Eat For You Dietitian

As we’re coming towards the end of February – the year is flying past with mixed weather but I think we’re all in agreement to enjoy the sunshine whilst in lasts.

I’m evaluating what I’ve achieved so far – professionally my dietetic practice has been re-shifted since undertaking the online course of Applying Intuitive Eating in Practice and making my way through the Just Eat It book by Laura Thomas PhD. The crazy thing is, is that it all makes perfect sense. The amount of evidence-based information on weight management studies proving that our NHS based weight management programmes and also paid programmes don’t work and lead to weight cycling all suggests that we are missing a key ingredient. Why do we need food plans to tell us what to eat, our bodies can guide us if we just listen. As I am in the early stages of my learning and whilst working in the NHS it is hard to put these principles into practice, however feedbacking to my colleagues I think we are all in agreement that for most of our weight management patients this approach is the way to go.

Looking back on my SMART goals achieved in January 2019 and still going strong now …

• Completed the 30-day Fiit Challenge – includes 4 x 25 minute classes per week – Since finishing this I’ve continue with regular yoga workouts, cardio and resistance band workouts x 3-4 per week
• Stop having lunch whilst working and keep up with my reading – this can’t be achieved every day but at least twice a week makes such a difference to my day and stress levels. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
• Long runs with LDN BRUNCH CLUB. Running motivation followed by my favourite meal of the day – BRUNCH. Being a member of a running club brings different experiences – firstly it’s good to know I can keep a conversation whilst running a good pace, commitment to the events and meeting people going through the same training journey as my usual friends don’t run at all

• Early morning runs before work per whilst listening to my favourite podcasts – Power Hour, A Happy Place, Don’t Salt My Game, Well Far, Running For Real, Katie Piper’s Extraordinary People, The Food Medic and The Doctor’s Kitchen. This is especially important as then I make sure I get the miles in first thing and I’ve found by the end of my working day I’ve forgotten that I did my run already.

Also in February, personal goals:

• 2 Personal bests achieved in running – 10k run at 57mins and Half marathon at 2hr02mins. I can’t wait to attempt a sub-2 half marathon at The Vitality Big Half on 10th March
• Signing up to new activities to meet new people – book club, Twice The Health group long runs starting in a few weeks
• Finally taking the leep and seeing a physio to make sure I stay injury free in my marathon training
• Keep the first hour and last hour of my day social media free. Although when I lack motivation at 5:30am sometimes I use social media to find that extra bit of motivation. I couldn’t recommend The Power Hour podcast more!

Is there anything you keep on thinking you want to start or change? Do you say ‘I’ll start next week’?

I think when we decide we want to start something new, we think we have to do it every day from the get-go and then after a week it becomes tiresome. Starting with 1 or 2 times a week or 5-10 minutes a day is still a step in the right direction. Most importantly make sure its something you enjoy and making you feel better.

There’s no point saying you’re going to read a book a week if that’s not realistic, maybe going for audio books is better for your schedule. Choose physical activity that you enjoy, not because it’s the trendy workouts. Several reasons why I enjoy running and home workouts to the gym, the primary one is because it works best for me (and my 3 dogs who are my running/workout buddies)