Author: AIPM

  • Survey Your Starting Point

    Healthylife® Weigh

    Part 1

    Man smiling.

    Complete the survey below by tracking it in your journal or using the “Print on Demand”. This survey looks at the “big picture” – your overall goals, current habits, strengths, weaknesses, support system, and other factors that influence behavior. Each question has a purpose. Complete all sections. This is one of many opportunities in this guide for self-discovery and reflection.

    Be honest with yourself. If you are working with a coach, answers to these questions may help your coach tailor the program to your needs. If you are using HealthyLife® Weigh on your own, the prompts throughout the guide will help you “coach” yourself!

    My Current Habits Survey

    Today’s Date:

    My Height:

    My Current Weight:

    Have you been told to lose weight for health reasons?

    Which medical conditions that apply to you:

    *   Diabetes

    *   Prediabetes

    *   High blood pressure

    *   High cholesterol

    *   Heart disease

    *   Heart attack

    *   Stroke

    *   Cancer

    *   Chronic back pain

    *   Arthritis

    *   Asthma

    *   Sleep apnea

    REMEMBER:The guidelines in HealthyLife® Weigh do not take the place of medical advice. If you are managing a chronic health condition or taking medication, it is important to let your doctor know of any changes you are making to your diet and exercise habits.

    Indicate how strongly you agree or disagree with the following statements. If how you feel varies, select how you feel on most days.

    *  My current weight puts me at higher risk for health problems.

    *  I know the benefits of a well-balanced diet.

    *  I know the benefits of making regular physical exercise a part of my daily lifestyle.

    *  I am confident in my ability to reach my physical activity goals.

    *  I am confident in my ability to improve my eating habits.

    *  I eat for emotional reasons (stress, boredom, joy, etc.) several times a week.

    *  Making changes to my health is a priority for me.

    *  Choices I make daily affect my health risks in the future.

    *  I am confident in my ability to improve how I manage stress.

    *  I have control over the direction my life is taking.

    *  It is not wise to plan too far ahead because many things turn out to be a matter of luck anyway.

    *  When I make plans or set goals, I am almost certain that I can make them work and achieve my goals.

    Identify the habits you have already adopted, those you are in the process of changing, and those you do not intend to change right now.

    *  Exercise five times per week for 30 minutes at a moderate intensity.*

    *  Take the stairs or park a little farther away.

    *  Eat five servings of fruits & vegetables daily.**

    *  Choose foods high in fiber (such as whole grains, oatmeal, beans, & lentils).

    *  Limit added sugars to fewer than 25 grams (6 tsp.) per day.

    *  Keep healthy food options in my kitchen and limit unhealthy options.

    *  Choose restaurants that offer healthy menu options.

    *  Moderate intensity exercise includes brisk walking, active gardening/yard work, or any  activity that raises your heart rate.

    **A serving of fruits and vegetables equals one small piece of fruit (about the size of a baseball), ½ cup cooked vegetables, or 1 cup of raw vegetables.

    Which cooking skills you feel confident doing:

    *  Cooking on the stove

    *  Cooking in the microwave

    *  Cooking in the oven

    *  Chopping vegetables

    *  Boiling water

    *  Opening a can

    *  Using the toaster

    *  Using a blender

    *  Using measuring utensils

    *  Following a recipe

    *  Using a food scale

    *  Using a toaster oven

    *  Cooking on the grill

    *  Freezing leftovers

    *  Modifying a recipe

    What cooking skills do you want to learn or improve? This guide gives some tips to prepare foods. For more recipes, tips, and demonstrations, consider taking a cooking class, watch videos online, or watch cooking shows on TV.

    What are your favorite ways to prepare food? In this guide, you will learn healthy ways to prepare foods. You don’t have to completely change how you like to prepare food. Often, a small step can make a big difference-and be just as convenient!

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Sweet Sips, A Healthier Way!

    Healthylife® Weigh

    Part 3

    Glasses of water with ice cubes that have berries frozen in them.

    Sugar-sweetened beverages can be a major source of added sugar. Cut back or eliminate these beverages from your everyday lifestyle. Save pop or soda for a once-in-a-while treat. As you reduce sugar in your diet, especially artificial sweeteners, you may find these drinks are too sweet for your new tastes!

    Make your own flavored water

    You can consume flavored beverages without added sugars AND get a few extra nutrients along the way! You will need:

    *  1-quart jars or a large pitcher

    *  Water

    *  Wooden spoon (or another long, sturdy spoon)

    Fruit and/or Fresh Herbs:

    You can start with just one cut-up fruit, but for a flavored water that will really pop, try combining at least two fruits or a fruit and an herb. Here are a few suggestions, but don’t be afraid to try your own combinations! For a single-serving, use less. For a whole pitcher, use more!

