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If you are overweight and suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (RA), bariatric surgery may be able to help according to a research study conducted by the Rheumatology Research Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. Research shows weight loss following bariatric weight loss surgery has been associated with improved RA disease control, a decrease in the need for medication and lower markers of inflammation.

It’s almost June! If you feel like you are not ready for bikini season, then join us on our Squat Challenge. Beginning on June 1st, you will have a set number of squats you must do. The number of squats increases as the month progresses.

For many individuals on a mission to lose weight, hunger pangs can quickly get in the way of shedding those unwanted pounds. As you cut back on calories, your body starts trying out for food. This can wreak havoc on any weight loss plan. Hunger is a big part of why we eat. In early times, hunger was an important survival method. In today’s world, hunger can easily mean forgetting about one’s goals to eat healthily and succumbing to the fast food and junk food industry that is all around us. While it may not always be possible to control the unhealthy foods that surround you, you can work on appetite-control strategies to help you lose weight.

Most experts recommend consuming at least 8 glasses of water per day. What you may not know is that approximately 20 percent of your daily water intake can actually come from solid foods, especially your fruits and veggies. This doesn’t mean you should skip out on the water — especially when the weather is warm. However, you can increase your water intake by consuming these highly hydrating foods — most of which contain at least 90 percent water according to weight.

A recent study published in the March 2015 edition of the Journal of Laparoendoscopic & Advanced Surgical Techniques found that men are far less likely to undergo bariatric surgery than women. Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have identified a number of factors, including culture, socioeconomic status, and demographics, contribute to a large gender disparity between United States men and women who choose to undergo bariatric surgery.

Life can get pretty chaotic sometimes. However, a lifestyle does not mean you should neglect healthy eating habits. One of the easiest ways to eat healthy on the run is to choose a snack that has staying power. Choosing snacks that are packed with protein can help keep you feeling satisfied longer. Why? Protein slows digestion and keeps your blood sugar levels steady. Protein can even help you lose weight because it increases satisfaction. When you are full, you are much less likely to stray from a healthy eating plan. Stock your kitchen with these protein-packed snacks to help you enjoy a healthy lifestyle even when life gets crazy.

Protein is important to your health. If you do not consume enough protein, your body suffers. Proteins are the body’s main building blocks. They are important in making skin, muscles, organs and tendons. Proteins are also necessary in making neurotransmitters, enzymes, neurotransmitters and more. Without protein, your life would simply not be the same.

It’s not uncommon to want to enjoy some of your favorite foods and restaurants before undergoing bariatric surgery. However, it is very important to develop a new and healthy relationship with food including practicing portion control and sticking to a mostly good-for-you diet. It is important to remember that bariatric surgery requires you to make dietary changes before and after surgery. While your physician will provide your pre-bariatric surgery guidelines to you, it is important to adopt a healthy, low-calorie diet before your surgery.

Today is the 9th annual National Walking Day. For the past 9 years, the American Heart Association has claimed the first Wednesday in April as National Walking Day. National Walking Day was created by the American Heart Association’s “My Heart, My Life” initiative to push Americans to adopt a healthier lifestyle.

Let’s be honest: everyone loves to eat, and we learn very early on that snack foods are pleasurable. Whether they’re sweet, salty, or cheesy, snack foods are tasty and calorically hefty, and they’re a huge driving force of the obesity epidemic. The average American consumes 500 calories from food and beverages consumed between meals each day (586 for men and 421 for women, respectively). If you’re in need of only 80% of those calories, that’s an extra ten pounds a year!

We all know by now that calories are essential to weight loss, right? If you’re still not acquainted, a quick primer: Energy balance determines how much you weigh. If you consume more calories than you need, you’ll gain weight. If you create a caloric deficit (by eating less than you need) you’ll lose weight.

Sugar found itself trending in 2014, but the trend status wasn’t a particularly positive one. Instead, it could be considered more of a “negative trend”- sugar was talked about, certainly, but the commentary was not at all flattering.

Especially among medical professionals, the discussion regarding the appropriateness of bariatric procedures is a heated one. With strong proponents on either side of the argument, who’s right? Is bariatric surgery a healthy, valid way to lose weight, or a dangerous tool that fails to promote healthy behavioral change