by Dan | Mar 18, 2018 | Exercise, Family, Goals, Motivation, Wellness/Health
Yesterday was St. Patrick’s day, and also Sarah’s birthday! We had a great run in the AM! We were originally supposed to go to SF to run the Irishman there…a 5 mile run, then later a 5k run, followed several hours later with a 1 mile run. We did not make it down due to the weather there…rain, becoming ice, so we did not take a chance. Quite a few of us who were going to go down decided to stay back, and we got together Saturday morning to run the 9.1 miles here. Then, we all went out to celebrate Sarah’s birthday! It wa a lot of fun. We do a lot of talking on these run club runs. You get to figure out and hear how everybody else is doing. You listen to issues…both good and bad…that someone else is having to deal with, and you support each other. I love these runs because I get to run with Sarah! I have said many times she is my “one and only”, my forever partner…with everything. Someday one of us is not going to be here. This may be reality, but not something I really want to spend a lot of time worrying about. I am going to take advantage of all of the moments we have together…now! I can’t even imagine doing something, or going somewhere, without having her come along. I would be totally lost. I love her beyond words! We are working on 28 years of marriage…I am saying “I do” now, just like I did back in 1990!
She looks just as beautiful to me now as she did on our wedding day! That is why I do all this activity…working out…trying to stay healthy. I want to spend as many days as I can with her, and my kids. I want to experience as much of life as I can. I want to be able to say that I have no regrets. So I throw out a challenge to all of you: “What are you waiting for?” “What excuse do you come up with now to not get started?” When is the right time for you?” The right time is now! There is no excuse for waiting. Time goes by so fast, that if you are not careful, you are going to miss some of the most important times in your life! Plus…you may not have as many days in which to enjoy all of those extra activities that you want to do if you don’t care of yourself. Appreciate what you have, and who you have in your life, everyday! Your spouse, your kids, the rest of your family, your friends…anybody who is a part of your life! And then continue to keep showing them how much you appreciate them!
These were the flowers I had sent for Sarah for her birthday. Never stop showing how much you love somebody. I don’t want her having any regrets either. Does this mean we don’t ever have any tough times? Any arguments? Please…we are human. Every couple goes through tough situations, but you stay together because the bond you have together is so much stronger. Our wedding announcement had this saying on the cover: “Two hearts that beat as one!” Right on! Forever!
The older we get, the more I realize how time goes fast! Really fast! So fasten your seat belts, stay healthy by working on your diet, exercising, and spending the time with those people who are important to you! Then, you can always say with confidence, “I did the best I could, and I have no regrets”. No regrets! Strive to Survive…I have been saying that for years. Hopefully, I don’t just say it, but live it! I continue to tell my patients this all of the time. “If I can do it, so can you!” No more excuses! What are you waiting for? Nobody is going to do it for you! Enjoy all of the experiences life has to offer, with the people who mean more to you than anything. I love you Sarah, and want to have many more years, and celebrations with you! I am going to keep working on it as well to help ensure that I do everything in my power to make that happen! Keep moving everybody…and don’t take anything for granted!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 3812
by kelsey | Mar 14, 2018 | Cooking Tips, Diet, Etc., Weight Management, Wellness/Health
“National Nutrition Month® 2018
National Nutrition Month® is a nutrition education and information campaign created annually in March by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The campaign focuses attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits.
“Go Further with Food” is the theme for 2018, and its importance is timely for many reasons. Whether it’s starting the day off right with a healthy breakfast or fueling before an athletic event, the foods you choose can make a real difference. Preparing your foods to go further, by planning meals and snacks in advance can also help to reduce food loss and waste. This year’s theme for National Nutrition Month® encourages us to achieve the numerous benefits healthy eating habits offer, but it also urges us to find ways to cut back on food waste. Learning how to manage food resources at home will help you “Go Further with Food”, while saving both nutrients and money.
Key Messages:
- Include a variety of healthful foods from all of the food groups on a regular basis.
- Consider the foods you have on hand before buying more at the store.
- Buy only the amount that can be eaten or frozen within a few days and plan ways to use leftovers later in the week.
- Be mindful of portion sizes. Eat and drink the amount that’s right for you, as MyPlate encourages us to do.
- Continue to use good food safety practices.
- Find activities that you enjoy and be physically active most days of the week.
