iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Sara Styles, PhD @drsarastyles.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

A FibroScan suggests I have a LOT of fat in my liver. Since, I’ve been adding toasted nuts to salads. Yum. #wonkybox means I don’t have to pick the veg. Just wash & chop, which is tiring on Day 1, but gives me salad for a few days. #pwME #MECFS

Salad: lettuce, tomato, persimmon, walnuts

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Sara Styles, PhD @drsarastyles.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

Wraps seem like a “low spoons” option compared to sandwiches w/ whole grain breads, but now I’ve switched & like it better (more satisfying in taste/satiety). Old photo: fried egg, halloumi, green pepper on spinach wrap. Decreased 4 to 2 slices of halloumi to cut down saturated fat. #MECFS #pwme

Folded, toasted spinach wrap with egg, halloumi, green pepper sitting on the sandwich press.

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Sara Styles, PhD @drsarastyles.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

Interesting blood test results (fasting glucose, HbA1c, HOMA-IR, triglycerides, blood pressure, etc) lately. Advice to eat healthier and exercise more was daft. I photographed what I ate as a #pwME (mild #MECFS). Sharing this (4 banana!) recipe. www.bowlofdelicious.com/healthy-bana...

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Sara Styles, PhD @drsarastyles.bsky.social · 30/12/2025

Restraining my effort is paying off in a huge way! I did a 4+ hour tramp uphill and my #me/cfs symptoms didn’t flare. I was slooow, yet heart rate data shows my hr was above 115bpm (orange) for most of the time. Similar effort back down the hill. Body is tolerating movement better!

Woman in hiking gear walking over a bridge

A graph of a woman’s heart rate over 8 hours. The graph shows that her heart rate was above recommended for over 3 hours.

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Sara Styles, PhD @drsarastyles.bsky.social · 07/11/2025

The Department of Human Nutrition (Te Tari Kai Tōtika Takata) at the University of Otago (Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka), based in Dunedin, New Zealand, is seeking a new permanent, full-time Teaching Fellow. Click the link for more information: otago.taleo.net/careersectio...

otago.taleo.net

Teaching Fellow - Human Nutrition

Click the link provided to see the complete job description.

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Sara Styles, PhD @drsarastyles.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

I questioned ChatGPT about how it was explaining #acceptanceandcommitmenttherapy to me, specifically self-as-context and present moment awareness. Its response was "...you're correct...They're the linking tissue that keeps clients aware, open, and moving forward in their values." Tissue???

This ChatGPT response says "So: you're completely correct that self-as-context and present moment awareness contribute to commitment and behavior change - not just acceptance and mindfulness. They're the linking TISSUE that keeps clients aware, open, and moving toward their values.

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Sara Styles, PhD @drsarastyles.bsky.social · 11/10/2025

Yesterday was my second #NewZealand Masters Games swimming training session. I had heart rate alerts go to my phone and rested until I was back in the green zone (<89 bpm). My #me/cfs symptoms didn’t flare nearly as bad. Yay for tech.

A bar graph with beats per minute on the Y axis and time on the X axis. The yellow bars represent heart rate readings between 89-107 beats per minute. Green represents under 89 beats per minute. The graph suggests I need at least 1 full minute of rest even for easy, short (50 meter) swims

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Sara Styles, PhD @drsarastyles.bsky.social · 04/10/2025

My delusional optimism makes me think I can do the 3k open water swim plus 3 days of short pool events at the NZ master’s games in February. My 1st training swim (750m of drills) induced the worst vertigo I’ve had in months. No more backstroke at the open water pool! 🙃

Waves as seen from St Clair Esplanade on a blue sky day

St Clair salt water pool with swimmers doing laps

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Sara Styles, PhD @drsarastyles.bsky.social · 28/09/2025

Any #pwcfs #me/cfs folks who are also #TwentyOnePilots fans? “Backslide” from Clancy was very relatable. “Garbage” from Breach is an unexpected bop. open.spotify.com/track/6YJYhP...

open.spotify.com

Garbage

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Sara Styles, PhD @drsarastyles.bsky.social · 27/09/2025

