Healthy Habits: Dr. Jorge Miranda focuses on moderation

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. Jorge Miranda, assistant professor in the Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, shares some of his healthy habits with us.

Question: What health decisions start your day?
Answer: I usually start my day by waking up early around 5 to 6 a.m. I make my bed to feel I have accomplished a task, and then I go out for a 2-mile run, then a cold shower. Therefore, when I get to work, I feel like I’ve accomplished something.

Q: What is your go-to healthy breakfast?
A: I like to have a cup of coffee with creamer with a pastry. Not too healthy but I make sure it’s small and under 300 calories.

Q: What is your favorite type of exercise?
A: I like running, cycling or doing HIIT workouts at various gyms around town. I use the ClassPass app to do this. My go to spinning studio is Ryde in River Oaks.

Q: What keeps you motivated during your workout?
A: Good music and a sense that I am becoming better.

Q: What activities do you do when you can’t fit in a full workout?
A: I usually just make a mental note that I need to do an even bigger workout the next time.

Q: What is your favorite healthful snack?
A: I drink a lot of water throughout the day. It’s usually at home when I snack: I like cheese with salmon.

Q: Do you take vitamins and if so, which ones?
A: No, I try to have various greens in my meals to not supply anything additional.

Q: How do you make an unhealthy recipe healthy (healthy substitutions)?
A: Usually, my fiancée takes care of this, but she makes dishes that use fish and a vegetable base. We try to avoid anything fried and heavy in carbs

Q: What hobbies do you have to help you relax?
A: I like to race cars and do weekend drives to the backroads in the suburbs of Houston.

Q: What is your go-to Houston restaurant for a healthy meal?
A: Pokeworks, any sushi spot or Sweetgreen.

Q: What is your favorite health tip that you live by?
A: Eat a balanced meal, workout 3-4 times a week. It doesn’t take a special diet or exercise to be healthy, just moderation.