by Dan | Mar 3, 2019 | Equipment, Exercise, Heart Health, Motivation, Weather, Wellness/Health, Winter
Sarah and I just got back from a week get away in Jamaica, and boy was it perfect timing. Everybody is so sick of the snow and cold, that just having some warmth, sun, beach, and ocean was better than any prescription treatment I could think of. Time to relax on the beach, listen to the ocean, read some books (for fun!), take a nap, go eat, and then repeat! No time schedule. No pressure. Do whatever, whenever. Perfect break. And…no snow, or cold! Sarah and I each year go somewhere warm in the Winter just to have a break. By the time we come back, we hope that Winter will be ending soon. It does not look like Winter will end soon this year, but still made for a great break.
The ocean views were great, especially sunrise and sunset. It is very relaxing to just sit and listen to the ocean waves, and not wind with snow swirling! Sarah and I went for at least a couple mile walk everyday along the beach, including the last day when we had to leave mid morning to go home on Friday.
They had a fitness center on the resort we were at, and we hit that everyday too. I did not run, but was biking and using the elliptical, and Sarah would get her run in. I am going to ease back into this again!
I did see a great name for a boat while we were there!
Some things just say it all. I am going to ease back into running again this week. I had a set back the last 2 weeks, and physical therapy has definitely been helping. I will resume that again this week. The rest of the exercise is just not the same when I can’t run. I have been having a really hard time trying to stay motivated. The weather is only making this worse. Everybody else is crabby because of the weather, but I think I am more crabby because I have not been running, and then the snow and cold just compounds it even more. My foot was doing pretty good with the walking, so time to start testing it again this week. Back to the pool again too! I sure hope by Spring when the weather does get better that I will be back outside on the road again running. I feel like I have been missing out on a lot this past 3 months or more. My daughter wrote in her blog this week that you really don’t know how much you miss something until you can’t do it. Right on! I have been struggling not being able to run more. At least I can do something to keep exercising, otherwise I would really be miserable! Sarah and I got in on the classes by the “fitness instructor” at the Sandals resort, Romario. He was a riot. He took this picture of Sarah and I doing our class on couples stretching along the beach. Who says exercising can’t be fun!
We are at least now into March. Even though we are hitting one of our coldest days this Winter with the wind chill again. This has to end soon, right? Stay positive, not only for yourself, but for others around you. After all, the saying goes: “What does not kill you makes you stronger!”. The only problem with this weather is it can kill you! Be careful. Stay active, just make adjustments and do it inside on some of the really bad weather days. Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 4176
by kelsey | Feb 21, 2019 | Diet, Exercise, Food, Heart Health, Weight Management, Wellness/Health
STRIVE 2 Survive, our 12 week wellness program starts in about 3 weeks, March 12th!! We often have people ask about the results of the program as they try to decide if they should enroll or not. Today’s post is about results as I wanted to share some of the results we have seen: not only weight loss, but great improvements in lab work, BP, and waist circumference, which greatly impacts disease prevention and overall wellness. Below are a few of our participant’s results for you to see how beneficial the program can be! Enrollment is underway right now! Contact us today to get signed up for a better you! Email: strive2survive@brownclinic.org or 884-4226.
