Apparently I’m in the business of protecting kidneys:  adequate fluids, limiting my sodium intake by consuming minimal amounts of processed foods, eating adequate protein but not excessive amounts and controlling my weight.  But right now I’ve got a little more cushion protecting my kidneys than I desire.  And believe me, I am not happy about it. 

Seems this maintenance phase is giving me some trouble, especially when I fall out of my exercise routine.  My solution to this ridiculous downhill slide?  Hook up with a friend who is also a dietitian to trim up before winter.  We weighed in, did waist and hip measurements and took our first step in the right direction last week Wednesday!   So far 80-90% of the time I’m making exceptional food choices with a little room for cheating.  And exercise?  A must have in this girl’s weight management plan!  My other must have?  My Ultimate Protein Shake – 1 1/2 scoops mixed in water for my breakfast and another for lunch with 2 cups of spinach or other vegetable, then a dinner with lean protein, veg, fruit and dairy.  http://yourdietdesigner.com/proteinpowder/

All this together’s going to banish this kidney protection!  My preference for kidney health?  Proper diet and exercise habits, instead of additional fat accumulation.  So look out waist inches, you are on the way out!

Are you looking to jump in this fall season with some lifestyle changes but not sure where to start?  How do you go about making these changes stick?  My biggest recommendation are those baby steps!  Don’t think the weight will come off overnight or that all of a sudden you will be eating only healthy foods or that you will exercise an hour every day.  This might not be where you are headed and that’s ok.

Instead, think of what things you are willing to change and start there first.  Find those support people that you can lean on.  If you want to have my help on this journey, I will be starting another class for my online weight management program in October.  To get on the list contact me at  nikki@yourdietdesigner.com.

Until then check out the link as I tell you more about getting started.  

 http://www.ksfy.com/global/category.asp?c=185294&clipId=5118597&autostart=true

Research continues to confirm that excess weight increases your risk of breast cancer and other diseases.  Are you carrying more around than you would like?  Do you have the dreaded ring around the middle?  I may just have the answer for you, if you are up to the challenge.

As some of you know…I have been on this dedicated journey of self-improvement the last 7 weeks.  I’ve buckled down and turned into a faithful exerciser - a huge step for me!  I had the diet part nailed, with 80-90% of the time eating healthy and allowing the other 10% for treats.  However, I felt I needed to do more – which is where my exercise came in. 

Now, at the 7th week of my 12 week journey to better health, the path has been marked with ups and downs, where some of life’s obligations got me off track.  Typical of the real world.  

Your chance to join me in a 12 week Weight Management/Healthy Lifestyle course is right now.  An opportunity to get professional coaching and benefit from my experience with people attempting to do the same thing – improve their health.  All this while offering the weekly message we all need to keep us focused and encouraged.   

Your cost:  None to you, my initial group.

You may choose throughout the program to order products that I have found to be most helpful on this journey.  Some of which has led to my success in bringing me from 5′9″ and 159 pounds to a lean 142 pounds, taking 8 inches total from my waist and hips and bringing me from the average size 10/12 to a size 6/8! No weight loss drugs or miracle supplements promising to make this easier – just healthy ideas for good results.

I want you to realize the same success I have had.  You are worth it – sometimes it just takes time to realize it.  Remember, this isn’t easy.  It involves a significant commitment and the willingness to work through and make the changes suggested.   But it is much easier if you have someone to lean on or a group of friends to take the challenge with you.

Start Date: Early May

To get yourself or a group of your friends involved in this challenge, send me an email at nikki@yourdietdesigner.com.  Can’t wait to see what the next few months will be about for all of us!

Spring is here, which leads to summers of shorts and tank tops.  I won’t even mention the other traditional pool outfits that can bring a girl to tears.  So let’s get a jump on it.  Lower your risk of disease, improve your health and feel good!  Join me, Your Diet Designer, as we take control and face this head on.  All genders welcome.  This isn’t just about fighting breast cancer, it’s about taking charge of your life!

This past week I came across a link looking at the Top 10 Best-Selling Grocery Items, which is always intriguing to me.  In one of my favorite books by Patrick Quillin, he referenced the top 10 from a few years ago.  

From then on I am hooked and very curious.  Aren’t you curious to see what the best-selling grocery store items are?   

Well, take a look and find out. 

After looking over the list, review your Top 10  foods on your grocery list.  Are there certain things that you get all the time that you need to get less often?  Buying more whole foods I hope – things that are not so processed?  If not, take this opportunity to change it.

Make your Top 10 – a disease-fighting Top 10!

http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/features_julieshealthclub/2009/10/the-top-10-bestselling-grocery-items.html

Look around you…not just right now but what you have been around throughout your day or week.  What is your stress level, are you anxious?  On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the best…where are you at with your nutrition?  Are you getting any exercise?

These are important questions to ask yourself.  It has been shown that our environment and lifestyle choices greatly affect our risk of getting breast cancer and recurrence.  Therefore it is essential to look at your environment and decide what you can change or what you must change.  By adding in exercise, achieving a healthy weight and consuming a less processed diet you can significantly lower your risk of this disease coming into your life. 

I look forward to helping you achieve a better sense of wellness to improve your life!

Processed foods.  The unfortunate side to most of our days that can mess up our attempts at good health and nutrition.  As we try to ”keep up” with our day to day routines, it seems that choosing processed foods becomes our regular choice.  This will continue to threaten our health until we really get a grip on it.  Remember, the choice is yours.  Adding weight, increased cancer risk, more inflammation, increased heart disease risk, more fatigue and the list of problems goes on and on.  Processed foods rob us of essential vitamins and minerals, that protect us from illness.  I challenge you to take a look in your pantry, fridge, desk drawer, kid’s lunchbox, snack drawer and make some decisions about how you can un-process your diet.

So as this new journey continues, I find myself succeeding.  Finally!  This dream of getting more information out to people who find themselves concerned over their future either as breast cancer patients or as people who want to prevent cancer, manage weight and work through nutrition concerns.  And this new blog journey will hopefully find its way to the people who need support and encouragement.  But also a way to look completely at their treatment so they are able to use the power of nutrition with traditional medicine to help in this battle. 

When starting this journey, I knew that breast cancer was my focus however I did not want to miss others who are looking for a nutrition resource.  Remembering that all the steps we take to move towards better nutrition improves our health whether we are looking at weight loss, cancer protection or other health protection. 

So use this to your advantage.  I am hopeful that you will learn more and identify ways in your life to improve your health and sense of wellness.  Also while realizing that I am a real person with real nutrition struggles just like everyone else. 

I look forward to great things with this new adventure of helping you customize your style of nutrition.