Do you feel disconnected from your body? Wanting to reintroduce movement back into your life in a gentle and mindful way? Feeling in need of support, guidance, and compassion as you re-engage with your body? Yoga can be the answer! Sarah Patten is one of our clinicians on the Marci RD Nutrition team. She is […]
In today’s vlog I give a roundup up 2 products I love and 1 product I hate. It’s my Fall special of showcases and no case that I think you’ll love. I’m talking my favorite cures for the common cold, simple and delicious frozen food, and taking yoga challenges to task. Tune in and then […]
Ever wonder why laughter, medication, and exercise have the power to improve your mood? This video explains why that is and it all has to do with Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF). I learned about BDNF for a 2nd time while attending The Academy of Eating Disorders annual conference last week. And I decided to […]
The Biggest Loser is not a new topic of conversation on my blog. I have shared my opinion of the show a number of times. So I was quite pleased when, during the hub bub of last weeks’ TBL controversy, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics reached out to see if I wanted to write […]
It’s been a little while since I written about a product I think is fabulous. And I think I have the perfect product to share with you for the winter time. I learned about it from a client who had been wanting to try yoga but experienced a lot of barriers to taking a class. […]
Several months ago I wrote a blog post about why I am not a fan of the TV show The Biggest Loser (TBL). Last week I heard that first lady Michelle Obama might make an appearance on the show to promote her (in my opinion) misguided but well-intended Let’s Move campaign. And when I heard […]
Metabolism, simply defined, is the energy your body uses up to keep you alive. Our culture is kind of obsessed with speeding up metabolism. Miss Jillian is only one of many examples I could have posted here. And you want to know what’s crazy, the same culture promotes ideas that actually slow your metabolism down! […]
Today we have the very good fortune to hear from guest blogger, Amber Barke, therapist and yoga instructor extra-ordinaire. While she has been a long-time lover of yoga and mindfulness practice, I am very much a newbie. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did. For those who know me, either personally or […]
Earn your mac n’ cheese tonight. You have probably read something like this and other similar obnoxious advertisements at your local gym. And it annoys me every time. Can you imagine telling a child that they have to run 5 laps around the back yard to earn dinner? NO! Of course not. So why do […]
* In order for my exercise “to count” it has to hurt*In order for my exercise “to count” I have to do it 6 days a week, for at least an hour*In order for my exercise “to count” I have to feel worn out after*In order for my exercise “to count” I can’t eat anything […]
*Note: the post below is written by a client of mine, who happens to be extremely passionate about swimming. This article (in a longer form) appeared in the July/August 2011 New England Masters newsletter. She shared it with me and I was extremely eager to share it with you. Enjoy. Recently at the pool I admired […]
Or a “beach” body, or a “bikini” body? Why not a “rake-the-leaves” body or a “shovel-the-snow-then-go-cross-country-skiing” body? While we’re at it, how about a “clean-the-house-then-go-grocery-shopping-and-carry-the-case-of-water-yourself-’cause-you’re-just-that-strong” body? And just how IS a summer body supposed to look when compared to a winter body? Assuming you even have a “winter” body in the first place (whatever that […]
Exercise. Just say the word and notice what feelings and thoughts come up for you. If the word exercise is accompanied by a lot of negativity, you aren’t alone. In addition to my role as nutrition therapist, I am also a certified personal trainer. And I have learned quite a bit while helping many people […]
Each month I try to post a blurb on exercise. And this article (forwarded to me from a client, you know who you are and thank you) probably takes the cake. Getting physical activity is about so much more than shaping and toning our tooshies. And our culture’s weight and body obsession has darn near […]
As both a dietitian in the field of eating disorders and a certified personal trainer, I’ve observed first hand what a complicated issue exercise can be for A LOT of people. “Working out” is often associated with punishment for eating or punishment for not looking a certain way. It’s easy to feel that your exercise […]
A couple of months ago, a participant in my step aerobics class asked “Marci, my feet and shins have started hurting me, what could that be from?” So I asked her how old her shoes were. She thought for a minute and said, “hmmm, I’ve had these for about a year and a half.” After […]
Each month I have a little fun showcasing an item that, in my opinion, just isn’t as good for your health as it is advertised to be. In the past I have showcased food items. But last week, a client prompted me with a brilliant idea. She had been to City Sports in Cambridge […]
Did you know that research shows that the right tunes can actually help you enjoy your workouts more? I recently read this article and thought the concept was great. If you are prone to hanging out on the couch, the right music may just help you get your bootie movin’. Check out the playlist selections […]
Each month I try to write a little blurb on something exercise-related and I stumbled across an interesting tid- bit while preparing for a recent seminar. Once we hit our 30’s, our Resting Energy Expenditure* begins to decline by .8% for women and 1% for men each decade. Translation: in our 30’s our metabolism begins […]
Watch CBS News Videos OnlineI thought this news clip was really interesting. Another testament to the value of eating whole, non-processed, real food!
