Episoder
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Episode Outline/Takeaways
There are three distinct types of personalities when it comes to being healthy. Those who like to take baby steps towards achieving their goals, those who are all or nothing, and those who think they are in one camp but are actually in the other.
Tips for those who like baby steps (still useful for the all or nothing people):
Identify what you are already eating that is plant based and increase the ratio of those foods in your diet
Think about substitutions for meat such as swapping the meat in tacos for bean
Visit https://www.forksoverknives.com/ for plant based meal recipes
Add some new items that you may not have tried https://runningonrealfood.com/
Try throwing some dark leafy greens on your normal meals
Take transitioning to plant based slowly in order to not upset your digestive system too much
Have a mindset of experimentation and don’t give up when something doesn’t work
Intro/Outro Music Credit: Corner Store Breakfast by Reasonforworry
Edited by Stephen Barnett
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Episode Outline/Takeaways
One can get the benefits of nature even if you don’t have access to something like a national park. Eg. Courtyards, medians, house plants and even pictures of nature.
Experiencing nature has many physical benefits such as lower cortisol levels, lower heart rate and lower blood pressure
Nature can help restore your attention and decrease stress so things can feel more manageable allowing you to sort out what is actually important.
Forest bathing is one of the ways you can reap the benefits of being in nature https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/forest-bathing-nature-walk-health
Practicing mindfulness and walking near nature is also beneficial.
Takeaways:
Nature is good for you!
Nature doesn’t have to be exclusively in the wilderness. There are many ways one can
experience nature.
Try mindfulness or stillness practices in the wilderness
Check out https://vistaslifecoaching.com/ for more information
Intro/Outro Music Credit: Corner Store Breakfast by Reasonforworry
Edited by Stephen Barnett
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Episode Outline/Takeaways
If you have people in your household that don’t eat plant based, try using deconstructed meals in order to make serving everyone easier.
Give family members options on what they eat allowing them to be more autonomous
Prepare your kids for eating plant based by informing them before transitioning to a plant based diet in order to ease the process
Keeping meals simple can make the transition to plant based much easier and more sustainable
Use resources like https://www.gimmesomeoven.com, https://minimalistbaker.com/ or https://ohsheglows.com for plant based recipes
Make sure that kids are getting their caloric needs in, as well as healthy fats (peanuts, seeds, avocados, etc…)
Studies show kids may have a reduced risk of asthma if they follow a plant based diet
https://academic.oup.com/nutritionreviews/article/78/11/928/5804968
Studies also show kids may have a higher IQ when following a plant based diet
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1790799/
Even if kids initially don’t want a specific food, keep offering it so that they can see it and potentially start to understand that it is a viable option to eat.
Deelish chocolate pudding recipe: https://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/avocado-chocolate-mousse-vegan-healthy/
Takeaways:
Find a basic beans and rice recipe that fits with your lifestyle, think about some fun toppings and then try three variations over three weeks! Have it once a week and see how you like it! What works? What doesn’t work?
Sit down with household member and have conversation about wanting to eat more plant-based. Brainstorm some ideas for supporting each other.
Find three different ways to use black beans! (Salads, tacos, and black bean dip)
https://minimalistbaker.com/instant-pot-black-beans-perfect-beans-every-time/
https://runningonrealfood.com/vegan-black-beans-rice/
Intro/Outro Music Credit: Corner Store Breakfast by Reasonforworry
Edited by Stephen Barnett
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Episode Outline/Takeaways
A whole food plant based diet is when you eat plants in the form that is as close as possible to when they came out of the earth. (IE oreos vs kale)
Telling someone you are vegan only lets them know what you don’t eat whereas telling them you eat whole food plant based lets them know what you do eat.
Whole food plant based is not only about not eating dairy, fish, meats, etc… but also eating minimally processed foods (less salt, oil, and sugar).
While it may seem like the healthiest diet changes year to year based on what the popular press publishes, the reality based on medical studies has shown for a long time that the mediterranean diet and the whole food plant based diet are some of the most beneficial for health.
The DASH diet is the dietary approach to stop hypertension and promote overall heart health.
DASH is a kind of whole food plant based lite. It is a kind of stepping stone between peoples’ starting diet and a whole food plant based diet that can make eating healthier easier to take on.
Takeaways:
Whole food plant based is about limiting the processed foods you eat which leads to added health benefits.
