Could a Dietitian Help You Achieve a Healthier Weight?
How can a Dietitian support you?
A Dietitian can help you to improve your overall health and wellbeing, as well as support you to achieve a healthier weight. If you are above a healthy weight, losing weight can improve your overall health and decrease your risk of developing diabetes and heart disease.
Do you like the sound of developing skills in menu planning and calorie counting? Would you like to learn strategies to overcome emotional eating?
Losing weight is different for each individual but you don’t have to go it alone. When the time is right for you, this service is here to support you to make manageable, lifelong changes in a way which is most suitable for you.
The new Nutrition and Dietetics website has been launched by Aneurin Bevan University Health Board.
The website provides:
- A range of information for patients, parents, carers and professionals
- Printable forms and leaflets
- Useful links
Getting Started: Self-Help Information
Self-Monitoring
One of the best ways to get started with your weight loss journey, is through self-monitoring.
What is self-monitoring? Observing, recording and reflecting on your day to day habits.
How? You might start by choosing to record one or more of the following: What you eat, your daily activity, body measurements, your weight or your mood. Keep a paper diary or use an app such as MyFitnessPal.
How can it help? Lots of people say it keeps them more focused and determined, as well as more aware of what they eat and why.
Questions to ask yourself: Am I missing meals? How long do I go between meals? What times of the day do I snack and why? Am I including a variety of foods? Do I eat for reasons other than hunger? Are there any simple changes I could make to get started?
Setting Goals
One of the most effective ways to stay motivated is to set goals for yourself.
Start by looking at your food or activity diary to see if there’s any changes you could make to help. For example, you may notice that you are only eating 2 portions of fruit/vegetables per day—your goal could be to increase this.
It is important that we set good quality goals, as the quality of goals you set affects how well they will work. Lifestyle goals work well if they are:
Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Relevant
Time based
Once you’ve set your goals:
- Write them down, discussing them with others makes it more likely you’ll succeed.
- Monitor your progress – check your goals are working.
- Be flexible – don’t blame yourself if things don’t go to plan, adjust your goals.
- Ask for support from family and friends.
