It's National Nutrition Month!

It's already the middle of March and I can't believe it's taken me this long to announce:

It's National Nutrition Month

So, what are you doing to enchance your nutrition choices?

Have you kicked things up a notch?

Here's a few nutritional thoughts to keep in mind:

1 - Lifestyle- quit the yo-yo effect and leave the "diet" at the door, if you want to make some changes, then do them, what are you waiting for? Keep focused on the betterment of your health and make healthier choices everyday.

2 - Leave the processed goods at the grocery store - there are times when it seems easier and convenient to grab the pre-packaged easy food. Make sure your everyday choices involve whole food choices and if you're going to go with the pre-packaged stuff, do so on rare occasion only and know what you are feeding your body

3 - Keep  things simple, real live whole foods are that, simple. White sugar and white processed flour,  are all processed, refined, chemically altered and not dealt with well by our bodies. There are better choices out there, choose whole foods, whole grains and natural sugars on occasion.

4 - Do not deprive yourself - moderation is always the key - why deprive and over indulge later and then feel guilty and then totally abandon all healthy changes you've made? Reallly, its a vicious cycle, so moderation is key.

5 - Keep active - burn off some calories and have fun doing so. Go out and enjoy this bonus warm sunny weather we are having. Break out the runners, the bikes, the soccer balls and soak up that Vitamin D as well. I've been breaking out the spring wear and sandals and loving the sunshine.

6 - Set an example for others, be a healthy role model and seek advice, encouragement and support when needed. No one is perfect but be sure you remain accountable for your actions - if you can't be true to yourself then be accountable to someone else to help keep on track.

Please keep in mind, eating "sugar free", "fat free", "low fat" and filling up on processed cardboard boxed food, wrapped in colorful boxes, toting the above descriptions does not mean its nutrititious. Don't be "healthwashed" by marketing ploys and fall for their deceptive ways. Know what you are putting in your mouth.

Remember, not all fat is created equal, not all sugars are created equal, not all grains are created equal, really not all foods are created equal. Staying health conscious and making informed choices goes a long long way to the betterment of your health for today and your health for future years to come.

A few tidbits to keep in mind and to give you to ponder on this beautiful first day of spring.

Why I chose to study nutrition?

There are a few reasons why I decided to pursue the study of nutrition. First and foremost was the fact that our daughter was always sick as an infant and toddler, secondly I wanted to make healthier choices for myself and family and wasn't content with all that I had learned along my weight loss journey.

Our daughter had numerous illnesses from day one, which could not be explained by the number of doctors, specialist or tests that she went through. It's certainly not that she was deathly ill or anything, but she was constantly sick. Over production of mucus caused most of the issues. Her eyes were always blocked, her sinuses were always full, she did not sleep and she constantly threw up this terrible mucus. We eventually tried the naturopath route, which still did not "fix" the problems, however opened our eyes to a new world of information. Over the past few years she has been growing out of the illness, exactly what the root cause of it all has never actually been found, however we have all learned from the experience and are healthier for it.

My studies so far, have consisted of  the Holistic Lifestyle Coach Level 1 course through the Chek Institute and The Edison Institute of Nutrition where I recently received a certificate in Applied Holistic Nutrition. I am currently working on the next module through Edison,working towards the Diploma in Holistic Nutrition. I chose Edison because it was offered through correspondence and it had an introductory program that I could complete before deciding to continue on in the program.

What I am learning throughout my courses is that the information is ever changing and expanding, there are different view points, different concepts work for different people and none of these viewpoints are wrong, just applying similar principles in a different fashion or from a different perspective.

Studying nutrition has taught me to be open to the bigger picture and to be aware that the picture often changes so you need to check back often. We are each uniquely different, I find that the more knowledge I gain,  the more my viewpoints change. Just because something is working for me right now does not guarantee that I will not follow another path in the future. And just because something has worked for me in the past, it does not mean that the same thing will work for someone else or that it will continue to work for me in the future.

Don't ever be afraid to test out a new path, and don't worry if no one wants to follow. We all have to get through this crazy life somehow and sometimes we have to create our own path to get there.

So, on with my studies I go, what I plan to pursue with a diploma and designation in hand is yet to be determined, however leaves the door open for new possibilities and adventures!