New beginnings require a new mindset.
Get your mind right so you don't fall back into old patterns.
Why are we, as a society so fixated on body weight and image rather than thinking of our health in the short and long term? It never ceases to amaze me how many athletes, as well as individuals of the general population, will go to extreme and often unsafe measures to obtain a certain weight. When focussing on weight-loss or maintaining a healthy body weight, there are many factors that need to be considered such as: are you eating enough to get you through your day, are you consuming the right foods for your body, what's your type of physical activity, level of intensity, sleep quality, age, sex, height, stress levels, hormonal health and most importantly, is your gut health optimal. Your gut health plays a significant role not just in digesting and absorbing nutrients that come in through your diet, it also determines your body's composition.
We are at that time of year where every PT/fitness instructor become experts in the field of nutrition. Most of the time, these "experts" are tapping into their own experiences (what worked for them) OR as part of their fitness training, they were provided with a short module on nutrition that focuses on "calories in verses calories out", macronutrients and timing. Some are even cutting out specific macronutrients and displacing nutrient-dense food with highly-processed convenience foods. This can be detrimental to health and wellbeing, in the short run as well as in the future.
First things first, you should never be on a diet that leaves you feel starving. You also shouldn't be on a prescriptive meal plan that feels stressful and unrealistic to you. Our physiology is so very intricately and intelligently designed that we often experience weight loss much more efficiently when we change our day to day eating and lifestyle habits. If we choose to change our habits, these habits eventually become second nature. They become sustainable now and into the future. Leading to better health, performance and overall wellbeing
There are so many diets out there that focus on all the things we shouldn't be eating, which I believe can trigger feelings of FOMO - a normal psychological response. This negative mindset can hold us back, create barriers and trigger cravings. How about instead of being told what to avoid or what to give up, we change our mindset to what can be included. Like the addition of more veggies to a meal, introduction of more root vegetables, oily fish, trying new healthful foods such as kimchi, sauerkraut, keffir, fresh herbs, swapping milk chocolate for dark.
By including more of the healthful foods in your diet, you automatically displace the bad stuff that has been playing a role in preventing you from feeling and being the best version of yourself.
There's even more to consider than the above.
Weight-loss and becoming, being a healthier version of ourselves, is all too often heavily focussed on our habits and behaviours – what we eat and how we move. Losing weight is also about our thoughts and beliefs – in other words, it's as much a mental game as it is a physical one. These thoughts and beliefs can impact the body negatively, affecting hormonal health, gut health and mental state.
When you work with me, not only will we compile a healthy and sustainable nutritional plan to reach your goal, we will be creating a plan that invests in your health and performance (whether in the field of sport or as a day-to-day person coping with craziness of life). Using my health coaching skills, I will help mentor, educate and support you on your transformation journey to create a positive and sustainable change by ensuring that you take time to invest in your emotional self, focus on what it is that you want and re-scripting any negative language that may creep in.
I believe the first step to a better you is your WHY? Is your WHY big enough to help you move forward now. Your WHY could be, I want to lose weight, I want more energy, I want to sleep better, I want to remove general aches/pains, improve my performance, quicken my recovery, support my immune health. If you can mentally see and envision where you want to be and you've the focus and determination to get there, I can help. Book in for a free 20 min Health and Transformation call
Let us start your journey towards a new improved you!