Health and Human Nature

Anxiety

What COVID Can Teach Us About Stress Management

Kristen A. Carter MS on March 15, 2023

We can learn a lot about controlling food intake by looking at people's responses to the stress of the COVID pandemic.

We can learn a lot about controlling food intake by looking at people's responses to the stress of the COVID pandemic.

Diet

Bamboozled Into Diet Solutions

Kristen A. Carter MS on January 31, 2023

Our tendency to follow the wrong messages about how we eat and how to lose weight is making us unhealthy.

Our tendency to follow the wrong messages about how we eat and how to lose weight is making us unhealthy.

Diet

Is Obesity Really a Disease?

Kristen A. Carter MS on January 9, 2023

How we refer to obesity is just a starting place. Our thinking about it is complex and often controversial.

How we refer to obesity is just a starting place. Our thinking about it is complex and often controversial.

Motivation

The Positive Power of "No"

Kristen A. Carter MS on December 6, 2022

Changing to better health habits can mean saying “no” to some old ones. How can we stay motivated to do that?

Changing to better health habits can mean saying “no” to some old ones. How can we stay motivated to do that?

Diet

Artificial Sweeteners: Pros and Cons

Kristen A. Carter MS on November 2, 2022

Artificial sweeteners are ubiquitous and often considered a good way to cut calories. But are they?

Artificial sweeteners are ubiquitous and often considered a good way to cut calories. But are they?

Depression

Hope, Dogs, and Weight Loss

Kristen A. Carter MS on October 5, 2022

Hope can get us out of a seemingly endless cycle of weight loss failures. And it all started with research on dogs.

Hope can get us out of a seemingly endless cycle of weight loss failures. And it all started with research on dogs.

Diet

Small Change Works, but It's a Hard Sell

Kristen A. Carter MS on September 12, 2022

Fast weight loss can be motivating and feel like a success. To sell small changes for weight loss, we need to redefine success.

Fast weight loss can be motivating and feel like a success. To sell small changes for weight loss, we need to redefine success.

Time Management

Putting Off Healthy Eating and Exercise: Is Time Management the Answer?

Kristen A. Carter MS on August 9, 2022

We often say we don’t have time to eat right and get enough exercise. But time management is just part of the equation.

We often say we don’t have time to eat right and get enough exercise. But time management is just part of the equation.

Motivation

Start With Why to Achieve Success

Kristen A. Carter MS on July 6, 2022

Many of us can get off track with our health and fitness goals if we don’t start with why we have them in the first place.

Many of us can get off track with our health and fitness goals if we don’t start with why we have them in the first place.

Career

When Habit Change Doesn’t Work

Kristen A. Carter MS on June 1, 2022

If we fail at changing a diet or exercise habit, it’s not because we are a failure. Habit change is more complicated than we think.

If we fail at changing a diet or exercise habit, it’s not because we are a failure. Habit change is more complicated than we think.

Self-Control

Do We Know When We Are Being Tempted?

Kristen A. Carter MS on May 11, 2022

Our environment is loaded with temptation. How can we prevail?

Our environment is loaded with temptation. How can we prevail?

Motivation

Are Your Goals Making You Miserable?

Kristen A. Carter MS on April 11, 2022

Comparing ourselves to others is a natural tendency that can lead to discouragement.

Comparing ourselves to others is a natural tendency that can lead to discouragement.

Mindfulness

Time-Restricted Eating: An Antidote to Fast Food Culture?

Kristen A. Carter MS on March 8, 2022

Time-restricted eating may be healthier and more effective for weight loss than engaging in the complexities of calorie restriction.

Time-restricted eating may be healthier and more effective for weight loss than engaging in the complexities of calorie restriction.

Motivation

Can You Trust Yourself?

Kristen A. Carter MS on February 21, 2022

Can we trust ourselves to make good health decisions? Research shows that our brains often keep us stuck in old assumptions and beliefs.

Can we trust ourselves to make good health decisions? Research shows that our brains often keep us stuck in old assumptions and beliefs.

Motivation

Using Self-Care to Motivate You

Kristen A. Carter MS on January 17, 2022

There is a deep disconnect between how we think of exercise and eating well and what is actually motivates us to incorporate them into our lives.

There is a deep disconnect between how we think of exercise and eating well and what is actually motivates us to incorporate them into our lives.

Motivation

How to Stop Hating Exercise

Kristen A. Carter MS on December 13, 2021

How can we get people to stop dreading or avoiding exercise?

How can we get people to stop dreading or avoiding exercise?

Motivation

Rewriting the Rules for Health-Related Changes

Kristen A. Carter MS on November 9, 2021

Unfortunately, when weight loss and more exercise are the goals, current models frame the process as adherence to a set of rules.

Unfortunately, when weight loss and more exercise are the goals, current models frame the process as adherence to a set of rules.

Health

Why People Don’t Take Doctors' Advice

Kristen A. Carter MS on October 5, 2021

Often a visit to our family doctor puts us in anticipation of getting advice about improving our health. Whether that advice is taken depends on many factors.

Often a visit to our family doctor puts us in anticipation of getting advice about improving our health. Whether that advice is taken depends on many factors.

Self-Control

Finding the Self-Control to Lose Weight

Kristen A. Carter MS on September 21, 2021

Individuals hoping to lose weight often ask themselves if they have enough motivation and willpower. But it’s a change of focus that matters.

Individuals hoping to lose weight often ask themselves if they have enough motivation and willpower. But it’s a change of focus that matters.

Mindfulness

Solving the Mystery of Weight Loss Failures

Kristen A. Carter MS on August 18, 2021

When we attempt to lose weight and exercise more, often we hit a logjam. See what research says is getting in the way.

When we attempt to lose weight and exercise more, often we hit a logjam. See what research says is getting in the way.