Commack Mom Pens Health Book

Little changes go a long way. That’s the message behind Commack resident Jaclyn Brottman’s book, “Eat, Get Movin’ and Rock That Little Black Dress.”

Brottman’s weightloss strategy isn’t the new Atkins, South Beach or cabbage soup diet. It’s about people making small adjustments to the way they eat and live to create healthier lifestyles.

“The whole idea behind the book is how to eat well and eat in moderation,” she said.

“A lot of times you hear of a new diet and it requires 100 percent change from what you’re accustomed to. What I’ve done is say, here are some ideals that are healthy, that work. You can’t control everything, but can moderate certain things, like getting the salad dressing on the side and educating yourself on what’s in the food you eat.”

From trading potato chips for vegetable sticks to giving up sugary sweets for fruit, it's common sense changes that guide Brottman’s philosophy. That goes for exercise too.

“General exercise is literally just moving around. You don’t have to take kickboxing classes, but do take a walk around the block.”

“In society, we’re so busy during the day, we’re busy when we get home, and by the time all of the work is done, you just want to decompress and relax, and that feeling takes precedent a lot of the time. That’s why little changes make such a difference,” she said.

In a world where food, particularly unhealthy food, is everywhere, it can be impossible not to fall off the bandwagon once in a while, and that’s alright, the author explains.

Even a self-proclaimed health nut digs her fingers into a cake once in a while, as explained in a humorous anecdote within the book, in which Brottman realizes she has died her fingernails blue after literally taking handfuls of the colored frosted cake into her mouth.

“I don’t feel guilty about it because I know that 99 percent of the time, I’m eating very healthy,” she said. “It’s like going shopping. It’s not always realistic to buy an expensive handbag every time, but maybe once a year. It’s about moderation and balance.”

One of the changes she suggests include having a healthy snack before going out to eat at a restaurant so that the person eats smaller portions once at the table. 

“My biggest point is, change doesn’t have to be dramatic. It’s about making little alterations that make such a huge difference. A little bit can go such a long way,” she said. 

Brottman's book can be purchased on Amazon.com.