Our Staff Weighs in on Goals for the Fall

Now that it is officially a new season, what better time to set some new goals and reorganize from the laid back days of summer?  The staff here at the BRG Dietetics & Nutrition, P.C. are juggling being back in school, working, and volunteering which makes it more challenging to plan and prepare healthy meals and make time for exercise.  I thought it would inspire my readers to share with you some of our goals to staying healthy this fall.

I’ll start with my goals.  I am working really hard on getting more sleep.  I am truly a “night person” and do some of my best work at night.  However, getting enough sleep is just as important as practicing healthy eating habits and getting consistent exercise.  When we do not get enough sleep, our bodies experience an increase in a hormone called “ghrelin,” (the hunger hormone) which tells the body it’s hungry; and there is a decrease in “leptin,” the hormone that signals the body that it’s full.  If you are not tuned in to your internal hunger signals, you might misconstrue these feelings of hunger.  A lack of sleep can also cause a lack of clarity and maybe not performing your best in other areas of your life.  Therefore, I am setting my goal to catch some more Z’s this fall, so I can put all my energy into being the best I can be!

Harriet– This fall, I will commit to exercising at least four times a week.  I will learn to balance my time in school and make time to go to the gym.  My nutritional goals this fall include eating the recommended dietary intake of 5 fruits and vegetables a day.  I will try packing a banana and an apple every morning to bring with me to school.  When I get home from school and work, I plan to cook my own dinner and include my favorite vegetables such as broccoli, asparagus, cauliflower, and peppers.

Shelbi-This October I am running my second full marathon which means I am running about 25-30 miles a week for training. Continuing in January, I am participating in a challenge where I have to run a half marathon and a full marathon in the same weekend! Therefore my goal is to increase my weekly mileage to 35-40 miles a week to get ready for that January race. Honk if you see me running in a town near you!

Sofia– My nutritional goals for the Fall are to reap the benefits of fruits and vegetables in season. I plan on making my own pumpkin dessert without much added sugar for the holidays. As a healthy snack I plan to bake apples by taking the core out and placing it in the oven and then sprinkling it with a touch of cinnamon.  While in class, I will take advantage of eating small snacks throughout the day to keep my blood sugar stable throughout the day. I plan on staying hydrated throughout the day by storing filled bottled water in my book bag. I also plan on focusing on healthy ways to fill my appetite now that the weather is getting colder by experimenting with making my own hot chocolate from scratch with fresh cocoa and milk. Most importantly I plan on staying healthy this fall by visiting my local gym every chance that I get in order to get some cardio going and to start the day energized.

Carolyn- My biggest goals this fall are time management and remembering to have fun! With so much going on, I am planning to set specific time aside for myself. Not only is this important for me physically, it is also mentally important. While the amount of homework and studying I have each night varies, I am going to stick to getting as much sleep as possible and keep setting aside time to run or workout in the mornings so that my body and mind can wake up and help me stay calm throughout day ahead. I am also on a touch football team on the weekends which is a new activity for me! I figured what better way to have fun and stay active and try something new? Although things around you make get hectic, I truly believe doing something for yourself (especially healthy or active) is essential to staying positive and enjoying life!

What are some of your fall goals?  Please share.

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