Confessions of a Dietitian: Flavored Workouts

halfmarathon2

Read this great post from my colleague, Tracy Northam, on her struggles with exercise.
I have a confession. I am a dietitian, and I am human.  It may shock some people that not all dietitians eat perfectly all of the time, have a BMI of 20, and do
squats while watching television in order to fight flab (although that’s not a bad idea).  Just because we are well-educated in nutrition and healthy lifestyles, does not mean we’re perfect.  We have internal battles all of the time to make the right decisions in order to make healthy choices just like anyone else.

I have another confession.  I am a dietitian who has to make my workout fun.  I won’t do it if it’s not, and I certainly won’t stick to it!  I am not someone who just loves to jump on a treadmill for 30 minutes, even though I always feel better afterwards.  It’s almost like I have to hide my workout in fun, so I’ll enjoy doing it.  Kind of like adding a flavor to children’s medicine – it’ll make them feel better, but the only way they’ll swallow it is if it tastes good! (Pic is of Tracy on the right doing Bear Crawls in bootcamp)

Here are some tips on how to use the flavor of FUN to hide your workout:
1. Workout with a friend.  Now, I need to specify the type of friend here because when I started running I chose a friend who was a physician.  I thought there wouldn’t be anything better than running with someone who knew CPR in case I needed resuscitation after the first quarter mile, but he was also a much faster runner than me.  I couldn’t keep up which was discouraging.  Also, it defeated the purpose because while he was able to carry on a conversation during a run, I was sputtering out syllables between air-hungry breaths!  Be sure to choose a workout buddy who has a similar fitness level as your own or similar fitness goals.  That way you stick with it and don’t get discouraged.  Unless you’re boxing – then choose an enemy and have at it!

2. Take on a fun persona when you workout!  I like to think I’m Rocky when I workout.  Would Tracy have the motivation it takes to run a half-marathon?  No, but Rocky would!!  I psyched myself up, then trained for and ran my first half-marathon last April, Eye of the Tiger Style!!!  Be careful with this one though.  By mile 12 of that half-marathon I wasn’t sure who I was and couldn’t find Adrian for the life of me, but I sure had fun!  YOU BET!  The thing to remember about half-marathons is the first 13 miles are nothing!  It’s that last 0.1 that gets you!

3. Create a competition with a friend.  I created a competition over the summer to motivate a friend from out-of-town to start working out more consistently.  We both had to workout for at least thirty minutes a day, five days a week between Memorial Day and Labor Day.  If he stuck to it he won steaks that I had to buy for him.  If I stuck to it I won an Edible Arrangement dipped in chocolate and peanut butter chocolate (please re-read the first paragraph) that he had to buy for me.  We kept in touch/trash talked during the weeks to try to psych each other out which became motivation to win.  Who won, you ask?  Well, again, I am not perfect and I faltered during my Birthday Week by not working out five days that week.  (READ THE FIRST PARAGRAPH AGAIN!)  In the end, he got his steaks, and I DID get my Edible Arrangement even though I was runner-up!  I’m not sure I would have been that good of a friend if he had lost!

4. Workout to music!  I like to listen to loud, angry, fast music mainly to drown out my loud breathing and my whimpers as I torture myself.  My two favorite songs are “Remember the Name” by Fort Minor and “Waka Waka” by Shakira.  I love hearing new songs on Pandora or internet radio to workout, so I can add
some variety to my workout.  Anything to keep me going! (Pic is of Tracy sharing headphones with running partner Erin so she can hear Eye of the Tiger)

5. Find quotes to motivate you!  Did Winston Churchill say, “Never, never, never give up,” in order to get me to finish my bear crawls in a Boot Camp class?  No, but that is what I tell myself to get through it!  In my free time I surf the internet to find new inspirational or motivating quotes to chant to myself like a mantra on those days when my workout is not so fun.

I have one last confession.  I am a dietitian and in writing this I realized I don’t workout, I have FUN!!!!

I’d like to thank Tracy Northam, RD, LD, for writing this article. Tracy has been a neonatal dietitian at Kosair Children’s Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky for almost six years. Previously, Tracy worked as a clinical dietitian specializing in Pediatrics at New-York Presbyterian Hospital. Tracy has a Bachelor of Science degree in Dietetics from Indiana University and will complete the Master of Science in Business Communication program at Spalding University in June. In her free time, when she is not studying, training for races or doing bear crawls on the floor, Tracy has been known to enjoy a good Happy Hour! Tracy can be contacted at tnortham@yahoo.com.

 

 

RELATED POSTS

Sorry, we couldn't find any posts. Please try a different search.

MEET MARTHA

I especially love problem-solving, whether it’s helping women defeat issues plaguing them for years, helping a busy executive find practical ways to get heart healthy, or providing tips to help you reverse diabetes. That’s why I’m on a constant quest to expand my knowledge by staying on top of the latest research.

  • Martha's Nutrition Page

    Looking for up to date information on nutrition?  Follow my nutrition page!

  • PCOS Nutrition

    Interested in the latest PCOS nutrition news?  Follow my PCOS page!

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • Pinterest

Leave a Comment





sushiandsticks

20 Ways To Eat Out 550 Calories or Less!

No time to cook? We’ve got you covered. Here are 20 healthy meals from a variety of cuisines that won’t pack on the pounds. Most of them also have less than 30 grams of carbs.

Subscribe to my newsletter and get this free download.

Something went wrong. Please check your entries and try again.