Travis on ‘road to a healthier life’ with help from Bronson, Mary Free Bed
Travis Laws was determined to get his life back and knew it wouldn’t be easy. Bedridden for several years, the 46-year-old from Allegan had significant health issues, including a large mass on his right leg. He weighed nearly 1,300 pounds. Specialists from Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo cared for Travis and developed a diet and […]
Manage holiday stress with these simple tips
The holiday season can be equal parts joyful and stressful. From long to-do lists to strained family relationships and the desire to create the “perfect” holiday, we often put too much pressure on ourselves. When we feel stress, we increase our risk for stress-induced eating. Jessi Boehme, a registered dietitian at Mary Free Bed, has […]
‘Tis the season to holiday-proof your healthy eating goals
The holidays are a time to celebrate and enjoy family and friends. The season is filled with gatherings that feature festive meals and delectable treats – full of calories. But with a little planning, you can still enjoy yourself and stick to your wellness goals. Jessi Boehme, a registered dietitian at Mary Free Bed, offers […]
Kim finds accountability, education and support with Weight Management Program: ‘I’m in the best place’
Twelve years ago, Kim Murphy decided to work toward a healthier lifestyle. Her journey has included challenges and successes, including a 100-plus pound weight loss. Adding Mary Free Bed’s Weight Management Program to her support circle has helped Kim feel better than ever. Since she joined the program six months ago, Kim has lost an […]
Andria finds hope, learns mindfulness with Weight Management Program
Andria Kiel joined the Mary Free Bed Weight Management Program hoping to drop weight for good. Through participation in the program’s 20-week Foundation class followed by the year-round Stride program, Andria’s goals evolved into achieving lifelong health and wellness. She recently completed her first 5K. In this blog, Andria shares her experience: Why did you […]
RaeAnn loses weight, gains confidence with Weight Management Program
Mary Free Bed’s Weight Management Program uses a team-based approach to weight loss – a physician, registered dietitian, psychologist and an exercise physiologist all play an integral part in each patient’s success. Participants lose an average of 29.5 pounds or 11.58 percent of their body weight during the first 20-week phase of the program, and […]
Spring clean your nutrition
Spring cleaning isn’t just for decluttering your closets and clearing out the garage. Spring is a great time to evaluate your weekly meal plan and add a variety of healthy foods. It’s good to change up your weekly meal routine. We get in a rut when the same foods appear on our plates week after […]
Eric hits goals with Mary Free Bed’s Weight Management Program
Eric Lake, a pain psychologist with Mary Free Bed’s Pain Center, has learned to “listen to his body” and focus on his wellness goals with help from Mary Free Bed’s Weight Management Program. To support the weight-loss success he achieved in the program’s Foundation phase, Eric committed to the next phase of the program — […]
Dave loses 100 pounds, improves health with Weight Management Program
Mary Free Bed’s mission is to restore hope and freedom through rehabilitation. Our programs and services are an extension of that mission. For Dave Nichols, a graduate of the Mary Free Bed Weight Management Program, hope and freedom came by way of improving his wellness. In this interview, Dave explains how the medically based program […]
How to stay healthy during the holidays
The average Thanksgiving meal has 3,000 calories and 229 grams of fat. Other holiday meals will have similar caloric opportunities. Many people start by snacking throughout the day. That, combined with the meal, can lead to a total of more than 4,500 calories. Not to worry! The holidays can be healthfully enjoyed if they’re taken […]
Easy recipe ideas for a healthier autumn: What to eat this fall
Fall is in the air and it’s the perfect time to enjoy Michigan’s tasty seasonal produce. Shopping at your local farmers markets is a great way to savor fruits and veggies at peak freshness, and meet the people who grow your food. Plus, shopping local has environmental benefits, too. What types of food are hopping […]
Stay healthy and hydrated with infused water recipes
Welcome to summer! Rising temps, humidity and sun exposure can make you break a sweat. When that happens, it’s important to replace the water you’ve lost. Water is a key nutrient and is essential for your body to function at its best. It is vital for most bodily functions, including digestion. It also helps transport […]
‘Put Your Best Fork Forward’ for National Nutrition Month
March is National Nutrition Month, and Mary Free Bed’s nutrition team is excited to celebrate all things wellness. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has selected “Put Your Best Fork Forward” as this year’s theme. What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think about putting your best fork forward? Bites of food! […]
Creativity in the kitchen can inspire healthy eating
Have your 2017 wellness resolutions stalled? Creativity in the kitchen can rekindle and refocus your nutrition goals. Mary Free Bed registered dietitians Jessi Boehme and Joanna Gritter (pictured below, right to left) are doing their part to keep hospital staff motivated with healthy, on-site cooking and recipe demos. Here, Jessi shares guidelines for healthy dishes recently shared […]
Weight Management grads share stories of weight loss success
Expert guest blog: Jessi Boehme, MS, RDN, is a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist at Mary Free Bed. Following is a Q&A with graduates of the Mary Free Bed Weight Management program. The Centers for Disease Control report 70 percent of adults ages 20 and older are overweight or obese. Carrying extra weight can put a person at increased […]