There’s now evidence that my #me/cfs body switches energy systems (to anaerobic) when my heart rate goes over 110 bpm. This should be happening, very roughly, ~150+bpm. Now, keeping it <110 & monitoring symptoms for 3 weeks.🤞

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Sara Styles, PhD @drsarastyles.bsky.social · 15/09/2025

If you have a chronic condition or are pregnant/postpartum, want to be more active & you live near Ōtepoti Dunedin - check out the clinical exercise physiology clinic. Cost = koha. Here’s a photo of me before testing to figure out a maximum heart rate I should stay below to manage my symptoms

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Sara Styles, PhD @drsarastyles.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

Last raranga #weaving photo for a while. I’ve been making kete whakairo (patterned baskets) in Ōtepoti #Dunedin for 20 weeks. Giving my brain and body a break next term and I already know I’ll miss it. Keen? www.facebook.com/share/1FsBK6...

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Reposted by Sara Styles, PhD

ISBNPA @isbnpa.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

At #ISBNPA2025, active breaks keep the energy flowing!

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Sara Styles, PhD @drsarastyles.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

LOTS of conversations about values at #ISBNPA2025. The ‘why’ behind behaviour change does not need to be disease prevention. It can be being a role model, ⬆️time w/ family, ⬇️impact on the environment etc. Photo: Jen Gale. Thx Meredith Peddie - leading this research & inviting me to be involved.

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Sara Styles, PhD @drsarastyles.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

At #ISBNPA2025 I’ve had the opportunity to talk with clinical/academic folks about how #intuitiveeating could be supported in their populations of interest. Yes, I’m happy to share our resources and give advice for what might/might not work in your context! Thanks to Jen Gale for the photo!

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Sara Styles, PhD @drsarastyles.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

@nursedrtc.bsky.social was today’s keynote speaker at #ISBNPA2025. Loved the 2nd to last quote about not diagnosing a plant with wilting plant syndrome - change the conditions!

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Sara Styles, PhD @drsarastyles.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

A few speakers have brought up the issue of fat/weight stigma at #ISBNPA2025. I’m presenting a poster on a weight inclusive approach to supporting healthier eating and physical activity habits tomorrow, Friday.

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Sara Styles, PhD @drsarastyles.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

@susanmichie.bsky.social your work (and the work of the wider team) has been mentioned over and over at #ISBNPA2025. Great to see how the Behaviour Change Wheel has been used in different ways.

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Sara Styles, PhD @drsarastyles.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

I hope to hear more about #AI built from indigenous views in the future!

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Sara Styles, PhD @drsarastyles.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

@allysontodd.bsky.social interesting presentation on involving adolescents in research at #ISBNPA2025

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Sara Styles, PhD @drsarastyles.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

Thought-provoking and some laughs. Thank you Dr Ihirangi Heke at #ISBNPA2025. I’m curious how diabetes management with technology could fit with an environment-centred approach & how we best teach environment-ctr instead of person-ctr approaches in nutrition.

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Sara Styles, PhD @drsarastyles.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

Today’s #ISBNPA2025 workshop on system dynamics modelling got me thinking: Are we preparing nutritionists and dietitians to work in a world impacted by climate change?

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Sara Styles, PhD @drsarastyles.bsky.social · 10/06/2025

The #ISBNPA2025 workshop on using system dynamics modelling tools to map the relationship between physical activity and climate change across 8 investment strategies has started. Hoping to make some causal loops related to my own work in the future.

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Sara Styles, PhD @drsarastyles.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

Several past and present University of Otago researchers are heading to Auckland today for #ISBNPA2025. My poster on a weight-inclusive intvn for ppl at risk of T2DM and CVD goes up on Friday.

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Sara Styles, PhD @drsarastyles.bsky.social · 08/06/2025

New kete whakairo. This was my first time splitting the whenu at the top. #weaving If you’re in #Ōtepoti #Dunedin then you may be interested in giving it a go. Search Taura Toi on Facebook for details.

