The Neuroscience Behind How We Form Our Habits

HABIT: A usual way of behaving; something that a person does often in a regular and repeated way, like brushing your teeth in the morning. To automate healthy lifestyle choices like daily exercise and eating well, you need to understand the neuroscience behind how the brain forms new habits. You have to understand the “automatic mode” of your brain. There is a part of the brain responsible for pattern recognition and memories called the basal ganglia. It’s here that habits form using a trigger, behavior, and reward process that gets embedded in our brains and develops into a part of our everyday lives. And it’s here where we have to change the habits we don’t want. The process starts with a trigger that tells your brain to switch to automatic. If the habit is drinking a cup of coffee in the morning or smoking a cigarette, there is a trigger that puts your habit into action. It may be an alarm or turning on the radio. It’s something that tells your brain you want to do some
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5 Health and Lifestyle Benefits of Weight Loss Surgery

We know that bariatric surgery affects more than just weight loss. It also dramatically improves your long-term health, personal relationships, and quality of life. In my conversations with patients, many are not aware of how their lives will improve after bariatric surgery. They think it is just about weight loss. For those of you who are considering the procedure, below are five significant health and lifestyle benefits that are associated with bariatric surgery: Reduced risk of health conditions. It’s proven that weight loss surgery prevents, improves, and often resolves chronic health conditions, including high blood pressure, sleep apnea, asthma, arthritis, and Type II diabetes. Longer life expectancy. Several studies have shown that weight loss surgery will increase life expectancy, in part due to the reduced risk of health conditions. Less life restriction. With significant weight loss there is increased mobility, more energy, and the ability to do things that you haven’t b
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The Mind and Body Benefits of Group Exercise

An appropriate exercise plan is necessary for your health. In my practice, I’ve seen patients achieve great results when they work out with others and have a strong support system. Working out in a group offers mind and body benefits that you don’t get when you exercise alone. The accountability makes you more likely to stick with your program. Your group becomes your support system and you encourage one another. Group exercise is also emotionally beneficial. Interacting with others is good for your mental health. You get to meet new people, and it becomes a fun activity that you look forward to. Plus, having a schedule makes it easier to establish a routine. The benefits of group exercise aren’t only for people interested in weight loss. Studies show that women with postpartum depression and early-stage breast cancer experienced dramatic physical and psychological benefits when they exercised in a group setting. Part of my personal fitness program involves group exercise. I lik
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Preventing Childhood Obesity During Pregnancy

For a long time we’ve been aware that weight loss from bariatric surgery can dramatically improve a woman’s chance of getting pregnant, having a healthy pregnancy, having a natural delivery, and most importantly, having a healthy baby. It is not recommended that you get pregnant immediately after bariatric sugary. However, after six to twelve months (depending on the procedure), bariatric surgery patients are not only ready to get pregnant – their bodies are more likely to have a successful pregnancy. But there is even more to this. I want to share with you the results of a study I recently read that indicate that being healthy during pregnancy can influence whether or not the baby will become obese later in life. The study suggests that simple lifestyle changes during pregnancy have the potential to prevent childhood obesity. Of the 2,200 pregnant women who participated in the study, half of them were given guidance on how to adopt a healthier lifestyle. They were advised to in
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