Sarah Reynolds is Methodist Health: Gaining momentum.

By Sarah Reynolds, CMOM

Sarah is an office manager at MedHealth. Her goal is to get physically fit so she can keep up with her children. After turning to snacking for stress relief in the past, she’s ready to adjust her grocery list to include healthier choices and make working out part of her routine!

1.  You’re in your second month of I am Methodist Health. Congratulations! In general, how’s it going?

The first couple of weeks of January were rough for me! I came down with the flu, which developed into bronchitis, and I was out for over a week. My doctor also put me on steroids, which are TERRIBLE for weight loss! I was so discouraged. The only thing I was doing was drinking tons of fluids … and not the diet stuff. I was so worried.

The good news is I made use of the downtime by surfing the Internet for great recipes. My health coach, Beth Leermakers, had given me some great websites to look at, and I found recipes that were healthy, nutritious, AND TASTY!! I recently met with my trainer, Bud Hill, with Snap Fitness in Mansfield.

I included my husband and kids in the meal-planning decisions of what we were going to buy and prepare for the week. Then I made my grocery list and we were off to a good start. 

Now that I'm well again and on the right track with my food choices, I'm ready to push myself physically.

2.  What change or changes have you been able to make? Do you like the changes?

I totally changed the way I shop for groceries! I was floored by the lack of nutritional value in what I thought were healthy choices. Take the 100-calorie snack pack: Great, right? Not so much. There is NOTHING GOOD in those! If I'm going to consume 100 of my calories on something, I want them to be good calories. Most of those are really high in saturated fats and don't have much protein to fuel me.

I'm shopping better now, and my meal plans have more variety. I'm trying new spices and herbs and getting experimental in the kitchen. Surprisingly, it tastes GREAT! I'm loving the way I feel after eating right. I feel like I've conquered something.

3.  Do you have any progress updates you’d like to share with your fans?

I'd like to say to anyone who feels like they can't cook or eat better — TRY new things! I bought spices I can barely pronounce, and they taste pretty good on fresh vegetables and on a variety of different meats.

I'm pleased that even though I was ill, I didn't gain any weight.

4.  What’s been the biggest lesson you’ve learned the first month?

TRY NEW THINGS! REALLY read the nutrition labels. Before I began this journey, I was caught up in looking at calories and carbs. By paying attention to the other nutritional values on a label, I'm better able to decide if those extra 40 (or whatever) calories are worth it. I weigh whether it's something my body needs and will use or will just store.

5.  In January, I felt like I was really starting to make progress because I physically had more energy based on a better diet. I felt like I accomplished something big just by changing our diets at home and gaining my husband’s and kids’ support!