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Photograph of Patricia HarrisMs. Patricia Harris, our in-house dietician, has worked at the University of Louisville since 1993 educating nurses, physicians and patients in the management of diabetes, high cholesterol, and hypertension through lifestyle changes that include diet and exercise. 
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In Good Health

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!”

Benjamin Franklin

At University Women’s HealthCare, we take these words to heart and offer a spectrum of in-house services that include nutritional plans, exercise plans, and weight loss management plans to help women maintain healthy lifestyles in today’s busy world.

TAKE A WALK! Walking is a great way to relieve stress, lower blood pressure, lower blood sugar, and burn calories. Walk outside or walk in the mall. Walk with a friend. Walk a little more each day - push yourself to your own limit.

Healthy lifestyles

Our approach is to work closely with you in developing individualized meal, exercise, and weight loss management plans that are most likely to provide you long-term health benefits. We offer you support as you implement lifestyle changes and on-going monitoring so that your plans can be adjusted as your personal needs and circumstances change.

Individualized meal plans

 Meal plans help take the guess work out of which foods to eat, the best way to prepare meals, and offer suggestions for coping with unpredictable eating schedules. Plans address the following:

  • Weight maintenance goals and challenges (e.g., post-pregnancy, PCOS, menopause)
  • Medical conditions (e.g., diabetes, PCOS, hypertension, high cholesterol)
  • Reproductive issues (e.g., pre-pregnancy, pregnancy)
  • Budgetary considerations (e.g., in-home meal preparation, restaurant menu choices)
  • Personal time constraints (e.g., meal prep, work schedules, family considerations)

Weight loss management plans

Specialized meal plans that address weight loss goals and challenges are also available. Special emphasis is given to considerations such as salt control, portion control, calorie control, carbohydrate management, and psychological triggers that encourage overeating.

Individualized exercise plans

Exercise plans provide innovative ideas for incorporating exercise into busy schedules. We offer our patients information about a variety of walking programs and alternative forms of aerobic exercise to maintain/improve heart health and to assist in weight management.