You may have already been diagnosed and aren’t even aware of it. Last June the American Medical Association (AMA) voted to officially declare obesity a disease, which applies to more than 78 million American adults and over 12 million children. These individuals now have a medical condition requiring treatment. “Oh, they can’t mean me.” Well,…
Guest post by Brooke Barley, a Kent State University graduate student working on her master’s in nutrition. Brooke holds a bachelor’s degree in nutrition and dietetics from Ohio State University. Gluten. It’s all over the media. Many celebrities swear by it. Popular restaurants have added special, gluten-free menu-items. So, what’s all the buzz about gluten?…
Many changes are on the horizon for health care in the United States. Health care providers, businesses and other organizations now see value in making preventive healthcare screenings more widely available. This is changing the way our society views health care and emphasizes prevention of disease instead of treatment. So, what are preventive health care…
Trying to evaluate the many weight-loss products and programs that are available in today’s marketplace can be absolutely overwhelming. Meal replacement bars and shakes are available in the grocery store, at your pharmacy, at gas stations and convenience stores, online and elsewhere; however, many of them aren’t even formulated to promote weight loss. In fact,…
Primary care physicians (family doctors, pediatricians, internal medicine and others) are a vital part of maintaining good health throughout your lifetime. Over time, they become knowledgeable about not only your physical condition, but also your mental health, family situation, nature of your work and much more. It’s a relationship you need to cultivate because studies…
I’m sure you’ve heard the modern-day cliché, “There’s an app for that.” But if you want to be more proactive about your health and fitness, it’s absolutely true! Today, smartphone applications can measure distance and pace, provide weight training and flexibility routines, report restaurant nutritional information, offer daily healthy recipes and food ideas, predict exercise calories…
The New Year is here. Many of us see this new beginning as a time to focus on getting healthier; for many, that means losing weight. Year after year, weight loss is one of the most popular resolutions. Yet, obesity remains an epidemic in the United States. That’s because our good intentions often stray shortly…
Well, I never thought I would say this. In fact, I hesitate to actually write the words, but in fairness, I must be honest with you. I like exercise. There, I said it. I can’t believe it and I’m not proud of it, but there it is in black and white. All of the folks at…
Many people believe they know what to eat to lose weight but can’t seem to do it. Is it because they follow a strict diet with rigid rules and regulations or because they are overestimating the amount of calories they need? The key to weight loss and maintenance is to change the way we think…
It’s great to be back at blogging after a busy time. I have some good news and some great news! Plus, I will share about many things I am deeply thankful for this holiday season, and many of them relate to a healthier relationship with food. In Love with a Cheetoh So, let’s start with…
It’s that time of the year when you really want to have some fun and feel your best. Yet, it’s also a time to watch out for the seasonal health woes – from flu bugs to excess party indulgences. Good news! There’s a lot you can do to help your body weather the season so you…
Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to share tips on creating healthier holiday meals during the Mercy Heart Center's Holiday Lites program. What a fun event! Many of you who attended this event asked for a copy of my presentation. So, here it is! In it, you'll find information about: Visual presentation of food…
The holidays are here, and you’ve probably started buying for family and friends already. Hopefully, you’ve left some room on your Christmas to-do list for healthy gift giving this year. Healthy holiday gifts don’t have to be large or expensive. In fact, simple gifts are usually the best and most often used. To help you…
Another week of ups and downs! Let’s start with some stunning successes this week. I was energized after my continued weight loss last week and really wanted to keep up the momentum! I was feeling a little under the weather and so was my trainer, so I didn’t get to do much working out. Kitten…
It appears my motivational William Shatner dream has worked! This week, I lost more than four pounds! I feel like my body has finally stabilized from being taken off the blood pressure meds, and I am back to a regular weekly loss. This success is even sweeter after you hear what happened at our annual…
This has been a mostly good week. First, the great news: I lost over three pounds this week! Hopefully, this means the struggle with the water weight from stopping the blood pressure meds is over. In addition, the new exercise program is starting to stabilize, and my body is recovering more quickly. Yay! I am…
I am always excited see members of the Mercy team take on wellness challenges that push them to achieve even greater levels of fitness. This past September, two employees and one contractor participated in the Akron Marathon and its five-person team relay. One went on to compete in the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon on October…
What can I say? This has been the toughest week ever. I shared with you last week that I had my heaviest week of exercise yet and still gained weight. This week was another week of being on the plan and gaining 2 pounds. I was even more deeply demoralized than last week. I stuck…
Everywhere you go, it seems people are buzzing about antioxidants. As you probably know, studies show they do help prevent cancer. However, do you know exactly what antioxidants are, how they function and in what foods you can find them? Antioxidants Help Prevent Formation of Free Radicals First, let's look at the process of oxidation,…
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. This week was my greatest triumph and worst defeat. Allow me to share with you, dear readers, a harrowing tale of loss, redemption, water retention and cute baby kittens. My First Visit with a Personal Trainer It all started with my first trip…
I weighed in this week and lost just two pounds. I am just disgusted with myself. I should be losing more than this and know I could be doing better. I didn’t have any emotional eating episodes this week, so I was disappointed with only a two-pound loss. As I started to get depressed about…
