If you’re planning once again to make some New Year’s Resolutions, but tired of making the same ones over and over and over again, here’s something for you: A dive into what’s getting in the way of your desire to shed some pounds. Because sometimes, you need to silence your inner critic from telling you that you have no self- control... and finally find the truth behind it all. Pain. Chronic pain can lead to unwanted weight gain in many ways. Side effects from medications, like anti-inflammatory steroids, can make the scale creep up. Being in pain can make it more difficult to be active, or can make you { Read More }
Does Your Body Need a Winter Fixer Upper? Five Easy DIY Improvements
With winter season on the horizon, it’s time to start thinking ahead about sprucing up around your home: cleaning out closets, tuning up your heating system, weather-proofing your garden, gathering firewood, clearing your roof and gutters of debris, caulking around windows and doors, and more. But just as important is sprucing up your health. Here are five easy things to do to get you prepped for the upcoming winter months, so you can keep your mind- and body – in the best shape possible. 1. Get plenty of light. As the days become shorter and sunlight more scarce, many people feel sad – and suffer { Read More }
It’s Okay Not to Work Out
Did you read that right? If you know me, or read my stuff, you know that I am - and have been for quite a long while - a big fan of exercise. From a very young age, I've always been a person who liked movement- whether it be pacing, walking, running, dancing, biking, fitness classes of any sort. Sitting still? Not my thing. (Unless I'm on a beach, or engrossed in a good book or movie. That's a whole other story.) And then, when I entered this so-called midlife, that "like" of exercise took on a new dimension and also became a pressing "need." Movement and exercise was more than just a fun pastime; it { Read More }
What You Need to Know: “Best If Used By” Dates
It happens every time I go to clean out my fridge: Oh no! Those eggs are how old? If I use that mustard with a date of 2014 stamped on its label, will I die? The yogurt expired two weeks ago...but it seems okay. (Is it?) The next thing I know, I'm hurtling things toward the garbage, cursing under my breath the whole time about how much money I'm wasting on food. {{{{{{echoes of that childhood dictum "children are starving in Africa!!!"}}}}}}}} SO, WHAT'S THE REAL DEAL ON USED BY DATES? Thanks to the "Ask Well" column in yesterday's New York Times (refreshing to read about something other than { Read More }
Five Little Changes, Five-Plus Big Results
Most of the time, we go about our days routinely and with little thought; we wake up, brush our teeth, pour ourselves some coffee or tea, eat breakfast (or not) and head off to work (or play). Wash, rinse and repeat. Sure, having a morning routine – or any routine for that matter – is an essential part of living a healthy life. But, did you ever stop to re-examine those everyday habits? You may ask: Why fix it if it ain’t broke? Good reason: A few conscious changes to your routine can reap really big health benefits. Here are small tweaks or add-ons to consider the next time you’re looking to kick { Read More }
How Fitness Trackers Stack Up
You see them just about everywhere: adorning the wrists of people who look dogged in their determination to log that extra step or mile. They inspire some, bringing out their fiercest competitive streak. For others, they're bothersome and nagging and are soon abandoned. For an article I wrote an article appearing in the February 2016 issue of Family Circle magazine, I tracked the progress of seven of the magazine's staffers, who tried out different versions of these high-tech pedometers. It was interesting to hear their experiences. Thumbs up or down? A bother or an inspiration? What { Read More }
Posture Counts
When I was younger and felt self-conscious about my height, I used to slump a lot. I hated being tall. I wanted to be shorter; petite, even. And now that all seems not only ironic but so foolish. (That's probably low on the list of the foolish thoughts we all did when we were younger. May be folly for a future post...) Now, in this so-called midlife of mine, I don't want to be shorter. But the sad truth is that height loss is inevitable as you age - you typically lose almost one-half inch every 10 years after you hit 40. The loss is due to changes in your muscles, joints and bones. So, what can you { Read More }
Lose Weight With Peanuts
Huh? Did you read that right? It seems counterintuitive, yes. But according to some recent informal random comments on a post I wrote for HealthyWomen.org in 2011, people really did lose weight when they included peanuts in their diets. Here are just a few key reasons you can lose weight with peanuts: Since peanuts and peanut butter are packed with fiber and protein, they keep you satisfied and full for a long time, helping to manage your hunger. Because of their protein and fiber, peanuts and peanut butter will stick with you for about 2 1/2 hours vs. the half hour you'll get from { Read More }
Can’t See a Doctor? How to Cope.
The Association of American Medical Colleges projects that the nation will face a shortage of 12,000 to 31,000 primary-care physicians by 2025. So it's no wonder you may be finding it harder to find a doctor or to schedule an appointment with the one you have. What's fueling this problem? The baby boom generation pouring into older age, an aging physician workforce preparing to retire and an estimated 30 million Americans joining the ranks of the insured since enactment of the Affordable Care Act in 2010. What that means is that you may not be seeing a doctor at all the next time you go for health { Read More }