Lisa Beck
Assistant Lecturer of the Dept of Nutrition & Health Science
My motivation primarily comes from wanting to feel better, move easier in my daily routine, and to be a healthier role model for my students, friends, and family
I had always preferred exercising in the afternoon, but I found there were too many meetings and other “important excuses” that would pop up during the day and prevent me from getting to the gym. So one positive change I have made was prioritizing fitness, even with my busy schedule. This required moving my workouts to first thing in the morning before the day’s schedule got in my way. Although this took some getting used to, I can’t imagine starting my day any other way. I have more energy throughout the day, am calmer and more patient, and feel like I have accomplished something healthy right out of the gate each morning.
A second important change was improving what I ate. Meeting with the dietitian, through Working Well, was tremendously valuable because I did the BMR breathing test, did my Body composition, and received sound advice to help me. Setting up monthly check-in appointments has also helped me stay accountable. When my weight loss plateaued, it was the dietitian who provided great suggestions to get me headed back in the right direction. Using food tracking apps such MyFitnessPal or Cronometer are part of my daily routine. I strive to be honest with my calories (even when I splurge) so I can be more mindful of the consequences. Since September 2017, I have lost 80 pounds, am down 7 pants sizes, and feel amazing!
A healthy tip that I have is believing you can do it and making one little change at a time. Packing a snack bag of baby carrots, drinking an extra bottle of water, or taking a 5-minute walk before work can be a step in the right direction. Another tip is to practice mindfulness and be present in what you are doing. Lowering stress and getting rid of the guilt and negativity is definitely beneficial to all domains of your health. The last tip I have is to find a physical activity that you enjoy so that it feels more like a reward that you get to do rather than a nightmare you have to endure! I’m a BIG fan of using the resources we have through Working Well. Using the vouchers for either a membership to the Rec or for a RecFit pass is a great start.