If you are overweight...

As many of you know, I work on a transplant unit (kidney, liver, pancreas) at a local hospital. If you've ever known anyone to have a transplant it's no walk in the park. Recovery is a process in itself. Patients feel weak, are often immune compromised, etc.

No matter how we take care of ourselves, some [genetic] factors are out of our control. But what's in our control is our weight. Vanity aside, being overweight is extremely dangerous. It complicates everything. This has become increasingly apparent working on my unit. Patients that have the longest recovery tend to be overweight, have high blood pressure and suffer from other complications such as Type II Diabetes (which is completely preventable in most circumstances).

If I could offer the greatest piece of advice from my experience thus far...

Make time for exercise and healthy living habits now, or make time for disease and complications later.

Exercise and a healthy lifestyle may seem challenging. But do you think it will get easier with age?

(*Click here to watch experiment I did where you can SEE what unhealthy amounts of fat looks like in your bloodstream*).

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In other news, here are some healthy foods I've been enjoying recently...

A great [healthy] Super Bowl dip

25 calories per serving. And amazing.

Sauteed Cajun-style veggies

Zucchini

Red pepper

Red onion

Mushrooms

H20

2 T olive oil (added after softening veggies in h20)

1/2 t garlic powder

1/2 t Cajun spice

pinch cumin

sea salt, black pepper

 Topped over a grilled turkey burger and quinoa

Simple spinach salad

Drizzled with a 1:1 mixture of Goddess Dressing and Balsamic Vinegar

(Tip: To reduce calories in non-light dressings, dilute with balsamic vinegar)

Pumpkin-Chocolate-Spiced Overnight Oats

(Adapted from Gabriela's recipe)

1/3 cup oats

1 scoop chocolate [SunWarrior] protein powder

2/3 cup pumpkin (canned, organic)

1 cup Hemp milk (can use any milk)

1 t chia seeds

1 T chopped pecans (for crunch)

1/2 t cinnamon

pinch nutmeg

dash sea salt (to bring out sweetness)

stevia (1 serving)

(Mix and chill overnight. The texture reminds me of a mousse. So filling and decadent!) 

And some new hydration favorites....

Electrolytes (perfect during or post-workout)

And Vitamin- packed Pink Lemonade

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Any advice on kindly talking to someone you love about his/her weight?

What new creative combos have you tried lately?

Ever try electrolyte packets?