20 tips for a healthy Thanksgiving
For many, November kicks off the holiday season. Thanksgiving (Nov. 24) is a time to be grateful for all you have and continue to work for. (And also a time to eat more turkey in one day than you do all year.) You can enjoy Thanksgiving and stick to your wellness goals. Jessi Boehme, MS, a […]
Grocery store tours: An expert’s guide to trimming costs, calories from your cart
With tens of thousands of food products available in most grocery stores, it’s good to have a grocery shopping game plan before you hit the aisles. A grocery store tour with a nutrition expert is one way to learn how to fill your cart with balanced meals and healthy snacks. Jessi Boehme (pictured below), a […]
Experts share easy, healthy snack ideas for fall
Expert blog: Jessi Boehme, MS, RDN, is a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist at Mary Free Bed. She and other members of the Mary Free Bed nutrition team offer tasty snack ideas for fall. Autumn is upon us. School is in full swing, flannel-wearing is at an all-time-high and we’re savoring those last hot, sunny days. As we […]
Fall into autumn with a colorful and delicious fall salad recipe
Expert blog: Jessi Boehme, MS, RDN, is a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist at Mary Free Bed. Below she offers expert advice — and a tasty recipe! — to help you prepare for the upcoming seasonal shift. Are you ready to start saying goodbye to summer? I am not so sure about the farewells, but I’m ready for autumn […]
Mary Free Bed goes for gold with hospital Olympics
The Olympic spirit is strong at Mary Free Bed, where staff were invited to join in the first-ever Mary Free Bed Olympics held this week to coincide with the final week of the official 2016 games, to conclude Sunday in Rio de Janeiro. More than 140 “Olympians” participated in games throughout the week and 27 medals […]
Expert tips to make healthy summer eating a breeze
It’s finally summer! In addition to heat and sunshine, summer means picnics, open houses, beach days, camping and summer parties. Foods that go along with the summer fun typically include hot dogs, potato chips, burgers, pop/lemonade/alcoholic beverages, sauces, pickles, coleslaw and more pasta/potato salad than we’ve had all year. Although it’s OK to enjoy ourselves, we should […]
Low-impact exercises to help you ease into activity
Have you been thinking about starting to exercise but having a hard time deciding what or how to begin? Low-impact exercises are a great starting point. Designed to best suit those who cannot handle a lot of stress on their joints, low-impact exercises are great for easing back into a routine or for a lighter […]
Mary Free Bed and Residential Home Health create Mary Free Bed at Home
Grand Rapids, Mich. (June 3, 2016) – Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital and Residential Home Health announce a new joint venture, effective today, which will provide expanded home health services to West Michigan patients. As a Medicare-certified home health provider, Mary Free Bed at Home offers customized, in-home care, including skilled nursing, physical and occupational […]
How fruits and veggies support your healthy weight loss goals
When gardens flourish and farmers’ markets are in full swing, our palates tend to reap the benefits of the spring and summer growing seasons. Likewise, our healthy weight loss goals benefit from access to so many nutritious foods. The USDA recommends filling half your plate with fruits and veggies at every snack or meal. When fresh local produce […]
The ‘deets’ on sweets: How to reduce added sugar
Have you ever been confused about the sugar content on a food label? Apple juice seems healthy in moderation, but the label says there’s 25 grams of sugar in the unsweetened varieties – why? The latest federal dietary guidelines recommend consuming less than 50 grams of added sugar per day. The key word? Added. For perspective, […]
Nichols family works together to become a weight loss success story
Dave Nichols needed a total hip replacement, but his doctor told him that he had to lose 70 pounds before the surgery could be performed. His wife, Denise, saw a brochure for the Mary Free Bed’s Weight Management Program, which helps men and women of all ages and in all stages of their weight-loss journey. […]
How the buddy system supports successful weight loss
A successful weight loss or weight management plan includes strategies to manage common day-to-day temptations, like those freshly-baked cookies in the company breakroom or the friend who wants you to skip yoga in favor of happy hour. Enlisting a support person–or “buddy system”–is a fun and effective way to stay on track with your wellness goals. Kim Meeuwsen, […]
Winter workouts and activities to stay fit in the colder months
Unless you’re a winter sports enthusiast, the sting of the cold air can make it much more tempting to stay inside with a cup of hot chocolate rather than get outdoors to exercise. This makes it especially difficult to combat those seasonal blues. Trying new winter workouts and activities — or dusting off some classics […]
Staying strong with your New Year’s resolutions
“Resolutions become real if you’re willing to involve yourself and accept responsibility for your choices as well as the consequences that go with them.” — Dr. John Valusek A personal resolution is a promise to yourself to think, feel or act differently in a way that’s important to you. Research shows more than 80% of resolutions […]
Festively fit: Tips for avoiding holiday weight gain
Between appetizers, the main attraction and beverages — not to mention those hard-to-resist cookies and sweets — the average holiday meal can clock in at more than 3,000 calories. Unfortunately, this can result in an average holiday weight gain between 2-5 pounds. Some won’t lose that extra weight, adding on year after year. How do you […]