Tag: preconceptual health

Top View of Sneakers on the grass with the text: It Starts With You

Take Responsibility For Your Health

Vaccine or no vaccine? Masks or no masks? Become a hermit or figure out how to live with it?  Did you know that YOU, and only YOU, are responsible for your health?  Act like the adult that you are and take responsibility for your health.

We just had a holiday weekend and there were so many decisions to make, weren’t there?  Cake or no cake? Exercise or sit on your butt again? Smoking/vaping or kicking the habit? Alcohol–to use or abstain from? Fried chicken or grilled chicken? Pecan pie or fresh fruit? Meat or no meat? Hot dogs or lean meats? Grilled veggies or fried battered veggies? I mean, who doesn’t like fried pickles?

I could go on and on and on but I am ready to throw down the gauntlet.  

It is truly your body, your decision. Not just about the vaccine or the mask.  You are literally responsible for your own health so begin acting like it.   I don’t care what the topic of the day is but if you are serious about avoiding hospitalization for any reason, you need to begin taking better care of yourself.

There are some people who are doing an amazing job on all fronts when it comes to their health journey. I tip my hat off to you as you have made your health a priority and I know that this takes a dedicated focus on a daily basis.

The majority of us are somewhere on the continuum of this work. I know that many of you have made so much progress and I will continue to be a pest in case you need a nudge.   There are some who don’t want to proactive but then want everything done when they finally go in for care.  What are you waiting for?

According to the CDC, the medical conditions that are most likely going to put you at risk of severe illness from COVID are the following:

  • High blood pressure (especially if it is poorly controlled)
  • Obesity (BMI > 30)
  • Diabetes (especially if it is poorly controlled)
  • Smoking/vaping or a history of using tobacco products
  • Cancer
  • Pregnancy or recent pregnancy
  • Lung problems
  • Chronic kidney problems

Are any of these on your list of medical conditions? The more conditions that you have, the more at risk you will be for hospitalization, with or without COVID.  Don’t wait until it is too late to take responsibility for your health.  Reach out to your primary care provider and make an appointment.

We are 19 months into this pandemic so if you haven’t’ begun working on improving your numbers, losing weight or kicking the tobacco/vaping habit, you need to make an action plan.

TODAY.

It Is Time to Move Your Booty!

Move it, move it, move it!

Happy Monday. I hope you all had a great weekend. Were you able to carve out at least 30 minutes each day just to focus on yourself?  If you are a diabetic, a pre-diabetic, or just someone who needs to become healthier,  it is important to move each and every day. Pick an activity that you can build into your schedule.  It is time to move your booty! 

9 Ways to exercise in this time of social distancing :

  • Dancing–the beauty of the internet is that you can use any of the great music videos on YouTube or your favorite streaming apps to find music that makes you move.  My favorite ones are those by Enrique Iglesias or Luis Fonsi.
  • Zumba–a combination of dance, movement and great music.  Find a local class on Zoom or use YouTube videos.
  • Strength Training–You can do strength training by using things in your pantry if you are new to this and just need to get started.  As you build up your strength you can buy light hand weights.  Use your time during commercials or find a 5 minute block of time to do simple, repetitive arm moves.
  • Yoga–there are so many free videos on YouTube.  Pick a beginner’s level if you are new to this but if you already exercise, you may be able to move to more advanced poses or routines.  Scan through the offerings to find someone you like.
  • Bicycling–this one may be trickier if you do not have a bicycle and your local gyms are not as accessible to you.  If you have room for a stationary bike, look on local marketplaces and see what you can find.  This is a great way to exercise while watching streaming apps.
  • Swimming–more options are now available to you so head to your local pool and find a water aerobics class or empty lane to swim in.  Many places have opened with new rules in place so see what is available in your area.
  • Stair climbing–do you have stairs in your home or in your apartment building?  Make a goal of climbing 3 flights to begin with and then add 1 flight a day or week depending on your fitness level.  Local malls may have indoor stairs that you can use.  Hiking in a local park with an incline can be just as good.  Look around and see what you can find.
  • Walking–You do not need anything special to walk.  A good pair of shoes and off you go.  If the weather keeps you from going outdoors on a regular basis, you may find that using a treadmill can help you meet your step goals.  The local mall can provide a safe place to walk and provide a staircase for you to use.
  • Running–once you build up your endurance, you may decide that you want to try and begin a running regimen.  There are apps that will take you from walking to finishing a 5K in 9 weeks or longer.

barriers to finding the time to exercise

Do you have a little one at home or an elderly family member to watch over?  Are you working remotely and trying to juggle being a care provider and work at the same time?  Yes?  Well, you are not alone.  Social distancing and the isolation recommendations have many without the usual circle of support that is needed to help you carve out the time you need for this.  

If you don’t have someone in your home to work with, find someone else in your situation who can swap out with you. Yes, even in this time of social distancing. you can watch over each others loved ones with proper masking, hand washing and social distancing.  If you are not comfortable with bringing someone into your home, then you will have to find an exercise that you can do at home.  Find a time while your dependents are sleeping.  This may mean waking up 45 minutes earlier or staying up later in the evening.  Find a way to make this happen.