Find the documentary ‘What The Health’ here at https://www.netflix.com/title/80174177
Find the book ‘Fiber Fueled: The Plant-Based Gut Health Program for Losing Weight, Restoring Your Health, and Optimizing Your Microbiome’ by Will Bulsiewicz here at https://www.amazon.com/Fiber-Fueled-Plant-Based-Optimizing-Microbiome/dp/059308456X
For more information on the DASH diet https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/education/dash-eating-plan
Intro/Outro Music Credit: Corner Store Breakfast by Reasonforworry
Edited by Stephen Barnett
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Episode Outline/Takeaways
In short, risky substances (tobacco, alcohol, and drugs) are bad.
Even bad habits like heavy social media usage can affect you negatively or take up a
large amount of time.
We often spend a lot of time shaming ourselves for these bad habits and waste our
energy.
Habit stacking is a great behavioral intervention where you take multiple small habits
that are already automatic and stacking them together. This enables you to start or stop
doing something.
For example: If you have difficulties waking up in the morning, you can set a routine
where you start your coffee machine as soon as you get up from bed. Then after
washing your face, your coffee is ready for you to drink while checking your emails.
Creating this habit trains your brain to recognize that this is a reward to look forward to
when you wake up resulting in it being easier over time.
Another example: If you aimlessly scroll through social media while brushing your teeth,
you can try to do something else like turning off and dimming the lights in your house
while brushing your teeth instead. You are replacing the bad habit with something new.
If you find yourself doing things like trying to relax after work with a glass or two of wine,
remove the “with” part of it and realize you ultimately just want to relax. Now find
something new that is relaxing like playing with your dog, talking on the phone to a
friend, etc.
Takeaways:
Substance use is an important problem. For tobacco, quit lines are available. 1-800-Quit-Now is recommended.
For other substances—try: https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline
Give yourself the time and space to sit what the habit is and what it is doing for you.
Habit stacking can be helpful in setting better habits.
Don’t sit too long in the guilt and shame. Use habit stacking to make small changes to these habits and help you lead a healthier lifestyle.
Intro/Outro Music Credit: Corner Store Breakfast by ReasonforworryEdited by Stephen Barnett
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Episode Outline/Takeaways
Social connection is often a neglected or overlooked pillar of health.
Health-related measures like blood pressure, stress levels, and heart rate improve with social connection. Your overall happiness also increases even with short, positive interactions.
Social media is not a replacement for this. This type of connection often leads to comparison when viewing everyone’s “best life” version instead of reality.
Gossiping also is a pseudo-connection as it does not foster trust or deeper connections.
Spending time with people where you are engaging in unhealthy behaviors is another pseudo-connection that does not help
You want to have fun and create deep, meaningful connections. You want to be in flow, be connected, and feel playful.
Volunteering at an animal shelter, joining a book club, joining a religious/spiritual group, joining a walking/hiking group, and doing workshops are all ways to connect with people in a positive way.
Goal setting can be done for this, especially when you get specific. For example: I will increase my social connection by making sure to meet with my once monthly book club consistently for the next 6 months.
Even introverts need social connection and interaction. Find small ways to increase your social connection without making it stressful or exhausting for yourself. Try virtual co-working spaces like being on a Zoom call together while getting individual work done to where you feel like you are with people even though you are alone. Even something small like working at a coffee shop and interacting with the coffee shop workers can help.
Try to hit multiple pillars of health at the same time by eating a healthy meal with a friend or going on a walk together.
Don’t be afraid to reach out to your healthcare provider or therapist if you are feeling isolated and lonely. They can help get you on the right track.
Takeaways:
Social connection is really important for both psychological and physical health. This is true regardless of your personality type.
Foster the relationships that help you be your best self and engage in healthy behaviors.
Multi-task by trying to hit multiple pillars of health by engaging in a healthy activity with friends to add the social connection component in at the same time.
Intro/Outro Music Credit: Corner Store Breakfast by Reasonforworry -
Episode Outline/Takeaways
Cortisol stays elevated if you do not get enough sleep. Cortisol naturally goes down at night when you are sleeping. While we need cortisol for day-to-day functionality, we do not want it to stay elevated.
Elevated cortisol levels can lead to health problems like high blood sugar.
Sleep hygiene is a set of habits that you can build to help your body like using your bed for sleep only, avoid caffeine in the afternoon, limiting screen time, and getting physical activity during the day.
The light from screens can decrease your melatonin. When the sun goes down and it gets dark, your melatonin levels rise. The blue light from screens can slow down this process.
Getting morning light can help your circadian rhythms and help your body feel ready to wake up.
Simple steps like parking your car far in the parking lot and walking a little distance to get to work helps with both physical activity and getting sunlight to help your circadian rhythms.
