- Weight LossGeneral Page Tier 3BlogYou may have kicked off 2024 determined to lose weight. If you accomplished your goals, congratulations on your hard work and dedication. However, we know that maintaining weight loss can be just as challenging as achieving it. It’s tempting to reward yourself with old habits once you reach your goal, but remember, this is just one milestone in your journey to a healthier you. Let’s discuss a few steps you can take to maintain your healthy weight. Healthy Weight Benefits Achieving a healthy weight can lower your cholesterol and blood sugar levels, lower blood pressure, reduce stress on bones and joints and ease the workload on your heart. All these health benefits are why it’s important to not simply lose weight, but to maintain the weight you have lost. Contrary to what some may think, people without obesity generally have just as much difficulty sustaining a small degree of weight loss as people with obesity have maintaining even larger degrees of weight reduction. It Takes Dedication It’s no secret that many weight loss journeys fail in the long term. This can be because strict diets are difficult to maintain over time. Another factor is that the decrease in calories to lose weight causes a drop in the rate your body burns calories. For these reasons, extremely low-calorie diets and rapid weight loss are discouraged. Luminis Health weight loss experts recommend losing no more than half a pound to two pounds per week. Gradual weight loss such as this is more likely to help you sustain it for the long term. Long-Term Weight Loss Individuals who have successfully maintained their weight loss share some common strategies across the board. Regardless of which diet you use to lose weight to begin with, taking up these habits may help you to keep it off: Stay physically active—Try exercising for at least 60 minutes every day. Walking is a great low-impact option. Find an activity you enjoy and do it with someone who brings you joy! Keep a food log—Recording what you eat every day helps hold you accountable, sheds light on emotional eating habits and keeps you motivated. Maintain a balanced diet—What you eat each day should be healthy and well balanced, minimizing ultra-processed foods and high fructose corn syrup. Eat breakfast every day—This is important because eating breakfast boosts metabolism and staves off hunger later in the day, which helps prevent those late afternoon junk food binges. Regularly check the scale—Weighing yourself weekly may help you detect any small weight gains, enabling you to promptly take action if you see the number creeping upwards. Keep Your Eye On The Prize Although many people are concerned about weight loss because of how it affects their appearance, it’s important to remember that even a small amount of long-term weight loss can have remarkable health benefits. Remember to determine your weight management success based on your health and how you feel—not on how you look. Author Dr. Jilian Nicholas, is a board-certified, fellowship-trained bariatric surgeon at Luminis Health.0
- Men's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogIt’s true that men are less likely than women to visit a doctor. They’re also more likely to skip routine health screenings. But getting through the door of a doctor’s office – even for a short visit like a checkup or screening – can be so important for a man’s overall health and longevity. If you’ve been avoiding the doctor, or you love someone who has, here are three tips from Luminis Health physicians. Three tips to turbocharge your health Know when to schedule checkups It’s always a good idea to schedule a checkup when something isn’t feeling right. If you’ve had a sudden change in weight, problems sleeping or are experiencing sexual dysfunction, for example, it’s time to get an appointment on the calendar. And get in the habit of annual visits, if you’re not already doing that. While yearly checkups are helpful for men of all ages, they’re especially important for those over age 50. During your appointment, your doctor will do routine checks, such as: Blood pressure Blood sugar Cholesterol Physical exam Keeping an eye on your stats can help you prevent or manage minor problems before they turn into significant health issues such as heart disease, which is the leading cause of death for men. While at your appointment, you can also talk about any mental health issues you’re facing or discuss any changes in your mood. Mental health is closely tied to physical health, and your physician is a good resource to connect you with help when you need it. Understand the importance of cancer screenings Your cancer risk over your lifetime depends on a variety of personal factors. When you reach the age of 40, or earlier if you have a family history of cancer, it’s crucial to talk to your doctor about which cancer screenings are right for you. Early intervention routinely saves lives – for example, the number of people diagnosed with and who die from colorectal cancer is dropping, due in part to more people getting screened and improved treatments. Colorectal cancer While many men wouldn’t list “getting a colonoscopy” at the top of a list of things they’re excited about this year, think of it this way: even for advanced colorectal cancers, a 95% cure rate is possible, so screening is important. By the time you’re 45 (or earlier if you have a family history), talk to your provider to learn when you should get your first screening. You can also talk about alternative screening methods that may be an option for you, such as those that use a stool sample. Learn more about preventing colorectal cancer. Prostate cancer Advice on prostate cancer screening isn’t as straightforward. Current screening methods haven’t been shown to lower the risk of dying from this cancer, according to the American Cancer Society, and could potentially lead to overdiagnosis or overtreatment. Talk to your doctor when you’re 50 about the benefits