The big canvas bags are a great way to cut down on plastic and their sturdy shoulder straps make them an easier way to transport groceries without the risk of stretching plastic or ripping paper. However, it is important that you keep those bags clean so that infections don’t contaminate your food.

Any initiative to lose weight and get healthy by eating more fruits and vegetables is one that should be applauded. While these healthy foods can help you maintain your weight loss long term, they can also easily pick up bacteria that may be floating around the store, your home and yes, your shopping bags. Before taking a bite out of that apple, give it a good wash. You don’t know what it might have picked up on the ride home.

Flu in the Grocery Bag?

One team of researchers was interested in how easily a stomach virus can travel from one person to another, and found in one circumstance the culprit was a reusable shopping bag. This research evaluated the case of 21 Oregon residents, seventeen of which were young soccer players and the remaining four adult chaperones. One player contracted the stomach flu and became severely ill in a bathroom where a shopping bag full of food was stored. Due to her illness, one of the chaperones escorted her home immediately and neither of the two came into any contact with the remainder of the team, yet the entire team became ill. After the original two infected people left the hotel, the bag of food was taken out of the bathroom and distributed amongst the team.

Though an anecdotal reference, the example rings true for so many people who use those bags—so let it function as a healthy reminder to us all. It is not something many of us like to think about, but feces and vomit can travel through the air leaving particles on inanimate objects that can remain contaminated for several weeks.

This is an extreme example of the flu wreaking havoc on a small group of people due to a grocery bag. However, too many of us are careless in our own homes in our treatment and storage of these bags. As you are losing weight, the last thing that you want is a setback like the stomach flu to take the momentum out of your work out goals.

Here are a few tips to help you avoid getting sick:

• Find a dedicated storage spot that is out of harm’s way. You can try putting a hook up in the kitchen or find a cabinet that is not otherwise being used. Never leave the bags unattended in a bathroom or bedroom where someone may become sick.
• Only use the bag for food. Those canvas bags are very useful and most of them only cost $0.99, which makes it hard to resist using them for everything. Transporting clothes to good-will or loading up the bag with used books can put a lot of dust, germs and even mold in the bag if you are not careful. If you are planning on using the bag for food, then don’t use it for anything else. If you do, clean it.
• Wash the bags regularly. Even transporting foods like raw chicken in those bags can make it a breeding ground for bacteria. You can wash most store-bought reusable grocery bags just like you would sheets and towels. Make sure to wash them regularly, at least once for every few trips you make to the store.

Patients to Directly Benefit from ReFit, a Non-Invasive Solution for the Appearance of Lax and Sagging Skin

Mt Kisco, NY, May 15, 2012, Dr. Briones Medical Weight Loss Center is excited to announce the recent introduction of Viora’s Reaction™, a leading medical aesthetics device. This clinically proven, FDA cleared device addresses the most requested and popular medical aesthetic procedures such as cellulite reduction and body and facial contouring.

Dr. Briones Medical Weight Loss Center patients wanting to have superior treatments for contouring or cellulite reduction can be assured of the most advanced solutions available for both face and body. The CORE™ technology in the Reaction™ device ensures client safety, comfort, and efficiency, as well as faster treatment times, all of which clients greatly appreciate. Reaction’s innovative technology enables the advanced ReFit concept designed to address loose skin following excessive weight loss, whether it be accomplished via surgical procedure, diet, exercise or childbirth.

“Working with Reaction™ by Viora allows us to complete our patients’ needs – following the successful loss of weight, they can then address the resulting loose skin with a non-invasive, painless solution,” said Dr. Maria Briones, Medical Director and founder of Dr. Briones Medical Weight Loss Center. “We have seen a great demand for these treatments and are excited to offer Reaction to our clients!

“Dr. Briones and her staff helped me lose over 50 pounds – I look great with my clothes on but with summer on the way, I wanted to complete the new me,” said J.S., Reaction patient. “I’ve been thrilled with my Reaction treatments so far and now can’t wait to get to the beach!”

