Dr. Lisa Belisle

Dare to Go Bare(foot)

By Lisa M. Belisle, MD, MPH 
Originally published July 9, 2009, The Maine Switch 

I’m no Imelda Marcos, but I do love my espadrilles... and cowboy boots... and classic black open-toed pumps. Recently I overheard my daughter say “You should see my mother’s shoe collection!” No small compliment coming from a 13-year-old. 

Walk with the Doc

By Lisa M. Belisle, MD, MPH
Originally published May 14, 2009, The Maine Switch

I am a rain-runner. And a night-walker. And a snow-plodder. I wander wooded paths and city streets with equal enthusiasm. My life is more satisfying when I plan rambling into my day. Meandering keeps my body healthy and my soul sane. 

Ready for Spring? Let’s Go!

By Lisa M. Belisle, MD, MPH 
Originally published in Parent & Family, March-April 2009 

Slogging through March can be a challenge. We’ve survived three months of winter, but the season isn’t quite over. We have mud, we have semi-darkness, and we have cabin fever. It can be tempting to attach ourselves to the couch cushions and refuse to budge until warmer days appear.

Growth for Grownups: One Step at a Time

By Lisa M. Belisle, MD, MPH
Originally published January 2009, Parent & Family

I could not wait for my oldest child to grow up. I wanted to see his first tentative steps and hear his first intelligible words—immediately, if not sooner. But I did not have a choice: I had to wait. Growing up is a process. One set of brain cells needs to connect with another set of brain cells, and the brain needs to communicate with the rest of the body. Then children walk, and talk, and grow. Growth takes time.

Ask the Doc, Fall/Winter 2008

By Lisa M. Belisle, MD, MPH
Originally published Issue 4, Fall/Winter 2008, Healthy Living Connection, Healthy Living Club, Maine Medical Center

Dear Doc, 

I have been excited about the upcoming holiday season, but also nervous that I will fail to keep up healthy habits and feel guilty after. I want this year to be different.What can I do? 

—Paul, Cape Elizabeth, ME 

Listening: Lather, Rinse, Repeat

By Lisa M. Belisle, MD, MPH 
Originally published September 2008, Parent & Family 

My son is a sophomore in high school. Our conversations usually revolve around his requests, such as “Can I get a ride?” and “Can I have some money?” My daughters are in seventh and second grade. Our conversations typically are much longer. We discuss their friends, their activities and what is going on in the world. I can’t dictate what my children tell me, or how long it takes. But I can listen to their stories respectfully, just as I hope they will listen to other people’s stories respectfully. When we listen, we learn things about others, and sometimes, things about ourselves. 

Curing Lopsided Life Syndrome: First, You Must Walk Alone

By Lisa M. Belisle, MD, MPH
Originally published July 2008, Parent & Family

My last Parent & Family article (Walking the Walk, May 2008) addressed walking with our children. As I mentioned, this is a wonderful way to role model healthy behavior. Walking also gives children a chance to connect with us, with their inner selves, and with their environment.

Ask the Doc, Summer 2008

By Lisa M. Belisle, MD, MPH
Originally published Issue 3, Summer 2008, Healthy Living Connection, Healthy Living Club, Maine Medical Center

Dear Doc, 

I have been feeling stressed at work and home, and want to change it! Are there some easy things I can do to make me feel more relaxed and in control of my life?

—Carol, Westbrook, Maine

Dear Christine,

One thing I suggest for all of my patients is to practice mindful breathing. By focusing on breathing, we can appreciate the moment, rather than worrying about the past or the future. This helps us to feel less stressed. Try this:

Walking the Walk

By Lisa M. Belisle, MD, MPH
Originally published May 2008, Parent & Family

Last year our family moved to a house that was less than a mile away from our children’s schools. We had previously lived only a little farther up the road. We did this in part because we wanted them to walk to school as often as possible. We wanted them to have the chance to daydream as they meandered down the wooded paths, over the brook and across the fields. We wanted them to see the world up close; to develop a sense of place. We wanted them to engage in an activity that benefited their spirits — and their bodies.

Spring Cleaning the ‘Self’: Mud is Only Mud

By Lisa M. Belisle, MD, MPH
Originally published April 10, 2008, The Maine Switch

Many people tell me that they lack discipline when it comes to their health. Like being stuck in spring mud, they find themselves spinning their wheels, unable to move away from negative behaviors.

It’s important to remember that mud is only mud. None of us has to be bogged down by sticky behavior patterns. We simply have to have a sense of humor about our situation, and resolve to move forward.

We can start by getting into the spirit of the season, and give our ‘self’ a spring cleaning.