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Showing posts from 2011

New Year Resolutions

I was given the opportunity to be challenged this week. Challenged in a good way, that is. Working as a clinical dietitian is always challenging, for each patient (regardless of diagnosis) has his/her own past medical history. Over the past 6 months, I have learned an amazing amount of information about the body as well as healthcare in general. I've gotten to know many of the nurses at BMCB as well as a few of the doctors. I started out seeing patients in med surge and once I got a bit more comfortable, I worked my way to seeing patients in the PCU (Progressive Care Unit). With each change in unit comes more difficult and complex cases and just this week, I was given the opportunity to assess, follow and treat patients in the CCU (Critical care unit). Accepting this challenge also comes with responsibility as I am assessing and following patients who are on tube feedings, TPN, with decub ulcers, undergoing chemo/radiation, are sedated, are inbuted or are with a trach. I suppose yo

Too busy or too hungry?

One of the most common complaints (err, excuses) that I hear from individuals is that they don't have enough time to cook meals. Over the past month, I have found myself wishing for a few more hours in the day and wondering where the time goes and if I can find it..... and get some back. Two things that I prioritize at the top of my daily-functioning list are sleep and exercise. Both make me feel great, allow me to re-charge and help me feel productive. As my good sleep habits make for a consistent exercise routine, I must prioritize the food in my diet in order ensure optimal health and performance gains. If you are coming home extremely hungry because of a rushed/busy schedule or you are coming home hungry after work, I would completly agree with you that it would be hard to cook a 30 or 60 min. meal. Sure, some meals can be prepared and consumed within 15 minutes but it's likely that most meals involve a little time for prep and cooking (or assembly). Sometime ago, our socie

Veselé Vánoce and Happy Hanukkah!

Wishing everyone a happy holiday from the Sumbal household! Sporting my new LG jersey...hopefully by now, you know how much I L.O.V.E. Louis Garneau! Karel rocking one of his two new pairs of Oakley's and his new Road ID Elite. We had a very merry Czech, Jewish celebration last night and it was filled with yummy homemade food, family traditions, a few special gifts for Karel and me (I feel like I have everything I need in life..can't ask for much more!) and Campy getting way too many gifts :) Homemade Czech cookies and candy from Karel's family in Czech. Thank you (Dekuji)! My homemade Vánočka (Czech Christmas bread) which is nothing compared to the real thing but at least I try, every year. Karel also made his mom's traditional potato salad w/ pickles, parsnips, celery root, carrots, potatoes and peas...which is SOOOOO good! Carp is the traditional fish in Czech but Karel made a breaded tuna steak for him and breaded tofu for me. YUM! I added asparagus for a little c

26.2 Donna - upcoming talk!

Shortly before the Ironman World Championships in October, I applied to be a 110% Play Harder Ambassador. If you haven't heard of the company or discovered their amazing line of products, I highly recommend checking out the 110% Gear as well as the limited edition breast cancer clothing. As an ambassador for 110%, I am proud and honored to be part of this upcoming event at Seasons 52 with an amazing panel of inspiring women. This event will be a fundraiser to support a high-impact fundraising effort for the 26.2 with Donna: 110M for 110K Although I will not be running the 110 miles, I will be racing the 26.2 Donna in Feb, here in Jacksonville, for 13.1 miles (the half marathon). As I will be running 13.1 miles with thousands of inspiring athletes, a group of 110% runners will cover 110 miles (on foot!) to the marathon finish of the 26.2 with Donna in an effort to raise $110,000. If they can achieve that goal of raising $110,000, the 26.2 with Donna should be able to meet the Weav

A year in pics...

A new business, another year for making memories and continuing my journey for living a quality-filled life and the year in which I move out of the 25-29 age group. As I close 2011, I'd love to share a few pics as I reflect on an amazing, life-changing year..... Finishing my 10-month Dietetic Internship with 13 amazing weeks at St. Vincent's Hospital Karel finishing the 2011 Athens Twilight Criterium Celebrating my brothers' graduation from Carnegie Mellon Business School and his new job at Ernst and young Spending time as a family...a very active family Dedicating an entire month to preparing for the RD exam...and passing on my first attempt Being selected among hundreds to be an Oakley Women Ambassador and performing beautifully with my new friends and family in Napa Valley for the Oakley Women Fitness retreat. Getting my first job as a RD at Baptist Medical Center Beaches, as a PRN Clinical Dietitian. Putting my 8 years of education (BA in exercise science with a minor

Life is challenging

"I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive." -Gilda Radner Campy is lucky to have Karel and me...but then again, I think WE are the lucky ones I will be working most of this week and all of next week at the Baptist Medical Center Beaches. I am always so amazed as to what I learn while I am at work and the appreciation I have when I leave work. Cancer diagnosis, new tube feeding regimes, on-going testing, round the clock medications and painful symptoms. These are all things that I am sure none of us wish to have in our personal life, yet we often take for granted that good health is often in our control. I believe we are all on a journey in life and that we need to see every day as a new day to be OK with change. Change was always something that was very scary for me. I always loved being in my comfort zone. Looking back at my life, I sometimes I wonder where I would be in life, if I didn't ac

HCG for weight loss...

