Physical Health & Well-Being Articles

Article / Updated 05-22-2023

When you are on a diet to lose belly fat, you may be making a few common mistakes when you attend social events. And making these mistakes means you’ll be facing even greater challenges. So avoid doing the following, and you’ll be on your way to sailing through the next social event: Getting too hungry: Don’t ever let yourself get too hungry (whether you’re at home or at an event). When you get too hungry, you start to crave more food, eat too fast, and ultimately make the wrong food choices and eat too much of them. So before you go to a party or event, eat something. Chances are you’ll get there and the food won’t be served for a few hours anyway. So you’ll be there socializing and standing around, maybe having a glass of wine (which makes you even more hungry), and then by the time the food comes out, you won’t be able to control yourself. So grab a light meal or snack before you walk out the door. The best option is some lean protein, a healthy fat, or some vegetables. Having poor food options: Have you ever gone to a house party only to find that every item on the menu was high in saturated fat or refined carbohydrates? What do you do in these situations? If that one food choice is your only option, you have to eat it. Luckily, you can introduce another choice. Before attending a social event, offer to bring a dish. Make a dish that fits within the guidelines of your Belly Fat Diet plan. Not only will your host appreciate the thought, but you’ll also ensure you have at least one healthy option available to you. Overfilling your plate, or not using a plate at all: Don’t pick at party food. Get yourself a small plate and place the food on it before digging in. Doing so helps you see how much you’re truly eating. To help prevent overindulging from wanting to try a little of everything, survey the food before filling your plate. Walk around to see what’s available. On a scale from 1–10, which foods are the 9s and 10s (the foods you like the most)? Only fill your plate with these options, and skip the ones you don’t really love. Giving in to food pushers: If the party host or family member tends to push food or drinks at you, keep a glass of water on hand at all times or a small plate filled with vegetables so you can ensure them you have already been taken care of. Stationing yourself near tempting food: Watch where you position yourself at social gatherings. It’s so easy to eat mindlessly when you’re surrounded by food. If you’re sitting directly across from a favorite dish or appetizer, you’re going to be tempted to go back for seconds (or worse). Instead, try to sit away from the food. If you can’t escape, at least sit near a more healthy dish. That way if you go back for additional servings, you won’t kill your weight loss efforts. Also, focus on the social aspect of the event and try to talk and mingle to distract yourself from the food. Drinking too much alcohol: If you’re drinking alcohol, be careful about how much you have and when you have it. Throughout a long party, it’s easy to have a few glasses over the period of a few hours. But remember that a few glasses sock you with a lot of calories before you even dig into the meal. Also, alcohol stimulates appetite, causing you to be more likely to eat larger portions. Chowing down on leftovers: If you’re hosting a party or event, send the less-than-belly-friendly leftovers home with guests so they aren’t around and tempting you for days after the party. Leftovers often lead to more weight gain than the meal itself — especially around the holidays. Allow yourself to enjoy a dessert or dish that you’d usually avoid, but keep the portion small. Eat it slowly so you can really savor it and feel satisfied.

