“Our team of professionals includes providers, registered dietitians, lifestyle coaches, exercise physiologists, nurses and chiefs who recognize the importance of including the six pillars of lifestyle medicine In individualized care plans for our patients and team members, “said Brenda Leigh, director of lifestyle medicine at Ecu Health. The six pillars include the increase in the consumption of whole plants based on plants, the increase in aerobic activity, sufficient sleep, the decrease in unhealthy substances (such as tobacco or alcohol), the maintenance of healthy relationships and stress management.
Scott met for the first time Lindsay LuschwitzClinical III dietitian, to start his career in lifestyle medicine. “I do not drink and I do not smoke, but I drank between five and seven big soft drinks or the sweet teas per day,” said Scott. “I was also used to stopping at McDonald’s every morning for breakfast and getting lunch every day.”
When Scott shared this information with Lindsay, she didn’t be ashamed as he expected. Instead, she gave him different strategies and choices to try. “When we met for the first time, Scott told me that he was not going to bring his lunch at work,” recalls Lindsay. But after working with Lindsay for over a year, Scott said he was now bringing his lunch at work most of the days of the week. “She never said that was something I had to do,” said Scott. “It was always my decision. She suggested options and sometimes I loved them and sometimes I did not do it. »»
Now Scott drinks zero water or sprite instead of ordinary sodas and sweet tea, and he eats smaller portions while making better choices. “I eat more fruit now than ever in my life,” he said. Lindsay also suggested that he use an application, Yuka, on his phone to follow the nutritional value of the food he has eaten so that he could make informed decisions. “I love ice cream,” said Scott. “And I used the application to find an ice cream that I could eat. I took the options in Lindsay and she told me a Greek brand of yogurt that I really like. »»
The work has borne fruit. In 2024, during his next appointment with the doctor, Scott was happy to note that he was broken by 25 pounds and that his A1C was a 5, well in the normal blood sugar directives. He is now out of all his daily drugs and only takes only a weekly medication once to help you. “I practice the strategies that life medicine has given me. I improved my diet and I increased my exercise. And I can see the difference in the mirror. I am broken in my pants and my shirt. My joints do not do so much harm when I get up from a chair, and my vision, which I thought was a problem with my contact lenses but was actually due to high blood sugar, improved. I just feel better.
Scott colleagues have also noticed changes, and some approached it on what he was doing. “They first noticed that I did not go out so often for lunch, so I talked with them about what I was doing.”
Scott did more than share information; He was also a key player to encourage his team to be healthier. “Lindsay shared during one of our bimensual meetings that they had teaching cuisine in the lifestyle medicine clinic in the Well-being And they wanted people to go out and learn recipes and information on healthier meal options. I told him I would bring my team, and that’s what I did. Scott brought members of his field and his parking team to the Wellness Center for an hour -long session with Lindsay, Dr David Michael And Dr. Susan HoustonWhere they cooked, ate and talked about how the lifestyle medical clinic can help.
“It is our Eat with a series of doc“Said Lindsay. “Dr. Houston and I are culinary trained chiefs, so she or I prepare a meal, and Dr. Michael is there, and we are talking about the meal that we are preparing and nutrition. And then we go through the medicine in style Life and what we do. ”The lifestyle -style medicine clinic offers monthly catering with a free doc for community members thanks to a subsidy of Pitt Partners for Health. Other members of his team now brought positive changes and that some visit the lifestyle medicine clinic.
Although it was not always easy to make these lifestyle changes, Scott said they were worth it. “It is difficult sometimes. Life is busy, and sometimes you just have to decide to get more steps or stand up rather than sit at your office. But the clinic made things easier because they give me information that has proven. And, he said, seeing and feeling the difference was the key. “At first, 10.9 A1C made me want to change,” said Alford. “This number really shocked me. But now I can also see and feel a difference and that’s why I want to continue doing this. It is a conscious decision every day to make the best choices. »»
Lindsay stressed that a person knowing his “why” is very important. “We are here to support you and give you studies and resources, but when you are not here, the choice depends on you. If you know your “why”, you will not return to old habits, “she said. Scott accepted, saying that he planned to continue to practice the new skills he acquired last year. “I intend to continue using these strategies,” he said. “Doing better is not that difficult; All I had to do was ask for this support. Lifestyle Medicine has an excellent program, and you just have to contact them and take this first step. »»
Scott and Lindsay want more people to also take this first step to find out more about the lifestyle medicine clinic and the services it offers. “It was incredibly easy to start,” said Alford. “I called them and there was no excess of things to do, no pre -propellation, no paperwork. It’s easy inside and outside, and if you can’t get there in person, they will make TV visits. “Supporting team members in this way is very important,” said Lindsay. “We want to target the members of our team because it benefits everyone,” she said. “The members of the ‘healthier team are more productive, have fewer days of illness and are generally happier. ‘ECU health team on the medical level, they are eligible for six free visits with a dietitian, among other free services. Be improved by lifestyle changes and nutrition.
To find out more about the lifestyle medical clinic, Leigh encourages the community and the team members to visit their Website here Or call for 252-847-5590 for more information.