Weary of trying to cut through the clutter of misinformation and unsupported claims about what you should or shouldn’t be eating? With so much information at our fingertips, it can be really challenging to separate fact from fiction. But eating nutritiously doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are four essential tips to help ensure you’re getting the nutrients your body needs to stay healthy and energetic
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Tuesday, November 24 2020
Humans are capable of, and familiar with, change. As we experience life, we grow and change—not just physically, but mentally, emotionally, socially, intellectually and spiritually as well. At first glance, the concepts of change and changing a behavior seem simplistic because humans are adaptable and change is not uncommon, even when we aren’t conscious of it. If we take a more microscopic view, however, changing health behaviors is actually a complex and progressive experience influenced by a number of factors. By its given nature, behavior change is inherently challenging because “lifestyles evolve for various reasons over many years, and people behave the way they do because their behaviors ‘work’ for them” (ACE, 2019). It’s simply not easy to change a behavior or a set of behaviors without some element of struggle because our behaviors are influenced by friends, family, work, stress, sleep, environment, life experiences and general health. What Behavior Change Isn’tBehavior change is a goal-driven process, not a singular event. For this reason, changes in health behavior are rarely achieved or maintained without effort. Meaningful and sustainable behavior change occurs in stages or phases. How long this process takes is unique to each person—there’s no finite or research-based “due date” for change. Further, behavior change is nonlinear. This means that it is normal, common and even expected for an individual to move back and forth between different stages. And, while lapses are part of the process, they should not be viewed as reasons to give up and abandon the ultimate goal or adopt an “I’ve failed” mindset. Behavior Change and the Fitness ConnectionGetting in shape and staying in shape, like behavior change, is a goal-driven process. How fitness goals are accomplished relates to the daily behaviors and choices a person makes. These choices will either support or detract from the fitness journey. For example, a person has a goal of being physically active for 30 minutes each day. There are specific behaviors and choices that will support this goal. Supportive behaviors and choices may include getting enough quality sleep, staying properly hydrated, eating nutrient-dense foods and setting aside the necessary block of time to exercise. By contrast, if this person chooses to get minimal sleep and consume less-nutritious foods (chips, cookies, fried foods, etc.), they likely will not feel energized and motivated enough to be active. Choices such as these will detract from the overall goal. As a result, this person would likely experience frustration and disappointment. Changing behaviors and making the healthy choice the easy choice is key to getting (and staying) in shape. Steps You Can Take to Make Positive ChangeRemember, both change and getting in shape are goal-driven processes. To begin, identify a long-term or product goal (what you want to accomplish in 6-12 months) and two or three short-term or process goals (something that is more immediately achievable that will lead you to the long-term goal). Short-term process goals should be related to the behavior and the choices you will make. Making the desired choice or performing a desired behavior accomplishes the goal versus goal attainment being based on an outcome (i.e., weight loss). Consider this example: Long-term goal: I will run my first 5K race in six months. Short-term goals that support the achievement of the long-term goal may include the following:
Your long-term and short-term goals will differ from this example but the key point to remember is to set goals that are SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound) and that focus on changing behaviors rather than a product or outcome. If weight loss is a desire, and for many it is, changing behaviors and making healthier choices will naturally result in improved health metrics such as weight and body composition.
Second, journal your progress and behavioral choices. While this might seem daunting, journaling is an effective way to self-monitor as it allows you a consistent opportunity to reflect upon and address such points as:
Third, plan for high-risk situations. High-risk situations are instances or events in which you are tempted to make choices that may not support what you’re trying to accomplish. For example, pastries in the break room, holiday parties, and event gatherings where high-calorie foods and drinks are served, travel, etc. Create a plan for staying on track during these times and identify strategies you can use to help yourself. Next, identify individuals in your network who can provide social support, additional motivation and structure to your change process. Enlist the help of a spouse, friend, neighbor, colleague, or other support groups that you can talk to about your change journey and fitness goals. This helps keep you accountable and provides you with a sounding board to share successes and stumbles. Finally, keep track of your food intake (not calorie for calorie, necessarily, but items of food/quality of food), hydration, stress level and sleep quality. Without tracking, we aren’t able to identify patterns of behavior that may be influenced by outside stressors or factors. We tend to make less conscious choices when we aren’t holding ourselves accountable. Research different apps that might help you in this process. Getting in shape requires making healthy choices to support the effort it takes to achieve a fitness goal. To make healthy, conscious choices, engaging in behaviors that facilitate making the most reasonable and supportive choice is essential. For many, this means implementing meaningful changes to develop new habits. The process is challenging, but behavior change is the path forward to a fit life. Contributor: Dr. Erin Nitschke, NFPT-CPT, NSCA-CPT, author, is an ACE Health Coach, Fitness Nutrition Specialist, Therapeutic Exercise Specialist, and Pn1 is a health and human performance college professor Thursday, October 22 2020
Between work, family, activities and schedule changes, having a quick and effective workout ready to knock out can be very useful. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts are meant to challenge the entire body and push intensity limits. While the intensity is meant to be high, adjusting for the energy level you have and/or injuries you may be experiencing is perfectly appropriate and recommended. HIIT training can be either high- or low-impact or a combination of both. Friday, September 18 2020
For many people, stress levels are at an all-time high. Although we can’t completely remove the sources of stress from our lives, we can find tools and techniques that can help us better manage the stress. Improving sleep habits, increasing physical activity, practicing mindfulness and unplugging from the news or social media can definitely go a long way toward reducing stress. And, as this article explains, modifying your eating habits can also go a long way toward helping you manage your stress levels. Tuesday, September 08 2020
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC 2020) presently recommends that everyone wear a cloth face covering (mask) in public settings, where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain in order to slow the spread of COVID-19. Symptoms of COVID-19 include a cough, difficulty breathing, fever or chills, fatigue, body aches, headache, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, runny nose, nausea and diarrhea. Importantly, the CDC scientists report that recent studies indicate that many individuals with COVID-19 lack symptoms (i.e., are “asymptomatic”) and can transmit COVID-19 to others before showing any discernible sign of having the illness. The evidence suggests that the virus can spread between people interacting in close proximity—for example, speaking, singing, coughing, or sneezing—even if those persons are not exhibiting any symptoms. Monday, August 24 2020
For many people, stress levels are at an all-time high. Although we can’t completely remove the sources of stress from our lives, we can find tools and techniques that can help us better manage the stress. Improving sleep habits, increasing physical activity, practicing mindfulness and unplugging from the news or social media can definitely go a long way toward reducing stress. And, as this article explains, modifying your eating habits can also go a long way toward helping you manage your stress levels. Wednesday, August 05 2020
You’re stuck at home without the ability to go to the gym, and all you have for equipment are a set of dumbbells. Plus, you only have 30 minutes or less to get in a workout (including a warm-up), so what can you do? Short answer—more than you might think. In fact, the variations are endless. Saturday, July 25 2020
Thursday, July 02 2020
“Aches, pains and health issues are just a part of getting older.” “I’m too old to start exercising now.” You’ve likely heard these statements at some point in your life, and maybe you’ve even started to repeat them as you've gotten older. Common as they are, these statements are more like myths. You can improve your physical well-being in your older adult years even if you’ve never exercised before. Monday, June 15 2020
Balance is a vital component of health and physical performance and is essential for activities of daily living like climbing stairs or carrying heavy loads. Balance also improves athletic performance, allowing athletes to move and transfer energy more efficiently. Balance is especially important for older adults hoping to reduce the risk of falls and injuries. Saturday, May 23 2020
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