Article / Updated 05-22-2023

Some behaviors can actually help to shrink your waistline and help you keep weight off for good. Here are ten of the best behaviors to start incorporating today to lose weight and banish belly fat for good. Deep Breathing: Stress can pack on belly fat and lead to a host of medical issues if not controlled. One of the quickest ways to reduce your stress levels and bring stress hormones (the ones that trigger belly fat storage when elevated for long periods of time) back to normal is by deep breathing. Taking a few long, deep breaths can help to instantly relax you and cut your overall stress. Meditating: Meditation is the practice of focusing and concentrating on one particular thing, whether that be a particular sound or object or even your own breath. This increased focus and concentration helps to reduce stress and promote relaxation. In fact, studies show that people who meditate on a regular basis experience less anxiety and depression as well. Exercising in short bouts: The more exercise the better, but you may not have the time or ability to exercise for long periods of time, especially when first starting out. So instead of trying to pack in 30 minutes of exercise at one time, space it out. Research has shown that working out in 10-minute intervals three times a day is just as effective for weight loss as working out for 30 minutes at once. Sleeping: Sleep is such an important factor in banishing belly fat. Without adequate sleep, your stress levels increase, thus causing you to pack on pounds and fat around your midsection. Lack of sleep is also associated with reduced levels of leptin, the hormone that helps regulate appetite and metabolism. A leptin decrease stimulates appetite and promotes overeating. So in order to shrink your belly, it’s vital to get enough shuteye. Aim for seven to eight hours a night. Chewing slowly: When you eat rapidly, your body can’t recognize when you’ve eaten enough. To slow yourself down, make it a point to chew each bite at least ten times and make sure to put your fork or spoon down in between bites. Frequent snacking: One major key to losing weight and keeping it off is to not let yourself get too hungry. When you get too hungry, you experience strong food cravings, so when you do get a chance to eat, you eat the wrong things and eat too quickly, which can prevent you from recognizing your body’s cues as to when you’ve eaten enough. Have a small meal or snack every few hours to keep you from getting too hungry. Staying hydrated: When you’re slightly dehydrated, your body holds onto more water. This excess water weight can give you a bloated or puffy look, especially in your midsection. Slight dehydration can also increase your cravings and appetite because your brain may misinterpret thirst for hunger. So drink up to slim down! Aim for 64 ounces (8 cups) of water daily. Avoiding salt: The more sodium you consume, the more water weight you retain. This water weight then bloats your belly, making your waistline look larger than it really is. So put down the salt shaker and choose fresh, whole foods over salty processed ones. Keeping a journal: One of the absolute best ways to get yourself on track with a weight loss plan (and maintain it) is by keeping a food journal. By tracking everything you eat and drink, you can notice when you begin to consume belly-bloating foods as well as double-check that you’re eating belly-fat-burning nutrients on a regular basis. Stretching: Stretching is a great way to increase flexibility, strengthen muscles, and decrease stress. In addition, regular stretching helps to reduce exercise-related injuries, which can derail your fitness routine. Aim to spend a minimum of five to ten minutes every day doing a few brief stretches.

Article / Updated 05-22-2023

Protein is essential to your belly-blasting plan because it helps to keep you full and prevents muscle loss while losing fat mass. However, you need to take in the right amount of protein each day. Taking in too much or too little can sabotage your weight loss efforts. Credit: ©iStockphoto.com/Lyredmila Suvorova 2009 Except where noted, one serving size of each of the foods in the following tables equals 1 ounce of protein. Portion Sizes of Lean Protein Choices Food Size of a Serving Fish All fish, including salmon, flounder, halibut, trout, cod, tilapia, herring, grouper, swordfish, and so on 1 ounce Canned tuna in water 1/4 cup Canned sardines in water 2 sardines Shellfish (clams, shrimp, crab, lobster, scallops, oysters, and so on) 1 ounce Imitation shellfish 1 ounce Poultry Chicken breast, white meat, skinless 1 ounce Turkey breast, white meat, skinless 1 ounce Cornish hen, skinless 1 ounce Ground turkey, 100% breast meat 1 ounce Ground chicken, 100% breast meat 1 ounce Pork Tenderloin 1 ounce Center chop loin 1 ounce Fresh ham 1 ounce Boiled ham 1 ounce Canadian bacon 1 ounce Beef (for all cuts, choose USDA Select and Choice cuts and trim all visible fat) Flank steak 1 ounce Round 1 ounce Tenderloin 1 ounce Eye of round roast or steak 1 ounce Sirloin tip side steak 1 ounce Top round roast and steak 1 ounce Bottom round roast and steak 1 ounce Top sirloin steak 1 ounce Game Buffalo (bison) 1 ounce Venison 1 ounce Ostrich 1 ounce Goose (cooked without skin) 1 ounce Lamb Leg of lamb 1 ounce Loin chops 1 ounce Loin shoulder 1 ounce Cheese Fat-free or part-skim varieties with 3 grams of fat or less per ounce 1 ounce Fat-free or part-skim cottage cheese 1/4 cup Fat-free or part-skim ricotta cheese 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese 2 tablespoons Other Legumes/lentils (equals 1 protein and 1 starch serving) 1/2 cup Eggs 1 egg Egg whites 2 egg whites or 1/4 cup liquid egg substitute Tofu 1/2 cup Edamame 1/4 cup Vegetable burger 1 burger (equals 2 ounces protein) Deli meat (choose varieties with 3 grams of fat or less per serving) 1 ounce Portion Sizes of Medium- and High-Fat Protein Choices Food Size of a Serving Fish Fried fish 1 ounce Fried shellfish 1 ounce Sautéed fish or shellfish in oil/butter 1 ounce Tuna canned in oil 1/4 cup Poultry Chicken, dark meat 1 ounce Chicken, with skin 1 ounce Turkey, dark meat 1 ounce Turkey, with skin 1 ounce Fried chicken or turkey 1 ounce Ground chicken/turkey, dark meat 1/4 cup Pork Top loin 1 ounce Chop 1 ounce Cutlet 1 ounce Boston butt 1 ounce Taylor ham 1 ounce Spare ribs 1 ounce Ground pork 1 ounce Pork sausage 1 ounce Bacon 3 slices Hot dog 1 ounce Beef (any USDA Prime grade of meat counts as a medium/high-fat protein) Ground beef 1/4 cup Corned beef 1 ounce Filet mignon 1 ounce Porterhouse steak 1 ounce New York strip steak 1 ounce T-bone 1 ounce Rib-eye 1 ounce Prime rib 1 ounce Short rib 1 ounce Lamb Rib roast 1 ounce Ground lamb 1 ounce Cheese Part-skim or full-fat cheese with more than 3 grams of fat per ounce 1 ounce Other Sandwich meats with more than 3 grams of fat per ounce 1 ounce

