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Category: Eating Healthy

28Nov

In the heart of Northern Virginia, a dynamic and diverse region, the pursuit of healthy eating habits isn’t just a trend; it’s a fundamental aspect of daily life. Nestled between thriving urban centers and picturesque landscapes, Northern Virginians have cultivated a unique relationship with food. This guide unveils the distinct dietary preferences and challenges faced by the people of this region and offers a roadmap to embracing a lifestyle anchored in nutritious choices.

Local Farmers’ Markets

Northern Virginia’s landscape is dotted with an impressive array of farmers’ markets. These bustling hubs are more than just places to buy groceries; they are vibrant community gatherings where people come together to celebrate locally-sourced, seasonal goodness. At the Reston Farmers Market, the air is filled with the scent of freshly picked apples and the vibrant colors of heirloom tomatoes. It’s a place where the connection between the soil, the farmer, and the plate is tangible.

Meanwhile, the Old Town Alexandria Farmers Market, steeped in history, offers a unique blend of tradition and modernity. Here, you can explore stalls brimming with artisanal cheeses, heritage grains, and heritage breed meats. The market embodies the essence of healthy eating habits by providing access to ingredients that not only taste incredible but also support local agriculture and sustainability.

The significance of these markets goes beyond the delicious produce they offer. They stand as a testament to the region’s commitment to healthy living and environmental stewardship. By patronizing these markets, Northern Virginians are not just nourishing themselves; they are nourishing the land they call home.

Organic Food Delivery Services

In the whirlwind of Northern Virginia’s fast-paced lifestyle, carving out time to visit farmers’ markets isn’t always feasible. However, the commitment to healthy eating remains unwavering, thanks to the convenience of organic food delivery services. Companies like “Farm to Table Express” and “Northern Virginia Organics” bridge the gap between busy schedules and the desire for wholesome meals.

With a few taps on your phone or clicks on your computer, you can have locally sourced, organic groceries delivered straight to your doorstep. It’s a modern solution that ensures you never have to compromise on the quality of your ingredients. This convenience aligns perfectly with Northern Virginia’s ethos of balancing health and efficiency.

Navigating Restaurant Choices

Dining out in Northern Virginia isn’t just a meal; it’s a journey through a culinary kaleidoscope. From the tantalizing flavors of international cuisines to the refined tastes of upscale dining establishments, the choices are as diverse as the community itself. To maintain healthy eating habits while enjoying this gastronomic adventure, consider the following strategies:

Research Menus in Advance

Many restaurants in Northern Virginia provide their menus online. Taking a few minutes to review these menus ahead of time empowers you to make informed and nutritious choices.

Opt for Farm-to-Table Establishments 

The region boasts several restaurants that take pride in sourcing their ingredients locally. These establishments not only serve exceptional food but also support regional farmers and producers, aligning perfectly with healthy living principles.

Practice Mindful Eating

When you’re at a restaurant, practice mindful eating. Pay attention to portion sizes, and opt for dishes that incorporate lean proteins, an abundance of vegetables, and whole grains. This approach allows you to savor the flavors while making nutritious choices.

In Northern Virginia, healthy eating habits are more than a mere aspiration; they are woven into the fabric of everyday life. This region’s commitment to nurturing both the body and the community is evident in its thriving farmers’ markets, its modern organic food delivery services, and its diverse culinary scene. By embracing these elements, you can embark on a journey to nourish your body, indulge your palate, and savor the unique flavors of Northern Virginia while upholding a healthy lifestyle.

How BeLite Can Help

Established in 1995, BeLite Medical Center uses appetite suppressant medications together with exercise and a healthy diet to help patients improve their health by losing weight.

BeLite is a Virginia weight loss center with expertise and excellent reputation in helping patients from Virginia and other areas such as Richmond, Warrenton and Winchester as well as Maryland, Washington D.C., Pennsylvania and West Virginia lose weight fast.

Schedule an appointment with BeLite’s specialized medical practitioners to begin a healthy weight loss program now. We accept patients with health issues in addition to patients who are healthy and overweight. Online scheduling is available 24/7 at www.belite.com. For more information or enquiries, visit BeLite Medical Center at 3923 Blenheim Boulevard, Suite 61A, Fairfax, VA 22030, call (703) 359-9200, or email belitemed@gmail.com.

7Nov

Semaglutide, liraglutide, phentermine, phendimetrazine, diethylpropion, or 5-hydroxytryptophan can be regarded as the best appetite suppressant for weight loss. 

This depends on several factors that come into play when deciding the best course of treatment.

For example, a bariatrician or obesity medicine specialist will consider side effects, interactions, dosing, warnings, and other safety precautions when prescribing drugs for you.