and risks of screening and treatment, including getting the PSA (prostate-specific antigen) blood test. Start the conversation earlier if you have increased risk factors, including if you are African American or have a family history. Learn more about prostate cancer screening. Take charge with preventive measures When you want to start practicing some healthier habits, think about your daily lifestyle choices. It’s never too late to kickstart a new routine that helps you get stronger and take better care of your body. Get moving. Aim for at least 150 minutes (2.5 hours) of moderate-intensity aerobic activity a week, according to the American Heart Association. It’s even better if you can spread out your exercise over the week and add in strength training on at least two days. Make healthy food choices. Eat a variety of nutritious, wholesome foods. If you’re having trouble getting started, ask your doctor to connect you with a nutritionist. Quit unhealthy habits. If you smoke, now’s the time to stop. Avoid drinking excess alcohol. And if you’ve been skipping sleep, remember that the effects of poor sleep can affect other areas of your life. Aim for at least seven hours or more a night. All these small choices can add up to a lifestyle that helps you prevent serious health issues as you get older. Bottom line: your health is too important to put on the back burner this year. This post was originally published for the Enquirer-Gazette. Learn more and schedule your appointment at: https://www.luminishealth.org/en/services/primary-care?language_content….0
- Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAs you navigate your pregnancy, it’s important to know your own health status to ensure the best possible health for your child. While most pregnancies are generally free from serious problems, several factors can make a pregnancy high risk. A woman may have a high-risk pregnancy if she: If your OB/GYN determines your pregnancy is high risk, he or she may refer you to Anne Arundel Medical Group Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialists. The center offers a number of additional services, including diagnostic procedures, level II obstetric ultrasound, genetic counseling, diabetes education and more. The team will work to ensure your child is healthy and you don’t experience any unexpected hitches throughout your pregnancy. Return to Conquering Cancer During Pregnancy. Save0
- Men's Health, Women's Health, Wellness, Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAnnapolis resident Doug Jones had been a muscular young man, but just as his doctor had predicted, his weight crept up steadily with age leading to complications such as diabetes and high cholesterol. Doug was at high risk for heart a heart attack until weight loss surgery helped him regain control of his health. I went from 160 pounds to 388 pounds, and I was absolutely out of breath. Absolutely tired. I would think how far do I have to walk? Can I take a car to go two blocks? That sort of thing. My feet hurt. My ankles hurt. And then they had a thing on 60 minutes a report on the benefits of weight loss surgery for diabetics and after I saw it, I said, we ought to look into that because it sounds like it’s perfect for me. The day I got out of the hospital I never had another problem with diabetes and every day I would lose an average of two to three pounds. My cholesterol is better than it’s ever been. I guess the best way to say it is: I have 13 grandchildren and before I had this operation, I didn’t know how long I’d be around with them or how much I could enjoy them. Since I’ve had the operation I’ve felt like I cheated because I’ve tried to go on every diet there was. This went so easily that I literally feel like I’m cheating. I feel like a million dollars, and I think I look like I feel. There are no ifs, ands, or buts! If you want to know would I do it again? In a heartbeat. Watch the full video of Doug’s interview on our YouTube Channel.0
- Women's Health, Pediatrics, Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogWhen Julie Hubbard developed Type I (adult-onset) diabetes, she had been preparing for an in vitro fertilization (IVF) and hoping to become pregnant. Diabetes immediately put the 34-year-old Annapolis woman in a high risk category. “When I ended up in the emergency room, and they told me I had Type I diabetes, my biggest fear was whether I would be able to carry my baby.” Her doctor at the Shady Grove Fertility Center, Gilbert Mottla, MD, had already helped her to conceive and deliver her first child, born two years earlier. When diabetes struck, Dr. Mottla immediately referred her to the Center for Maternal and Fetal Medicine. They specialize in treating expectant mothers with high-risk health conditions and obstetrical complications. Working closely with Dr. Mottla and his nurse Anne Stegner, RN, they helped Julie complete the IVF. When she became pregnant, Jeffrey Spencer, MD, William Sweeney, MD, and diabetic educator, Maureen Connick, RN, helped her manage her diabetes and coached her through her pregnancy. “They helped me get on an insulin pump, and worked with me through it all.” The following August, Julie delivered a healthy baby boy. She now has two young sons, and says she is grateful for the specialized care she received through the programs at AAMC. Before her first IVF at Shady Grove, she had tried other methods at a medical center in another state, but was unsuccessful. When she came to Annapolis, she and her husband chose to pursue having a family with the help of Shady Grove because of their reputation. “They really have a very good way walking patients through what the problem might be and determining what the options are and how to proceed,” she says. “It’s very individualized in terms of a patient’s own personal needs and medical histories. Both Shady Grove and the high-risk group worked very closely together and with us.”0
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