Others in your household need to exercise as well.  Make it a ‘family’ event or trade off caretaker duties so that each of you can build this time into your daily routine.  Change it up.  You do not have to do the same thing every day.  Do a group yoga session.  This will help with everyone’s mental health.Remember that taking care of yourself is the most important thing you can do. Only after focusing on yourself should you devote time and energy to others.

 

Yours in movement!

                                              

For Optimal Health, Make Yourself Move Every Day

Move it Monday!

 

One of the themes I seemed to notice this weekend as I was browsing articles was the topic of wellness challenges. There is good information that shows that when we join a wellness activity or challenge that we are more inclined to make ourselves move.  

 

I know that this certainly works for me. One of the things I miss from my last job was the wellness activities where we walked to a variety of locations. I have even done a personal virtual walk from Charlotte NC to Corpus Christi, TX over 16 months. That is a total of 1,230 miles.

 

My team and I are doing the Blue Ridge to the Beach virtual walk and have completed 38% of the distance (thanks mostly to Renee!) I slacked off a bit last week so I know that I need to up my game. That is a map of our trek below.

 

What do I mean by movement? It can be a variety of activities. It could be pulling weeds, raking leaves, sweeping, mopping, walking, running, yoga, Zumba, dance, pushing a lawnmower, water aerobics, bicycling, rowing, arm exercises, etc.

 

For optimal health, make yourself move every day.  The type of movement is not important.  You just need to do something other than sit on the couch.  Your goal should be to be active for at least 30 minutes a day.

 

If you are not moving everyday, why not?

 

What is holding you back? (This is not geared to those of you who have a physical disability.) If you are sitting here watching the Steelers play or watching another show, you could be doing arm exercises, walking around the room or in place. You can use a treadmill, stationary bike or elliptical while you are watching TV.

 

You don’t need fancy machines or weights. Cans from your pantry can be your weights and walking in place doesn’t cost you a thing. YouTube has hundreds of FREE workout videos.

 

What wellness challenge are you willing to commit to?

 

What other excuses do you have?  ?

 

Leave me a comment below so I can counter your excuse!

Time to Set Your August Health Goals

It is time to set your August health goals.  It is the beginning of a new month and the end of summer is in sight. ?

It is time to review and focus on your health goals. Think about the preventative care topics that you have been reviewing. What appointments need to be scheduled? Remember that Telehealth is the new norm. What habits did you begin last month that you want to continue to work on?  What do you want to begin focusing on this month?

Setting goals if important but writing them down and posting them where you can see them every day increases the chance that you will make it happen.

Here are some ideas from our members from last month and a few of mine:

  • eat less carbs
  • cut back on sugar
  • walk more
  • add a mile to your walking session
  • stick to your work’s wellness activity
  • schedule your next wellness check appointment
  • schedule your next dental cleaning appointment
  • schedule your mammogram
  • work on increasing your water intake until you are drinking half of your weight each day (in ounces)
  • begin a walking program and work your way up to 30 minutes a day
  • explore meditation
  • start reading nutrition labels
  • eliminate artificial sweeteners
  • eliminate soda or sugar drinks
  • eliminate meat from one meal a day
  • eliminate one ‘bad habit’
  • keep a food diary
  • drink less alcohol

As you can see, there are many ways to become healthier. The list is endless. You get to decide what is most important to you. Pick 5 things to focus on this month. Yes, 5! Whether it is improving on the ones you chose last month, a combo of old and new or 5 new ones, it doesn’t matter.  It is a series of baby steps as this is a lifelong journey.

So take your pen, pencil or computer out and start writing this down.  Research this.  What steps can YOU take to make a difference this month? Make the time to set your August health goals.

Just as the picture shows, your journey doesn’t have to be perfect. You just have to be making daily progress.  

Obesity Screening and Counseling: Part Two

Happy Meatless Monday!

I hope that you were able to find some time this past weekend to focus on yourself. Daily hugs are good for the soul so hug yourself and grab your favorite drink for this next part.

Obesity Screening and Counseling

Dieting…

A team member send me a DM and said this. “Enough! Just tell me what diet I need to go on.”

In the last 22 years, I have read about and tried many different diets. I have educated myself about healthy eating and nutrition. I have seen the scientific literature sway from one norm to another. Who do you believe?

In my opinion, the most successful weight reduction programs are those that combine cognitive behavioral therapy and eating foods that are as unprocessed as possible the majority of the time.

What the hell does that mean????

 

This means that you need to eat the healthiest foods possible to fuel your body. Food is fuel. Just like putting gas in your car. Eat because you are hungry; not because you lost your job, are bored, are happy, are in pain, are drinking your favorite drink, your partner cooked it for you, you drove by your favorite donut shop, you are worried about COVID, etc.

