Physical Activity/ Exercise

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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Use Exercise ‘Snacks’ to Feel Better, Improve Health

By Dr. Kushner / December 6, 2020 /

It’s no secret that we all sit too much – working at our desks, driving in our cars and relaxing on the couch. A small study published online in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, the official journal of the American College of Sports Medicine, looked at the effects that stair climbing exercise ‘snacks’…

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Tips to Manage Menopausal Weight Gain

By Dr. Kushner / October 15, 2020 /

Some of my most frustrated patients are women requesting help for weight gain and changing body shapes that develop during their menopause transition years. And though each woman’s personal story and weight journey differs, what they share is a feeling of powerlessness to take back control. If this sounds like you, know that though I…

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New Tool to Help You Eat Better, Move More, De-Stress

By Dr. Kushner / August 4, 2020 /

With stress levels high and routines disrupted in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, we are all feeling challenged to maintain healthy lifestyle habits. And yet because excess weight and obesity have been identified as risk factors for worse coronavirus outcomes, managing weight and boosting health are now more important than ever. Over the last…

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Tips for Safe Social Fitnessing

By Dr. Kushner / July 3, 2020 /

As we welcome the good news that many gyms are re-opening, we’re also wondering, “Is it safe to go back?” And yet a robust physical activity and exercise program are critical for maintaining healthy lifestyle habits. Though exercise has so many physical and emotional health benefits that include lowering stress and improving your mood, going…

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Tips to Boost Movement (and Mood!) despite Disrupted Schedules

By Dr. Kushner / May 13, 2020 /

My recent telehealth visits reveal that changed schedules during this stay at home pandemic have uprooted exercise programs for many. No more health club visits, workouts with a personal trainer, spin classes, morning walks with a friend or exercising at home while kids are at school. Working remotely can also lead to more sedentary behaviors.…

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How to Start your Own Fun Club & Be Active with Friends

By Dr. Kushner / September 20, 2019 /

Getting your body in motion and being active is not always easy when you have a busy life. Staying motivated to be active and try new things can also be a challenge.  In contrast, if you participate in a fun activity with a group of friends, then being active can feel more like a social…

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Not a Health Club Fan? No Problem – Do These 4 Things Instead!

By Dr. Kushner / September 11, 2019 /

Not a Health Club Fan? No Problem – Do These 4 Things Instead!   You may relate to some of these comments I get from patients: “I joined a health club once but didn’t use it enough to get my money’s worth.” “Doc, I just don’t have the time or money to join a health…

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