Eat For You Dietitian

I regularly find that clients I speak to will measure their outcomes solely based on their weight, despite the previously agreed goals and action plan pretty much all being achieved since the last time I’ve spoken to them. This can be several weeks or even months but if they don’t see a change in the number on the scale they will answer to me, when I asked them how have they been getting on? ‘oh not much is changed.’

As an NHS dietician practising in the UK we still need to collect and diplomatic data as part of our assessment which includes weight height and body mass index. However this may not be appropriate for everyone during our assessment and I strongly believe that if someone declines or if their medical history suggest that it isn’t appropriate for them to be aware of their weight then I will exclude this from my assessment and justify the reason. However for still the majority this is the information that we collect and I can see why my clients may then feel their total outcome maybe for intentional weight loss despite the majority of the dietetic consultation to be based on specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, timely, but otherwise known as smart goals based on overall dietary and lifestyle changes that can be sustainable in the long term not just short.

I had one lady say to me that she hasn’t really focused on her overall health since our last consultation which I found an interesting statement to make. This is what made me think that society makes us feel that we need to be on the latest health trend or exercising every day in order for us to show that we are looking after our health. 

Let’s get back to the baseline of simple ways that can be done as part of a habit however it’s not always someone’s habit so sometimes we try and include these that they can be a regular habit but that doesn’t have to cost anything extra and can be achieved regularly, that doesn’t mean it has to be every day, but the majority of the time. 

1. Drink enough water. I’m pretty sure I write about this regularly because I think we are very lucky to be able to turn on the tap and have clean water. It’s usually the last thing I do and the first thing I do every day, mainly because I can feel that I am thirsty. At least 2 litres every day.
2. Move outside every day. Whether it’s a short walk or even a step outside your door. Stop and observe with no distraction.
3. Do an activity that you enjoy. This can be to support yourself physically or mentally such as your favourite workout/exercise or something completely different.
4. Choose an extra portion of fruit and vegetables to include as your snack or with your meal. This can be fresh, frozen, tinned or dried. All count towards one of your 5 a day. This can be your only portion of the day or your 6th.

Recent events have made me consider how I manage time for me, alone, and also how the people I care about find time for themselves. Do other people let them have this time to themselves? Sometimes people pleasers are too busy thinking of others that they ignore this. Maybe if someone is demanding of your time, it’s even more important to stay away. I am in a happy relationship with my fiance and we both understand that we need our time too, equally as important as time together. Even more important before you commit to a relationship is that you are content in being in your own space, alone with your thoughts and comfortable with that because you don’t want to be expecting someone else to fill your thoughts and invade your space uncomfortably. 

I’ve previously written about how we can feel present and how often we are ‘on the go’ or have background noise whilst we scroll on our phones that it can be difficult to find this. Someone asked me this week, what have I done for myself, as they could see I was quite stressed and we had a chat as to why I was stressed. It was a question I’ve never been asked before. Have you asked anyone that before?

I have incorporated regular yoga practice as my time, however I also realise that it’s not just stretching, sometimes I find it quite an intense strength workout so I will choose to focus on breathing instead. The instructor in my virtual yoga class won’t know and anyways it’s up to me. It’s not all about touching your toes in case anyone’s wondering. Daily practices for me include my skincare regimen, dog walks without any music/podcasts, although listening to a podcast or audio book is escapism into someone else’s thoughts for a while, writing (although that’s not daily but I have been trying to keep a journal). Sometimes I just end up writing my thoughts to think clearly. Lastly, running is my time. I completed my first pacing experience on Sunday 1st August 2021 as the 2hours 50minutes pacer for London Landmarks Half Marathon. It was the best experience as I ran with a great girl. Before this day, the weekend before I had run just under 18km to make sure I could still run longer distances. I had run to my local parkrun then back home, at my own pace running and walking the whole way. Before I used to have this pressure that if I was going for a run then I could not walk. I would have to stop my garmin watch if I was going to walk as it would slow down my average pace. Who am I comparing to? 

Preparation for pacing the LLHM and completing the LLHM has brought back the love of running for me alone, without thinking about pace because a certain pace does not make you a runner. Running at any pace makes you a runner. 

So let’s find our own white space. Don’t be afraid to ask for it. If you are, then maybe you need it the most.