    Pineapple, Orange, & Ginger

    *  ½ cup cubed pineapple

    *  ½ an orange, sliced

    *  1 Tbsp. freshly-grated ginger

    Minty Cucumber Lime

    *  ½ a cucumber, sliced

    *  ½ a lime, sliced

    *  ¼ cup fresh mint leaves

    Orange and Blueberry

    *  1 Mandarin orange, broken into wedges

    *  Small handful of blueberries

    Strawberry, Lemon, & Basil

    *  ½ cup sliced strawberries

    *  ½ a lemon, sliced

    *  ¼ cup fresh basil leaves

    Watermelon Mint

    *  1 cup cubed watermelon

    *  ¼ cup fresh mint leaves

    Rosemary & Grapefruit

    *  ½ grapefruit (or ¼ grapefruit & ¼ orange)

    *  A few sprigs of rosemary

    Citrus with Cilantro or Mint

    *  2 large oranges, sliced

    *  1 lemon, sliced

    *  ½ large cucumber, sliced

    *  1 handful of fresh mint or cilantro

    Time to Build!

    1. Place the fruit, herbs, and any other ingredients in the bottom of a glass jar or pitcher. Or, using a wooden spoon, mash the ingredients to bring out the flavor. You can also scrunch the herbs in your hands before adding them to the jar. This helps bring out the flavor.

    2. Fill the jars with water and ice as desired. You can also add unsweetened carbonated/seltzer water if you are craving fizzy bubbles!

    3. The flavor will be more enhanced after the water sits for an hour. Or, refrigerate the water overnight. If you want to drink it right away, squeeze the fruit a little before you drop it in to help bring out the flavors faster.

    Other Sweet Beverage Ideas:

    Freeze ice cubes with fruit. Drop a few cubes of different colored fruits into a tall glass of cold water.

    Blend whole fruits in a smoothie with spinach, kale or other de-stemmed, leafy green vegetables.

    Diet or regular soda? Limit both.

    Most diet sodas contain artificial sweeteners. Studies have shown drinking diet soda is not any better at helping you manage your weight. Gradually cut back on soda.

    Even if you add a teaspoon of sugar to your coffee, this 4g of sugar is far less than the sugar found in the average soda. The average soda contains 39g of sugar in a 12-ounce can. In a 16-ounce bottle, a soda may contain 52g of sugar.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Tackle Limitations

    Healthylife® Weigh

    Part 5

    Couple enjoying a bike ride.

    Think of getting started like riding a bike. You feel the most resistance when you are stopped and trying to start pedaling. Once you get going, the going gets easier. What is stopping you from getting started? Which of the following apply:

    *  Mental Concerns (fears, doubt, low motivation)

    *  Lack of Skills/Knowledge

    *  Equipment/Physical Needs

    *  Other (time, people, etc.)

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Take Responsibility For Change

    Healthylife® Weigh

    Part 5

    Determined female jogging along road in the rain.

    Recognize your role in making changes. Other factors may have a role in your ability to do something. However, name something that IS in your power to change. Take control of your goals. Don’t wait for someone else to do it for you.

    Depending on someone or something else for change:

    *  I will meet my daily recommendation for vegetables when my kids start liking them more at meals.

    *  I will start a daily exercise routine when summer and warmer temperatures arrive.

    *  I will drink enough water every day when my office fixes the drinking fountain.

    Actively taking responsibility for change:

    *  I will meet my daily recommendation for vegetables when I swap my afternoon crackers for carrots and try a new vegetable at dinner each week.

    *  I will start a daily exercise routine when I set my alarm for an hour earlier and go for a brisk stroll in the morning before work.

    *  I will drink enough water every day when I fill up my water bottle one more time each day.

    Find a statement you wrote that doesn’t start with “I.” Re-write this statement to name something within your control.

    If you wait for perfect conditions, you’ll never get anything done.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • The Power Of A Phrase

    Healthylife® Weigh

    Part 4

    Mother and adult daughter having coffee together.

    Fill in the blank after the victim phrase with something you have caught yourself saying or feeling. In the third column, use an accountability phrase to re-write this statement.

