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“People are so worried about what they eat between Christmas and the New Year, but they really should be worried about what they eat between the New Year and Christmas.” ~Author Unknown
Now that the Holiday’s have come and gone, most of us have run out of excuses to eat unhealthy. We’re now having to struggle to get back on track. You may have made a New Year’s Resolution that involves more exercise or eating healthier foods. Or you may have a goal to get back to your ’skinny’ jeans. Either way, we become so caught up on what we eat during those few weeks between Thanksgiving and the New Year that we don’t keep focus throughout the year.
What if we placed the same importance and priority that these three to four weeks hold all year long? We might just stay on our routines to make our Resolutions last the whole New Year!
January 22nd, 2008
The Hilton Head Healthy Weight Loss Spa announced the appointment of Beth Leermakers, Ph.D., CLC as Wellness Counselor. Dr. Leermakers’ will be responsible for facilitation of presentations and small group discussions on stress management, goal setting, realistic thinking and life transitions. She will also provide Lifestyle Coaching and Individual Consultations.
About Dr. Leermakers
Dr. Leermakers holds a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Florida, preceded by a B.S. in Psychology from Duke University. She is a certified Lifestyle Counselor in Weight Management and Stress Management. With over 15 years of experience in the cognitive-behavioral treatment of obesity through notable practice with the Cooper Institute and the LEARN Institute for Lifestyle Management, Beth specializes in motivating individuals to change behaviors, thoughts and feelings that affect eating and exercise.
In commenting on Dr. Leermakers joining the Health Institute, Jessica Lynn, Director of Program Development states, “Beth brings characteristics of warmth, professionalism, calmness, and a wealth of knowledge with her. With all the experience Beth has had with weight management, stress management, and lifestyle management, it seems to me that it was only a matter of time before her path would coincide with the Hilton Head Health Institute - we are glad to see that time has come. We are very excited to have her as part of our team.”
January 14th, 2008
The National Women’s Health Resource Center (NWHRC) recently published its annual Women Talk Survey. Bottom line: women are well aware of the value of the Healthy Lifestyle but many do not have the time, knowledge or habits to lead a healthy life.
Conducted in April 2007 with interviews of over 1100 women, the Women Talk Survey found that women believe that taking care of themselves is their number 1 priority. They understand they need to be fit and healthy in order to provide care to their loved ones. Older women were more likely to emphasize the importance of maintaining lifestyle and independence, while younger women focused on being fit and looking good.
Most of the women recognize barriers to acting out the habits of health. The majority of women set goals for themselves, but were having trouble achieving them. For example, 61% of the respondents cited losing weight as a goal, but only 24% had achieved it.
You can read more on the survey or find the link to the NWHRC at PRNewswire.
November 6th, 2007
Summer brings fun, friends and of course, family get-togethers! Although backyard barbecues can be a challenge to your healthy lifestyle, it’s possible to enjoy yourself and stay on track.
As always, watch your portions. Keep it down to only one hot dog or hamburger and try losing the bun or replacing it with a whole-wheat version. Watch the soda and beer intake, those kinds of “empty” calories can add up quickly.
Of course, there are usually healthy options to be found out by the barbecue as well. Add some chicken and fish to the usual selection of steaks and burgers. Grilled veggies have a great smoky flavor and are good for you too. Corn on the cob (skip the butter) is a favorite summertime treat. And don’t forget the summer’s bounty of fresh fruit. Who doesn’t love a cool slice of watermelon on a hot summer’s day?
To help get you started off on the right foot, here’s a great healthy recipe for the grill that is packed with flavor without all the fat. Stay cool!
Grilled Teriyaki Chicken Sandwich
Four 4-oz boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
1/4 cup mirin (rice wine vinegar)
2 tablespoons sugar
Four 100% whole wheat buns
Green leaf lettuce
Four 1/2- inch thick tomato slices
Preheat grill. Make sure grill is clean and hot before starting.
Mix soy sauce, mirin, and sugar in a small saucepan. Cook on low heat until sugar is completely dissolved. Set teriyaki mix aside.
Place chicken breasts on grill. Cook for 3 minutes and then turn over and cook for an additional 3 minutes. Repeat process, grilling a crisscross pattern into the chicken (6 minutes per side, 12 minutes total).
Before taking chicken off grill, brush teriyaki sauce over both sides.
Serve hot on a whole-wheat bun with lettuce and tomato.
Number of Servings: 4
Serving Size: 1 sandwich
Calories per Serving: 310
Fat Grams per Serving: 4
August 15th, 2007
While the life expectancy and overall health of Americans has improved in recent years, the burden of illness and death in African American communities remains disproportionately high. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, overweight and obesity are higher among racial and ethnic minority populations and contribute to the myriad health challenges faced by these community members. Among minority groups, African American women have the highest prevalence of overweight (78 percent) and obesity (51 percent). These women are disproportionately affected by some of the most devastating health problems including heart disease, depression, hypertension, and various cancers. Obesity-related health conditions place a significant burden on the individual, the family, the community and society at large.
That being said, we at Hilton Head Health Institute are proud to join the BET Foundation, General Mills, and Honey Nut Cheerios to sponsor the “A Healthy BET Fitness Challenge.” We hope to give the Challenge participants a healthy start to the rest of their lives. There are small changes we can all make in our daily lives to reduce risk factors for deadly diseases. Not only do we need to live healthy for ourselves, we need to be examples for generations to come.
What can you do today to improve your life tomorrow?
February 11th, 2007
Berkeley Wellness Newsletter has just posted a useful article about high density lipoprotein (HDL–the good cholesterol). We’ve known it was a good thing for a long time; recent research suggests its role is even more extensive in beneficial ways than we thought.
It seems that HDL has an anti-inflammatory, anti-clotting action, and helps blood vessels stay young and flexible. It is also an anti-oxidant. The article suggests this health helper may be even more important than lowering total cholesterol. So drug companies are moving away from a focus on lowering LDL (statins) and researching drugs that can boost HDL.
Also, look for a surge of claims about raising HDL in over the counter medications and be skeptical. The newsletter’s prescription is the H3I Healthy Lifestyle: exercise, good nutrition, non-smoking, moderation in alcohol intake–you know the drill.
February 6th, 2007
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