You are what you eat is demonstrated when you assess an obese patient that is on a reduced fat diet. After several weeks of a properly balanced diet including meats, dairy, fruits, vegetables and grains the patient loses weight. With replacing all the fatty food with those that are healthy the patient is slimming down. Another example of that can be seen in a patient that has just had a major surgery. During the surgery the protein is used for blood clotting factors.

Protein is also needs after surgery for timely and proper wound healing. If they were eating the improper amount of protein they patient would have trouble with blood clotting and scar tissue formation. If a patient were to have a poor intake of protein you would encourage the intake of legumes, peas, lentils and peanuts.

You are what you eat because your health reflects on your diet. If an individual eats poorly and has an unbalanced diet it will take a toll on their health. An unhealthy diet may not appear to be a problem for you today but it will catch up with you eventually. If your diet includes a lot of fatty foods, like many Americans, you may become overweight. Being overweight causes a variety of health problems such as heart disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and a decreased life expectancy. So keep mind that you are what you eat and that it may affect your medical status in the future.

There are many reasons I believe that you are what you eat. When assessing an obese individual you would now that they have a nutritional problem. Likewise when you look at a frail underweight individual they may have a nutritional problem as well. Your health depends on what you eat.  Weather an individual is obese, underweight, recovering from surgery or has a debilitating disease a balanced diet has a significant role in good health.

A well balanced diet according to Lutz & Przytulski includes six to eleven servings of grains, two to four servings of fruits and three to five servings of vegetables. Also included in a balanced diet are two to three servings of dairy and two to three servings of meats. Lutz & Prztulski also states that you should eat fats and sweets sparingly. These six food groups compile a balanced diet.

When an individual does not have a well balanced diet they often develop deficiencies. When a person lacks calcium in their diet they are at risk of developing osteoporosis. This is a wasting or deterioration of bone that often leads to a fracture of the bone. You can prevent osteoporosis by having a daily intake of two to three servings. The intake of dairy keeps you bones healthy. Calcium will keep them strong so they do not break or fracture. You may not be able to tell if an individual has a calcium deficiency.

On the other hand when doing an assessment you may be able to tell if someone has a folic acid deficiency. They would have signs of heartburn, diarrhea, red smooth swollen tongue, fatigue, fainting, confusion and even depression. When an individual has a deficiency in folic acid they lack intake of green leafy vegetables, kidney and lima beans, beets and vegetables of the cabbage family. People who are usually develop folic acid deficiencies are poorly nourished children and those that are poverty-stricken.

Second, a healthy diet needs to be started. Food intake is very important and there are many different plans one can follow to stay on track. Different programs include Weight Watchers, Nutri System, Jenny Craig, the low Carb diet or the 2000 calorie diet.

Each person is different and needs to decide which diet program works for them. Once a diet has been chosen, you need to be strong and stick to it! Water intake is also very important when dieting. It helps flush out your system and helps keep you hydrated; especially when exercising. Lots of fruits and vegetables are also great for you so eat plenty.

Finally talk to you doctor about your exercise and diet plan before you begin. Let the doctor know that you have decided to get into shape and follow an exercise and diet routine and run it by them so they can approve it. A person needs to make sure there are no health problems before they get into an exercise program. This way there are no problems that may arise during your lifestyle change.

Not only following all of these steps will get you into shape, but they will help any person live a happier and healthier lifestyle. Getting into shape makes your body and your mind feel wonderful. Being in shape can lengthen your lifespan and gives you a happier and healthy heart.

It can also help lower your blood pressure and cholesterol. In all aspects, getting into shape is one of the best things a person can do. I am now in the process of getting back into shape and I am already feeling great.

Getting into shape is not as painful as one might think. One may also have an excuse on why they don’t have the time to get into shape properly, but they are not valid reasons. If you set your mind to it, it can be done. Small goals need to be set in order to have a successful trip down the road to get into shape.

First, a person needs to be ready to get into shape or they won’t be motivated enough to stay on a routine. Once a person is ready, they need to choose a workout program that best suites them.

There are many different workout facilities a person can choose from. There are fitness studios for women that offer a great thirty minute workout program, well known gyms such as 24hour fitness, Gold’s gym and Bally Total Fitness, and home workout videos or machines.

Once one has decided which workout system best suites them, they need to meet with someone to get on a program that is right for them. Not one person is the same so every workout routine varies; make sure you have someone help you decide which one works best.

When first starting to exercise, a person needs to start out at a slow pace. If you work to hard to fast exhaustion may occur and you may not be able to continue with your workout. Do a cardio exercise that works for you; cardio is a great way to burn calories and fat. Now when beginning to lift weights, don’t start out to heavy, because muscles can be strained leading to an injury. Lift what you feel is comfortable and three reps should be done with each exercise or machine. Once you are no longer feeling any resistance, more weight can be added to help build more muscle. If toning just wants to be accomplished, start out with the minimum weight settings.

Flexibility and balance training is also important when striving for an over-all body workout.  Flexibility and balance training increases agility, perfects one’s posture, and boosts over-all strength.  Specific exercises can reduce back pain, exercise-related soreness, and increase the range of motion in joints and muscles.  Flexibility and balance training, such as stretching, focuses attention on one’s mind and soul, encouraging he/she to be patient and self-accepting.  It is important to incorporate exercises from each group into your fitness plan to reach optimal physical and mental health.

Fitness and nutrition are key factors in staying physically and mentally healthy.  It is a known fact that if you look great and feel great you will live a longer and happier life.  It is important to take one’s age, health, and current physical activity level into consideration when writing a fitness and nutrition plan.  There are many people out there, such as nutritionists, personal trainers, and even one’s own doctor, who can help develop a nutrition and fitness plan that is right for him/her.  We are lucky to live in a country that is so health-conscious.  There are so many facilities out there to help keep you alive and healthy — why not take advantage of them?!