The Top 5 Appetite Suppressants for Weight Loss

The following are the top five appetite suppressants for weight loss that may be recommended for you:

GLP-1 Agonists

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists are drugs used in the treatment of diabetes and obesity. They improve blood sugar control, help curb hunger, and lead to weight loss. They slow the movement of food from the stomach to the small intestine, thereby making you feel full faster and longer, so you eat less.

Semaglutide

Semaglutide is another weight loss medication. It’s a GLP-1 agonist that helps to reduce appetite. It comes in different brands such as Wegovy, Ozempic, and Rybelus, with each approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of different conditions such as diabetes, heart attack, and stroke along with diet and exercise.

Liraglutide

Liraglutide is a weight management medication that comes as an injection. It decreases your appetite and helps promote or maintain weight loss. Changes to diet and exercise may be recommended in combination with this medication. Saxenda is the most common brand of liraglutide available.

Phentermine

Phenyl-tertiary-butylamine, or phentermine for short, is an appetite suppressant administered by mouth and can be used with diet and exercise to treat obesity. It comes in several brands, including Ionamin and Sentis.

Phendimetrazine

Phendimetrazine is another appetite suppressant. It can help reduce weight when combined with exercise, behavior change, and a low-calorie diet program.

Diethylpropion

Diethylpropion is an appetite suppressant used together with diet and exercise to treat obesity, especially after diet and exercise have proved largely unsuccessful. It’s usually prescribed for people with a body mass index (BMI) of at least 30 kilograms per square meter. Common brand names for diethylpropion include Tenuate and Tenuate Dospan.

5-Hydroxytryptophan

5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), also known as oxitriptan, is a naturally occurring amino acid and chemical precursor. It’s a dietary supplement that works as an antidepressant, appetite suppressant, and sleep aid.

GLP-1 agonists such as semaglutide, liraglutide, phentermine, phendimetrazine, diethylpropion, and 5-hydroxytryptophan rank among the best appetite suppressants for weight loss currently available on the market.

However, note that even the so-called “best” appetite suppressant for weight loss might not work for you unless you do the needful as may be required by a bariatrician or obesity medicine specialist.

How BeLite Can Help

Established in 1995, BeLite Medical Center uses appetite suppressant medications together with exercise and a healthy diet to help patients improve their health by losing weight.

BeLite is a Virginia weight loss center with expertise and excellent reputation in helping patients from Virginia and other areas such as Richmond, Warrenton and Winchester as well as Maryland, Washington D.C., Pennsylvania and West Virginia lose weight fast.

Schedule an appointment with BeLite’s specialized medical practitioners to begin a healthy weight loss program now. We accept patients with health issues in addition to patients who are healthy and overweight. Online scheduling is available 24/7 at www.belite.com. For more information or enquiries, visit BeLite Medical Center at 3923 Blenheim Boulevard, Suite 61A, Fairfax, VA 22030, call (703) 359-9200, or email belitemed@gmail.com.

BeLite Medical
12Dec

Blog Post material by Alyssa L.

Misc_posts_belite
9Oct

When it comes to a weight loss plan, you need to track your daily calories and exercise routine. But are you tracking your water intake too? You may not realize that you’re not getting enough water for the day, which is why we recommend adding water to your daily plan. Drinking water helps boost your metabolism, cleanse your body of waste, and acts as an appetite suppressant. Also, drinking more water helps your body stop retaining water, helping you drop those extra pounds. In this blog, we list a couple ways you can stay hydrated and shed weight with water!

Why Drink Ice Cold Water?

According to the editorial staff at WebMD, “drinking ice cold water helps boost your metabolism because your body has to work harder to warm the water up, therefore burning more calories and helping you to lose weight.” So basically, all you need to do is grab a few ice cubes from the freezer and throw them in your glass, and your body does the rest. If you’re on the go, we suggest finding a stainless steel bottle to keep your water cold throughout the day!

Why Drink Water before a Meal?

Drinking water before meals can make you feel fuller, therefore reducing the amount of food you eat. Health resource website WebMD states that drinking water before meals results in “an average reduction in intake of 75 calories per meal. Drinking water before just one meal per day would cause you to ingest 27,000 fewer calories per year.” It’s perfectly healthy to eat your three meals a day; just drink water beforehand!

Why Replace Sugary Drinks with Water?

Calorie-filled drinks like soda and energy drinks can pack a ton of sugar and extra calories you don’t need. Instead, try drinking water with your meals. Think your water is “flavorless”? Or perhaps you have a sweet tooth? A glass of water with lemon is a recipe for successful weight loss because the pectin in lemons helps reduce food cravings. So go ahead and chug your guilt-free lemon water!

