Share with us a little about yourself and your background.
I’ve been a registered dietitian for the past 4 years now and work for a local health department in their health and wellness program. I counsel individuals and families who want to not only lose weight, but get healthy. I love my job!
In July, I gave birth to my first child, Hannah. She is a total dream come true and we are enjoying our days together before I have to go back to work. Being a new mom is quite a challenge and has given me new insight for how to help fellow mom’s out there get back in shape after baby and feel good about their bodies. It’s tough to find time for yourself, especially if you don’t have a great partner to help out! Hopefully the more I get a hang of this new routine, the better I will be at helping others who are in the same boat!
Why did you decide to become a registered dietitian and what is your favorite part about being one?
Even though I struggled with weight for most of my teenage years, I always took interest in health and fitness. I was involved in sports like soccer, basketball, volleyball, track, and tennis, so my weight problem wasn’t due to lack of activity. My true weight issues spawned from my yo-yo dieting efforts, low self-esteem, and lack of nutritional knowledge. I ate out with friends a lot on weekends and binged on unhealthy foods like chips, soda, and cookies after-school (when I wasn’t trying to diet or when I was feeling poorly about myself).
After years of the scale going up and down with no real progress, I decided to pursue a career as a dietitian. From my first food and nutrition class, I learned just how crucial it was to fill my body with healthy foods in order to give it the nutrients it needed for optimal functioning. Although it took me years to finally get a good grip on increasing my self-esteem and overcoming a bout of exercise bulimia, if I hadn’t gone through those difficult times, I don’t think I would be as good of a dietitian. I feel that because I can truly relate to many of my clients, it is much easier to get them to open up to me about their own personal struggles. My favorite part about being a dietitian is sharing my passion for health and fitness and educating others on living a healthy lifestyle. It’s not just about weight-loss!
The most common problem I notice among women is emotional eating. As a former emotional eater, I know what a struggle it can be to use something other than food to comfort you. The best advice and help I can give is directing clients to another emotional release that does not involve food. For myself, my husband was that outlet. When I finally met my husband, I used him to fill my emotional voids versus turning to food. I tell women to confide in their partner, friend, sibling, etc., and really confront their emotions, instead of masking those emotions with food. When you finally come to terms with your emotions, it’s easier to let go of food.
What are 5 easy improvements women can make to their lifestyles that will help them become healthier?
1. Love yourself. When you love yourself, you will want to do good things for your body.
2. Eat fruits and veggies. Try to add at least 5 servings of fruits and veggies in to your day. It’s the best way to maximize nutrition and feel full for fewer calories.
3. Allow yourself all foods in moderation. The second a food becomes “off-limits” is the minute you crave said food. When you know you can have a cookie or French fries any time you please, the food becomes less tempting. Intuitive Eating is a book written by 2 dietitians and explains this concept in further detail.
4. Get a food journal. Without becoming obsessive, start to write all the foods you eat in a food journal (for at least a week). This will help you become much more aware of the foods you consume on a day to day basis. Usually a lack of fruits and veggies is the first thing people notice! Plus, it’s much harder to WRITE that you ate a whole bag of potato chips than it is to actually EAT them!
5. Exercise every day, but don’t kill yourself. Physical activity is something we all lack on a day to day basis. That’s why it is SO important to squeeze in small bouts of movement each and every day…but there’s no need to kill yourself! Go for a walk on your breaks, do 3, 10 minute cardio/strength sessions throughout the day, fidget, and just get up off your bum! It doesn’t take hours at the gym, it just takes a conscious effort to MOVE MORE!
What is the healthiest way to lose weight?
Avoid diet foods! You might lose weight initially but have you ever looked at the ingredients in those foods? Most diet foods are processed and filled with chemical additives. Instead, opt for REAL, WHOLE foods, listen to your hunger/fullness cues (eat when hungry, stop when satisfied), and exercise sensibly. Once you develop healthier habits, the rest will fall into place.
For more from Erin Coates, visit her blog, http://thehealthyapron.com/, and follow her on Facebook and Twitter!
