Small Steps for Big Results

Every New Year, millions of people vow to make changes to their lifestyles for better health.  If you are like most people, you start on Day 1 full of enthusiasm.  But, as the days go by and life gets in the way, it is easy to forget about those healthy changes. Little by little, you are back to your old ways.  Having someone there to help you stay on track and to keep you accountable is one way to reach your goals.  Meeting with a Registered Dietitian can help you.  I work out of CNY Healing Arts, which is located in Syracuse, NY.  CNY Healing Arts offers nutritional counseling, as well as a wide variety of other services such as yoga, acupuncture and massage, to help you on your way to a healthy lifestyle.

Click here to read some small steps that will get you on your way to BIG RESULTS!

Heather Neely, RD
CNY Healing Arts Center
Call me at 315.671.5755
Or e-mail me

Eating right to drop weight

Are you ready to start losing weight and look great for summer?  Although summer is a month or so away still, you can never start too early to eat right.  Safe weight loss is considered 1-2 pounds a week, so depending on the amount of weight that you want to lose, there is no better time then the present to get going.

People often relate losing weight and dieting to eating only bland foods and starving.  It doesn’t have to be that way.  By choosing the right foods, you can incorporate your favorite foods, and even a few indulgences.  Below are some tips to get you started on eating to shed a few pounds.  While we will focus on diet and nutrition, don’t forget that exercise is just as important in achieving your weight loss goal.

1.     Portion your plate: Use your plate as your guide for portion sizes when you don’t have measuring cups available.  Use ¼ of your plate for lean proteins, ¼ for starches or grains, and the remaining ½ of the plate for non-starchy vegetables. Read more

Super foods to include in your diet

The New Year has arrived, resolutions have been made.  If you are like most people, you may have resolved to eat healthier.  With so much information out there, knowing what to eat can get pretty tricky.  In order to try and get the most nutrition you can out of every meal, I suggest adding “super foods” to your meals.  Super foods are foods that contain an abundant amount of nutrients and have an added health bonus-whether it is decreasing cholesterol or aiding in digestion.  Below are 8 super foods and some suggestions on how to incorporate them into your diet. Read more

Getting your diet in line: Eating well for 2009

Come join me for a fun and informational workshop at CNY Healing Arts Wellness Center and Spa in Syracuse, NY. It’s not too late to register, it’s free, and we still have room for more. Details below:
WHEN: Saturday, January 24th, 2:30-4:30PM
WHERE: CNY Healing Arts, 191 Intrepid Lane Syracuse, NY 13205

CNY Healing Arts Registered Dietitian, Heather Neely, will take some time during this workshop and talk with us about healthy eating habits. This will include information on making your recipes healthier, adding exercise to your daily regimen, label reading, and more. She will end with a question and answer session and Read more

Good news for chocolate lovers!

Just in time for the holidays, some good news that you can use.  Recent studies have found that dark chocolate is actually good for you!  Dark chocolate falls into the category of a “functional food”, which is a food that provides a benefit to you beyond just nutrition.  In the case of dark chocolate, it contains flavanoids, which have been shown to help reduce the risk of heart disease.  Not only that, but dark chocolate also contains antioxidants and polyphenols. Antioxidants are found in various fruits, vegetables, green tea and red wine, which help with heart health.  However, dark chocolate has more antioxidants than both green tea and red wine.  Polyphenols are excellent for boosting serotonin in the brain, which produces a feel-good sensation in the brain.  Read more

Dos and Don’ts of Cholesterol

First and foremost one of the main contributors of high cholesterol levels ( Hyper Cholesterolemia) is over consumption of food.  When dealing with high cholesterol levels try to maintain the daily recommended caloric intake. The main focus on fighting high cholesterol is eliminating the foods that increase cholesterol and adding foods that lower cholesterol. It is not all about food. Lifestyle can play an important role in the bodies ability to breakdown fat and decrease plaque build up.

Foods: The obvious applies here. Avoid  excess meat consumption. Meat in moderate amounts is good for the body. Try to eat lean cuts. Fried foods, sugar, eggs, foods with high fat content and excess amounts of alcohol should all be avoided when dealing with high blood cholesterol. Read more

Video: PCOS and Nutrition

On Wednesday, September 24th Heather Neely, the Registered Dietition at CNY Healing Arts, spoke at the monthly PCOS Support meeting held at CNY Fertility Center on PCOS, Diet and Nutrition. If you have any questions related to PCOS and Nutrition you can 315.671.5755. Click MORE to watch the videos. Read more

Healthy carbohydrates and weight loss

Losing weight can be an on-going challenge.  With all the tempting foods out there, losing a pound, and more importantly, keeping it off, can be a struggle. Having the right tools is essential. Read more