MY APPROACH
Before I go ahead to describe what my approach is, let me tell you what it is not.
1. This will not be a diet plan.
If you’ve ever tried one you know that diets are restrictive and make you feel deprived.
This is exactly why you crave everything that is off-limits – chocolates, cola drinks or salted potato chips.
Sooner or later you’re bound to give in.
Add to it the fact that your life doesn’t look the same from one day to another.
You eat different on the weekends as compared to weekdays. You eat differently from summer to winter. How are you then supposed to stick to a meal plan for days on end?
Food is supposed to make you feel good in life. It is meant to bring you joy.
It doesn’t need to feel like a punishment.
2. This will not be a quick-fix, band-aid solution.
Diets are quick-fixes.
Extreme exercise regimens are quick-fixes.
Fat burners are quick-fixes.
Skipping meals is a quick fix.
Denial is the biggest quick fix.
The thing with quick-fixes is that they don’t address the root cause.
They work on the symptoms temporarily, but in the long run the main concern resurfaces in a worse way.
This could look like chronic diseases in some cases or a very difficult journey back to your naturally healthy self.
This is exactly why I practice a holistic approach to health and wellness
I look at how all areas of your life are connected.
Does stress at your job or in your relationship(s) cause you to overeat?
Does lack of sleep or low energy prevent you from exercising?
Let’s define what you value most from your well-being. We’ll use these visions to motivate specific goals that bring you closer to where you want to be. As your coach, I will not dictate a diet for you, but together we will explore why some foods make you feel better than others and how to strategically use that feedback. Together we’ll co-create your health goals within reasonable time frames and actionable objectives so you know exactly what you’re working toward.
As we work together, we will look at how all parts of your life affect your health as a whole.
This is why I talk about two kinds of foods – ‘Foods off of the plate‘ and ‘Soul Food‘.
1. Foods off of the plate
As I work with you on foods off of the plate, I will equip you with the right knowledge to make empowered choices for yourself in any situation.
That means you get to know which foods nourish your body rather than just fill it up with harmful ingredients.
Yes, unfortunately a lot of what we are eating today is artificially created to ‘taste’ good.
These foods are created with the purpose of getting you addicted to it.
The more you consume, the more you’d want them.
How else is the food manufacturing industry making billions of dollars?
By keeping you hooked on to their products.
As you navigate your way back to truly nourishing foods, I promise you will start craving real foods.
I know it might sound crazy as you read it, but you won’t scrunch up your nose at the mention of those green veggies or fruits.
2. Soul Food
Soul food is everything that feeds you in life which doesn’t come off of your plate.
When you are living a life which is nourishing your soul, then the food on your plate actually becomes secondary.
If you have ever been in love you will recall how life felt different.
You moved along the days with much more exhilaration, not paying too much attention to everything that wasn’t going right.
You were so high on life that food didn’t matter as much. It felt like walking on air.
Or when you were involved in a work project which you really believed in.
You were so driven that you didn’t realize how time passed by and it was already way past work hours.
You didn’t even feel hungry.
Now flip this;
Remember stress-eating because you were anxious during exams while in school?
Or having a bad day at work and then seeking comfort in food when all you really need is someone to give you a hug and say – its just a bad day.
Or someone to talk and get everything off your chest.
Once you learn to identify these imbalances and proactively work on balancing all aspects of life that feed you – whether it is your relationships, choice of work, social life, having a creative outlet or a spiritual practice that centers you it becomes much easier to maintain a healthier body and mind.
However, remember we are not aiming for perfection here.
Every once in a while you will slip and that’s alright.
As long as it is once in a while.
You see, at the end of the day one of the biggest investments you will make will be in your health.
Of course I do realize that the devil is in the doing.
Creating new habits is challenging specially at the beginning.
This is why I will introduce gradual changes whether they are food related or lifestyle changes.
This is exactly where I come in to guide you along the way and keep you accountable as you navigate this confusing journey.
We will move at a pace that works for you and is able to fit into your busy lifestyle without overwhelming you.