Not any more. HCG off the market Diet fads, weight loss pills and meals plans don't help. They only confuse you, restrict you and make you feel obsessed, unbalanced, extreme and overwhelmed. Think about training..what if you were told that there was only one way to train and you had to do the same thing everyday. Oh, and everyone you know was going to do the same thing as well because there is only one way to do it correctly. Flexibility and an open mind, along side an ability to customize training and nutrition allows freedom and a sense of balance. I am constantly learning as a dietitian and exercise physiologist. As I launch my new business in T-minus 12 days, I have really enjoyed furthering my understanding of the human body and how it reacts to food and exercise. More so, I have really enjoyed working closely with Karel and discussing, in great detail, as to how our personal philosophy's on food and exercise will be displayed in my nutrition and coaching business. I beli

Happy Friday!

Campy reminds me that every day, we have the choice of having a good day or a great day. "If you have a goal in life that takes a lot of energy, that requires a lot of work, that incurs a great deal of interest and that is a challenge to you, you will always look forward to waking up to see what the new day brings." - Susan Polis Schultz Do you have a reason to live for today? If so, then you are far from a bad day. "Deal with the bad days quickly, move on in a positive manner and realize that YOUR bad day could be someone's BEST day." Keep in mind that your attitude will drive you and that one negative experience should not be seen as a streak of bad luck. Most people recognize bad days because they are often among many, many good and great days. Everyone has an "off" day...but it is never a bad day when you can love, live and make choices that will encourage a better tomorrow (and later today). Happy Friday and don't forget to thank your body!

Happy Friday!

Campy reminds me that every day, we have the choice of having a good day or a great day. "If you have a goal in life that takes a lot of energy, that requires a lot of work, that incurs a great deal of interest and that is a challenge to you, you will always look forward to waking up to see what the new day brings." - Susan Polis Schultz Do you have a reason to live for today? If so, then you are far from a bad day. "Deal with the bad days quickly, move on in a positive manner and realize that YOUR bad day could be someone's BEST day." Keep in mind that your attitude will drive you and that one negative experience should not be seen as a streak of bad luck. Most people recognize bad days because they are often among many, many good and great day. Everyone has an "off" day...but it is never a bad day when you can love, live and make choices that will encourage a better tomorrow (and later today). Happy Friday and don't forget to thank your body!

Orange walnut biscotti's

Tis the season of holiday parties and cute pics of Campy Last night was the end of the year Hammerhead Triathlon Club party and was catered by the Pita Pit. The falafel and hummus pita's were delicious! The party included a cookie contest and I was excited to come up with a new creations to bring to the party. Knowing that I am not a baker and that my "healthy" creations do not compare to the decadent taste of chocolate covered peanut butter balls, Andes-mint chocolate chip cookies and Scandinavian powdered balls....I figured that I was baking for me and Karel and I knew that my coffee-loving husband would LOVE my biscotti's. Although only a few people at the party commented that they liked my creation (I'm surprised people tried them as they were sitting between chocolate chip cookies and my favorite...carrot cake!), I am positive that you will enjoy them as a crunchy treat, not loaded with butter, sugar and oil. So while we all welcome a few occasional treats ar

Iron poppers and Seasons 52

Unbeknown to many, I spend a lot of time researching information for my articles. This article (on Iron), specifically, took a lot of time in putting together. What a complex topic!! But that's ok...all it took was a little time in my kitchen to come up with one of my most favorite recipes EVER!!! My editor and I are calling them "Iron poppers" but feel free to call them what they are.....Iron balls! A friend of mine, Jennifer Hutchison, RD, commented that she made a similar recipe in 2000 when she made something wholesome and easy to carry for her friends who were training for an Ironman. She called them Iron Ballz. Jennifer reminded me that we have a similar product on the market... "POWER BITES"!! Although my intent wasn't to re-create a sports nutrition product, I guess my idea to combine several non-heme foods in a food processor and roll them into a ball, is a great "powerful" snack! I hope you enjoy them and if you want to make them a little