Does your New Year’s resolution include a healthier you?

10 tips for a healthier you:

1. Award your health priority  
2. Make a simple change to your eating pattern such as ‘Have breakfast every day’. Write it down under “MY HEALTH is my top priority” Once that is second nature make another change – list that underneath the first change
3. Create a regular eating pattern – have three meals per day. Avoid skipping meals to compensate for overindulging at that party the night before. Instead have a lighter meal not no meal
4. Practice mindful eating – Eating with intention and attention, one simple change could be ‘Eat your evening meal sitting down and NO screens on’. Involve your family 
5. Increase your activity, be active most days of the week. Walking the dog, biking, Zumba classes, backyard cricket. Anything you enjoy 
6. Ensure you have the facts, don’t be side tracked by myths
7. Eating out…Request sauces and dressings to be placed‘on the side’. You can enjoy the meal without adding a lot of extra energy on top.
8. Ramp up your fibre intake by choosinggrainy bread, brown rice (it’s delicious) and wholemeal flour in baking (I use ½ wholemeal and ½ white for most baking especiallyChristmas cake)
9. Enjoy Christmas and New Year parties – don’t miss the festivities but compensate for extra energy intake by extending your walk or being more careful about portion sizes
10. Alcohol – keep your intake in check by drinking sparkling water with lime/lemon juice after a glass of wine. Keep the situation under control by planning ahead – offer to be the driver so you don’t drink.

 Here’s looking forward to more positive messages about eating changes in 2016. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. 

Kevin O'Brien

Manager Special Projects, the Property Group

I started with Niki at Nutrition Care in September 2012 and have lost 20kg since that time (about 5 months). Niki has an ability to work around your personal traits and gradually change your lifestyle habits in a way that allows you to enjoy the things you have always enjoyed but to do so with moderation and an understanding of the impacts of poor diet.

I am now able to exercise as hard as I want and I am certainly reaping the benefits of being more active with my kids and more energy and drive at work.

Thanks to Niki I have gained a huge improvement in my quality of life and it isn’t over yet.

Celeste Duston

I have struggled with my weight for a long time, I have a family history of heart disease and diabetes and am fast approaching my 40th birthday and needed some help getting my weight on track. I have a 4 year old daughter and want to be healthy enough to be around to see her grow into a young woman.

My life is very busy, just like everyone else, I know how to eat healthy & make good food choices but found it hard putting my knowledge to practice on a day to day basis. When your rushed and hungry you just eat what you can right?

Then I met Niki.

Niki was non-judgemental, supportive and full of great advice to help me get my weight down. The best thing was that I did not have to dramatically change what I was already eating, just a few small changes saved me 500 calories a day! I dropped 7 kg quite easily & wasn’t hungry all the time. I look forward to continuing my weight loss journey with all the knowledge that Niki has provided me.

Sandra Clarke

Like most of us on New Years Eve, it was time to evaluate what my new years resolutions would be. On 1 January, I decided this year I would lose weight. I had spent the last two years comfort eating due to the sudden death of my son. I was over weight, depressed and unfit.

I returned from the beach, called all the weight loss organizations and asked them why would I use their organisation and how would their programme give me weight loss that would last for the rest of my life. They all had their relevant reasons.

When I called Nutrition Care and spoke to Cathy Khouri I was extremely impressed with what she said. Cathy was friendly, informative and left a lasting impression on me. (Cathy has now retired from private practice)

However like most New Years resolutions it took me six months to do anything about it. In June, my birthday month, my husband asked what I would like for the big occasion. A trip to Nutrition Care of course! This was a life-changing gift, which I am still enjoying to this day.

July 13th was my first appointment with Nutrition Care I will never forget the date. There was an initial one hour consultation which we discussed my general health and weight history, my life style, family situation and my general likes and dislikes of food. Cathy also considered my husbands nutritional requirements, which made cooking for us so much easier. I was weighed, measured and my BMI was assessed. Cathy gave me food and portion advice, recipes and got me recording daily food intake.

Initially I would visit weekly then fortnightly or monthly depending on my needs and the support I required. My weight reduced at steady rate, not large losses but enough to make a little bit of difference to your clothes each week. Enough to keep weight off permanently without the yoyo effect of some diets. It didn’t take long before people began to notice and within 4 months I had dropped from a size 16 – 14 to a comfortable 12. I also took up walking 3-5 days a week, which was encouraged by Cathy.

People began to comment that I looked healthier; my skin was nicer and they thought I looked younger. My hair, which was very grey, began to grow black healthy new growth – amazingly. I began to feel fitter and healthier than I had for years. After two years I have maintained my weight loss and my new eating regime is now just part of my life.

I found Cathy a very real person who was supportive at all times. She is firm when it is necessary to keep you on track but empathetic when the going gets tough. Her absolute passion for her profession and years of experience are obvious and her knowledge is invaluable. Cathy’s encouragement, handy tips, fabulous recipes and genuine caring attitude made the whole experience painless and pleasant.

‘Nutrition Care’ comes highly recommend by me, I believe if you are serious about losing weight and follow their advice, you will maintain your weight loss permanently and live a happy healthy life."