The CHIP program is a lifestyle enrichment program designed to reduce disease risk factors through the adoption of better health habits and appropriate lifestyle modifications. The goal is to lower blood cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood sugar levels by reducing excess weight, lowering high blood pressure, enhancing daily exercise, improving dietary choices, and eliminating smoking, thus aiding in preventing and reversing disease.
This is the first summit I've been to, eventhough I have watched the DVD's and used the workbooks. We talked about everything from exercise, to healthy food selection and we recieved kits that included a pedometer, a water bottle, workbooks and cookbooks filled with delicious and nutritious recipies. The meals served to us were so delicious. For breakfast, we could choose from foods like whole grain oatmeal, honey almond granola, nuts, dried cranberries, fresh fruit, tofu scamble, whole grain toast and buckwheat pancakes.
Lunch and dinner included things like veggie burgers, baked potatoes, salad material (mixed greens, red onions, tomatoes, sunflower seeds, beans and peas), and pita pockets with fresh produce to fill them with. I even had the leasure of meeting the founder of the CHIP program, Dr. Hans Diehl. There were also some very informative presentations by Dr. Darren Morton, a world leading researcher and National level athlete (he was also nice enough to help me carry my suitcase down the stairs).
We learned that while it is important to exercise, cut back on fats and sugars and eat more whole grains and fresh fruits and veggies, being healthy is more than that. We need to make overall healthy lifestyle choices, which includes having a positive attitude ( anger and stress can kill you, it's no joke). We talked about things that are essential for our bodies and what food sources contained them.
Overall, I am glad that I was able to attend and I plan to implement what I have learned into my life.
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