- Realize the benefits of healthy eating by consulting with a registered dietitian nutritionist. RDNs can provide sound, easy-to-follow personalized nutrition advice to meet your lifestyle, preferences and health-related needs.” Source: https://www.eatright.org/food/resources/national-nutrition-month/national-nutrition-month-celebration-toolkit
Nutrition is one of the leading lifestyle factors in disease prevention and health promotion. Registered Dietitians provide nutrition therapy by applying our science and medical background into practical and applicable ways for people to improve their nutrition status. We are highly qualified food and nutrition experts who have met the academic and professional requirements, which include earning at least a bachelor’s degree, completing a supervised practiced program, and passing a national registration exam. In addition, continuing education is a requirement in order to keep our registration active.
Registered Dietitians offer a wide variety of knowledge and experience in various settings from clinical, community, media, and public policy. The RD can provide the patient or client with a confident, accurate, and credible information.
Many states have licensure laws that require certain qualifications to be able to practice medical nutrition therapy. South Dakota does have a licensure law and requires all Registered Dietitians to be licensed with the state. The initials “LN” indicate Licensed Nutritionist behind my name. Credentials are essential for ensuring you are getting safe, accurate, and science-based nutrition information.
RDs often get a bad rap for being the so-called “food police” but in reality, we’re just here to help you learn how to make healthy choices to help you be healthy and aid in disease prevention. We can create individualized plans and approaches to improving nutrition that fit you and your lifestyle!! I am thankful I get to practice my skills and passion in a great community like Watertown!I have really enjoyed working with you all and I look forward to continuing to share my passion for nutrition with you all in the years to come!
Happy RD Day! Be sure to eat an extra serving of fruit or veggies to celebrate the field of nutrition today! 😉
-Kelsey Raml, MS, RD, LN
by Dan | Mar 11, 2018 | Equipment, Exercise, Goals, Heart Health, Holidays, Motivation, weight lifting, Wellness/Health
Sarah and I had a great vacation in Jamaica recently, but being on vacation does not mean we have to take a break from working out. It is always part of our daily routine, and being on vacation was no exception. We did one excursion off of the resort, and went horseback riding one morning. We have done this before, and was a lot of fun, but also forgot what different muscles it takes in your legs to do this. We both felt this afterwards! Here we are getting to ride the horses in the ocean.
There was plenty of walking to do on the resort as well. The main areas to eat were up on a hill, so there were plenty of stairs to use to get to the different restaurants, and then again back down to the beach.
We normally would first go hit the gym they had their when we got up in the morning to start the day. They had several treadmills, bikes, steppers, and weights. We could always find something to use that morning.
Following this we would eat breakfast, and go hit the beach for the day. Relax, read, take a nap, then repeat for lunch. We had the rest of the day to take it easy, so getting our workout done first thing was no problem. There were no alarm clocks on vacation…we just got up when we felt like it. Sarah the one afternoon joined in on a yoga session on the dock over the ocean. I just watched!
The rest of the time we spent just watching the ocean, relaxing, and taking in the scenery, and peace and quiet. It was a great vacation…but we still found the time to exercise, and when it is a part of your regular routine, it was not hard to continue doing then as well. It is a great way to start each day. Then spend the rest of the day relaxing.
Enjoy your vacations…but you can still eat well, splurge a little, and still exercise. Otherwise, it is just another reason to have to use an excuse for! Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 3812
by Dan | Mar 4, 2018 | Exercise, Goals, Motivation, Wellness/Health
It was time for a break from the cold, and just get somewhere warm, listen to an ocean, and relax!
Sarah and I spent the last week in Jamaica taking in all of the sun, sand, and sea! A great escape, and a great time. For all of us, vacations are necessities, not luxuries. Nothing clears your mind more than such sitting back, relaxing, listening to the ocean, and reading for fun! For Fun! Taking walks along the beach was also very relaxing…
Just closing your eyes and listening…listening to the waves crash along shore, and just losing yourself in your own thoughts. Time to relax, time to forget all of the pressures of work, and just do nothing! I hate taking a vacation, and doing a lot of things, and then feeling like I need a vacation when I get back. All I wanted to do was get out of the cold, sit and relax, and just take it easy! No plans. No agenda. We just did what we wanted. Read, relaxed, ate…repeat.
We were gone a week, but the time just flew. It is amazing how relaxing watching the ocean can be, and also, just listening to it. I guess I did not realize how tired I really was! Here are some of the views we got to see everyday.
We all need a time to get away, to forget all of the pressures we have with everyday life, and just lose ourselves, and leave all of our worries behind. No pressures. No deadlines. No life or death situations. Nothing works better for getting your battery charged up, and get ready to come back and take on the world again.
