. Andrianopoulos’ website puts it so eloquently. She is so passionately committed to people striving for and reaching their top potential and she can help you in Retrain Your Brain, Reshape Your Body.  Dr. Andrianopoulos has indeed touched my life, and I know through her book she can do the same for you.

Okay, so who is Dr. Andrianopoulos really? Georgia is a physiologic psychologist who completed her graduate work at Case Western Reserve University. Her research experience has been in basic neuroscience and gastrointestinal diseases. She is the author of several original research publications and has contributed chapters for academic books. Her research on exercise and colorectal cancer received national recognition. For the past twenty years Georgia has worked in the field of eating disorders, first as director of the Eating Disorders Clinic at the University of Illinois Medical Center at Chicago, and later in private practice. She has been interviewed by Mary Ann Ahern (WMAQ TV Chicago (NBC)) on the topic of cravings and was key speaker on radio shows in the topic of obesity.

In my interview with Dr. Andrianopoulos I inquired about questions that you, too, may have.

Lindsay Rosasco: So Georgia, to begin with I'm wondering where you got the idea for your book Retrain Your Brain, Reshape Your Body.

Dr. Andrianopoulos: I paid attention to my (overweight) patients. The way they described their desire for tasting certain foods, their incessant preoccupation with eating gave me a window into their world. When I glanced inside I saw that their desire for eating certain foods or eating in general was way beyond what I had experienced -- I thought "if I wanted food this badly I will be 400 lbs!" It became obvious that desire was the root problem. I knew that desire resides inside the brain. So I set out to find a way to get the brain to "back-off." That's what the book is about.

It sounds like many people could benefit from that. So who is your target market for this book? Did you have a particular audience in mind that you wanted to reach?

Dr. Andrianopoulos: Certainly people who want to lose weight or manage their weight are the main target. However, brain fitness can benefit even those who just want to boost their functioning -- physical, mental, emotional.

On print and what you’re talking about (rewiring your brain to undo bad eating habits) sounds promising and like everyone's dream! In reality, can this really happen? And who can it happen to?

Dr. Andrianopoulos: Studies have shown that the structure -- the activity inside the brain shifts as a result of simple changes like walking and meditating. These changes are observable in functional MRIs in a matter of two weeks. My book “Retrain Your Brain" lists daily activities that are more powerful to the brain and have been shown in the laboratory to rewire and boost brain performance.

Well I loved the book, but what would you say to someone who was skeptical of the ideas in your book (weight loss through training your brain?)

Dr. Andrianopoulos: I would say "if not the brain then what?" The brain is the only tool humans have to counteract the negative, self-defeating behaviors we all engage in: unhealthy eating, unhealthy relationships, unhealthy drinking, anger, hoarding... the list of self-defeating behavior is endless. The brain causes them and the brain can cure them. Improvement will happen IF AND ONLY (if) the brain improves, so start there!

Finally, we know there are plenty of positive, life-changing benefits to the concepts in your book.  Are there any consequences?

Dr. Andrianopoulos: If you mean negative side effects from pleasuring and stimulating the brain, no. I have feedback of readers who tell me it has made them more aware of who they are, and their goals in life. Also more aware of how interconnected all bodily functions are: sleep, eating, emotion, memory etc.

Retrain Your Brain, Reshape Your Body is available at bookstores such as Barnes & Noble and Borders Books and online. You can visit Georgia’s Brain Fitness website for more information!