|
|
|
|
Initial |
Post |
| Weigh In |
262 |
228.6 |
|
|
|
| lbs lost |
|
-33.4 |
| % lost |
|
|
| (lbs lost/weight) * 100 |
0 |
-14.6107 |
|
|
|
| Lab Work |
Initial |
Post |
| Total Cholesterol |
233 |
175 |
| LDL |
179 |
120 |
| HDL |
39 |
45 |
| Triglycerides |
75 |
49 |
| Glucose |
101 |
92 |
| Waist Circ. |
45″ |
40 |
| BMI |
30.3 |
26.4 |
| % Body Fat |
15.9 |
13 |
| Fat Mass |
41.8 |
29.8 |
| Fat Free Mass |
220.8 |
198.8 |
|
|
|
| |
Initial |
Post |
| Weigh In |
197.4 |
182.2 |
| |
|
|
| lbs lost |
|
-15.2 |
| % lost |
|
|
| (lbs lost/weight) * 100 |
0 |
-8.34248 |
| |
|
|
| Lab Work |
Initial |
Post |
| Total Cholesterol |
173 |
162 |
| LDL |
86 |
76 |
| HDL |
62 |
66 |
| Triglycerides |
127 |
100 |
| Glucose |
100 |
92 |
| Waist Circ. |
41″ |
39 |
| BMI |
31.9 |
29.4 |
| % Body Fat |
39.6 |
39.4 |
| Fat Mass |
79.4 |
71.8 |
| Fat Free Mass |
119.4 |
110.4 |
|
|
|
| |
Initial |
Post |
| Weigh In |
237.8 |
208 |
| |
|
|
| lbs lost |
|
-29.8 |
| % lost |
|
|
| (lbs lost/weight) * 100 |
0 |
-14.3269 |
| |
|
|
| Lab Work |
Initial |
Post |
| Total Cholesterol |
191 |
149 |
| LDL |
114 |
80 |
| HDL |
54 |
58 |
| Triglycerides |
116 |
54 |
| Glucose |
104 |
100 |
| Waist Circ. |
40 |
34 |
| BP |
152/90 |
118/78 |
| BMI |
30.9 |
27.1 |
| % Body Fat |
16.5 |
12.5 |
| Fat Mass |
39.2 |
26 |
| Fat Free Mass |
198.6 |
182 |
by kelsey | Feb 7, 2019 | Cooking Tips, Diet, Food, Heart Health, Weight Management, Wellness/Health
In celebration of National Heart Month, I think it’s fitting to discuss the significance diet and activity play in promoting a healthy heart. Heart disease is the number one killer of Americans and affects both men and women. Genetics do play a role, however a heart healthy diet and and regular activity can help minimize the effects and complications of heart disease. Whether you have heart disease in your family or not, it’s still good to follow a heart healthy eating plan. Highlights of the diet include:
- Lots of fruits and veggies! I’m sure you already knew this one, but the benefits of getting your 5 a day servings of fruits and veggies are worth reminding you again. Most of us know this, the hard part is doing it. Try adding them to your meals, have fruit as a snack, get a double serving to help you reach this goal.
- Fiber! Fiber is very beneficial in combating heart disease. Incorporating more whole grains (and fruits, veggies, and beans/lentils) into your diet will increase your fiber and aid in heart health. Oatmeal, brown rice, wild rice, whole grain noodles, whole grain breads, and even popcorn are considered whole grains. Aim to get at least 25-35 g/day.
- Choose lean proteins. Decreasing the amount of saturated fat in your diet will help reduce plaque buildup. Choose white meat poultry without the skin, 90% or greater lean hamburger, fish, beans, etc….stay away from processed meats! Fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, herring, and trout offer additional benefits as they are loaded with healthy omega 3 fatty acids.
- Choose healthy fats. Incorporating more plant fats such as canola oil and olive oil into your diet and reducing your intake of saturated and trans fats has been shown to improve heart health. You want to choose foods that are lower than 5-8g of total fat per serving and <3g saturated and trans fat per serving and limit your total fat consumption to 50-75g/day. Choosing low fat dairy products will help reduce the amount of saturated fat in your diet as well.
- Hold the salt! Excess sodium can increase blood pressure and cause heart failure. Aim to keep your sodium intake below 2400mg/day. You can do this by doing more home cooking, avoiding boxed or packaged goods, cooking with salt free seasonings, and not using table salt.
- Exercise! At least 30 minutes of exercise a day has been shown to improve heart health. If you can do more, the better!
Making small changes or substitutions will help you have a healthier heart and reduce risk for disease. Reading labels is really essential to help you make good choices, so take some time in the grocery store and really examine the products to ensure you’re making healthy choices!
-Kelsey
by kelsey | Jan 23, 2019 | Diet, Goals, Heart Health, Weight Management, Wellness/Health
It’s the beginning of a new year and all you hear about is hitting the gym and starting a new diet. You think, this is it, this time it will stick, and I will lose weight and feel great. Maybe you’ll try the Paleo diet, the Keto diet, Weight Watchers, etc. Nowadays it’s pretty hard to not hear about these fad diets and how “good” they are for our health. This week we will briefly explain one of the most common diets out there right now and discuss what it means regarding your health.
