Nutritional Fitness Blog

April 13, 2024

Your nutritional fitness relies on making sound nutritious decisions. I am trying to give you the tools necessary to help you attain and maintain a healthy nutritional lifestyle. Stick to the basics! There is no replacement for healthy eating.

Let’s talk about this wave of injectables for weight loss.

The target population was originally Type 2 diabetics. The main goal of controlling Type 2 diabetes is weight loss, as many Type 2’s, but not all, fall into the category of overweight or obese.

These drugs are not a new concept but have certainly been improved and have received tons of supportive press recently. The definition of the target population for these drugs has broadened significantly, with clinically overweight or obese being the main focus.

Weight is not the only measure of health. But it is certainly significant and striving for a healthy weight will benefit you tremendously.

These injectables suppress your appetite. So weight loss is inevitable.

It may benefit your cardiac health which is another major win.

As a clinical nutritionist however, my concern is that quick success in weight loss may hinder positive changes to improve your eating habits. Relying on these medications without continuing the pursuit of nutritional health can be counterproductive.

There have not been noteworthy studies done about the long-term effects of these drugs. But so far everything looks good. Some people complain of nausea, while others prefer that nauseous feeling which keeps them from eating.

The goal to a healthy life is not starving yourself. Starvation is neither pretty nor desirable. When you start using up those nutritional stores in your body, your body may react to protect itself from starvation. Teaching yourself to eat well and maintain good metabolic fitness will definitely have positive long-term results.

Once you stop taking these injectable weight loss meds, your appetite will return and you will most definitely put weight back on. If you met your goal weight, how do you maintain without this medicinal help?

These drugs do not replace the need for healthy eating You still need to be mindful of what you eat even while taking these meds.

Depending on the length of time you were on these meds, damage may have been caused. One of the first rules of clinical nutrition is, if the gut works, use it.

Obviously, inadequate food intake is not the best use of your gut. Your body requires many nutrients to function properly and you can only get what you need through good food choices. Think about the ramifications of denying your body the fuel it requires to function.

Deep thinking about your nutritional health is what makes reflective nutrition work. It is a mental workout for sure.

Consider all the angles before diving into any drastic medical alternative for weight loss.
If you stop these meds and then resume, they will suppress your appetite again and the weight will come off again. This yo-yo effect will not result in a favorable outcome if it continues.

Should you choose this method of weight loss, please do so with your eyes open, ask questions and please continue journaling.

Believe me, I understand and empathize with anyone who has suffered a lifelong battle with being overweight. The harsh socialization can be brutal, leaving indelible scars.

Reflective nutrition can work nicely with these meds but there is no escaping the hard work you need to put into your overall health, mental as well as physical.

Don’t lose sight of this. These meds might help with initial weight loss, but other factors also come into play. They do not teach you how to eat well.

Committing to your nutritional fitness and honoring that commitment is a lifelong endeavor.

Creating a positive relationship with food can only be done through your hard work. Finding your way to good health is an emotional journey that will take you through so many levels of awareness of who you are. Stay mindful of each sensation as you accomplish each goal.

This is a journey worth taking because in the end you will be left nutritionally fit with a new sense of emotional strength as you reflect back on your massive accomplishments.

December 20, 2023

I started freaking myself out during a reflective moment. I was thinking back to when I used to give these little talks in front of seven and eight-year-olds during pediatric week. I was working in a hospital at the time and we used to have children visit during pediatric week so they can see how things run in hospitals. Of course the nutrition department used to prepare goody bags with healthy treats. After my talk, I would ask the children stand up, raise their right hand and take an oath promising to eat fruits and vegetables, to drink their milk, etc. It was very cute. I asked them some of their favorite foods to eat and together we were able to come up with some healthier choices. It was interactive and I’d like to think a good learning experience for them. It certainly turned out to be one for me.
One child very politely raised his hand and asked me “what if my mom doesn’t buy things like that because she doesn’t like them?”

Hmmmm
Good question.
As the designer of this child’s nutritional roadmap, I could only hope that his mom listened to the things he learned that day and might try to give him some new things to try. Open communication between adults and children, when it comes to nutritional intake, is so important. This is where children start forming their relationship with food whether we realize it or not. This is where they can start building a positive attitude toward healthy eating. We can learn from our children as well as teach them. Encourage them to ask questions and try new things. Inspire them by improving your nutritional health. Journal together. Kids pick up on things, little nuances that may not even register in an adult. They have a lot to offer.

Consider the nutritional roadmap you are creating for your children while revamping your own, which was probably created for you when you were a child. Even if you don’t enjoy fresh fruits, vegetables, high value proteins, baking or broiling over frying, think about the impact you are having over an impressionable child.

Remember when I said that the nutrition workout is a real mental test? Breaking down and rebuilding a lifelong diet is hard work. But it is our responsibility to start the next generation on the right track. I would like to think that little boy went home to show off all he learned that day about good nutrition and his mom was receptive to try and make beneficial changes for both of them.

Keep scrolling to read more about Nutritional Roadmaps

December 20, 2023

The concept of reflective nutrition is to dig deep into your history, not only to try and improve behaviors, but to find the reasons behind them.
(Keep in mind, that I am not discussing food allergies or foods we need to consume or avoid for medical conditions.)

From infancy, children rely on their caregiver for everything. When it comes to instilling good nutritional habits, it is the caregiver’s job to make food selection, food preparation/cooking and perform the actual feeding process. Those brand new taste buds are bursting with energy looking for new and exciting taste sensations. Savory. Sour. Sweet. Bitter. Salty. They may not all appeal to you, but you owe it to yourself and your children to experience all the flavors life has to offer.

The reason behind my freak out was thinking how that boy is now an adult possibly with children of his own. YIKES!! I started to wonder if I made a positive impression on him that day, possibly affecting the manner in which he nourishes his children. That would be awesome!

It’s never too early to start teaching the importance of healthy eating and being physically active.
It’s also never too late to learn the same lessons.
The dinner table is a great place to discuss how to tweak old culinary traditions and
make them more nutritionally sound. You can start by
doing the grocery shopping, food prep and cooking together.
Learn, grow and feel the physical sensation of your health improving day by day. Watch it happen simultaneously to your children.

If you are someone who prefers eating alone, you can still eat healthy and surround yourself with things that calm you, like music, a good audiobook or maybe total silence helps you clear your head. But concentrate on healthy food intake.

Utilize the farmers markets and try stretching the boundaries of your palate by introducing new culinary delights into your life. Experiment and enjoy! Let good nutrition have a positive impact on your life and the lives of future generations. We can reverse the unhealthy trend of obesity and medical complications associated with it. Take a serious a look at your nutritional roadmap. You don’t always have to follow the well established, paved roads of your past. Sometimes taking a left turn is the right move. It’s OK to make a mistake. We all do. It’s just another learning experience. Be mindful of the positive results that could end up taking you on an unexpected road while continuing your incredible journey to nutritional fitness.

Basic Rules Still Apply