Healthy Thoughts, Healthy Outcomes - May 9, 2008

Planting life-giving seeds to reap a bountiful harvest of health!

If your life (or those of your patients) was analogous to a garden, what would it look like? Would it be level rows of lush vegetables full of life and energy? Would it be a glorious spray of wild flowers bursting open with brilliant color? Perhaps you were thinking the garden has been invaded with weeds of stressful infestations? It may not carry the award winning hybrid roses that are featured in the latest garden magazine, but take heart! Even the hardest soil can be turned into a life-giving natural resource with the proper attention and care!

Sometimes you may feel that getting patients to make the effort towards fitness or to begin tending their “garden” of life is like plowing through cement. Likewise, think about the patients themselves toiling to conquer poor health habits, while it seems as if the weeds multiply and overtake their health. They feel out of control with hypertension or a BMI that has inched its way past 30. They don’t even know how to “dig” themselves out.

The battle of the bulge (and its related health hazards) often begins in the battleground of the mind. Plant seeds of change in your patients with patient-centered dialog in which you actively seek patients’ views. How does the patient view himself or herself? Encourage patients to think of themselves as successful, even when they slip up.
Using nondirective counseling skills through reflective listening, discuss with patients a practical timeframe to achieve goals, such as a 2- or 4-week follow-up visit.
Help them to accept their limitations and focus on taking steps to improve the areas that are changeable and realistic. Examples: Could you walk 1,000 steps/day to start (vs. 10,000)?
Aid them in looking on the bright side – research shows that pessimists take more sick days than optimists. Changing to positive thoughts helps bring positive outcomes. Speak positively with the patient: “I believe you can get off of this medicine with the help of simple fitness goals.” Plant a small seed of a healthy act and watch it blossom into a lifestyle of fitness!

Enjoy springtime and may your life grow strong as you AIM-HI towards fitness!