If you’ve ever struggled with maintaining diet and exercise habits, this podcast is for you!
Today we welcome to the podcast Dr. Mary Jung. Mary is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Health and Social Development at the University of British Columbia.
Dr. Jung’s passion is researching the self-regulation of health behaviours, primarily the promotion and adherence to physical activity and healthy diets. If you’re looking to improve your health habits, Mary gives you the tools you need in today’s episode!
Show Notes:
0:00 – Who is Dr. Mary Jung and how did she start down her path into exercise psychology?
5:30 – How did Mary maintain her health throughout her college years, through pregnancy/motherhood and ultimately as an industry leading researcher?
7:30 – We discuss misinformation regarding the “safety” of exercise. Spoiler alert: Anything is better than nothing.
10:00 – Mary dives into the topic of self-regulation, avoiding negative self-talk, and the power of words
14:00 – Why “should-ing” people to exercise doesn’t work, and the psychology behind this phenomenon
18:40 – How can people learn to effectively self-monitor? Frequency is key!
20:45 – How have self-monitoring strategies changed over the years?
23:00 – We discuss the difficulty with self-regulation and why it can be do hard to honestly track food or exercise intake.
26:30 – Has Mary found any trends in the different areas of Canada regarding diet and exercise?
28:40 – Another plug for the importance of nature for overall health & well-being.
30:00 – How important is environment/social support when it comes to creating & maintaining new health habits?
32:20 – The impact of self-perception on health habits.
34:30 – How learning self-compassion can be the most important tool for people who are trying to overcome chronic disease.
41:00 – We talk mindfulness and how making conscious choices for the love of your body is the true key to health.
42:45 – Is HIIT training safe?
46:00 – How successful has the DPRG program been in teaching people self-regulatory tools for real life?
47:30 – Another example of why is so important to track adherence when you’re starting a new habit.
49:00 – What keeps Mary motivated in her line of work?
52:30 – Mary’s book recommendation:
– Dare to Lead, by Brene Brown
54:45 – Mary’s non-negotiable daily self-care tool: Meditation
56:25 – The one piece of health advice that Mary would like to share with you: Be nice to yourself, you are worth it.
58:10 – Where you can find more about Mary and her research.
Additional Listening:
Move Daily Health Podcast Ep 28: HIIT Training & Health w/Martin Gibala
More about Dr. Mary Jung:
Dr. Jung is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Health and Social Development at the University of British Columbia, as well as a Michael Smith Foundation Health Research Scholar.
Mary’s passion is researching the self-regulation of health behaviours, primarily the promotion and adherence to physical activity and healthy diets in people living with, or at risk of, type 2 diabetes. Dr. Jung directs the Diabetes Prevention Research Group (DPRG) and strives to see evidence-based lifestyle interventions implemented in the community to serve those in need.
Connect with Mary:
Twitter: @DrMaryJung
Small Steps for Big Changes UBC
More About the Diabetes Prevention Research Group (DPRG):
The Diabetes Prevention Research Group (DPRG) is focused on researching the promotion and maintenance of lifestyle modifications (diet and exercise) for individuals at risk of Type 2 Diabetes. This includes, but is not limited to, research working with children and adults with prediabetes, women who have experienced gestational diabetes, or adults who are sedentary and are overweight or obese.
DPRG Website: https://dprg.ok.ubc.ca/
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Thank you and stay tuned for the next episode!
