Exercise Equipment

There are many alternatives forms of exercise you can do, and equipment to do exercise with.  Above are few examples.  Over the next week or so, I will discuss each one of these, and give examples of the types of exercises that you can do with these different forms of equipment.  It makes for great alternatives when you are trying to prevent boredom from the same routines all of the time, and when the weather is not cooperative that you can be outside.  This last part would not pertain to where we are living now, would it?

Dr. Dan

Consecutive Exercise Day #:  1304

Journaling for Success

Last week I attended a great conference in Omaha focused specifically on adult weight management. Weight management is similar to a balance scale that involves give and take to make it just right! I learned a lot of great new tips and strategies to help my patients and participants of STRIVE 2 Survive succeed with their weight management goals.

One main key to success is evaluating your readiness to make lifestyle changes and how you are going to do it. This is always easier said than done, so a great way to start off is by making a list or brainstorming areas in your life that could use improvement and ways you are willing to make these changes. A food and exercise log is a great way to do this. It can be hard copy or done electronically. A favorite internet site of mine for food journaling is www.Livestrong.com and check out the “My Plate” section. 

-Kelsey

Eat Right!

This week I get the opportunity to attend the American Dietetic Association’s Adult Weight Managment Certification and Training workshop. I am very excited about this training as it is going to give  me new ideas and strategies to help make positive impacts in our patients and participants of STRIVE 2 Survive. In addition, I am a strong believer of ‘practicing what I preach’ so I am looking forward to learning some new tricks of the trade to help improve my own health as well. The American Dietetic Association has an excellent website for the public that offers sound and reliable nutrition information. If you’re looking to learn more, check it out at: http://www.eatright.org/Public/

Stay tuned to learn more about my experiences and training as well as more great online resources!

-Kelsey

Crazy for Kabobs

One of my favorite foods on the grill is kabobs. It’s a great way to get lean meat and vegetables in one meal through a healthy cooking method….and it’s even easy to make! You can choose lean chicken, pork, steak or shrimp and add some vegetables such as sweet potatoes, zuchini, peppers, onions, or tomatoes. To complete your meal you could add a side of wild or brown rice. I am looking forward to enjoying this meal when the weather warms up again!

-Kelsey

Grilling

This last weekend marked the official start of spring and to celebrate I decided to pull out the grill to start enjoying some of my favorite foods! Little did I know that winter wasn’t done as we are now in a winter storm warning! In future posts we are going to explore some great food choices on the grill and hope that our warm weather will come back. Grilling is one of the best cooking methods for us. When we think of grilling, we often think of hot dogs, brats, burgers, steak, etc. Besides these popular meat choices, there are other foods such as sweet potatoes and vegetables that taste great on the grill. In addition, it’s important to cook your foods at the proper temperatures to avoid food borne illness. Stay tuned to future posts as we discuss food choices and proper cooking temperatures.

-Kelsey

Smart Snacking

Is snacking bad for me?  No! Snacking is great to help you feel more energetic. The trick is to only snack when you are truly hungry, to choose your snacks wisely, and practice portion control. Most individuals need to eat something every 4 hours to keep their blood sugar levels steady. Having a small snack (100-200 calories) in between meals can prevent you from overeating at meal times as you won’t be as hungry or starving.  Here are a few ideas for you.

▪ String cheese and whole-grain crackers
▪ Nonfat yogurt mixed with fresh fruit and granola
▪ Cereal and milk
▪ Cut-up fruit or vegetables with yogurt dip
▪ Whole-wheat pita filled with hummus
▪ Low-fat or whole grain corn chips with salsa
▪ Fat-free or whole grain tortilla filled with turkey, cheese, and vegetables
▪ Half of a bagel topped with peanut butter and banana slices
▪ Low-fat popcorn with grated Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top
▪ Fat-free pudding cup
▪ Handful of nuts mixed with a few chocolate chips
▪ Low-fat milk and 2-3 gingersnap cookies

-Kelsey