Can You Apply ASHI’s Purpose and Scope to Your Own Health?

When ASHI Executive Director Frank Lesh asked me to write an article for the Reporter, I thought, “Wait a minute, my husband’s the home inspector, not me!” But then as we talked, it became clear what topic he was getting at…nutrition and weight control for a community that might not put these concerns at the top of the list. 

Before you say “Lettuce is not my thing” and stop reading, please take a look at these phrases (excerpted and adapted) from ASHI’s purpose and scope: 

> establish a minimum standard 

> identify systems and components that are not functioning properly, are significantly deficient or are unsafe 

> provide recommendations to correct, or monitor for future correction 

Are you using these parameters for yourself? 

Ask yourself the following questions: 

• How often have I received that lecture— whether from a health professional or a loved one—about weight, blood pressure, cholesterol or diabetes? 

• Have I heard this statement recently: “You wouldn’t need this medication if your weight was under control.” 

• Am I on the couch when I’m not on the job? 

• Did I just or will I soon celebrate a “significant decade” birthday? 

If you’ve answered yes to any or all of these questions, you are my audience! 

As a clinical nutritionist in private practice and a media contributor, I’ve learned a lot over the years. At the head of that list is how to get people to do what they should do as it relates to their health. Time’s going by (think about that birthday) and we need to pay attention to the quality of our lives. For at least 90 percent of us, this involves adopting healthier eating habits and managing our weight. 

Here are a few rules to get you started: 

Rule 1: There is no magic bullet. It takes work to nudge that scale down and the quality of your health up. You need to participate in the process. 

Rule 2: Take it slow. Who hasn’t tried to lose weight? Most everyone has been spectacularly unsuccessful at some point. Why? Because we’re impatient and the methods we choose to lose weight can be unrealistic. Just as Rome wasn’t built in a day, developing healthy habits takes time. 

Rule 3: Create your structure. Everyone’s different, and everyone’s needs are different. Can’t stand fish? Don’t eat it. Love chicken? Great—make it white meat and definitely not fried or covered in gravy. You know you shouldn’t smoke, so stop. Regarding “libations,” if you enjoy that beer or cocktail at the end of the day, how about limiting yourself to one drink instead of two? 

I lost 183 pounds over 40 years ago, so the following recommendations come from my personal experience: 

• Drink water first. Unless your health professional has told you otherwise, take eight gulps of water before every meal. 

• Use the fork method for salad dressing. Put your salad on one plate and the dressing on the side. Dip your fork into the dressing first, then spear the salad (and, yes, you should eat it!). The salad dressing taste will come through loud and clear. 

• Love fast food? It’s not like the old days; now there’s a wide variety of choices. Even if you don’t choose salad and opt for that burger, subtract either one-half of the bun, the cheese or the bacon. If fries are your thing, have a small order. No more supersizing! 

• Vary your snack foods. Of course, fruit is best. These days, it’s hard to find a place that doesn’t sell fruit. But if you insist on eating processed snack foods, get the smallest container (a single serving) and make it last. 

• Leave a bite of everything on your plate. Doing this can save you approximately 75 calories at every meal and it’s painless! 

Precision and looking at the details are hallmarks of ASHI home inspectors on the job. Raising awareness of what’s down the road is as well. So, don’t put on blinders when you are not at work—read those labels! It will be a real eye-opener. For example, do you like regular soda? That’s 140 calories. Do you drink three in a day? Without changing anything else, you’ll gain one pound every 10 days. 

Refer to the box below for some additional adjustments that could make your road a little “less heavy.” 

I know what you’re thinking: “Everything in this article has been about weight. When is she going to drop the hammer about exercise?” 

Exercise—or “movement” as I call it—is a component of good health. That’s not rocket science. What I don’t believe in is a one-size-fits-all recommendation. Everyone’s situation is different and everyone’s health history is different, so it is not advisable to jump into exercise without making sure what you’re doing is physiologically sound for you. An alert: You should consult with your health professional before starting an exercise regimen. Then, remember that adage (and yes, I know I’m repeating myself), Rome wasn’t built in a day. 

One more math calculation before I close. Do your hips, knees or ankles ache at the end of the day? Think it might have something to do with your weight? You’re right. For every 10 pounds you lose, you’ll take 26 pounds of pressure off those joints. Sounds like a great way to “correct for the future,” doesn’t it?