with Jill Harris, LPN, CHC
Lifestyle
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The Right Way to Do a Urine Collection and Stop Making Stones
If you’ve had a kidney stone, there’s a good chance someone told you to drink more water and left it at that. But if you really want to know why you are making stones, a urine collection matters. This is one of the most useful tests we have. It can…
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Can I Prevent Kidney Stones with Chanca Piedra?
What is Chanca Piedra? Chanca piedra is an herb (Phyllanthus niruri). In Spanish, the name means “stone breaker,” which is fantastic marketing. It’s used in traditional medicine in parts of South America, Asia, and India for the treatment of kidney stones and liver problems. You can find it as tea,…
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Weight Plateaus and Why They Happen
Plateaus are a regular part of losing weight. They don’t mean you’ve failed—they mean your body is catching up with the new you. Here’s the science: When you lose weight, your body burns fewer calories at rest and during movement. Why? This is because a smaller body takes less energy…
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The Hidden Stone Risks No One Talks About
We talk a lot about diet and fluids when it comes to preventing kidney stones (because they matter!), but many people don’t realize that certain medical conditions can also make stones more likely. If you have any of the conditions below, it doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed to get a stone—but…
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The Silent Weight of Care
I lost my mother a couple of years ago, and I’m lucky enough to have my father still. I also have other people in my life who I regard as parents and who are well into their 80s. Some of these loved ones are well, and some are not. I…
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How I maintain my weight and fitness
I get a lot of questions about how exactly I maintain my weight. Today, I will share what I do daily to keep my weight healthy, my body fit, and my mind clear of negative self-talk, which so many people struggle with.
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Change Is Hard. Here’s How To Do It.
Today’s letter is specifically for working women raising children while still managing most household tasks.
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Eat Smart, Stay Full
I’m asked often what a plate should look like that’s geared toward weight loss. We need to know how many fruits and veggies we should eat per day (the goal is one fruit per day and three cups of veggies per day), how much meat, etc. Today, I am going…
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An Open Letter to All Kidney Stone Patients
Dear You, I have been thinking a lot about illness this week. You might think, “Well, that makes sense. People are calling you all week talking about illness.” While this is true, it’s not the reason I am writing you. When we think of illness, we think of the physical pain…
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Medical Management Of Kidney Stones
Here I am again with another recent study on how a clinician should treat kidney stone formers. From 24-hour urine collections to the Kidney Stone Diet® (each goal is listed as a way to lower kidney stone risk), it is all here. Also, AUA (American Urological Association) panel members rated…
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How Fad Diets Affect Kidney Stone Risk
Hi! A recent study examined the links between various fad diets and kidney stone risk—you can read my summary below. The original study can be found here. Kidney Stone Disease (KSD) is increasingly common, affecting up to 14% of people in industrialized countries, and is closely linked to dietary habits and…
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Kidney Stones and Fear of Traveling
I have wanted to write this for a long time, and I am happy that today is the day. A widespread fear for my students and patients is going on vacation. Whether it be by plane, train, or automobile, you have anxiety that your current stone will pass or you…
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Giving up on the Kidney Stone Diet
This is the time of year when people get frustrated with their lifestyle changes and begin to give up and ditch the whole damn thing. My job is to make sure that doesn’t happen. Every January 1st, people make unreasonable promises to themselves. For instance, here’s a list of promises…
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10 Ways My Students Succeed in Stone Prevention
I’m often asked what makes my kidney stone students so successful in their lifestyle change and stone prevention journey. There are many reasons, but here are 10 practices I know, for certain, lead to success. Jill,Your friend and advocate
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The Hard Truth About Lifestyle Change
If you don’t know, I have a private Facebook group for kidney stone formers, and I want to share a recent post from there. Oftentimes, I’ll write what has become known as a “Jill rant.” These “rants” typically come after having YET ANOTHER person tell me how they’ve wasted hundreds…
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The Struggle of Having an Unsupportive Partner
The struggle of having an unsupportive partner is a subject that has come up a lot throughout my career. Once diagnosed with kidney stones, lifestyle changes are necessary, and that’s not always easy for everyone. The patient is overwhelmed with being sick having gone through a complex surgery and recovery…
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The Value of Being Flexible
This week, my Kidney Stone Prevention Course members and I talked a lot about flexibility. Let me explain. I am someone who craves a regimen. My schedule is packed, and having a regimen grounds me and helps me reach my weekly goals. But to be compliant with my health and wellness goals,…
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Change Takes Time
Today, I want to talk about the diet industry and how they have us believing that lifestyle changes are easy and should come quickly. I say the opposite. Lifestyle changes happen slowly and can be difficult. That being said, let me share this story with you.
“The Kidney Stone Diet is far more than just a diet; this plan is life-altering!”
“The group calls will transform you physically and emotionally. Once you start this journey, your health naturally improves. I have lost a total of 40 pounds and have consistently kept it off. The group calls are such support; this is more like family than a zoom meeting to stay accountable. Jill is far more than a nurse; she is a life coach. Her platform is invaluable.”
Kim J. | Kidney Stone Prevention Course
“The best decision I’ve made has been to join this group.”
“I have been working on weight loss for many years. This group has kept me on track and has helped my continued success with my weight loss.”
Kate L. | Group Calls with Jill
“I have been following the Meal Plan for about 6 weeks and I feel amazing.”
“Eating healthy has also encouraged me to go to bed earlier, so I am also getting more sleep. Because of that, I have been able to get up before work and exercise! So yes, the positive effects are spilling over into all areas of a healthy lifestyle.”
Jerry T. | Meal Plan Subscriber
“I have been a part of the group calls with Jill for the last 14 months, and they are essential to being so successful with the Kidney Stone Diet Prevention Plan.”
Sarah B. | Group Calls with Jill
“These calls are the gold of this program!!”
“I can’t say enough about how Jill knows just the right questions to ask us or how she prods us to think about what is going on in our lives.”
Monica K. | Group Calls with Jill
“I took the course with Jill, and my second 24 hour urine was MUCH better than the first.”
“She gives very practical information, and it WORKS. I was totally overwhelmed at first. I got very poor diet information from my doctors. Jill made it easy for me to understand, and I took it one day at a time. I still watch her videos when I need a tune-up. Jill is the best, and she really cares about all of us. Take the course—it will help you!!!”
Mark J. | Kidney Stone Prevention Course