Make a committment to your future

As of right now I am interning in a hospital through my dietetic internship program. To be honest, the majority of the conditions patients come in with could have either been prevented or lessened by just living a healthier lifestyle. Not all conditions are preventable through diet and exercise and I do realize this, however, diet and exercise can help to manage the condition so it does not get worse or require medications.

Long story short, I see a lot of these conditions: high blood pressure (hypertension), COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-typically smoking driven), overweight/obesity, Diabetes (usually uncontrolled), and heart conditions.

Most of the patients I see tell me that they know they are eating unhealthy and that they aren't following the recommendations set forth by the doctor or dietitian about diet and exercise...and I just want to ask WHY NOT and give them a swift kick in the butt. We could talk about will power and this and that all day, but seriously...if you have a severe medical condition, IS THAT NOT ENOUGH to make a CHANGE? When are we going to wake up and figure out that our nation is not getting any healthier unless we CHANGE. What is it going to take for the light bulb to go off?An epidemic? ALREADY HAPPENING!

When we're young (which I am) we don't think about how our behaviors today may affect our future...but quite honestly, that gets you nowhere and if you really believe this, then you are probably ignorant or just don't understand the word "consequence". So many patients will say "I wish I had listened to my doctor, or put on sunscreen, or ate better, or exercised" blah blah blah. You don't want to be saying "I wish" later on in life, instead you want to be saying "I'm glad I did everything I could".

Seriously, every day you must make a committment to yourself in order to have a healthy and happy future. Keep reminding yourself why you are exercising and why you choose healthier options; it's because if you put in the work now and for your entire life, you will have less medical complications later. Some issues are genetic and some issues are bound to happen that are out of our control, however, focus on what you can control and you will never have to say the words "I wish I had ____".

If you have a family member or loved that one that needs a swift kick in the butt, have them read this and talk with them about it. And if YOU need a swift kick in the butt, email me :) and I will do it for you. cait.croteau@gmail.com

Thanks guys...and I hope you are all having a healthy and happy Sunday!

Upcoming Holiday #1 Thanksgiving

Hey all. As I'm sitting in Baltimore, MD...I keep thinking to myself how every store is filled of Holiday-ness (which by the way I am pumped about---I'm obsessed with the Holiday season) and how the next Holiday is Thanksgiving. Let's chat about thanksgiving for a sec.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Thanksgiving dinner...I believe in enjoying food and especially food around the Holidays because it is how we tend to celebrate them.

Thanksgiving is notoriously the day where you consume food like it's the last food you'll eat before hibernating for the winter months. Truth is, you're not a bear or any other animal that hibernates.

Here's the truth. Your body uses the calories it needs and then it stores the rest (primarily as fat). The average caloric consumption on Thanksgiving is between 5,000-6,000 calories. The typical American consumes about 2,000 calories per day. So Thanksgiving provides an additional 3,000-4,000 calories. Likewise, a pound of fat is equal to 3,500 calories. SO you can assume you will at least gain 1 pound of fat just from Thanksgiving. Not that a pound is a big deal, but then when you think about all of the salt that is added to food, you'll end up gaining more "weight" because of all of the fluid retained from the salt. Long story short, if you step on the scale the day after Thanksgiving, it's not going to be good. And I do not encourage using a scale anyways because it makes us think that our health is equal to the number on the scale...and how screwed up is that.

Here are some tips for making your Thanksgiving healthier:

1) Sign you and your family up for a Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning. There is at least one in every area...so do yourself a favor and start your day out healthy...you'll be less apt to overeat and also to indulge a little less.

2) Stay in touch with your body...especially your stomach. There is no need to eat to the point of unbuttoning your pants or feeling nauseous. It's FOOD....and it will be available tomorrow and the day after that.

3) Try a new recipe that is perhaps a little bit healthier than the typical meal. Perhaps you make a healthier apple crisp instead of the heavy one. Perhaps you make a lighter stuffing. OR perhaps you just don't fill your entire plate.

4) Perhaps you go on a walk or play basketball with the family after the meal.

5) The day after Thanksgiving...is of course, Black Friday. Use Black Friday as a way to get a little more exercise. Get some exercise in before you leave and then use your shopping as extra exercise. Every step counts.

Here's the deal. Don't forget about your health just because it's Thanksgiving. Yes, it happens once a year, but the Holiday season is about 4-5 weeks long. Know that each day counts...enjoy the food...and keep in touch with your body. Get active on Thanksgiving and invite your entire family to join you. You'll be setting a great example and you'll feel less inclined to eat like you're never going to eat again.

Cheers!

Caitlin