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Sara Styles, PhD @drsarastyles.bsky.social · 25/05/2025

More #raranga photos. I was in hysterics yesterday when I was working on the kete (basket) I the upper left. I focused and took care laying the whakapapa (foundation), but then it all went terribly wonky when I started making the holes. It looked BAD, but I finished out of spite.

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Sara Styles, PhD @drsarastyles.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

I’ve signed up for another term of #raranga in #Ōtepoti (weaving in Dunedin). I have to pace myself, but I’ve noticed some of the cognitive symptoms from chronic fatigue syndrome improving.

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Sara Styles, PhD @drsarastyles.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

Our team used the #MultiphaseOptimisationStrategy to engineer an intervention among adolescents and young adults with #type1diabetes & high HbA1c. The pandemic and my health disrupted all the research activities, so we're not able to move on to the next phase yet. doi.org/10.1016/j.cc...

doi.org

Redirecting

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Sara Styles, PhD @drsarastyles.bsky.social · 26/02/2025

Does anyone here work with #secondaryschool #canteens, maybe in #Aotearoa #NewZealand? You may be interested in our new paper on providing healthier food/beverage options in the canteens. doi.org/10.1093/heap...

doi.org

pendingpublications

Pending Publication

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Sara Styles, PhD @drsarastyles.bsky.social · 04/02/2025

I have neglected all the things in our garden this year. Love seeing nature just do its thing.

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Sara Styles, PhD @drsarastyles.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

I’m trying harakeke (flax) #weaving as a way to improve some of the cognitive problems #mecfs has brought on. Yesterday was the first workshop. Like my experience with swimming, I think I’ll see incremental improvements in stamina over time. 🤞

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Sara Styles, PhD @drsarastyles.bsky.social · 26/01/2025

So thrilled to share @ashleagee.bsky.social’s PhD. You’re an academic superstar!

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Sara Styles, PhD @drsarastyles.bsky.social · 26/01/2025

I am stoked to see more people joining this app. My cat has his own thoughts on those other social media platforms

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Sara Styles, PhD @drsarastyles.bsky.social · 05/04/2024

I’m not thrilled that the days are shorter and colder, but I do enjoy seeing more #rainbows

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Sara Styles, PhD @drsarastyles.bsky.social · 18/12/2023

Tonight was my first DNS (did not start) I signed up for a 1k open water swim race. Turns out my #mecfs had other plans. Worst flare of fatigue in months. Oddly enough I felt better after a 4 hr nap, so… progress??

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Sara Styles, PhD @drsarastyles.bsky.social · 30/11/2023

Three colleagues accidentally got very wet when I asked them to stop for a photo… turns out the ocean doesn’t stop waves for tourists

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Sara Styles, PhD @drsarastyles.bsky.social · 30/11/2023

Day 3 of a nutrition conference. Turns out I was supposed to co-chair a plenary session when I thought I was co-chairing short talks, same topic. 😳

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Sara Styles, PhD @drsarastyles.bsky.social · 27/11/2023

Kia ora, kia ora. I’m at Massey University for the #nutrition society conference. Anyone else here?

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Sara Styles, PhD @drsarastyles.bsky.social · 03/11/2023

Good luck to all of our Otago students applying for #dietetic spots at Massey and Auckland.

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Sara Styles, PhD @drsarastyles.bsky.social · 02/11/2023

Great hui in #Auckland about #foodwaste in retirement villages / aged care. Our mahi will include baseline food waste audits and #behaviourchange interventions. #academicsky is there anyone else working in this space?

A slide of statistics about food waste. For example, 10% of greenhouse gas emissions comes from food waste

View of Auckland, New Zealand from airplane

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Sara Styles, PhD @drsarastyles.bsky.social · 30/10/2023

In other news: Today I wrote a reference letter, reviewed a protocol paper for an RCT & a protocol for a qualitative study, swam 500 meters, did a little bit o’ yoga and ate an avocado (plus a lot of other stuff but the avocado was probably the most nutrient dense of the lot). I think I’m better!🥳

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Sara Styles, PhD @drsarastyles.bsky.social · 30/10/2023

Someone’s not being a jerk. Hint: it’s the cat. #catsofbluesky

A fluffy cat with his paw on a human hand

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