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Current Lifestyle-Fitness & Food

Kelly’s Lifestyle Tips

1.   Make exercise your #1 Priority: Book it like an appointment. 

 

2.    Practice Moderation & Consistency:  Balance, like anything, makes the most sense.  Extremes are typically not good.  When it comes to diet or exercise, working at a moderate “in-between” range is generally very healthful.  You don’t have to climb a mountain, but do something active every day.

 

3.       Honor your Body:  Listen to your inner teacher and respond accordingly.  Sometimes it’s good to push your edge, other times, your body needs more nurturing or “active” rest.  This balance will prevent injuries as well as prevent psychological “burnout”.

 

    • Know your tolerance level- from this point, take baby steps. (Walk flat before adding hills, blocks before miles)

 

    • With time, add endurance or intensity – have a plan to adhere to and   give your body at least a few weeks before increasing to a new level

 

    • Add some type of resistance exercise. Strong muscles pluck oxygen and nutrients from the blood much more efficiently than weak ones, which means less stress on your heart.  Strong muscles are better at sopping up sugar in the blood and helping the body stay sensitive to insulin. This keeps the blood sugar in check, thereby controls and helps prevent type 2 diabetes.  

 

4.   Variety: Keep it Fun. Suggestions: Pilates, Yoga, Rock Climbing, etc… all incorporate strengthening, flexibility, balance, focus and endurance.  Find what works for you that doesn’t seem like work!

 

5.   Set Goals: At a minimum, walk every day. A good motivational tool to help is a pedometer, which allows you to track how many steps you take each day.

 

Nutrition:

 

1.   Stay Hydrated: Eight 8-ounce glasses a day is generally adequate for sedentary people but drink more if you are active.  Refer to our HydraCoach website and select "Product", then “Hydration Calculator” for more specifics.

 

2.   Perceive Food/Nutrients as Fuel: When making food choices, don’t immediately think of what sounds good, think of what your body needs.  Try to fuel yourself with protein, quality carbs (slow sugars or GI index foods), minimal (good fat), and water. Eat what your body needs to be healthy.

 

3.       Add Color: try to get all the bright colors in your diet though fruits and veggies (purple, green, red, yellow, orange)

 

4.       Moderation: Most single portions are fist size or the size of a deck of cards.

 

5.       Watch Total Fat Intake: good and bad.

 

6.       Eat “Whole” Foods: Avoid prepackaged and processed foods.

 

7.       Consume Adequate Protein: (4-6 oz protein rich food at lunch or dinner)

 

"It's not where you stray, it's where you stay"

 

*Note:  This information is not intended to serve as a replacement for the advice of your physician.

 

Recommended Reading:

In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto -- by Michael Pollan, (January 1, 2008)

The New Glucose Revolution: The Authoritative Guide to the Glycemic Index--the Dietary Solution for Lifelong Health --- by Jennie Brand-Miller, et al;

ACSM and AHA Exercise Recommendations for Healthy Adults