Healthy Habits: Planning gym time, watching baseball help Dr. Nadia Ismail stay balanced

June 18, 2019 Healthy Habits, Nutrition and Wellness

It can sometimes be difficult to find ways to stay healthy, so we’ve asked members of our Baylor College of Medicine community to share what they do in their daily lives to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Dr. Nadia Ismail, associate professor of medicine and associate dean of curriculum in the School of Medicine at Baylor, shares some of her healthy habits with us.

Q: What health decisions start your day?
A: I plan which days of the week I can make it to the gym and also plan breakfast and lunch. I bring food from home for those meals daily.

Q: What is your go-to healthy breakfast?
A: I enjoy fresh berries, slivered almonds and a fat-free Greek vanilla yogurt.

Q: What is your favorite type of exercise?
A: I enjoy either circuit type (high intensity) workouts or a good run.

Q: What keeps you motivated during your workout?
A: Working out in a gym with others helps keep me motivated and trying my hardest.

Q: What activities do you do when you can’t fit in a full workout?
A: I have some video workouts I do or I go for a quick run.

Q: What is your favorite healthful snack?
A: Nuts, including pistachios, almonds or cashews, are my favorite.

Q: What do you include in your child’s lunch?
A: I try to make sure it’s balanced and avoid high sugar foods. We rarely if ever buy or include juices. Fresh fruit is a must.

Q: How do you make an unhealthy recipe healthy?
A: Whenever frying is called for in a recipe, I try to bake instead. I also use healthier oils in place of vegetable or canola oil, cauliflower rice instead of white rice, and fresh, steamed veggies in lieu of pasta.

Q: What is your nighttime skin regimen?
A: I make sure I always remove makeup. I do use a prescription wash at this time as well.

Q: What hobbies do you have to help you relax?
A: Watching the Astros! I also enjoy reading and spending time with my kids (watching movies, going for a walk).

Q: Do you use a pedometer or Fitbit and what is your daily step goal?
A: I do use a Fitbit Ionic. It is amazing. I love the functionality and long battery life. My goal is to be as active as possible during the day (taking stairs, etc).

Q: What is your favorite health tip that you live by?
A: To focus on being healthy, making good choices and trying to be a good role model for my kids.