“We are proud to be associated with Dr. Briones Medical Weight Loss Center. Her patients have been seeing great results with losing weight and now with Reaction™’s advanced RF treatments for contouring and cellulite reduction, her patients have a safe, pain-free, clinically proven solution to address the appearance of lax, sagging skin,” said Eliran Almog, CEO of Viora Inc. “Dr. Briones continues to effectively and comprehensively serve her patients by addressing their treatment needs following their weight loss.”

About Dr. Briones Medical Weight Loss Center

Dr. Briones Medical Weight Loss Center, located in Mt. Kisco, NY, was founded by Dr. Maria Barones, a board-certified Internist and advocate for overweight and obese patients looking for weight loss solutions to lead healthier lives. Leading a staff of dedicated nutritionists focused on helping address the nation’s obesity epidemic, Dr. Briones provides clients with proven successful, methods for weight loss and maintenance. Contact Maria Briones M.D. at 914-241-6249 for more information.

About Viora

Viora is a market leader in the development of technologically advanced medical aesthetic systems for physicians and aesthetic clinicians worldwide. Dedicated to the research and development of safe and effective devices, Viora provides the highest standard of professional grade solutions while keeping aesthetic businesses in mind.

And other reasons you may be better off eating at home.

For a lot of people a rich juicy steak is one thing that is hard to let go of when trying to reduce your cholesterol and lose weight. Well, this piece of information may help you finally break the steak eating habit. Despite your conscious effort to order a fine cut of meat to indulge in, it is hard to say from looking at a menu whether you are going to be served an honest slab of beef, or if cheaper cuts of steak are being pieced together and served as a fillet with the use of meat glue.

The scandal of pink slime is barely out of our memories as the controversy surrounding meat glue is starting to circulate. For those who are quicker to forget, the public outcry against pink slime emerged as more people discovered that a lot of beef being served in school lunches and at fast food restaurants is treated with ammonia, forming a light-red and slimy substance that earned its affectionate nickname based on its appearance. Much like how the proponents of pink slime claimed endlessly that their product was safe, chefs and production teams alike are attempting to quiet the outcry against transglutaminase, the glue that is holding smaller pieces of meat together in a lot of restaurants nationwide.

Eat at home to control what you eat

Whether the product is safe or not is up to the FDA to decide, but it is another factor that all medical weight loss patients need to consider before ordering a meal off the menu. Critics of meat glue are outraged that restaurants are permitted to serve the manufactured meat without letting patrons know what they are ordering. The sad truth is that it may be hard to know which restaurants you are getting a real steak from and which ones are serving up a glue-stick special.

The use of meat glue shouldn’t be too surprising. Take a moment and consider the size of steaks that are offered at so many chain restaurants—and at such low prices, too. Ten years ago the USDA announced that the average steak served in a U.S restaurant is 144 percent larger than the proper recommended portion. And steak isn’t alone in this supersized mayhem. Sugar-filled carbohydrates are baked as large as they can. The average muffin, for example, is over 230 percent larger than the USDA’s recommended portion size. Along with these larger portions are extra calories, and since these steaks and baked goods are served up for one price on one plate, we often eat the whole thing without thinking twice about it. Oversized portions are a huge problem that is causing our waist lines to grow.

When you are trying to lose weight, eating out is possible but it can be a challenge. If you are going to a restaurant where you are unsure of the menu items or quality of food, check their website to see if a menu is posted online or call ahead before the dinner rush to find out if you can speak with the chef. If you are unsure, then eat at home before you go out and just sit and socialize with your friends during dinner—or even better meet them after dinner instead.

You already know that becoming more active is an important part of any weight loss program. When you are worried about cellulite in addition to any excess weight you are carrying around, fitness becomes even more crucial. For those who are lucky enough not to know firsthand, cellulite refers to the collection of fat deposits that sit just beneath the skin prompting a dimpled appearance, often developing on the thighs, abdomen and buttocks.

Cellulite is caused by a number of factors, including:

• Hormones
• Genetics
• Diet
• Tight clothing
• Tobacco use
• Sedentary lifestyle

As you lose weight, cellulite doesn’t always go away. In fact, it can be really hard to get rid of. There are a number of new body contouring treatment options available that use lasers to eliminate cellulite deposits. If Cellulite is remaining an issue as you lose weight, then as Dr. Briones about the medical weight loss options for cellulite removal.