Sleep schedule consistency is important as you can teach your body when it’s time to rest and wake up leading to better sleep quality.
Cool temperatures at night help you sleep and improve your sleep quality.
Hydration is important as dehydration signals can disrupt your sleep. Water is needed for your cells to repair, which typically happens at night. Limiting your hydration window to earlier in the day can help reduce restroom breaks in the middle of the night.
Naps can be beneficial if they are 20 minutes or less for a quick recharge, even if it’s just a “resting your eyes” recharge.
If you sleep longer, your body starts to get into sleep cycles resulting in sleep inertia occurring and disrupting your sleep schedule.
Keeping your caffeine intake to the mornings and cut out any caffeinated drinks after noon can help increase quality of sleep and reduce the amount of time it takes to fall asleep.
You can push through sleepiness to get that second wind feeling, but that is actually not good for your body. It means your melatonin has decreased which will affect the quality of your sleep.
Both quality and quantity of sleep are important.
Sleep helps with emotional regulation. Stress affects your sleep because your body is on high alert. This can create a cycle. Meditation, yoga nidra, sleep apps, and other methods can help break these cycles.
Yoga nidra is like the Shavasana part of yoga only and can help you fall asleep or reduce stress levels.
Having a wind down routine can help to signal to your body that it is time to go to sleep.
Using dim lighting at night can help signal to your body that it is night time. Using bright lights until bed time can fool your body into thinking it is still daytime.
Quality of television also plays a role in your sleep. Watching the news or anything that may activate emotions can make it harder to fall asleep.
Takeaways:
Sleep should be a priority for both physiological and psychological health.
Optimize your sleep hygiene.
Have a wind down routine.
The quality of sleep is just as important as the quantity of sleep.
Intro/Outro Music Credit: Corner Store Breakfast by Reasonforworry -
Episode Outline/Takeaways
Stress affects every system in your body, particularly your cardiovascular health and GI system.
80% of primary care visits are stress-related.
Cortisol production increases when stressed thus putting your body in fight or flight mode.
Stress affects your mood and social connections.
When you are stressed, you are also more likely to use substances like alcohol in an attempt to make yourself feel better.
Stress often results in a lack of sleep. This becomes a cycle as cortisol levels go down with restorative sleep. When you’re not well-rested, your cortisol levels continue to stay elevated.
Burnout and depression can show up when stress exacerbates them.
Good vs. bad stress: eustress is the kind of stress you put your body through when exercising, and it creates a positive effect.
One positive part of stress management is that it can lengthen your lifespan and improve your health. Telomeres (a proxy for lifespan) have been shown to be longer in studies when stress is well-managed.
Set boundaries for yourself: set an alarm to go to bed, don’t check work emails after a certain time, limit your screen time, have a day of relaxation every week, do meditation and mindful breathing, have “me-time” or a hobby, etc.
It is tempting to let go of self-care and exercise when stressed, but make sure to set boundaries for your work and other deadlines so you do not abandon your practice of self-care.
Stress is multi-faceted. We have to look at all the pillars to improve such as nutrition and exercise.
While drinking another cup of coffee or pouring yourself a glass of wine might give you the temporary dopamine hit, the crash you will have later will be detrimental to your health.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy apps can be a fantastic tool to help reset your brain and manage stress symptoms.
Vague goals like “I need to reduce my stress” will not be as effective as “I will set an alarm to go to bed at 9 pm” or “I will not check my work email after 5 pm.”
Takeaways:
80% of primary care visits are stress-related, so stress is the underlying cause that needs to be treated.
Find what your stressors are and set boundaries for yourself in those areas.
Look at how you can help yourself through nutrition and exercise.
Do not abandon exercise and proper nutrition when stressed in order to meet your deadlines. Work will always be there. Take care of yourself first.
Make stress reduction goals that are specific.
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Anything is better than nothing and more is better than less!
The recommended amount of physical activity is 150 minutes of moderate aerobic physical activity a week.
There are SO many types of aerobic physical activities: walking is one of the most common and simple to achieve
Moderate physical activity is activity you could still carry on a conversation: walking, light jogging, biking, gardening
Vigorous physical activity is activity you could NOT carry on a conversation while doing: running, biking faster etc
Strength training should occur twice a week.
Strength training has benefits for our bones, our blood sugar, and our functional health.
Trained muscles burn more calories even at baseline.
Physical activity can be a part of your daily life--it can be incorporated into your travel, your care for your children, and your gardening.
Shift your mindset: How do I incorporate moving my body throughout the day?
