When Kimberly Dos Santos found out that she was pre-menopausal, her desire to take better care of her body through natural remedies would set her on the path of becoming a nutritionist.
Due to her hormonal imbalances, she quickly realised that a healthy lifestyle needed to be a priority for her. After extensive personal research that helped her to manage the symptoms that she was having, Kimberly would begin sharing her knowledge with other women who were having similar issues.
To support her journey as a nutritionist, she would also complete several courses within the area and is now better equipped to help men and women facing high risk of cardiovascular diseases, and women who might have lost confidence in the way they look and feel due to weight struggles.
Reversing the cycle of poor health is a passion and I take pride in what I do, said Kimberly. Asked for some of the tips she gives to her clients, Kimberly said that the first one is usually the importance of a healthy diet.
On the point of a healthy diet, she recommends that superfoods be incorporated into meals.Superfoods, when consumed on a regular basis, will help you by boosting your brain power, improve digestion, burn fat and build muscle.
Some of these are: Turmeric, walnuts, coconut oil, fatty fish (trout, snapper, salmon etc.), avocados, berries/cherries, broccoli, spinach/callaloo, natural cow milk, garlic, ginger, kale, kidney beans, lentils (split peas), chia seeds and apple cider vinegar. Generally, you should try your best to avoid fast foods, and foods high in trans-fat and sugar. One way to avoid such foods is to read your labels when you go grocery shopping. It can be time-consuming but it is worth it! said Kimberly.
A healthy diet does not only impact our physical health, but our mental health too. When we consume healthy foods, we are reducing our chances of diseases.
For those who prioritise weight loss, she aims to ensure that they understand that working out regularly will not cause one to accomplish their body goals or weight as there are various things that need to be taken into consideration.
On top of the list is poor dietary practices. People often associate working out hard and burning a lot of calories on the treadmill with major body transformation. Lest we forget the 80/20 rule; 80 per cent diet 20 per cent exercise. The key to body transformation is what nutrition coaches call CICO - calories in calories out. For people trying to lose weight that would mean the calories they put into their bodies should be less than what they expend during a workout. A person trying to transform their body while working out should incorporate more low caloric, highly nutritious foods in their day to day routine to reap the benefits.
A major component she believes is often overlooked when persons are going on a weight loss journey, is the need for a support system. Many people would start a weight loss journey and fall off in a quick time and in most cases its due to lack of support from friends and family. In my personal weight loss journey, I was faced with outside noises, with people asking me why I was punishing myself with certain types of food and encouraging me to eat more.
Some would even turn up their faces at my meals. Thankfully, I was highly self motivated, I knew what I wanted and I believed in myself. Unfortunately not everyone has the ability to stay motivated on their own and thats when the support from friends and family matters. So before you go on a journey you should do what is called a mindset check. Are you mentally ready to battle on your own?
For those who might be more interested in bulking up their muscles rather than losing weight, she advised consumption of a lot of protein at every meal.
Protein helps in muscle building and repair. Drink a lot of water, eat carbs after workouts, strength train and consistently increase your weights. These are just a few of the things anyone trying to build muscle can incorporate in their daily routine. Muscle growth demands consistency and your time. The workouts are not cardio-based and most times they are muscle group focused.
Meaning you work a different body part per day. Anyone trying to take up this journey should be mentally and physically prepared for it otherwise they might end up relapsing. Time and consistency are important points that one needs to consider when trying to lose weight or gain muscle. One needs to ensure that they have time to commit to meal preparation and be consistent with eating schedules, said Kimberly.
Kimberly Dos Santos is a fitness nutritionist currently attached to Genesis Fitness Gym. Kimberly can be reached at telephone #592-638-8101 or email kimberly11dossantos@gmail.com