The Keto Diet: If you haven’t heard anything about the keto diet you might be living under a rock. It almost feels like most people we talk to have tried going “keto” or know someone currently on the diet. What we know: the original purpose of the ketogenic diet is for the treatment and prevention of seizures in epileptic children. There are no long-term studies out there to look at the effects of the keto diet for adults on our health. Personally, I know a surgeon who was on the keto diet for six months and he ended up stopping it because of the adverse effects it had on his cardiovascular blood markers. This is just one example. The keto diet is so restrictive, and it forces the body into a state it does not want to be in. The body prefers to run off glucose and when it doesn’t get food sources of it (carbohydrates) it is forced to convert fat to glucose. Sounds good right? I mean I’m burning fat, right? With this diet, we have LIMITED carbohydrates (< 50 grams/day). If we think about the keto diet with common sense, where are we going to get our heart protective whole grains? Where are we going to get our fiber rich, cancer fighting fruits? In short, we won’t. One of the most common complaints of the keto diet is fatigue and constipation. Fatigue, because the body is in a state of ketosis (breaking down fats for fuel), and constipation because we are simply not getting enough fiber. We know that fiber is heart protective, so one can only imagine what the long-term risks of the keto diet has on our heart without enough fiber. Any time you cut out a major food group (i.e. carbohydrates from fruits and grains) it is not sustainable. So, if you’re looking to drop a few pounds by cutting out carbs, what is your long-term goal? Are you planning on doing this for the rest of your life till the day you die? If not, a restrictive diet like the keto diet is not the answer.
Unfortunately, people often want “quick fixes” well if you’re talking weight loss and a better quality of life through nutrition, you will not find a quick fix. The best thing you can do for your health is to eat a diet rich in whole foods, lean sources of protein, with plenty fruits and vegetables. Adopting this life style will lead to more energy, potential weight loss, decreased blood pressure, better control of blood sugar, and an overall increase in your well- being. So, when your buddy at the gym says, “You have to do the keto diet if you want to lose weight”, tell them thanks for their opinion, but I think I’ll stick to my whole foods and balanced plate. As always, if you ever have any nutritional concerns or questions, seek out a Registered Dietitian for evidenced based answers.
Cheers to the New Year!
-Sami Kratovil, SDSU Dietetic Intern
by Dan | Jan 20, 2019 | Equipment, Exercise, Goals, Heart Health, Motivation, Weather, Wellness/Health, Winter
Well, when the weather does not cooperate, you have to make a decision. Do you still exercise outside? Do you go indoors? Do you do a combination of both? What? That overall depends on the weather, and what exactly you want to put up with that day. Exercise is tough enough, but some days can be tougher when you are dealing with the elements. Here is SD, we get to put up with a lot of the elements. Snow, extreme cold, or like this morning, we had both? For me, I would still much rather be outside. It is not nearly as boring. You have to dress right for it, and overall, have the right gear for everything, including shoes, and traction with them. So today was a compromise. We have had several inches of new snow, and the temp was zero, with a wind chill into the -19. So, just trying to come back from my foot injury, I only did a couple miles outside, then hit the bike later. But you can’t use the weather as an excuse to not exercise at all. You may need to do some compromising, but you don’t have to skip it altogether. I joined up with the run club this AM, staring out later and running the route in reverse to catch up with them on the back side coming back. I did some strength training before then. 20 lunges, 15 pushups, then 15 body squats, with 30 second rest interval, then repeat. 5 rounds. Later this afternoon I will hit the bike.
The Wellness Center is great to exercise indoors. They have a lot of variety. You can see my shadow riding the bike on the side wall. I listen to music, and can watch a lot of other people there all doing the same thing…exercising. They may all be exercising for different reasons, but they are all there. It also helps to motivate yourself when you have other people around you trying as well.