Conclusion

In our blog, we listed a few ways that water can help with weight loss. From drinking water before a meal to replacing an energy drink with water, these changes in your daily routine can definitely make a difference. If you’re ready to start your weight loss journey, contact the team at BeLite Medical Center today!

9Oct

With Thanksgiving around the corner, it is easy to start getting nervous about how you will be able to maintain your weight-loss progress. Nothing, not even a holiday should get in the way of your goals. Thanksgiving is a favorite holiday for many because of the delicious one-of-a-kind feast that family and friends put together. A lot of people with dieting goals like to designate it as their “cheat day.” Why break the habit of your renewed healthy lifestyle for mushy and creamy food?

We are here to tell you that it’s possible to enjoy the holidays, eat delicious food, and still stay on track with your goals. Try one of these tips, or challenge yourself to all of them!

Breakfast of Champs

Thanksgiving meals are for dinner, so why give in to the excessive amount of carbs in the morning? Make it a mission to eat the healthiest of meals for breakfast. If you’ve been wanting to try a new power food, but not willing enough to give up a delicious carb-loaded breakfast, then Thanksgiving is your day! Just remember that you will feast later, and it shouldn’t be too much of a struggle to avoid the fats and sugars.

Family Marathon

There are many 5k marathons that take place on or the day after the holiday. Why not make it a fun family activity and have everyone volunteer for a pressure-free, yet very active run! Getting your sweat in is the perfect balance to the number of calories and fats taken in from the feast. You won’t even have to feel like limiting yourself to your favorite sweet potato casserole because you will be getting an extra amount of exercise after! The best part is that most marathons are for a cause, and you will be doing everyone a favor in the holiday of giving.

Being First Is Better Than Seconds

Remember why you started your healthy lifestyle. Thanksgiving dishes are not the healthiest options out there, and getting seconds is excessive. Don’t feel guilty and do not stop yourself from indulging every now and then, especially around a holiday. Why should you overdo it with an extra amount on your plate? Practicing portion control will allow you to dig into every dish no matter how fatty!

Make Your Own Dish

Volunteer to make your own dish. Not only is that a good deed, but you will feel safe to know that at least one dish will be a part of your balanced diet plan. Use the holiday as an opportunity to cook up a healthy recipe you’ve been too busy to create.

Drinks Lots of Water

Of course, don’t forget about water! Water stops you from overeating and it’s a great mechanism if you’re afraid of your inability to resist seconds.

Conclusion

Challenge yourself to one or more of these tips to keep up with your health goals. Remember that just because Thanksgiving is a holiday, it doesn’t mean that you have to give in to food, especially large quantities of it. Enjoy the holidays and good luck with your health plan!

9Oct

Millions of people struggle with being overweight and obese. Whether it’s your first time attempting to lose weight or your hundredth crash diet, the stress of trying to change your lifestyle for the better can be incredibly taxing. Some of this anguish can be directly linked to the physical discomfort when starting an exercise regime or hunger pains that start with changing your eating habits. The majority of the struggle can also be associated with the mental torment one feels when facing the daunting reality of a healthy diet coupled with regular exercise. Some of this is inevitable, and must be taken in stride if one wishes to see long-term results. Some of it can also be completely avoided if the proper mental planning takes place beforehand.

Be Clear-Eyed in Your Goals

Creating the right frame of mind starts with attitude. Knowing precisely why you want to lose weight whether it be for health reasons like high cholesterol or diabetes, or maybe you simply want to look and feel better overall. Lugging around extra weight is tiring. Your back and knees suffer from prolonged standing or walking and your stamina is greatly diminished. Whatever your reasons, get excited to start the journey. Buy a calendar, mark your exercise days, and set a realistic goal for the end of each month to manage expectations.

Prepare a Shopping List

Once you’re mentally committed, it’s time to put that commitment to test with a diet plan. Everyone knows the cornerstone of any healthy lifestyle is eating the right food with the right portion size. Different diets work for different people, so regardless of which one you choose it needs to meet your base nutritional requirements and be something you can stick to long term. Fundamentally if you cut down carbs, and sugars, and increase your fruit and vegetable intake, you are taking an important step in the right direction.   

Motivate Yourself With Rewards

Once you have a diet planned and exercise regime in place don’t forget to incentivize your effort. For every hard-earned goal you reach, give yourself a reward, it should be something small and no, not a slice of cake from your favorite bakery. If you’ve made it this far don’t muck it up with a lapse in diet discipline and fall into old patterns. Go to a movie, get a massage, buy some new clothes, and write it down afterwards with the rest of your plan.

Conclusion

The first step in planning a weight loss regime is preparing yourself mentally. With the right planning and goal setting, your dieting and exercise will pay off in the long run!

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