Mindset

Control What You Can Control

By Dr. Kushner / May 21, 2021 /

So much in life is outside of our control such as where we are born, who our parents are and our genetic makeup. When taking a family history, I always ask about my patient’s family members and whether or not others in the family have weight problems. If your family members have also struggled with…

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Why It’s Time to Drop the ‘Diet Deprivation’ Mindset

By Dr. Kushner / May 10, 2021 /

Although you may think restricting eating and setting up strict food rules would help you lose weight, it really only leaves you feeling deprived. And in the long run, strict dieting along with a limited eating plan can also be a recipe for weight regain. Here’s why it’s time to drop the diet deprivation mindset:…

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Time to Move Beyond the ‘Eat Less, Move More’ Weight Loss Message

By Dr. Kushner / April 11, 2021 /

When I hear physicians state that their patients just need to learn how to ‘eat less and move more’ to lose weight, I think about how much this message oversimplifies and under-delivers in offering real help to people who struggle with weight. This message reveals a misunderstanding about the complexity of overweight and obesity that…

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Get Healthier, Better Manage Weight by Tapping into Your Strengths

By Dr. Kushner / April 3, 2021 /

Too many times, people can feel defeated in their quest for better health. Maybe they have difficulty choosing the right foods or struggle sticking with an exercise program. Or maybe stress keeps getting in the way of their good intentions. A lack of confidence can cause many to throw in the towel and give up…

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To Boost Health and Manage Weight, Mindset Matters

By Dr. Kushner / March 6, 2021 /

Those who are interested in losing weight successfully spend a lot of time looking at different diet plans to find the one they think will work best for them. You may relate. Maybe you’ve considered trying the Keto diet, intermittent fasting or going gluten-free. As a weight management specialist who has spent nearly the last…

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Use Core Strategies to Stay Healthy during Life’s Ups & Downs

By Dr. Kushner / February 15, 2021 /

You are probably all too familiar with the drill – you lose weight and feel good but when life throws you a curveball, you stop doing the healthy lifestyle behaviors that kept your weight under control. Though the specific life challenge can vary from person to person (examples may include a new illness or injury,…

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Healthy Living Gift Ideas

By Dr. Kushner / December 12, 2020 /

I like to think of healthy living as a 3-legged stool that incorporates diet, physical activity and mindset. If one of these legs is ignored or not attended to on a regular basis, you won’t feel steady and your health may suffer. For this holiday season, I asked staff from our Northwestern Center for Lifestyle…

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Improve Energy Level and Mood to Help you through the Holidays

By Dr. Kushner / November 21, 2020 /

Holiday times are usually a time when you need high energy for all the family get-togethers, gift buying and cooking that are piled onto your day-to-day routine. But this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the need for social distancing, family gatherings will be smaller, big meal festivities will be downsized and gift buying…

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Fight Weight Loss Boredom, Boost Motivation Now

By Dr. Kushner / November 16, 2020 /

No matter where you are in your weight loss journey, it’s not uncommon to find your motivation waning over time. Because weight management is typically a lifelong endeavor, boredom can easily set in or life can get in the way of your best intentions. Either way, there are strategies that can work across the board…

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Strive to be a ‘B’ Student to Manage Weight Better

By Dr. Kushner / October 25, 2020 /

A common misperception my patients struggle with is thinking they have to strive for perfection in order to be successful managing weight. But this perfectionistic mindset only sets you up for failure because eating and exercise rarely go perfectly each and every day. Since managing weight tends to be a lifelong endeavor, I encourage all…

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