This was one of my views for part of the vacation. Peace and quiet! We all need that “escape from reality” at times. To clear our head, spend time with someone close to you, and take it easy. Vacation! This next quote pretty much sums it up!
Don’t forget to take some time for a vacation. Even though it is a time to relax, it does not mean you still can’t find ways to exercise, and continue working on being healthy. Next week I will show you what we did to keep active as well. Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 3805
by Dan | Feb 18, 2018 | Exercise, Goals, Motivation, Weather, Wellness/Health, Winter
Wednesday this last week was a perfect break from the cold weather. It was around 40 degrees, and was perfect for a run. We were all fired up to get out and enjoy the break in the below zero stretch.
We were all thrilled to get outside, and not have frost build-up with our face, or eyes. If felt like Spring out there! Nothing like having anywhere from a 60-80 degree shift in the temp, for the positive, to get everybody fired up to go out and exercise.
It did not last very long, but then again, we are still in February. But, we will take these days whenever we can. This AM was a good day as well, still above zero, 28 degrees! It was windy, but nothing like what we have put up with this Winter so far!
When it comes to running, you learn to take the good weather days, along with the bad. When we have these bad stretches, the more we appreciate the good days. It does not matter if we are running, biking, or walking, or just being outside. The weather improvement does more for your health, attitude, and mind than any medication could ever do! Spring will come, we just have to be patient yet. Hopefully the long stretches of the really cold stuff is getting closer to being done, but we will have to see. If the weather is too bad outside, you just need to find a different alternative to find to be active inside. Partner up with somebody, whether meeting to workout inside, or going outside. It always is easier with somebody else. That is what makes our run club so enjoyable. You are never alone. You keep motivating each other to keep going. It is also easier to show up yourself when you know somebody else is counting on you to be there to help them too. And, the weather really helps!
Life will get warmer! The good/better days are coming. Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 3791
by kelsey | Feb 14, 2018 | Cooking Tips, Diet, Food, Weight Management, Wellness/Health
Today is not only Valentine’s Day, but it’s Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent…which means we eat more fish! Fish is not the most popular protein in our area since we are a land locked, northern state. Our mid-western diet typically includes proteins from beef, chicken, and pork…and fish often gets overlooked. During the Lenten season, it’s a good time to try out some new varieties and types of fish as they are better stocked and often times are better priced (ie- salmon, mahi-mahi, talapia, etc). The frozen bags of fish often have the filets in individual servings or two servings in a wrap so you can just take out as much as you need and then put the rest of the bag back in the freezer. Fish is a very lean and low fat protein so if you are watching your weight, it’s a good choice. Another benefit of some types of fish is the omega 3 fatty acids. Fatty fish such as herring, trout, tuna, mackerel, seabass, and salmon have these good fats. Our fresh water fish from around here such as walleye, northern, and perch, do not have these fats, however they are still lean proteins. It is recommended to incorporate two servings of fish into your weekly intake, so get into the habit of this during Lent and it could stick!
When we eat fish, we often think of it as breaded and fried, however that is not the healthiest choice. Instead of frying try these cooking methods:
•Grill: Season the fish with herbs and spices and a little lemon juice (from real lemons!). Lightly brush the fish with a little olive or canola oil so it won’t stick to the grill and cook for 10-20 minutes. The picture shows one of my favorites: grilled shrimp.
•Saute: You can saute any type of skinless fish. Again, season as desired and then heat a little olive or canola oil in the skillet on medium-high. Cook the fish for 2-3 minutes on both side.
•Poach: Place the fish in a saucepan or deep skillet and add enough stock, water, or wine to barely cover the fish. Add your seasonings, herbs, or spices and bring the liquid to a simmer on medium heat. Simmer for 10 minutes or until the center is opaque. Then you can dress it up with a sauce if desired.
•Bake: lightly coat a baking sheet with cooking spray and arrange the seasoned fish fillets on the sheet with seasoning. Bake for 7-10 minutes…you do not need to flip the fish. You can also put the fish filet in tin foil so the seasonings and herbs really flavor the fish.
•Broil: season the fish filet and brush with olive oil. Place on a broiler pan rack and broil 4-6 minutes on each side.
•If you choose to fry, try making it a little healthier by using an egg white to coat your filet, use canola oil to fry in, and instead of the white flour coating, try whole grain cracker or bread crumbs.
•When your fish is opaque and flakes easily, your fish is fully cooked.
Give it a try…you may be surprised how much you like it!
-Kelsey
