Today IS The Day

As a dietitian, I am very aware that I'm expected to portray a certain image.  I have many clients who voice their view that if they were in front of an obese dietitian - they would walk out.  I am a firm believer that we pay our health practitioners for their knowledge -not their personal application of their own knowledge.  You don't know if your physician smokes, if your mental health practitioner is being abused or God only know what your nurse might have going on in his/her own world.  That being said, I can see how a client might balk at the idea of being counseled by someone they view as having their same weight management issues.   I myself have a long family history of rolly polly individuals.  I don't have the worse genes but I definitely have genes that have made me work to stay healthy.  I made a commitment to try a new workout this weekend - boot camp.  I went swimming this morning in spite of my sore thighs and sore backside.  I made a commitment to myself.

When making lifestyle changes, I often ask patient's the following -
1-Is this your priority? What is your goal?
2- What do you understand about making healthful diet and physical activity choices?
3-What are you prepared to do to meet your goals? 

Making an appointment with a dietitian is the easy part.  The hard part happens between those visits to the dietitian.  The hard part is finding the motivation that goes against our long lived habits.  Getting out of bed to go exercise when it's cold outside and our bedding is soft and warm.  Today, I heard myself ask once again what I ask so many people - "What are you prepared to do to meet your goal?"  I apply that question to myself now. The answer is that I am not having that piece of Apple Clafouti with brandy syrup.  I will get up again in the morning and exercise.  I will enjoy my meals without overeating.  I won't pretend Thanksgiving comes each evening at 6 pm.

Healthful Holidays

I have an intern presenting on Healthful Holiday Meal strategies.  I like to add that I'm not all about destroying Thanksgiving dinner.  Holiday celebrating is not restricted to federally observed holidays.  The holidays usually span a three month period when the weather doesn’t' exactly inspire light healthful meals or physical activity.  So for the next couple of months - Healthful Holiday strategies will dominate our special topics.  

The Basics -
Eat Less - think of this concept.  Having 1 less scoop of food at east meal can equal 30 pounds less weight in 1 year.

Be Honest - Keeping a food record be it on line or on paper is a way of self monitoring.  It's a black and white strategy of identifying if this was truly a once a week splurge of if an unhealthful choice make a regular showing.  Telling yourself it's a special occasion doesn't mean that you didn't indulge in a box of biscoccitos 4 days that week.

Weigh Yourself Regularly – this is defined as almost weekly.  This is another self-monitoring strategy shown to keep people who are successful weight loss on track.

 I am definitely working on keeping focused with my activity and limiting night time grazing.  This was not the right time to discover pre-made carmel dip.

Next Topic:  Challenge of Healthful Eating on a Budget.