Being sedentary throughout the day is as dangerous to your health as being sedentary overall.
One trick is to set a timer and move every 25 minutes.
Think about what your goals might be with respect to being physically active and start by fitting in some physical activity you love!
In the Blue Zones, people incorporate activity into all aspects of their lives and get outside as much as possible!
The best physical activity is the physical activity you will do! It is not safe to be sedentary
You do not need to consult a medical professional to get started--especially with walking. But, if you have dizziness, headaches, chest pain, or palpitations--contact your provider immediately.
Don't be afraid to try different types of physical activity and explore what you might love! Be creative and be open!
For the time barrier: find what is joyful for you.
For the knowledge barrier: Think about physical therapists as a resource. Trainers can also be helpful, but check their credentials, social media, and YouTube.
Takeaways
Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity a week and two days of strength training.
Don't make it complicated.
Anything is better than nothing!
Episode Links and Resources:
Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans
Williamson DL, Kirwan JP. A single bout of concentric resistance exercise increases basal metabolic rate 48 hours after exercise in healthy 59-77-year-old men. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 1997 Nov;52(6):M352-5. doi: 10.1093/gerona/52a.6.m352. PMID: 9402941
Time Timer: https://www.timetimer.com/
Blue Zones: https://www.bluezones.com/
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The best evidence supports a whole food plant-based diet for optimal health.
A whole food plant-based diet includes a diet centered around fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes/beans, seeds, and nuts. The diet minimizes animal-based foods such as red meat, pork, poultry, dairy, and eggs and also minimizes highly processed foods.
Ms. Kebric’s pro-tips include buying in bulk, prepping food ahead of meals, keeping canned and frozen foods on hand, and considering transitioning your diet with small steps (such as with a Meatless Monday).
Here’s a link to Aloha bars (not a sponsor—you’re welcome, Aloha bars! :)
And a link to a zucchini pizza
And JOJO’s (also not a sponsor)
And finally a fancy date shake recipe
Hear more from Ms. Kebric at @kelsakeb on Instagram
Episode Links and Resources:
ACLM Whole Food Plant-Based Plate
Plantrician Project Whole Food Plant-Based Quick Start Guide
Also, in case you were curious what the difference between an RDN and a Nutritionist is, more about that here
And, in case you were wondering what Ms. Kebric’s CDCES (Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist) certification is all about, more about that here
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According to the World Health Organization, 80% of chronic diseases can be prevented using lifestyle!
Lifestyle as medicine means using lifestyle to prevent and treat chronic diseases (like cardiovascular disease) that are prevalent worldwide!
Lifestyle medicine is evidence-based—meaning it combines evidence with action.
Pillars of Lifestyle Medicine (and some resources to check out for each)
Nutrition
https://nutritionfacts.org/
Physical Activity
https://www.fitnesspudding.com/
Substance Use Cessation
https://www.richroll.com/
Social Support
10% Happier App and Book by Dan Harris
Sleep
Check out https://thenapministry.wordpress.com/ or on Instagram
Stress Management
Check out the Calm, Headspace, 10% Happier or Insight Timer*
The pillars are all connected and integrated.
Episode Links and Resources:
ACLM: https://www.lifestylemedicine.org/
Episode Corrections:
We called the Insight Timer app “Intention Timer.” Sorry about that Insight Timer!
NHANES study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31004146/
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Change, obstacles, and complexity are all part of life, rather than the exception.
We are going to have to surf the waves!
Actionable steps to keep us surfing rather than sinking!
Exercise self-compassion
Give yourself grace, a hug, write down things you are doing well, journal your strengths, talk to a friend or partner about positive aspects of yourself
Let your setbacks be your teacher!
Account for what you have control over
Focus on what you can control
Moving your body, fueling yourself, bedtime and rest, prioritizing our mindfulness practices, connecting with loved ones, listening to music!
Refocus and Revise on your Why and Wellness Vision
Go for a walk, revisit it in line at the store, or chat about it with a friend or family member
Practice gratitude
You cannot be anxious and grateful at the same time
Revisit your SMART goals
Make a goal that stretches you
Make a goal that is an “easy” win for you because they build self-efficacy
Create daily rituals that help you stay present and grounded
Try doing a daily gratitude practice
Make SMART goals that are rewards
Ex: I am going to take 30 minutes a day to do something that makes me feel good (like hanging out with our pets)
Takeaways:
We can always learn how to surf!
It can be tempting to use short-term coping strategies! But we want to shift our focus to what we can do to take care of ourselves long-term.
