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Wellness Wednesday: The Science Behind Amino Acids and How They Boost Your Performance
Every lifter knows protein builds muscle—but few understand the microscopic players doing the real work. Inside every meal, every recovery shake, and every rep is a team of molecules orchestrating strength, energy, and adaptation. The truth? Most athletes—even seasoned competitors—don’t realize how much their progress depends not on protein itself, but on the amino acids within it.
So what happens when you understand amino acids the way your body does?
Wellness Wednesday: Holiday Weight Gain Myths and How to Stay on Track
Every year, as pumpkin pies cool and champagne flows, the fear of holiday weight gain looms large. Headlines warn of rapid seasonal weight spikes, social media posts dramatize “holiday bulge,” and diet culture pushes quick-fix “detoxes.” But what does the science actually say? How much of that extra weight is fat versus temporary bloat, and why does it tend to linger?
Let’s unpack the biology, behavior, and evidence behind holiday weight gain, and show you practical strategies to navigate the season without guilt.
Wellness Wednesday: How Antioxidants Work and Why They Matter
Imagine your body as a bustling city. Every day, millions of tiny “sparks” fly off from normal processes like breathing, digesting food, or exercising. Left unchecked, those sparks—scientists call them free radicals—can damage the city’s buildings and infrastructure, accelerating wear and tear over time. Now here’s the twist: your body has its own defense squad—antioxidants—that race in to neutralize those sparks before they cause harm. But here’s the real question: are you giving your body enough of these defenders, and are supplements the answer—or is the truth more complicated than we’ve been led to believe?
Wellness Wednesday: Why Weight Regain Happens - and What Evidence Really Shows
Jasmine had done everything “right.” She counted calories, hit the gym five days a week, and proudly watched the scale drop 40 pounds over the course of a year. Friends praised her discipline, and her doctor called her progress “life-changing.” But five years later, the story looked very different. Nearly all the weight had crept back, despite Jasmine’s best intentions. She wasn’t alone, her experience mirrored a startling trend that research has confirmed time and again.
Why is it that up to 80% of people who lose weight eventually regain it? Is it simply a matter of willpower, or are there deeper forces at play, hidden in our biology, environment, and even psychology, that make weight maintenance far more difficult than weight loss itself?
Wellness Wednesday: Autism, Early Detection, and Vaccine Safety
As both a health professional and a parent, I know how overwhelming it can feel to navigate questions about your child’s development. When my own child was young, I found myself watching for milestones with equal parts pride and quiet worry—wondering if every new word, gesture, or behavior meant things were “on track.” For parents who suspect autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or are simply trying to separate fact from fear, the flood of information—and misinformation—can be daunting. Adding to the challenge is the loud, persistent debate around vaccines, medication exposures like acetaminophen, and environmental factors, which often leaves families caught between fear and fact.
Wellness Wednesday: Why Your Body Resists Weight Loss and How to Adapt
Have you ever wondered why your weight loss suddenly slows despite sticking to your plan—or why it comes back even after months of effort? The answer isn’t lack of discipline—it’s your body adapting in ways most people don’t realize. From hormonal shifts to metabolic slowdowns, this hidden mechanism can undermine even the best intentions. Discover how metabolic adaptation works, why it happens, and what evidence-based strategies can help you reclaim control over your weight and health.
Wellness Wednesday: What Science, Coaching, and Media Teach Us About Weight Loss
As a board-certified health and wellness coach with a background in exercise science research, I approach weight management through a lens that combines rigorous scientific evidence with practical application. Over the years, I’ve worked with clients navigating the complexities of metabolism, behavior, and lifestyle, witnessing firsthand how the human body responds to both stress and habit change. Few cases illustrate these dynamics better than The Biggest Loser. While the show captivated audiences with dramatic transformations, a closer look at the research and lived experiences of contestants reveals a more nuanced story, one that underscores the delicate balance between biology, psychology, and sustainable health strategies.
Wellness Wednesday: How Creatine Boosts Energy, Muscle, and More
Creatine is one of the most studied supplements in sports science, yet it’s also one of the most misunderstood. For decades, myths about kidney damage, dehydration, and bloating have clouded the real story, a story supported by hundreds of peer-reviewed trials showing creatine’s role in strength, energy, and muscle growth. As a practitioner who spends time both in the lab and on the training floor, I often find that once people understand how creatine works in the body, the hesitation fades and the potential becomes clear.
Wellness Wednesday: Essential Building Blocks for Lifelong Health
Micronutrients are small, but their impact on your health is massive. From boosting immunity to supporting mental clarity, these essential vitamins and minerals shape your well-being in ways most people don’t fully appreciate. Discover how to optimize your intake, avoid deficiencies, and use practical strategies to support your body at every life stage.
Wellness Wednesday: How Gut-Friendly Foods and Supplements Shape Health
Over the last decade, gut health has moved from a niche topic in research labs to a central theme in everyday nutrition conversations. Yet despite the buzz, there’s still plenty of confusion about what prebiotics and probiotics are, how they work, and whether they truly live up to the promises linked to digestion, immunity, and overall health. As a dietitian would point out, the science is both exciting and nuanced, while evidence supports their role in shaping a healthier microbiome, not every claim is fully backed by human trials. To separate fact from hype, it’s important to examine what the research says, where the gaps remain, and how individuals can make informed choices tailored to their own needs.