March is National Nutrition Month – the perfect time to ponder your lifestyle and take steps to a healthier you! We turned to Brittany Logue, dietitian at The Woman’s Clinic, for advice on living healthy each day. Brittany’s job is to help women (and men) better their health through nutrition, no matter their stage in life. She says, “I meet with clients throughout each week to determine their needs. Whether it’s weight loss, weight gain, pregnancy or gestational diabetes, we work together to develop an individualized plan that works best for the client’s lifestyle at present!”
Why is nutrition so important for women? And for women who are pregnant, in particular?
“Nutrition and a healthy lifestyle are so very important for women for many reasons. An unhealthy diet can cause several issues including, but not limited to, lack of energy, poor sleep, GI upset, and weight gain. More severe issues include high blood pressure, diabetes, heart-related problems, cancer, and the list goes on.... A balanced diet can help prevent all of these problems. Women have so many responsibilities; we need our sleep and energy!!
A healthy diet for pregnant women is important because your diet is the main source of nutrients provided for your growing baby. We want to make sure the baby is receiving all the nutrients necessary for proper growth. We encourage a balanced, healthy diet with regular physical activity to promote a healthy pregnancy.”
How do you focus on teaching patients how to have a healthy, balanced lifestyle?
“First, I like to get to know my clients during our initial consultation. In order to help a client achieve a healthy and balanced lifestyle, it is important to determine what their everyday life looks like. I want to be sure that when we develop a plan, it will be realistic for the client. For women working toward weight loss, we have two great plans - Meal Plan and Ideal Protein. With meal plan, we use a 3-day food log to determine what the client is currently consuming. Then, we figure out where we need to make healthy substitutions. Ideal Protein is a more rigid plan, but provides fast results with an average weight loss of 2-4 pounds per week. We are limiting carbohydrates and fats, while providing protein to maintain the muscle mass. Through Ideal Protein, healthy habits are developed. Clients develop a taste for vegetables and water. They learn portion control and that those fun, slightly unhealthy foods can be incorporated into a healthy diet in moderation.”
Any memorable success stories you would like to share?
“Through my time at The Woman's Clinic, I have witnessed many incredible women reach their weight loss goals. I work each day with awesome women who continue to work incredibly hard to reach their goals. These women blow me away with their desire for a healthy lifestyle and determination to achieve their goals. Weight loss can be very difficult, especially in the south where our culture centers around food. Through our programs, our clients learn portion control and moderation. They also learn how certain foods make them feel - good or bad - great qualities women need when we are bombarded with food choices all of the time.
Our blogger, Ms. Becky, has been very successful with Ideal Protein. She has been on protocol for a little over one year and has lost a little over 90 pounds! Her current goal is to reach the 100-pound mark by Easter Sunday. Her determination and drive is incredible to witness. Although some weeks were a little more difficult than others, she finds ways to overcome her obstacles to continue her weight loss journey. You can find her story through our Healthy Me Blog of success stories.”
Thank you, Brittany, for sharing the incredible work happening everyday at The Woman’s Clinic! The Woman's Clinic has been providing quality care for women since 1950. They have a beautiful location in Jackson and a lovely office in Madison! Learn more about The Woman’s Clinic on their website here. Brittany says with awe, “Our clients are an inspiration to me. It's amazing to watch them work hard to reach their goals. Witnessing their experiences challenges me to better myself. They challenge me to better my nutrition and fitness goals because it can be tough even for us dietitians.”
Brittany and The Woman’s Clinic share five easy steps to a healthier you!
Why is nutrition so important for women? And for women who are pregnant, in particular?
“Nutrition and a healthy lifestyle are so very important for women for many reasons. An unhealthy diet can cause several issues including, but not limited to, lack of energy, poor sleep, GI upset, and weight gain. More severe issues include high blood pressure, diabetes, heart-related problems, cancer, and the list goes on.... A balanced diet can help prevent all of these problems. Women have so many responsibilities; we need our sleep and energy!!
A healthy diet for pregnant women is important because your diet is the main source of nutrients provided for your growing baby. We want to make sure the baby is receiving all the nutrients necessary for proper growth. We encourage a balanced, healthy diet with regular physical activity to promote a healthy pregnancy.”
How do you focus on teaching patients how to have a healthy, balanced lifestyle?