To Fight Cellulite, Get Moving

Exercise can help reduce the appearance of cellulite. This happens for a number of reasons. First, when you work out more your body requires more water and staying hydrated can help reduce the appearance of cellulite by keeping your skin healthy and supple. Exercise also helps to increase your blood circulation, which provides a healthy glow to your skin—especially when combined with a healthy diet. Most importantly, exercise tones your muscles, which can smooth out the dimpled appearance of cellulite on your skin.

When you are trying to eliminate cellulite you will want to find exercises that target the areas where you have a build-up of fat. Since so many women develop cellulite around their hips, legs and stomach dancing exercises can often help. Dancing requires you to pay attention to individual muscles as you try to master a certain move. Fast-paced dance classes like Zumba and Salsa incorporate a lot of hip-swerving actions that will help to tone your butt and fight cellulite.

Zumba classes make dancing easy. You don’t need to know any of the moves or even be coordinated. The classes are a lot of fun and are sure to make you break a sweat. There are a lot of zumba classes around town. Find one that fits into your schedule and bring a friend along to make a night out of it.

Here are a few places around town that offer Zumba:

• Saw Mill Club on Kenisco Drive in Mt. Kisco offers a lot of classes throughout the week and on the weekends.
• Westchester Ballroom on Radio Circle Drive in Mt. Kisco offers classes on Saturday mornings from 10 to 11 AM.
• Enjoy the Rhythm on Marble Avenue in Pleasantville, Westchester County offers a lot of classes throughout the week both during the morning and in the evening.

If you are looking for a new workout to help you lose weight then give a dance class a try. You may be surprised by how much you enjoy it!

A lot of people are making the move to a locally based diet in order to eliminate questions as to what they are eating, and where it is from. It can be very hard to transition to a fully local diet, and this is not a change that you should make without the support and motivation of your weight loss center. White Plains, Mt. Kisco and Spring Valley have a wide selection of farmers markets and other sources of locally grown food that can help you to make an easy transition to a healthier lifestyle.

Are you buying more than you bargained for?

In order to make it such a far distance, food is packaged and processed, spending an average of 14 days on a truck before it reaches the grocery store. In order for food to make it that long it is often treated with preservatives and other additives.

These issues have prompted a lot of people to begin eating locally. The locavore movement started out of an environmental campaign aiming to cut down on the use of fossil fuel associated with transporting foods, but has grown into a rather large health-conscious movement. Eating locally is not a fad diet, but instead a shift in way of life.

When you make a commitment to only purchase locally grown and made foods, then you are less likely to reach for a box of highly-processed, high-sugar snacks at the food store, or stop for a fast-food burger on your way home. Eating locally is one way to put up a barrier between your stomach and the fattening temptations that are all around you.

Here are a few local-food resources that you may want to explore:

• The White Plains Farmers Market runs every Wednesday, and is back in season this year from April until Thanksgiving. This open air market features locally grown produce, cheeses, meats and olive oil.
• There is a year-round Farmers Market now open in Mt. Kisco at the Boys and Girls club right down Main St. This market is open every Saturday, rain or shine.
• Spring Valley’s Farmers Market run’s every Wednesday from June to November, offering local fruits and vegetables from NY State, and the farmers here accept food stamps too.

Eating locally is just one way that you can force yourself to take a step back and consider what you are eating before you chow down on a burger and French-fries. Thinking more about the source of food that you are ingesting is a good step to take as you are trying to lose weight.

Going to the gym or spending an hour on a stationary bike during a spinning class isn’t everyone’s idea of a good time. For some people, the thought of going to the gym and facing the wall length mirrors as strangers sweat all around them is enough to make them retreat to the couch. If this is a problem for you, then it may be time to incorporate different activities that will motivate you to be more active.

Change the Way You Approach a Work-Out.

There are some people who actually look forward to waking up early every morning to go for a run. If they don’t run a few miles, then their day just feels off. When was the last time that you had something in your schedule that you really looked forward to? Running may not be your cup of tea, but chances are there is something else that you wish you had more time for.

