by kelsey | Dec 3, 2014 | Diet, Food, Goals, Motivation, Weight Management, Wellness/Health
The holidays are in full swing, which means festive food, and busy schedules. Many families are enjoying old traditions, or making new ones. Unfortunately also during these Christmas experiences, many people find themselves experiencing weight gain. Countless family gatherings and baking Christmas goodies all month are grounds for overeating, without any time to spare for exercise. By making few simple changes over the day, the holidays do not have to mean weight gain! Here are some simple tips to try out between traveling, parties, cooking, and company.
- An Early Resolution? – Rather than waiting for New Years to start a resolution, make it easier on yourself and gradually work up to your resolution by New Years. This will also help you to stay focused and maintain weight over the holidays, so you can see faster results after. If your goal is to lose weight, maybe you will try to walk two days a week now, and by New Year’s you will be built up to walking 5 days a week!
- Stress less about Exercise- Rather than stressing about shopping and cleaning this year, think of this as a time to multitask. Housework is one of the best ways to get in a workout over the holidays. Whether it’s moving around the kitchen while you bake, or vacuuming before company…it all burn calories! Shopping through the mall crowds, standing in line, and bringing bags out to your car all are positive experiences now that you can count it as a workout, right?
- Quality Time– Rather than taking away from family time to work out, invite your family to do something as a group. Wake up on Christmas morning and enjoy some yoga together before presents, or take the kids out ice-skating or sledding after the famous Christmas dinner. Just remember, building a snowman or looking at Christmas lights will also provide memories that last longer than the memories watching a movie would.
- Think Before You Eat – Eat until you are satisfied, not stuffed. If you find yourself overeating at one meal, go light on the next. Try to fill your plate with the lower calorie items such as vegetable dishes, and lean proteins, then take smaller portions of the rich foods. Eat slowly, socialize, and enjoy every bite!
Overall, it’s the holidays and you need to enjoy yourself! Don’t restrict yourself from family time and enjoying some of your favorite holiday foods, but be mindful and plan ahead! Stay healthy this season, then after the holidays, your mind and body will thank you!
-Kelsey
by kelsey | Dec 2, 2014 | Cooking Tips, Diabetes, Diet, Food, Wellness/Health
Beth Ries, RN with Prairie Lakes Hospital started a diabetes support group last month. This group is much needed and I am so glad she is heading it up! December’s meeting will be Thursday, December 11, 2014 from 6:00 – 7:30 at Prairie Lakes Hospital’s West Conference Room and I will be the speaker focusing on holiday eating! We will discuss holiday snacks and holiday tips and tricks. We will also be making some healthy, low carb, yummy treats. Please register online at www.prairielakes.com so Beth can have an accurate head count to make sure there is enough yummy goodness to go around! Anyone who is affected by diabetes whether it is yourself, a friend, or family member is invited to attend. Please join us, invite a friend or 2…or bring the whole family for an evening of fun and learning! Looking forward to seeing you on December 11th!
For any questions, feel free to email me at kelsey.raml@brownclinic.org.
-Kelsey
by Dan | Nov 29, 2014 | Etc.
There was not a shortage of things to do to be active this Holiday weekend. It started off right on Thanksgiving with the Turkey Day 5K. Here are some picture of us getting ready before hand. The first one is Nick, Sarah, and I, and then my nurse Chris and I, and finally Sarah and I coming across the finish line.
It was a cold day, with temps below zero, but it did not stop the diehards from showing up that morning. It was a great way to start out the day before spending the rest of the day eating!
Then the lighted parade Friday night. It was a good way to walk another couple of miles, and we handed out candy to as many kids as we could see. Brown clinic had our float, and it was a Jingle Bells theme. We won first for best music presentation! Way to go Brown Clinic, and especially to Stef Carlson and her husband Tim for doing the work getting the float ready!
It was a great extended holiday weekend. You can still enjoy the holiday, and still find ways to be active. You may just have to plan a little more! Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 2619
by Dan | Nov 24, 2014 | Etc.
What things are common when it comes to Thanksgiving? First of all…Family. And with family, we will be spending time together, eating, laughing, and talking. Most of us will have turkey, and pumpkin pie. But how many of us will go out for a run or a walk? Well, you don’t have to wonder anymore. The 15th Annual Turkey Day run is coming up this Thursday, on Thanksgiving. Apple cider, pumpkin pie, and we all gather to run/walk a 5k. Then we all go home to have our turkey, and spend the rest of the day with our family.
Registration can still be from 8-9:45, with the race starting at 10AM. It will be held at Great Plains Lutheran High school. Come out and earn your food for the day. Come out and exercise with hundreds of other people, and then go “stuff” our face for the rest of the day without feeling guilty. Come join the fun. It is a great family affair as well. Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 2614
by kelsey | Nov 20, 2014 | Cooking Tips, Diet, Food, Weight Management, Wellness/Health
The Thanksgiving holiday is always a fun one enjoyed by all as we stuff ourselves and then resort to the couch to watch football or the start of the holiday tv shows. Since Thanksgiving is less than a week a way, I wanted to give you some tips to get through the holiday without putting on all those undesired extra pounds.
- Survey the entire table before you take any food. Decide what foods are worth eating and what can be ignored, and then stick to that decision. Why waste calories on foods that don’t bring you pleasure?
- Eat a snack before you leave home. If you arrive at a party starving, you’ll be more likely to overindulge.
- Eat your calories instead of drinking them. Stick to lower calorie or calorie-free drinks (diet sodas, water, light beer, or wine spritzer) instead of punches, eggnogs, and mixed drinks that can have up to 500 calories per cup.
- Sip a large glass of water between every alcoholic drink or non-alcoholic punch or eggnog. This will help keep you hydrated and you’ll drink fewer calories by the end of the night.
- When you are the host or hostess, include nutritious and lower-calorie foods like fruits, vegetables, and lean meats on the menu. When you are a guest, bring along a lower-calorie dish to share.
- Try not to hang out near the food. Find a comfortable spot across the room and focus on people instead of eating.
- Watch your portion sizes. Don’t cover your plate completely with food. In most cases, especially when it comes to holiday sweets and alcoholic beverages, less is better. Use a smaller plate or bowl and have just a sliver of pie like the picture shows.
- Drop out of the “clean plate club”. Leave a few bites behind every time you eat, especially if you are eating something you don’t really care for.
- Enjoy your favorite holiday treats but take a small portion, eat slowly, and savor the taste and texture of the wonderful foods of the season.
- Skip the pie crust and go for the filling.
- Choose light meat over dark meat.
- Use home-made cranberry sauce over canned cranberries that are jam packed with added sugars.
- In soups, sauces, puddings, and desserts: Replace whole milk or cream with low-fat milk, evaporated fat-free milk, or nonfat dry milk.
Lighten up your recipes:
- To make dips and toppings: Use low-fat or nonfat cottage cheese or sour cream, or non-fat Greek yogurt.
- To make salad dressings: Use nonfat Greek yogurt or low-fat buttermilk.
- In place of 1 whole egg in recipes: Use 2 egg whites or 1/4 cup egg substitute.
- In place of regular cheese: Use fat-free or reduced-fat cheese.
- In place of full sugar: replace half with Splenda or reduce half completely.
- In place of fats: use unsweetened applesauce or oil (1-1 replacement), or prune puree (1 cup of fat=1/2 cup puree).
More importantly is ENJOY your family and friends and all that have to the THANKful for!
-Kelsey
