PODCAST #1 and My Nutritional Story

Our first podcast is available for your listening pleasure (link at the end of this post). I spent some time last Saturday morning with Jessica McAllister (Registered Dietitian) discussing NUTRITION and her recently released e-book, Operation Nutrition: From Beginner to Boss (get your copy here.)

We did this in conjunction with National Nutrition Month.  Jessica also shares a lot of great tips on meal prep and ensuring balanced meals on her FB page.  I’m always watching the posts and saying, THAT’S A GOOD IDEA or I SHOULD TRY THAT, or I NEED TO DO THAT!  But what do I do?  Unfortunately, I fall back in my regular old routine.

My personal challenge with nutrition is making sure I eat ALL my meals, and that they are nutritionally balanced.  I have gotten into a bad habit of skipping lunch to WORK and this has to change.  I’ve been sick TWICE in the past 2 months – once with flu and then a severe cold.  The last round of antibiotics was a wake-up call that I need to make sure I take preventive measures, including increased Vitamin C and multivitamins.

When I was sick I lost my appetite, so I was DEFINITELY not getting in the appropriate amount of calories and nutrients.  I also felt really low in energy, which made my daily routine more difficult.  One thing I have learned is that although I push myself to the limit at times trying to stay on top of work, stay active singing with my group (traveling to MS), get Celebrate Sisters established, and have a fraction of a social life, my body will SHUT DOWN, regardless of my to-do list.  And when it says enough, we have no choice but to listen.

So my first step, as Jessica suggests in her podcast interview, is to really take a look at what I’m currently doing, and then set some goals.  Where do I begin?  I tend to enjoy a shake (homemade or from Smoothie King) for breakfast, but eat a light or invisible lunch, and then an OK dinner.  My sister has gotten on my case about taking supplements while I work on getting what I need from my natural diet.  One goal is to do meal prep (likely on Sundays) that includes healthy meals and snacks that help boost energy!  Another goal is to restock on vitamins – but I will work with my physician on this to make sure I get the ones I need and the right amounts!  I won’t lie and say I’m 100% on top of this, but since I’m telling ya’ll what I’m doing, I feel accountable.

My challenge to you is to make sure you really do take care of your body, which means to LISTEN to your body. We only get one.  Yes, I know they make prosthetics limbs and are working on creating artificial organs.  But if you ever had to replace a part in a car, you know that the car never runs the same once you’ve replaced a part.  It is unfortunate that it takes sickness, injury or other physical challenges to realize our body IS fragile and needs a lot of care and attention.

Thank goodness for folks like Jessica who help keep us motivated, informed, and on track when it comes to our nutrition and health!!!   I feel like this saying is a great way to end the post – YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT!!

Thanks for reading My Nutritional Story. Well, I hope you got something “nutritional” from it – even if just the link to Jessica’s FB page and podcast interview!  I’d love to hear from you about ways to keep a nutritionally balanced diet with an extremely busy lifestyle.  Please share in the comments!

#Balance #Goals #NutritionMatters

Ja’Wanda S. Grant

Click here to listen to the podcast interview with Jessica McAllister!