Meeting you where you are.
I am neither a nutritionist nor a professional athlete. I don’t carry all of the credentials available to make me a health leader in the community, and yet, I am. Why? Because I’m a woman passionate about living a healthy life and eager to learn more. I’ve walked the walk for nearly a decade and have trained countless groups and individuals to work toward their fitness goals. I believe in meeting people where they are; informing them of what they are up against but also where their opportunities lie in order to live a healthier life. Simply put, I am experienced, well read and above all, enthusiastic.
In the modern, developed world, one of the easiest things to do is to put on weight and one of the hardest things to do is to lose it. There is NOTHING easy about losing weight. Maintaining a healathy lifestyle requires a great amount of motivation, discipline and often a very specific written plan to achieve both short and long term goals. There’s no one-size-fits-all diet and fitness solution, but the good news is, there’s a solution that’s just perfect for YOU.
If you work, are married, and/or care for a family, exercise can often be the last thing on your mind. Unless, of course, it’s something that also brings you joy and something that you decide to make a priority. Exercise requires effort. It requires putting together a workout, or driving to the gym for a class or struggling through a run that makes you want to cry because it’s hot and miserable. It is crazy hard … until it’s not.
We all have a relationship with food. So much joy and love is tied to food. Food makes people feel warm, happy and safe. Food is social. Food is beautiful. Food ignites our senses. So, when we put on weight—and want to take it off—at times it can feel as difficult as trying to climb Mt. Everest. It’s often implied that in order to lose that weight, we have to break up with the very thing that brings so much joy to our minds/hearts/bodies. There is so much more to be said here, but therein lies the never-ending struggle with food and what we need—or don’t need—for optimal nutrition, health and fitness.
I’ve tried every “diet” you can think of. I’d stick to it for a period of time and then crash and burn. There are so many different and opposing pieces of advice for losing weight it can make your head spin. In the 90’s is was low-fat; in the 2000’s low-carb and now it’s “don’t you dare eat something that comes out of a box”. It’s exhausting. This is where I really help individuals weed out the garbage and understand what’s important. Like exercise, reprogramming our diet requires discipline, focus, consistency and accountability for an extended period of time until a healthy lifestyle becomes your day-to-day.
Below is a five-step conversation that I have with friends and clients and one worth having with yourself as you reflect on where you are or what might be keeping you from being your best:
Step One: Where are you?
On the couch at 11pm, with a bag of Frito Lays and a stack of Oreos continuing the Netflix binge that you started last week?
On the elliptical at the gym watching Desperate Housewives of Miami?
Eating a bowl of cereal and fruit for breakfast, a turkey sandwich at lunch and whole grain pasta with chicken for dinner?
Really tired at 3pm requiring a large cup of coffee and a bag of M&Ms to keep you going through the workday?
Step Two: What are your current “healthy” habits?
Do you exercise multiple times a week? Is there a type of exercise that you like more than others?
Do you really enjoy cooking? Do you find ways to get lots of vegetables in your diet?
Do you get to bed at a reasonable time to allow you to get 7—8 hours of sleep at night?
Step Three: What’s getting in your way?
Did you just have a baby and sleep is a real issue? Do your children—active in school/sports/arts—keep you from taking care of yourself?
Are you overwhelmed by managing a household (chores/errands/finances) while maintaining a full or part-time job?
Do you have a very demanding job that either requires long hours or travel?
Step Four: What is motivating to you?
A number on the scale? (I’d advise against this for many reasons, but it is very motivating for some and has motivated me in the past).
An upcoming event?
A stack of clothes that you haven’t been able to wear in years?
Health concerns?
To simply feel better?
Step Five: Create a DO-ABLE plan.
If you truly hate asparagus, brown rice and white fish and I tell you that’s all you can eat, you will fail.
If you absolutely hate running and I tell you to run sprints three days a week, you won’t show up.
If I tell you that your workouts need to be at 6am before work and you are not your best in the morning, you will hit the snooze button... until 7am.
Will you fail because you don’t have willpower? No. You will fail because we’re trying to fit you into a plan that just doesn’t work for you.
Let’s say instead…
You enjoy green beans, sweet potatoes and grilled chicken but you really struggle with healthy choices when you eat out travelling for work and unhealthy snacking between meals. You have a lot of energy right after work at 5:30pm. You hit the elliptical a few days a week and are not seeing progress. You have been to a cycle class before and have lifted weights a time or two. You liked the class, but it was really hard and you aren’t sure what types of workouts to do with weights. You think you want to drop about 20 pounds, but you really want to get into a particular pair of pants before fall.
If you want to see change happen in your life, your diet and fitness regimen needs to be a little uncomfortable. But if your adjustments are too drastic, you’re going to fall off the wagon. I work with clients to create a plan that makes you just uncomfortable enough to make a difference but not so uncomfortable that you fail. I meet you where you are.
We rise to the expectations that we set for ourselves, but we can’t do things alone. We need a support system and people that hold us accountable. That’s what I do for people who choose to work with me. I’m the understanding, forgiving friend who holds you up but also pushes you forward.
I want what you want and can help you get there.
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