When you are looking for new ways to lose weight and become healthier, the first stop to make is at your weight loss center. White Plains, Mt. Kisco and other areas around Westchester County are filled with hiking trails and passive parks that are perfect for a day of calorie burning fun, and your weight loss specialist can make sure that you are ready to take on new challenges with the proper nutrients and warm up tips.

Here are a few ideas to add more fun to your workout plan:

• Bring the dog and head out to Silver Lake Preserve Trail in White Plains, a 3-mile hike that won’t be too much of a challenge for you or your canine partner. Silver Lake Preserve was actually a battleground during the Revolutionary War, and was involved in the Underground Railroad, which makes for a great stroll through history.
• The Marsh Memorial Sanctuary has 156 acres of preserved land that is open to the public from dawn to dusk every day. This sanctuary has plenty of trails to explore, and there are also a lot of local events going on, including poetry readings, concerts and trail cleanups.
• White Plains was home to a lot of action during the Revolutionary war. The Jacob Purdy house was the headquarters of General George Washington from July to September of 1778, and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Take in all of the history of this town by exploring the 11-mile long heritage trail, which is marked by a series of landmarks that all hold historical significance.

When you change your schedule from being packed full of chores that you dread to being loaded with fun activities that you look forward to all week, then you are likely to experience benefits outside of weight loss. Having more fun every day can help you to relieve stress, and make fitting in a daily workout a bit more manageable!

As consumers and critics remain hopeful for a possible GMO labeling requirement, it’s important to try and make healthy food choices with what’s available to you in the meantime. Opting for all natural fruits and vegetables at the store may help you avoid hidden GMOs in processed food products. If you still are unsure about what‘s in your food products, ask your weight loss center in White Plains what’s best for you and your weight loss program.

Concerns about GMOs

You may be thinking to yourself, if crops like corn and soy are so prevalent in most of the processed foods purchased at the grocery store, then GMOs can’t really be that bad. This seems plausible considering genetically modified foods allow farmers to produce more with fewer chemicals, ultimately leading to a cleaner environment and cheaper groceries for all—so what’s will all of the fuss?

The fuss lies with the criticism that although genetically modified foods have been on the market since 1994, research on their long-term effects on humans is scarce. Consumers and researchers alike would rather know the effects of GMOs on their health now rather than later, maybe when it’s too late.

Some studies on GMOs have been conducted; however, these studies only involved animals. Animals or not, these studies have linked GMOs to altered metabolism, inflammation, kidney and liver malfunction and reduced fertility. We may not be the same species but some of these effects seem serious enough to incite more studies of GMOs and their effects on humans.

Some critics believe GMOs may possibly create new and unwanted allergens. A seed’s genome is delicately constructed, and implanting new genes within isn’t always a safe bet—scientists just aren’t able to predict all possible consequences. Other critics believe the transferring of genes between plants could cause some allergenic proteins, such as the ones in peanuts or wheat to pop-up in unanticipated places like soy or sugar.

GMOs and the Future

Regardless of these potential health concerns more and more genetically altered foods appear on the grocery store shelves each year. The FDA even expects to approve a fast-growing salmon in the near future and possibly even pigs designed to produce omega-3s—that’s just plain weird.

As of today, genetically modified foods are still not required to identify their GMOs on their labels, so as a consumer it’s impossible for you to tell them apart from other, regular foods. Buying all natural, unprocessed foods is the best way to avoid unwanted GMOs ending up in your grocery cart.

Potential Benefits

You don’t necessarily have to wear barefoot-style shoes for running like most people do. Walking in them provides benefits as well. The structure of these shoes simulates the way that our feet naturally hit the ground when we walk. Proponents of the footwear claim that since the barefoot-style shoes mimic walking in bare feet as nature intended, they may help strengthen the feet and lower-leg muscles. If you do happen to be looking for some new running shoes, these sneakers have been shown to offer greater speed than regular footwear, though that doesn’t mean we will see any Olympic athletes modeling the shoes this summer.

