Woodmere native has second nutrition book published

It’s not what you eat, it’s how much of it you eat. This is the main premise of “Finally Full, Finally Slim,” a book written by Dr. Lisa R. Young, a Woodmere native, nutritionist, dietician and professor at New York University.

Released on Jan. 8, “Finally Full, Finally Slim” takes the next step from Young’s first book, “The Portion Teller Plan.” Studies that Young cited indicate that the portions served at restaurants across the country have grown, which gives diners the implicit permission to eat more. “There are still arguments about whether carbs are the culprit, or if it’s fats,” Young said. “I think it’s portions.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the average hamburger portion size in 1955 was 3.9 ounces and the average man weighed 166.3 pounds. By 2006, both had increased to 12 ounces and 194.7 pounds, respectively.

Young said her first book focused more on showing just how large portions have become, this book focuses on providing readers with 30 days of challenges to lead to permanent weight loss. People, she said, often set their expectations too high, and that fully depriving yourself of your favorite foods often leads to the dam breaking.

“Instead of making resolutions like not eating chocolate, make smaller goals,” she said. “Things like I’m going to make sure that half my dinner plate is vegetables, have fruit with my breakfast or pack lunch two days a week.”

Her interest in nutrition started with her grandmother, who while battling breast cancer, worked on watching her diet very closely. Dr. Mel Young, Young’s father, was a cardiologist who had a practice in Cedarhurst for decades before retiring in 2014. Young would often work with her father’s patients as well.

“Research shows that obesity isn’t always caused by eating the wrong foods, but sometimes by eating too much of the right foods,” he said. “Obesity and heart issues are linked, nutrition is going to be a cornerstone of any treatment that a cardiologist will prescribe.”

Linda Konner, Young’s literary agent, who has written four diet books, said that “Finally Full, Finally Slim,” is full of important scientific information, but she conveys it in a way that’s easy to understand. “Portion control is one of those things that makes so much sense for people struggling to lose and then maintain their weight … ‘Finally Full, Finally Slim’ makes portion control doable and simple,” Konner said. “I already follow many of Lisa’s suggestions … I have measuring cups and spoons on my kitchen counter. I must admit I have a hard time acknowledging that only five ounces constitutes one serving of wine, but of course Lisa is right.”

Hachette Book Group published Young’s book. Editor Adrienne Ingrum worked on the early drafts and said that since then, the book has taken their offices by storm. “Hachette adopted the book for a companywide health and wellness program,” she wrote in an email. “Which concludes with a big rah-rah and visit to our Rockefeller Center office from Lisa on [Jan. 16.]”

Young’s visit was broadcast to the Hachette offices in Boston, Denver, San Francisco and Lebanon, Ind.

More information on Young’s work and the links to but “The Portion Teller” and “Finally Full, Finally Slim” can be found at drlisayoung.com.