Not really a new idea for many of us, but the American Medical Association (AMA) has finally acknowledged that the Body Mass Index (BMI) in itself is an insufficient and inaccurate screening tool to assess health. While it’s useful for large scale studies of various populations, it has serious limitations when used to evaluate andContinue reading “In the News: BMI Is Not the Measurement We Need!”
Author Archives: Linda W Browning
Self-Care: Support Groups
Perhaps the most important tools that have helped me maintain my healthy weight are my support groups. Sure, I have family and friends who care for and encourage me. But there’s something special about sharing your journey with others who are on a similar path. There are many types of groups you can join. OneContinue reading “Self-Care: Support Groups”
Exercise: The Joys of Jogging?
If you’ve reached a certain age, or a certain weight, you might be hesitant to try jogging. Especially if you weren’t a runner before, it seems like a questionable idea, one that can cause injury and possibly even derail your exercise program. It’s always a best to see your medical practitioner before beginning a newContinue reading “Exercise: The Joys of Jogging?”
Exercise: Pilates Ring Magic
I’ve been wanting to write about Pilates for several months, but a shoulder injury has kept me away from trying a structured class. Still, it’s important to consider that many forms of exercise can be modified so that you can participate regardless of your abilities or disabilities. Upon realizing this, I read up on theContinue reading “Exercise: Pilates Ring Magic”
Probiotics, Prebiotics, & Weight Loss
I am always looking for any help in maintaining my weight. There have been several studies in the past few years that have found that probiotics and prebiotics can be beneficial for weight loss. Including probiotics and prebiotics in your diet can provide that extra boost we need. Caution: some people with immune disorders orContinue reading “Probiotics, Prebiotics, & Weight Loss”
Weight Gone – POOF!
Today I read a post on Facebook by a dieter who said she needed her excess weight to be gone – POOF! I was kind of alarmed when I read further and saw that she’s doing intermittent fasting for 20 hours a day, only eating during a 4 hour window. She’s dropping pounds quickly evenContinue reading “Weight Gone – POOF!”
High-Fructose Corn Syrup & Other Sugars
Most of us are quite aware that sugar – other than what occurs naturally in fruits and vegetables – is not healthy for us. And this is true whether or not you have an issue with your weight. Let’s dig into the reasons for this, looking especially deep into that sweet culprit, high fructose cornContinue reading “High-Fructose Corn Syrup & Other Sugars”
Avoiding Diet Burnout
I’ve been on my current eating plan for over a year straight. In the past, I don’t think I’ve lasted more than a few months before giving up in disgust. Why do we sometimes lose our motivation? How can we avoid diet burnout? First of all, what exactly is diet burnout? According to a MyFitnessPalContinue reading “Avoiding Diet Burnout”
Set Point & Settling Point Theories
Imagine our prehistoric ancestors – captives of seasonal food availability, no security net to provide food during times of famine, no advanced medical care to set a broken bone. Something like stumbling down a ravine and breaking your ankle could be fatal if your body couldn’t sustain itself when food was scarce. Luckily, our bodiesContinue reading “Set Point & Settling Point Theories”
Maintain Habits to Maintain Weight Loss
As you may know, I belong to several Facebook weight loss and maintenance groups. Oftentimes the questions I read there are the inspiration for my blog posts. This happened recently, when I read about a dieter who is near her weight loss goal. She wanted to know what comes next. And that is exactly whereContinue reading “Maintain Habits to Maintain Weight Loss”
In the News: Low Fat vs. Low Carb Diets’ Effects on Mortality
In a (very) long term study of nearly 400,000 participants aged 50-71, it was found that those eating low fat diets had significantly reduced overall mortality “by 18%, cardiovascular mortality by 16%, and cancer mortality by 18%” (1). The study differentiated between healthy and unhealthy diets for both low carb and low fat versions. ForContinue reading “In the News: Low Fat vs. Low Carb Diets’ Effects on Mortality”
In the News: Jenny Craig Shut Down in US & Canada
It’s been reported that 40 year old weight loss company Jenny Craig has shut down all of its centers in North America. When I checked their website, it appeared that they are still conducting business. Given this news, I would be very cautious about placing any orders at this time. “In WARN Act letters sentContinue reading “In the News: Jenny Craig Shut Down in US & Canada”
My Life Is a Mess – I Deserve a Brownie!
The title of this post is the same as scholarly paper by Ali Tezer and Kamila Sobol. I love the honesty of it – who hasn’t had a similar experience? Having a bad day can result in justifying behavior that’s…less than optimal. And companies use this insight to influence your decisions when you’re at yourContinue reading “My Life Is a Mess – I Deserve a Brownie!”
What Do You Do When the Refrigerator Calls? Solutions for Cravings
Lately I’ve been reading a lot of Facebook posts about cravings and snacking. It’s very easy to succumb to the siren call of the refrigerator. Sure, you can avoid keeping treats in the house, but if you have a car or public transportation, you can easily get the snack or delicious drink you’re craving. WhatContinue reading “What Do You Do When the Refrigerator Calls? Solutions for Cravings”
Self Care: Journaling
Journaling can take many forms, from letter writing or poetry to long term goal planning – or even a blog like this one. We can use journaling to express our thoughts and feelings and create a lasting record of our journey. Getting in touch with this side of ourselves can be a healthy exercise andContinue reading “Self Care: Journaling”
Taking a Break: Intermittent Dieting
If you are in the maintenance phase of your journey to better health, you have already been taking a break from more stringent dieting and calorie deficits. But even if your goal is to lose more weight, it may be a good idea to take a planned break where you learn to maintain your weight.Continue reading “Taking a Break: Intermittent Dieting”
Exercise: Creating a Home Gym
My home gym, pictured above, took shape as a matter of happenstance. Our last child permanently moved out and our neighbor decided to trash her functional treadmill at right about the same time. Physical therapy for my knee was actually making it worse but I realized that my knee felt better after cycling. And thatContinue reading “Exercise: Creating a Home Gym”
Non-Scale Victories
We need to keep our motivation up throughout our journey to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. Often it seems like the scale just isn’t cooperating, especially during the holiday season. Even healthy changes, like increasing our strength training, can result in a plateau. At times like these, we should celebrate the non-scale victories inContinue reading “Non-Scale Victories”
Healthy Fast Food Options
Fast food has the reputation for being unhealthy, and in most cases this is richly deserved. However, there are always healthy options that won’t derail your progress. The choice seems to be yours, but we need to be aware of marketing practices that could lead us into choosing what profits the restaurant rather than us.Continue reading “Healthy Fast Food Options”
Food Prep: Cook Smart, Eat Well
Cook Smart, Eat Well by Jennifer Welper is a new cookbook published by the Mayo Clinic Press. It does not strictly adhere to the Mayo Clinic Diet, but is based upon the principles of the Mayo Clinic Healthy Weight Pyramid. According to the Mayo Clinic, the foundation of our diet should consist mainly of fruitsContinue reading “Food Prep: Cook Smart, Eat Well”
Maintain Weight Loss 