Episode Links and Resources:
John Kabat Zinn: https://www.mindfulnesscds.com/
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In this episode, Jen and Sarah put the nuts and bolts of behavioral change together and go over some examples!
The nuts and bolts of behavior change for your health include a Why, a Wellness Vision, and SMART Goals.
Sometimes it can be confusing how all of these fit together!
Remember that your Why is basically your Purpose
Your Wellness Vision is based on your Why! The Wellness Vision is what you ideally want your health to look at in order to live your Why.
Remember:
It should be positive
It should be in the present tense as this creates cognitive dissonance between where we are now versus where we want to be!
SMART Goals are the steps we are going to take to achieve our Wellness Vision and live our Why!
Remember:
SMART stands for:
Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Relevant
Time-Bound
Takeaways:
Things all come together when you find your Why, then create your Wellness Vision, and then make SMART goals to achieve the Vision!
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It is very important to start with your Why and your Wellness Vision before you jump straight to goals!
Your Wellness Vision and your Why are what ensure your success when life starts to throw obstacles.
The purpose of making goals is to set us up for success; setting goals makes it more likely we are going to complete our upward steps.
SMART goals set us up for success. Making goals SMART gives us an actionable framework.
What does SMART stand for?
Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Relevant
Time-Bound
Use your team if you need help: your friends, your family, or your primary care provider!
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We review the concept of your “Why” and go over some of our Whys!
Finding your why is important because it anchors you as you encounter obstacles.
A wellness vision is a compelling picture/summary of your desired future self that is also grounded in your past successes.
A wellness vision is a representation of your true desires for your health.
Recipe for success for your wellness vision:
Being specific!
Keep it in the present!
Keep it positive!
How to start a wellness vision:
Ask: If there were no constraints or obstacles, who would you be/who are you in your best health?
Ask: If I waived a magic wand, what would your perfect health look like?
You can write your wellness vision, draw it, or use a mind map (see link below).
The research and wellness visions: creating a wellness vision is an important step because clearly articulated goals are correlated with higher happiness and life satisfaction. Also, having a vision of your best self enhances your well being.
People learn and grow in different ways-find the best way to craft your vision for YOU!
Episode Links and Resources:
Create a mind map for your wellness vision: mindmeister.com
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Jen and Sarah discuss what finding your “why” is and why (ha!) it is so important for behavioral change.
Finding your “why” may be the most important step before we initiate behavioral change or new habits.
Your “why” can be about your faith, family, or even a cause or purpose (the options are endless).
Finding your “why” can be your motivation or anchor, or if you are more academic-minded—it can help you create your outline for making those changes!
Finding your “why” can also act as a speed bump against the behaviors that are not commensurate with who we want to be in our health.
Is there a wrong why asks a listener?
Yes and no. If your “why” is grounded in someone else’s desire for us or is a SHOULD, it probably will not be an anchor.
Internal vs. External motivation. External motivation is driven by some reward or consequence. Internal motivation is driven by our actual values and desires.
Getting started on finding your “why”:
Ask: what matters most to me?
Ask: what would happen if I made these changes/what would my life look like?
Ask: what would the version of me that I most want to be do in this situation?
Episode Links and Resources:
Gratitude Journal
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In this episode, Jen and Sarah introduce themselves and discuss their journey to medicine and specifically, Lifestyle Medicine! To read more about us, check out “Our Story.”
Here are some answers to some frequently asked questions!
What is Lifestyle Medicine? Lifestyle Medicine is the use of lifestyle changes and habits—such as food, movement, sleep, social support, and avoiding substances—to prevent, treat, and reverse chronic disease! Interested in learning more? Check out this website!
What is a PA? A PA is a Physician Assistant. We are medically-licensed providers who are board certified to practice medicine including diagnosing and treating patients—including writing prescriptions (for medications, or as we prefer, exercise!). To learn more about PAs, check out this website.
Who did we make this for? We made this podcast for people who are “health curious.” What do we mean by that? We mean anyone who is curious to change personal health behaviors or about what behaviors are best for your body, but may not have the time, money, or energy to pay for a health coach! We also made this for the busy clinician to have as a resource to learn more about facilitating behavioral change AND to refer patients to as a super easy to digest resource! We want to help people shift their paradigm from achieving health to problem solving health in the face of all of the challenges life throws at us. We can find joy in that process.
Other Resources mentioned:
You can find Dr. Michael Greger’s website here.
You can see Jen’s study here.
The exercise program Sarah mentions is called MommaStrong! Win ugly at https://www.mommastrong.com/
