Getting Healthy

Guest Blogger:  Carolyn from the fun blog, Full-On Fit, is guest-posting today:

Getting Healthy And Fighting Diabetes: My Family's New Year's Resolution

The New Year has arrived. Like most people, I set a New Year’s resolution. In the past, my New Year’s resolution was to simply do better than I did in the previous year at being as healthy as I could. However, this year I decided to get a little more specific.

November was American Diabetes Month – since my 13 year-old cousin was recently diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, this has taken on a whole new meaning to me. Since my cousin’s diagnosis, I have delved into research to understand more about this disease. I never knew someone her age could be diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, and was astonished at how many kids her age are actually affected by it. In fact, according to information from St. Joseph’s Hospital Cardiac Center, 1 in 3 kids are diagnosed as obese, with a strong majority of them also being diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes! It is because of this that my family and I have set a family New Year’s resolution to get healthy and create better habits to last a lifetime.

Prevention is Key
There is an old quote that says, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” I am a firm believer in that saying. The best way to treat a disease is to prevent it from occurring in the first place. That is why my family members and I are taking the steps that are necessary to get healthy.

Getting Active
To prevent diabetes, regular physical activity is very important. My family members and I have made it a goal to work out at least 30 minutes per day. We have been working out consistently, as a family, ever since my cousin was diagnosed back in November. My family members and I have discovered that exercise does not have to be something that we dread. There are a variety of ways that one can get moving. Some of the various activities we have done include:

             - swimming and playing Marco Polo at the local college pool

            - taking nature hikes in the woods

            - holding scavenger hunts and obstacle courses

            - playing big neighborhood games of soccer, kickball, capture-the-flag,

              volleyball, etc.

            - practicing yoga, Pilates and Zumba

            - incorporating the kids’ video games by playing with Wii Fit and Dance

              Dance Revolution

A Healthy Diet
My family members and I have also started making changes in our diet. Eating a healthy diet is another important factor when it comes to preventing Type 2 Diabetes. I do not believe in “dieting”, so my family members and me do not follow a specific diet. However, we have reduced our consumption of foods that are very high in fat and sugar. Fried foods, fatty meats, cookies, cakes and donuts are examples of foods that we are trying to avoid. We have also started drinking low fat milk instead of skim milk.

Additionally, my family members and I have started eating more fiber-rich foods. Fiber helps regulate digestion, and it can also reduce the risk of Type 2 Diabetes. Nutritionists recommend that everyone get between 25 and 30 grams of fiber per day. Dark green vegetables, brown rice, oatmeal and beans are some of the many foods that are high in fiber. Additionally, we like to eat meats that are low in fat, such as baked chicken, turkey, and salmon. Lastly, for desserts, the kids love getting non/low-fat frozen yogurt and adding fruit and nut toppings!

Carolyn is a 20-something year old with a passion for life, fitness and overall well-being. She is an avid cycler, golfer and has been known to bust some serious moves on the dance floor. Check out Carolyn’s blog at http://fullonfit.blogspot.com/!