“First, I like to get to know my clients during our initial consultation. In order to help a client achieve a healthy and balanced lifestyle, it is important to determine what their everyday life looks like. I want to be sure that when we develop a plan, it will be realistic for the client. For women working toward weight loss, we have two great plans - Meal Plan and Ideal Protein. With meal plan, we use a 3-day food log to determine what the client is currently consuming. Then, we figure out where we need to make healthy substitutions. Ideal Protein is a more rigid plan, but provides fast results with an average weight loss of 2-4 pounds per week. We are limiting carbohydrates and fats, while providing protein to maintain the muscle mass. Through Ideal Protein, healthy habits are developed. Clients develop a taste for vegetables and water. They learn portion control and that those fun, slightly unhealthy foods can be incorporated into a healthy diet in moderation.”
Any memorable success stories you would like to share?
“Through my time at The Woman's Clinic, I have witnessed many incredible women reach their weight loss goals. I work each day with awesome women who continue to work incredibly hard to reach their goals. These women blow me away with their desire for a healthy lifestyle and determination to achieve their goals. Weight loss can be very difficult, especially in the south where our culture centers around food. Through our programs, our clients learn portion control and moderation. They also learn how certain foods make them feel - good or bad - great qualities women need when we are bombarded with food choices all of the time.
Our blogger, Ms. Becky, has been very successful with Ideal Protein. She has been on protocol for a little over one year and has lost a little over 90 pounds! Her current goal is to reach the 100-pound mark by Easter Sunday. Her determination and drive is incredible to witness. Although some weeks were a little more difficult than others, she finds ways to overcome her obstacles to continue her weight loss journey. You can find her story through our Healthy Me Blog of success stories.”
Thank you, Brittany, for sharing the incredible work happening everyday at The Woman’s Clinic! The Woman's Clinic has been providing quality care for women since 1950. They have a beautiful location in Jackson and a lovely office in Madison! Learn more about The Woman’s Clinic on their website here. Brittany says with awe, “Our clients are an inspiration to me. It's amazing to watch them work hard to reach their goals. Witnessing their experiences challenges me to better myself. They challenge me to better my nutrition and fitness goals because it can be tough even for us dietitians.”
Brittany and The Woman’s Clinic share five easy steps to a healthier you!
1) Portion Control – “You would be amazed at our distortion of portion sizes. Cut back on the amount of foods you consume and you will notice a difference in your health and weight.”
2) Increase Fruit and Vegetable Intake – “Strive for 2 cups of fruit and 3 cups of vegetables per day. Try to vary the colors of the fruits and veggies that you consume to allow for more nutrient consumption. If you don't like veggies, keep trying! Try different cooking styles and seasonings.”
3) Track Food Intake – “You would be surprised how much food we consume each day. By tracking your food intake, you will better understand where your problem areas are. Don't forget those sodas and little bites of treats you have throughout the day – they all add up! The ‘My Fitness Pal’ app is my favorite!”
4) Hydrate – “Get rid of those sodas (even diet sodas) and incorporate more water. I hear all of the time ‘I hate water,’ but the more you drink it, the more you develop a taste for it. Set your goal to drink at least 8 cups of water per day!”
5) Be active – “Incorporate some form of physical activity into your daily routine. Make it something you enjoy, so you will look forward to it each day. There are so many options out there - walking, running, swimming, spinning, yoga, working with a personal trainer, etc.!”
Photo of Brittany courtesy of The Woman's Clinic. A special thank you to Caitlyn Sullivan Photography for the beautiful photos from a farm in Livingston, Mississippi!
{Blog by Mitchell Walters}
2) Increase Fruit and Vegetable Intake – “Strive for 2 cups of fruit and 3 cups of vegetables per day. Try to vary the colors of the fruits and veggies that you consume to allow for more nutrient consumption. If you don't like veggies, keep trying! Try different cooking styles and seasonings.”
3) Track Food Intake – “You would be surprised how much food we consume each day. By tracking your food intake, you will better understand where your problem areas are. Don't forget those sodas and little bites of treats you have throughout the day – they all add up! The ‘My Fitness Pal’ app is my favorite!”
4) Hydrate – “Get rid of those sodas (even diet sodas) and incorporate more water. I hear all of the time ‘I hate water,’ but the more you drink it, the more you develop a taste for it. Set your goal to drink at least 8 cups of water per day!”
5) Be active – “Incorporate some form of physical activity into your daily routine. Make it something you enjoy, so you will look forward to it each day. There are so many options out there - walking, running, swimming, spinning, yoga, working with a personal trainer, etc.!”
Photo of Brittany courtesy of The Woman's Clinic. A special thank you to Caitlyn Sullivan Photography for the beautiful photos from a farm in Livingston, Mississippi!
{Blog by Mitchell Walters}
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