A recent randomized clinical control trial of using yoga in the treatment of eating disorders appeared in the April issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health. The study compared traditional treatment at an outpatient eating disorder center as compared to individual yoga plus standard care. After 8 weeks, those in the experimental group showed lower […]
Have you ever thought about the number of hours in a day you spend sitting in front of a computer? Have you ever paid attention to how you are sitting in front of your computer? The typical American is expected to live for 78 years. Now imagine how you’ll be looking at 78 if you […]
For this month’s fitness fact blog post, I decided to highlight the new Let’s Move website I mentioned on Monday’s blog post. Did you know that children need at least an hour a day of vigorous play and activity to stay healthy? This may seem like a lot but consider the number of hours children […]
If you tend to feel a bit blue during the winter months, you are not alone. Rates of depression increase during the winter, including people who suffer from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). In fact, recent findings suggest that the severity of eating disorder symptoms for bulimia peak in the Fall & Winter months. While clinically […]
You might not know it, but this week has been officially named “Healthy Weight Week.” As a dietitian in Cambridge who specializes in the treatment of eating disorders and works predominantly with women who struggle with their weight and body image issues, I’m pretty sensitive to the topic of weight. It’s been my experience that […]
I know, I know. You are probably thinking that I made an error typing out the title of this blog post. Nope. Despite the fact that I am a registered dietitian, certified personal trainer, and group exercise instructor in Cambridge, MA I firmly believe that using exercise as a means to lose weight can actually […]
On Saturday I had a great time teaching a workshop at Wu Dao Kung Fu on fueling for exercise and everyday living. One of the things we discussed was using sports drinks for hydration, a topic that I thought others might be interested in as well. I see people sipping on powerade, gatorade, vitamin water, etc. all […]
Since it is Diabetes Awareness Month, I wanted to share with you a bit of information regarding diabetes and exercise. And if you don’t have diabetes, keep reading! Chances are, you already know someone or will know someone diagnosed with this serious disease. Did you know that exercise acts just like insulin? Insulin is the […]
Turns out that October 20th, 2009 is World Osteoporosis Day. Additionally, the National Osteoporosis Foundation is celebrating its 25th anniversary. They’ve developed several useful handouts: 25 Facts about Your Bones & Osteoporosis 25 Calcium Rich Foods 25 Ways to Improve Your Bone Health 25 Ways to Prevent Falls While you might not be able to […]
I’m often inspired and amazed at the changes my clients make to improve the quality of their lives. Sometimes these changes are quite major, but most of the time they are small yet significant steps to better health. So I thought it would be fun to anonymously spotlight my clients once a month. I’ll focus on […]
Professor David Nieman, Dr. PH. of Appalachian State University, conducted three trials with more than 150 females comparing sedentary individuals to participants who engaged in moderate exercise (i.e., a brisk walk for 45 minutes, five days per week). After three and a half months Nieman reported that, “the number of days of sickness in the […]
As I type, the Boston Marathon is well underway. Since 1897, thousands of athletes have trained rigorously in order to compete in the world’s oldest annual marathon race. And it is a site to behold! Last year, I cheered on runners at mile 22. With a few miles to go, some competitors were running, some […]