Article / Updated 05-22-2023

If you’re trying to lose weight and reduce your belly fat, but your husband keeps bringing home pizza every night and your kids are always eating ice cream while you’re in the room, you may find staying on track challenging. To be successful, you may need to recruit support of all kinds, from friends and family, from professionals, and from the Internet. Creating a support network with friends and family One of the best ways to stay on track with your healthy lifestyle is to tell your friends and family about your weight loss and health goals (and why you’re striving for them). If your family and friends know you’re trying to eat healthier options, such as whole grains instead of refined carbohydrates, they may try to be more supportive. Family and friends can also be a great support team when you’re trying to include more physical activity in your daily routine. So ask around. Maybe a friend would love to walk with you in the mornings, or perhaps your kids would love to kick the soccer ball around together at night. Finding a consistent exercise partner helps to make you more accountable as well. Bringing in professional help Sometimes you need more than just the support of your friends and family to be successful. In these cases, you may find that professional help is just what you need to achieve and, most importantly, maintain your health and weight goals. For example, if you’re struggling with eating due to emotional reasons rather than hunger, speaking to a licensed mental health provider can be a great way to learn strategies to fight emotional eating. And if you need help customizing your meal plan to meet specific dietary or medical needs or help finding motivation to get started with a weight loss and fitness routine, consulting with a registered dietitian, such as myself, is your best option. To find a qualified health professional, ask your primary care physician for referrals, contact your insurance carrier for a list of names of in-network providers in your area, or look online in healthcare provider directories for someone who specializes in your needs. Getting online weight loss support Finding support doesn’t mean you have to leave the comfort of your own home. You can find plenty of motivation and advice online. For instance, you can find many great low-cost or no-cost communities online that allow you to talk with other folks striving to lose weight and improve their health. This type of forum can be a great way to share tips, gain motivation, and foster support. Here are some great online forums to check out: Erin Palinski online: Need advice on your Belly Fat Diet plan, getting motivated to lose weight, or adjusting your meal plan to meet your specific health and weight loss needs? This website, provides online and phone coaching, custom meal planning, webinars, and even a free newsletter with tips and ideas. Hello Life: This website contains many active forums on areas of health and wellness, including everything from mental health to weight loss. It also provides insightful articles and Q&A from health experts. Weight Loss Buddy: This is a great site to gain support. You can blog, share pictures and videos, and even keep track of your food and weight loss efforts. This site is a great way to connect with others that share the same goals as you and receive praise and words of encouragement to maintain your motivation to stay on track and achieve your goals. Be careful when looking for information online. Remember that anyone can put up a website or blog. When looking for health information online, make sure you do your research. Look for credible sites run by true medical professionals or organizations. And look for information that’s backed by scientific research.

Cheat Sheet / Updated 05-22-2023

Along with making some lifestyle changes and adding exercise, your diet has a lot to do with boosting your metabolism. Sometimes making the right choices about what to eat isn't so easy, and these decisions are often fraught with anxiety because of the conflicting messages we all receive about food and health in the media. It doesn't have to be so tough. With a little foreknowledge and preparation, you can eat foods that will boost your metabolism without being stressed out about it.

Cheat Sheet / Updated 05-15-2023

To overcome an addiction, first you need to recognize addiction in yourself or a loved one. Then, explore addiction recovery programs and treatment methods and decide how to deal with your addictive behavior, or that of a family member or friend.

