Healthy Lifestyles

For those pursuing a weight loss plan, or for those who simply want to eat more healthfully, our patients often report the same few problems over and over: Read more

For many of us, the longer, hotter days of July and August bring a bit of disruption to our schedules. But you definitely don’t want to disrupt your weight loss plan. So as the weather heats up outside, watch out for these common pitfalls of summer. Read more

Ask yourself why we eat, and the answer seems obvious at first: Because we’re hungry, of course. But we all know there’s more to it than that. If we only consumed food as an answer to hunger, and then stopped eating when we were full, most of us wouldn’t struggle so much with weight gain. We probably wouldn’t ever need a weight loss plan, either. Yet, most of us need assistance with nutrition and weight loss at some point.

Why? Because human beings eat for many reasons other than hunger. We eat for social reasons, emotional reasons, or even boredom. Sometimes sleep deprivation triggers cravings. So if you’re following a weight loss plan, one of your first tasks should be to learn about the different reasons you eat, and how to identify and manage those situations.

A hunger scale can help you with this task. On the hunger scale, 0 means you’re absolutely starving and 10 means you’re uncomfortably full. At most times you should fall somewhere in between those two extremes. Nevertheless, using the scale to identify emotions and then eat in a conscious manner can prevent you from overindulging in unhealthy or unnecessary snacks. Here’s how to use the hunger scale.

Before eating… Rate your hunger on a scale of 0 to 10. Obviously, you shouldn’t even eat if you’re feeling above a 5 or 6. But if you rate yourself 0-2, remember to eat mindfully. When you’re starving it can be easy to eat too quickly, and become overstuffed without meaning to.

Stop eating halfway through, and rank yourself again. You should stop eating once you begin to feel full (a 6 to 8) so that you don’t reach a 9 or 10 (uncomfortably stuffed). This step is especially important to those of us who were raised to “clean our plates”, so that you can learn to recognize your own fullness signals.

Rank yourself again when you finish. If you do continue to eat after the halfway point, rank your feelings again when you finish the meal. On the occasions that you find yourself overly full (a 9 or 10), refrain from judgement but do use the situation as a learning opportunity. Why did you continue to eat past your comfortable fullness point? What can you do differently next time?

This strategy might sound a bit unnecessary, but it can be a helpful tool early in your weight loss plan. By learning to recognize hunger and satiety, as well as other emotions regarding your eating habits, you can start to eat more mindfully and break old habits. Call our office to schedule an appointment, and we will discuss your weight loss plan in more detail.

Most of us know that a healthy eating plan and exercise are vital to our health, but we tend to forget the importance of sleep. Yet if you don’t get enough sleep, you probably won’t feel like exercising (or doing anything at all). You might also experience cravings for sugary or fatty “comfort foods” due to the hormonal disruption. So if you want to be successful with your weight loss plan, paying attention to quality sleep can be a crucial step. Read more

You’ve probably noticed that the news never can make up its mind about foods and drinks. One day the experts are touting the health benefits of something, and then the next day someone else is saying the complete opposite! Read more

When you decide to pursue an exercise program or weight loss plan, your motivations might range from improving your appearance to following doctor’s orders. Those are certainly good reasons to improve your health. But for many people, more specific knowledge can be empowering. What exactly are the benefits of this lifestyle change? Read more

As you pursue a medical weight loss plan, or continue to maintain your new weight, you might begin to feel a bit bored with your routine. Here are five great habits that you can try this summer, to shake things up and develop a new perspective on healthy eating. Read more

When we think of healthy foods, we often focus on weight loss or maintenance. But the truth is, we all need a variety of nutrient-dense foods in order to protect ourselves from various diseases and age-related conditions. This is just as true for those who don’t want or need to lose weight! Read more

We all have days that we don’t feel like following through with our workout goals. If that feeling is plaguing you, try one or more of these tips to encourage yourself to get moving. Read more

You already know that exercise is one of the best ways to reduce your risk of many chronic age-related diseases, and it’s an important part of your weight loss plan too. But you might be surprised to learn that your exercise routine can actually keep you healthy by supporting your immune system and reducing your odds of getting sick! Read more