Healing from the Inside Out

Some people consider Dr. Lew Pincus to be a modern day miracle worker. One of those people is his former patient Marti Sowards, who several years ago weighed over 300 pounds and was suffering from congestive heart failure and out-of-control diabetes. Ms. Sowards describes the life-changing effect the Dallas, Texas internist had on her life.

“I had been to many physicians and was tired of people telling me that obesity was the cause of all my problems. Finally, after being hospitalized for treatment of diabetes and congestive heart failure, I met Dr. Lew Pincus and he was the first person to help me understand that I could choose to see myself as healthy and successful.”

Today Ms. Sowards is a living testimony to the power of life-changing circumstances. Since meeting and working with Dr. Pincus, the former patient, who is 5’5 1/2” tall, now weighs 135 pounds, runs five miles a day, and at age 40, is no longer afflicted with congestive heart failure and diabetes. Once insulin dependent, she has thrown away her syringes.

How did she do it? “By healing from the inside out,” she states. “Dr. Pincus helped me see that I could choose health and well-being just as I had chosen to be overweight and sick.”

Dr. Pincus, an internist, has developed a ‘lifestyle’ course to help patients like Marti Sowards.

“There is a place for ‘outside in healing,’” the physician states. “During the winter, I see a number of patients with colds, flu and brief, seasonal illnesses.” But for long-term, chronic illnesses, e.g. hypertension, elevated cholesterol, heart disease, overweight, the physician has formulated a program to effect ‘inside out healing.’ The program is called “To Life!” and celebrates the joy of good health and seeing the world with a sense of self-empowerment. Many chronic illnesses are linked to emotional upset and negative self-image and by assisting patients to understand the harmful, self-defeating choices they make each day, Dr. Pincus becomes a catalyst allowing the patients “to heal themselves from the inside out.”

The course is a combination of instruction and support group with its own curriculum. The patients meet weekly and learn about diverse topics relevant to their well-being. Topics range from using daily calorie and fat gram counts to making “a distinction between who you are and who you think you are.” Some of the other areas covered include techniques of stress management, exploring the mind-body connection and wellness, benefits of exercise, experiencing self-compassion, individual goal setting and the power of positive affirmations.

According to Dr. Pincus, “Empowerment equals information plus inspiration.”
 

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