By Ken Hirter

Did you know that on average a person can gain around 15 pounds or more between the months from November to January? This is not including what l like to call ‘Winter Hibernation’ when everything seems to slows down ending in March.

 I sat down with the informative and insightful Cory Ma, Registered Dietitian at Compass Community Health and asked the following questions.

  1. Why did you become a Registered Dietitian?
  2. l was always into health and nutrition, as l have a strong family history of Cancer and heart disease. My dad was a strong influential role model, as he quit smoking in his early 40’s and replaced the habit with exercising. I was about 13 years old at the time. But what really did it for me was although l was always active in sports and strength training. When l was 18, l worked at a local McDonald’s. When l got promoted to being crew chief, l was granted free food on my shifts. As a result, l gained 15 pounds in approximately 4 months and that shocked me!
  3. What is an RD?
  4. Registered Dietitians (RD) undergo comprehensive and rigorous education. They need to obtain a specific university degree in human nutrition and dietetics, a period of practical training (about 1 year) and then pass the national exam. We provide nutrition education to clients using evidence-based knowledge of food and human nutrition. Due to the influence of social, cultural and economic factors on your relationship with food, RDs integrate this knowledge with that from other disciplines, including mental health, health and social sciences and rehab.
  5. What are the other programs that you are associated with here at Compass?
  6. I started working at Compass Community Health, at the time our organization was known as North Hamilton Community Health Centre in September of 2008 solely as a diabetes educator. I have been working at CCH for > 15 years. I am now involved with the following programs: 
  • Diabetes education: one-on- one, group education, diabetes kitchen programming 
  • Primary care support 
  • Welcome Baby prenatal education program co-facilitated with City of Hamilton Public Health Nurses 
  • COPD and guest spot group education sessions as needed: Rehab – Falls prevention,

Mental Wellness, Pathways, Health Promotion programs.

  1. I asked Cory the Top 3 Vitamins most recommend and which diet would he most recommend: 
  2. Multivitamins, Vitamin D, Psyllium and follow the Mediterranean Diet.

Please note that it is very Important to get your Annual Physical especially for men between the ages of 30-50. It starts with bloodwork when addressing your dietary needs

  1. What are his favorite quotes and words to live by?
  • “You can’t change what you don’t acknowledge” ” Put some verbs in those sentences ”  (Dr.Phil)
  • ” A goal without a plan is just a wish ” (Anonymous at my Goodlife gym)
  • ” If you set your goals without action steps, you are less likely going to improve anything. You’re just wishing for things to change, like wanting to win a lottery prize. Most likely nothing is going to change.”
  • ” Know your limit, stay within it ” ( OLG )
  • Lastly set realistic goals to set you up for success instead of failure. When something feels like work, you’re probably going to stop and not succeed.

In closing l asked Cory if he would like to send his thanks and to what is forthcoming for 2024 at Compass.

“I would like to give special thanks to Compass Community Health. Prior to working here, I worked in a hospital and long term care setting. Working at Compass Community Health, due to the structure of the organization, it’s mission, vision and values allow us to be impactful healthcare providers where we can all work as a team together to provide the community with services to be healthy, lower the risks of other preventable diseases, and improve the chances of breaking the chains of poverty in a kind and respectful manner.

What’s new for me in 2024? I will be helping a new foot care program called Lower Limb Protection (LLP) program where folks high risk for amputation and wounds can be referred to us to heal their foot related wounds faster with proper nutrition, exercise and foot care specialist support in hopes of having to prevent and lower their risk of diabetes related amputations.”

I would like to thank the knowledgeable and informative Cory Ma Registered Dietitian for teaching me and for taking the time to talk about food, health, nutrition and much more here at Compass Community Health.”

For more information to these programs please call Cory Ma at (905) 905-523-6611 ext: 3047 or visit their website at https://compossch.org for a listing of all their wonderful services.

Start the journey begin to a healthier and happier you for 2024.

Look for Part 2 –   Getting into a “New” healthier you for 2024 at Compass Community Health in next months Northend Breezes.