    Victim Phrase

    *  I can’t…

    *  It’s useless…

    *  I have to…

    *  Why am I always the one who…

    *  I should…

    Drained Feeling

    *  Defeated

    *  Hopeless

    *  Obligated

    *  Burdened

    *  Guilt

    Accountability

    *  I can…

    *  There’s always a chance…

    *  I choose to…

    *  I’ll be the one who…

    *  I want to…

    In Control Feeling

    *  Confident

    *  Hopeful

    *  Decisive

    *  Secure

    *  Power

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Tips For Healthy Celebration

    Healthylife® Weigh

    Part 6

    Thanksgiving dinner and family eating at table.

    Happy times may also be triggers for overeating or making less healthy food choices. Holidays and other special occasions may also make it harder to fit in physical activity.

    Items that trip you up during a celebration:

    *  Drinks: soda, alcoholic beverages

    *  Foods: desserts, large helpings of “comfort foods”

    *  Gifts of candy, cookies, etc.

    *  Too many things to do and less time to prepare healthy meals

    *  Workplace parties and cookie exchanges

    *  More travel or a change of routine

    *  Events centered around large meals, or appetizers

    *  All-you-can-eat buffets on cruise ships or at resorts

    Approaches to Celebration

    There are many ways you can approach a celebration.

    1. Make choices that fit with your healthy eating goals. Choose this option most of the time.

    2. Make mostly healthy choices, but choose small treat foods. Choose small portions of these treats and eat them mindfully.

    3. Eat without restriction. Eat and drink what you would like without feeling guilty for choosing less healthy foods. Choose this option rarely and plan to make healthy choices the next day.

    If you have been making healthy choices for a while, you may notice your body’s negative response to certain unhealthy foods. Foods high in saturated fat seem to sit in your stomach longer and make you feel uncomfortable. Meals low in fiber may leave you constipated. Artificial sugars may give you a headache. Pay attention to this difference. It can help you choose less of these foods in the future.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Tips For Myplate

    Healthylife® Weigh

    Part 2

    Middle aged man in kitchen about to prepare food.

    This activity will go through each part of MyPlate.

    *  Learn how eating certain foods can help your body, energy level, and mood. Learn new ways to prepare foods.

    *  Enjoy foods that taste good to you. Eat new things that you want to try. Avoid eating foods just because you think you “should” eat them. Explore different ways to prepare and eat foods. Celebrate cultural traditions and foods that are special to you.

    *  Allow some room in your diet for less nutritious foods. Make this a small part of your diet. If you have too many less nutritious foods, it will be more difficult to manage weight.

    The chart on “Plan a Balanced Day” gives a whole day’s servings of different food groups. Write amounts from these groups from the plan you selected. Write them on a blank plate. Remember, these are totals for the day.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Tips For Rational Thinking

    Healthylife® Weigh

    Part 4

    Concept of women thinking with drawing of lightbulbs.

    Use these tips to decide if an alternate thought is helpful for problem-solving. You can allow your thoughts and actions to cause anxiety. Or, you can view them as part of everyday life choices that you can manage.

    1. Ask: Is your thought based on facts?

    2. Identify what you are trying to do. Know your purpose.

    3. Consider many different outcomes and their effects.

    4. View the situation from many perspectives.

    5. Don’t assume a situation will have the same outcome as it did in the past.

    6. Have good evidence for a generalization before you make it.

    7. Avoid assuming one event caused another just because they happened at the same time.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Track Your Daily Food Intake And Physical Activity

    Healthylife® Weigh

    Part 1

    Person using digital device to track fitness and calories.

    Use theHealthyLife® Weigh Eating & Exercise Tracker™throughout this program. It will help you monitor and better understand your habits.

    Before making changes to your eating and exercise habits, complete the Eating & Exercise Tracker™ for one week (7 days). Do the activities in Part 1 during this week while you are tracking your eating and exercise.

    Tracking Tips

    *  Log every day. This will keep your efforts at the front of your mind.

    *  Log before or after you eat. Logging before you eat can help you plan. This guide will talk more about meal planning in Part 3.

    *  Be honest with your portions and the extras you add to your food (e.g., sauces, dressings, cheese).

    *  Reflect on your mood and energy throughout the day. What you eat and drink can affect how you feel. And, how you feel can affect what you eat and drink.

    The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are.  – Author Unknown

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Types Of Physical Activity

    Healthylife® Weigh

    Part 5

    Group of people doing power exercise at fitness studio.

    All exercise helps with stress management, heart health, and weight management. The more intense the activity, the more calories you burn.

    Combine different forms of physical activity to get the most benefit. This guide breaks physical activity into three categories:

    1. Cardio Training

    2. Resistance Training

    3. Stretching & Rehabilitation

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine