Working for Wellness: the Mindset for Healthy Change in Diet & Exercise

June 13, 2013

Kristal Cheshire likes to say she did it backwards when it comes to diet and exercise. While many people change what they eat then integrate a workout, Kristal was excited about the fitness training and then realized her diet was one key to success in pursuing distance running. She sought out a dietitian’s guidance after she took the exercise plunge through a 5K in 10 Weeks training challenge at her workplace. In January, she set her goal—and though she is not there yet, her efforts can only be described as successful.

From the start, Kristal seriously pursued exercise, using a phone app recommended to her by Providence registered dietitian, Kay MacInnis, R.D., L.D., to log her workouts, and then expanding the diary function to log her food.

Accountability was the key to success, she says. Her husband decided to join her in this fitness challenge, and she checked in regularly every two to three weeks with her dietitian. The lifestyle change has made an undeniable difference—not only in the way she looks but also in the way she feels.

Nearly 45 pounds later, Kristal describes the positive feelings from her lifestyle changes as motivation to keep going toward her ultimate weight loss goal because she feels good inside and out. She is excited that she needs new clothes, the old ones are too big and she says she takes more care with all aspects of her appearance, including doing her hair every day now. When asked, she says knows why the changes worked for her.

Being mentally ready. You have to be ready and then it’s just easier; once you get momentum it gets faster and faster… the more you feel better the more you want to do.

Dieting can be as powerful as a prescription drug, and consulting your doctor and a dietitian will help you pick the right foods to help you pursue a path to complete health, not just weight loss.

What Diet is Right for Me?
The choice to change what you eat and how you work out is a serious one, but when you are mentally ready like Kristal, there are plenty of resources to help.

MacInnis cautions to steer clear of fad diets. There are many popular diets people are buzzing about that include dramatic shifts in what you eat. And although they are not necessarily unhealthy or bad for you, they simply might not be the right choice for your unique needs. One diet that continues to gain popularity is the Gluten Free diet, which is a diet answer primarily for people with very specific health challenges including the autoimmune conditions celiac sprue and non-celiac gluten sensitivity, which cause symptoms similar to lactose intolerance. If left untreated, they can cause inflammation in the small intestine and severe health complications.

I am motivated today, how do I make a change?
MacInnis says that journaling helps. Like the patients she advises, she has a user-friendly app on her phone to help track her own diet and exercise. It helps you look back yourself and figure out where you need to modify your behavior, MacInnis says.

The best advice you can get for diet changes, though, is always from your doctor and a certified dietitian. Contact Kay MacInnis today and ask about Dietitian on Demand, a special program offered through Providence Hospitals Health & Wellness department. MacInnis is on call for your diet questions and consultation via email at [email protected] or by calling 803-608-9396.

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