Article / Updated 05-03-2023

Gambling involves the betting or wagering of valuables on uncertain outcomes and takes many forms — from games of chance to skill-based activities. People have many motivations for gambling, but all involve the hope of gaining more. Gambling is sometimes a rite of passage by which people discover more about themselves and how to compete with others. It is sometimes a way of life (for people such as casino pros and escape gamblers). It can be, in its healthiest form, a way of socializing and having fun. Pathological gambling is a progressive disorder that involves impulse-control problems. The consequences of pathological gambling are severe and may be devastating to the addicted person's family and career, but the disorder can be treated. As with all addictions, pathological gambling has personal, familial, and neurochemical aspects. Pathological gamblers may even have a genetic vulnerability, although such complex behaviors are unlikely to be traced to one specific gene in the same way some medical conditions, like cystic fibrosis, have been. Problem gambling pioneer Dr. Robert Custer identified three phases to a progressive gambling problem: a winning phase, a losing phase, and a desperation phase. Winning phase In the winning phase, you may experience a "big win" or a series of smaller wins that result in excess optimism. You may feel an unrealistic sense of power and control and you're excited by the prospect of more wins. ("Hey Doc, this is a sure thing. I'm betting the farm.") At the same time, you can't maintain the excitement unless you're continually involved in high-risk bets. Your bets increase, and ultimately, the increased risk puts you in a vulnerable situation where you can't afford to lose . . . and then, sure as the sun rises, you do lose. Losing phase In the losing phase, you may brag about past wins; how you had the casino or track or bookie on the ropes. But in the immediate situation, you're losing more than winning. You're more likely to gamble alone, and when not gambling, you're more likely to spend time thinking about how and when you'll gamble next. Most importantly, you're concerned with how you'll raise more money, legally or illegally. You may have a few wins that fuel the size of your bets. But the dominant pattern is that of losing. Moreover, making the next bet becomes more important than the winning of any previous bet. As the losing continues, you start lying to family and friends and feeling more irritable, restless, and emotionally isolated. You start borrowing money that you're unsure about being able to repay. As your life becomes unmanageable, you may be developing some serious financial problems. Your denial of the huge financial pressures that are building may seem unbelievable to some people: You're also likely to start chasing your losses, trying to win back what you lost. ("Doc, I'll stop, but first I've got to get back to even.") If you don't change your pattern, however, you'll be engaging in more and more self-destructive behavior. Desperation phase The next phase, the desperation phase, involves still another marked change in your gambling behavior. You may now make bets more often than is normal, in more desperate attempts to catch up and "get even." The behavior that's now out of control is associated with deep remorse, with blaming others, and with the alienation of family and friends. You may engage in illegal activities to finance your gambling. You may experience a sense of hopelessness and think about suicide and divorce. Other addictions and emotional problems may also intensify during this phase and drag you down.

Article / Updated 04-27-2023

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) updates its guidelines for standards of medical care annually. These are the 2022 guidelines for screening: People with symptoms of thirst, frequent urination, and weight loss are tested immediately. Starting at age 35, all people without risk factors should be tested for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes every three years if tests are normal. (The ADA changed this from the previously recommended age of 45.) Women planning to become pregnant should be screened with a fasting glucose test, especially if they have risk factors. People should be tested at a younger age and more often if: They are obese. They have a parent or sibling with diabetes. They are from a high-risk group, such as African American, Hispanic, Asian, or Native American. They have delivered a baby more than 9 pounds or had gestational diabetes. They have high blood pressure. They have low HDL cholesterol or high triglycerides.

Article / Updated 04-27-2023

Soluble fiber, found in various foods, helps soak up cholesterol and eliminate it from the body. The ten most commonly recommended sources are listed here in alphabetical order. Make sure that you buy and eat these foods regularly: Asparagus Barley Broccoli Brussels sprouts Green beans Green peas Kidney beans Lima beans Oatmeal Sweet potatoes

Cheat Sheet / Updated 04-18-2023

Diabetes, which is excessive glucose in your blood, leads to serious health problems if left untreated. You should follow the American Diabetes Association screening guidelines to get tested for diabetes at the earliest possible time. If you have diabetes, this Cheat Sheet is a handy reference to screening guidelines, rules for living with diabetes, and continuing your diabetes care to better control the disease.