I have been riding the bike a lot lately. It has been allowing me to let my foot heal, but it is also great not having to worry about the snow or ice outside as well. I have to either listen to music, or watch TV doing this. Otherwise, it is too boring to not have something else to occupy your mind.
They also have an indoor track, which I like much better than the treadmill. It too has been good recovering from my injury because I can have more control over how fast I go, and I don’t have to worry about dealing with the weather elements outside.
I have also been doing a lot of swimming this last 6-7 weeks. I am not going to say it is enjoyable yet, but I do have to admit there are days when it is getting easier. I just have to keep plugging away with this, and hopefully it will keep getting easier yet. It is definitely helping me get in better shape for biking and running!
Now my shadow is in the front, with me riding the bike. Bottom line with all of this is that even when the weather outside is frightful, you can still move, and exercise. You have to find the right combination of things for you. Choices are abundant. Keep trying some different things, and it may surprise you that there are other alternatives that you may like to do more, you just have not found it yet. The Wellness center is a good choice for getting started. Everybody up there is there for the same reason. Some are more experienced than others, and others may just be starting. But, we are all there trying to be active, and trying to take control of our own health and well being. So quit making excuses. Get off the couch. Do something! Try different activities. You never know what you may like until you try it. Just keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 4134
by Dan | Dec 30, 2018 | Equipment, Exercise, Family, Goals, Heart Health, Holidays, Motivation, Weather, Wellness/Health
There is nothing like spending the holidays at home…with family! The weekend before Christmas we were in SF spending a day with my family, then to Huron to spend a day with Sarah’s family. The best part though is that we had all 3 of our kids at home for Christmas! The times we are all together again have been getting too few and far between! It started on the December 21 picking up Megan and Nate at the airport.
It is nice to see how your kids react when they have not seen each for awhile! My twin girls missed each other, and it makes it so nice when we can get together.
We got to spend time with the future son-in-law, and boyfriend, as well. It is exciting to see what the future brings for expansion of this family. Many choices, taking chances…new adventures to be had by all of us!
Of course, with the holidays, it is time to really enjoy some of the great things to eat as well. My sister-in-law Michele makes some of the best “Monster cookies” I have ever had! Of course, when we eat more, we have to continue to keep working on the exercise aspect of things as well. No shortage of that around here, even when mother nature throws a curve ball blizzard into the mix of things.
This is looking across the road at the golf course…our view from our house. Almost a foot of snow. The snow does not mean we could not exercise. We maybe had to do some different things for the activity, or be creative with it.
Nate and Megan took advantage of the snow and went cross country skiing. Nate is originally from Virginia, so these kind of blizzards don’t come very often, and if they do, the snow does not last long. He loved it…not enough to live here, but enough for the visit!
We all took advantage of the “Reiflex Center”, my garage gym, and exercised in there. We even got Zeus involved in this!
Here Zeus is working on his hind leg squats! He just likes to get his butt scratched, and then he becomes “putty”. But, he wanted to be in the thick of things. He is part of this family as well, and helps keep us going as well. Sarah has been taking him for walks every morning with me recovering from the stress fracture. Hopefully I will be out there walking again soon too. The bike is getting a little bit boring, and I only made it swimming once last week. The other 2 days that I could go the Wellness Center to swim they were closed due to the blizzard!
This was our farewell breakfast before Megan and Nate were to get dropped off at the airport. It was a fast week, but a lot of fun. I am wearing off on my kids. We met for breakfast at 8 AM, and Megan was up early to workout as she would not be able to the rest of the day as they would be traveling. That makes me feel good! She feels the exercise is important enough to make it a priority, and like all of us, she had to plan and figure out when was going to be the time to fit it in her schedule. As parents, we set the tone, and our kids follow. So remember that everybody! You can make a difference on somebody else by staying healthy, watching our diet, and exercising regularly. That in and of itself can be motivation to ourselves knowing that somebody else, whether our family, or friends, is depending on us. Don’t let them down. Keep striving. Keep pushing. Keep trying. And…keep moving everybody! Happy New Year to everybody as well. New Year’s resolutions or not, make it a yearlong goal, not just a January goal!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 4113
