GF: Thanks for volunteering your time today. Can you please introduce yourself and your role at GlobalFit?
N: I’m Nicole Parello, Registered Dietitian with CHARGE.
GF: Hi Nicole! What does a “healthy lifestyle” mean to you?
N: A healthy lifestyle to me means exercising, eating healthy on most days, getting enough sleep, and finding ways to decrease stress.
GF: When did you begin focusing on a healthy lifestyle and why?
N: I have always lived a healthy lifestyle, taking dance and gymnastics classes and eating home cooked meals full of veggies made by my parents/grandparents as a child.
GF: How do you stay physically active?
N: I use Beachbody on Demand workout programs, having just completed Transform20 by ShaunT, along with YouTube workout videos and walking outside as much as possible. I enjoy doing a mixture of HIIT workouts, weight lifting, cardio, and yoga videos.
GF: How do you practice mindfulness or mental “fitness?”
N: I walk outside with no distractions, along with doing yoga once a week to practice mindfulness.
GF: Does your wellness routine include a certain way of eating? If so, can you describe it?
N: I do not follow a specific routine, but I do cook most meals at home and make sure to have a variety of fruits and vegetables, proteins, carbohydrates, and healthy fats with most meals, practicing balance.
GF: How do you make time for your wellness routine amidst work, family, and other responsibilities?
N: I make sure to exercise first thing in the morning so I get it out of the way. If I have an earlier day, I might do a shorter, more intense workout at about 20 minutes versus a 30 to 45 minute workout if I have more time. I also make sure to walk as much as possible and take the stairs during the day when I can.
GF: In regards to your wellness routine, what have you tried before that didn't work for you, and why not?
N: I have always enjoyed all different types of exercises, having gone to the gym in the past, and taking classes. When I was working and in grad school I did not have time to go to the gym so switched to the at-home workouts, and have loved them ever since!
GF: What does it take for you to be consistent in your wellness routine?
N: I do things I enjoy to do, spending a few minutes the day before picking out a workout video to do the next day, and plan healthy meals to cook 2 to 3 times a week (along with leftovers) on the weekends so I do not have to think about what I'm going to eat.
GF: What are your top tips for someone looking to live a more healthy lifestyle?
N: Find something you really enjoy to do; set small goals for yourself like walking 2 to 3 times a week or having 1 more vegetable a day; and keep it up!