You need to prepare this fuel in the healthiest way possible. The more natural it is, the better. The less red meat, the better. A plant based diet is the current favorite but this only helps you if you minimally prepare it. Breaded, cheese covered, fried zucchini sticks are not the answer.

The cognitive behavioral therapy part is understanding your relationship with food. Emotional eating. Foods that are ‘comfort foods’ have that label for a reason. If you are using food as a substitute for other things or as your solution to a particular problem, you need to address the original problem to be successful in the long run. There are many good programs on this topic. This is what Noom is based on.  Wholist, a program that teaches “comprehensive nutrition and mindset coaching programs based on weight science and neuroplasticity, that accomplish amongst many things, conquering using food for emotional buffering.” 

Having said this, if I was going to pick one ‘diet’, it would be Weight Watchers. The most important part about this program is that it teaches you about portion control with the normal foods that you and your family normally eat every day. Programs like Nutrisystem and Jenny Craig are not the foods that are eaten in my home. They may be effective while I am eating their food, but it will not be sustainable when I go back to my normal Hispanic-Italian cuisine.

So I hope I have given you some food for thought. Let me know what questions you have as we wrap up our overview on this screening topic.

Leverage the science and psychology of healthy lifestyle change and lifestyle medicine for effective weight loss, better health, and fitness that lasts.

 

Obesity Screening and Counseling

Obesity Screening and Counseling–the majority rules!  The Facebook Group members voted on this for our next topic so here we go. I approach all topics by giving you the background for why the screening is recommended and how the screening is done.

Background

Obesity screening and counseling is recommended for  everyone from the age of 6 and older. This screening is done by your clinician to determine if there are treatment options and counseling that is needed.  

In order to standardize this topic and its metrics around the world, the Who Health Organization adopted the Body Mass Index (BMI) back in the early 1990s as the gold standard to use. This allows all countries to use the same data when comparing how one country does in comparison to others. This also allows a country to determine their own health metrics by region, state and/or county levels.

The BMI is not a perfect tool as it does not differentiate between body lean mass and body fat mass; that is, a person can have a high BMI but still have a very low fat mass and vice versa. For instance, think of your bodybuilder who is very buff and has minimal fat. They may have a BMI that labels them as ‘overweight’ but their physical exam negates that.

The BMI is used in conjunction with the rest of your health metrics to determine whether you are at risk for other disease processes. You and your clinician will need to review this information to determine what counseling or treatment plan is needed in your specific case.

There are many online calculators that you can use. As they are gender and age specific, use the one that is specific for you.  This value is going to be useful for the vast majority of us as we are not in top physical forms. This is your baseline as you proceed on your health journey.

 

Fatherhood Intentions

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Having a discussion with the men in our lives about fatherhood intentions are needed to balance out our discussion on preconception care. What?  Why do we have to talk about men?

You need two to tango so if you have a male partner on this journey with you, he needs to get in shape as well. Male reproductive health is hardly ever discussed but male factor infertility is the sole factor in roughly 1/3 of the cases.

As you can see from the infographic, men have many factors that can impact the health of their sperm. Is your partner taking care of themselves? Do any of these risk factors pertain to your partner?

Infertility is a very stressful ordeal for couples. Share this information with the man in your life so that both of you can prepare to be in the best physical and mental state when you decide to begin this journey.  His health and well-being is just as important as yours is.

Have fun trying!

So You Want To Have a Baby? Focus On Your Preconceptual Health Status.

 

preconceptual health information

We have a ‘Motherhood Monday’ request!  You all are getting very creative. One of our team members wants to get pregnant this year so she wanted a good website to get trusted preconceptual health information from. The March of Dimes has great information on how to prepare for this so be sure and visit our Resources Page for a link to this information.

Key things to remember:

    • The healthier you are before you conceive, the less risk factors you will have during your pregnancy..
    • Meet with your obstetrical clinician before you conceive so that you can review your and your partner’s personal and family history. There may be testing that needs to be done before you concieve or medication changes that need to be made.
    • Take a folic acid vitamin supplement of 400 micrograms each day to help prevent birth defects of the brain and spine in your baby. You can buy this vitamin over the counter.
    • Space your pregnancies out so that you have at least 18 months in between them.  This will allow your body to completely recover from the last pregnancy and then prepare for the next one.
    • Remember our discussion about BMI? You want to be as close to the normal weight range as possible before you get pregnant. This will help prevent many problems during your pregnancy such as diabetes and problems with your blood pressure.
    • Eat healthy foods and be active for 30 minutes every day.
    • Cut back or eliminate smoking, drinking or unprescribed drugs. If you have a substance use disorder, join a treatment program that is comfortable working with pregnant women so that your clinical team can work on a medication regimen that is safe to take while pregnant.

This is a good overall review for all of us as many of us are in positions where we have completed our families but we may be mentors to others who are just beginning their motherhood journey.  Things have changed over time so make sure your knowledge of the current preconceptual health recommendations are up to date!