Barefoot-style sneakers have also been linked to steadier balance. For example, the unique design of the sneakers allows people to better estimate a treadmill’s slope, especially when compared with shoes that have a thick cushion. This allows for improved proprioception, which is the sense of how one’s body is positioned in space, ultimately leading to steadier balance. Balance is a key component in many weight loss activities.

If you are thinking of switching to barefoot style shoes, then it is important to do so gradually. Your feet will need to adjust to the texture between the toes and the changes in how your foot will hit the pavement. Socks are difficult with these types of shoes too, so they tend to grow a bit smellier than a traditional sneaker.

If you are thinking of switching your footwear around, then it is a good idea to check first with your weight loss center. White Plains, Mt. Kisco and other towns around Westchester County have a lot of nature trails that are fun to explore, but this type of footwear isn’t necessarily ideal for uneven trails. Without all the cushioning of a traditional sneaker, stepping on a rock could really hurt.

Here are a few more tips for making your transition a smooth one:

• Once you switch to barefoot-style sneakers, start off by walking in them for short periods of time.
• Gradually integrate them more and for longer periods of time—this goes for any other types of fitness you’re using them for as well (running, strength training, tai chi).
• Stretches such as heel-drops and toe-flexes may help prevent shin splints as you adjust to the new shoes.
• Calf and arch exercises are also helpful for strengthening the muscles in the feet.
• If running, take shorter strides to avoid injuries early on.
• If you do suffer from joint problems that benefit from increased cushioning, barefoot-style sneakers may not be helpful for your conditions.

These strange looking sneakers may seem silly at first, but they could provide you with some health benefits that cushioned sneakers cannot. As with any alteration to your weight loss program, ask Dr. Briones if barefoot-style sneakers are a good fit for you.

Looking for a fun and efficient way to get a full-body workout? Kettlebells are making a splash on the fitness scene as a great way to mix strength training and cardio while burning body fat and toning your core. Though kettlebell workouts can be done at home, enthusiasts stress the importance of learning the ropes from an expert first, so try checking out a kettlebell workout class after visiting Dr. Briones’ weight loss center. The White Plains area has plenty of gyms to choose from—find one near you with a kettlebell class for an exciting and unique way to both tone your muscles and burn calories.

Russian History

Shaped like a cannonball with a big handle on top, your typical kettlebell is made of cast iron or steel and can weigh anywhere from 5 to 50 pounds. Originating over three centuries ago in Russia, kettlebells were first used by merchants as counterweights to measure goods, but quickly gained popularity as a useful tool for weightlifting. In fact, kettlebell lifting became so popular in Russia that by the mid-20th century it was the national sport of the Soviet Union.

A Uniquely Popular Exercise

Once upon a time, kettlebells were prevalent in American gyms as well, but have only recently been making a comeback as a popular way to get fit. Much different than your typical barbell workout, kettlebells require the use of unique moving patterns and lifting techniques, integrating muscles all over the body with each lift. With such a balanced impact, lifting the kettlebell is often touted as a great way to work out your whole body in a short amount of time. In just 20 minutes of a kettlebell workout, you’re estimated to burn about 300 calories and will exercise both grip and core muscles.

Because of its uniqueness, instructors stress proper technique and focus in any kettlebell workout, as misconceptions about how to properly use the kettlebell frequently result in injury. Taking a class on kettlebell training will help you figure out what weight you need—women typically use 5- and 10-pound weights, while men may use up to 15- or 20-pounders—and trainers can keep a close eye on you to make sure you aren’t in danger of hurting yourself as you get started.

Of course, taking a class is also a great way to have some fun while getting fit. You may not even realize how much good your kettlebell workout is doing—until every muscle in your body aches the next day!

Thanks to Dr. Briones, I have lost over 25 lbs. and have kept it off. I started going to Dr. Briones’ office about 2 years ago…I lost the weight within 6 months and have kept it off due to her encouragement, medical expertise, and support. It also feels great to know that I’m in the good hands of a board certified medical doctor. I would encourage anyone who wants to lose weight to contact Dr. Briones.

Thanks again, Brenda