This may sound like another fad, Nazi-style, lecture from a health nut who has little tolerance for anything other than pure and ultimate dedication and worship to a clean lifestyle, but that’s where you’d be wrong.
See, I have been a Dietitian for over eight years, and I can tell you that I for one am totally fed up with all the fad and fickle diets, programs, empty promises, miracle cures, quick-fix approaches and heroes out there who want to tell you that it’s your fault and you’re doing something wrong and that they have the answer and secret you seek.
Having once being an overweight, unfit, lethargic and unmotivated “chubber” myself, I know too well the reality of the transition that needs to occur from the state of stagnant, stuck, idle and “can’t be bothered” to fit, fantastic, full of energy and “like WOW I feel good!”
It’s not all roses. It’s not all easy. An answer or solution doesn’t just fall in your lap.
That does not mean, however, that it can’t be fun, adventurous, exciting and completely satisfying. If you’re like most humans, you thrive on a challenge. It’s only when you are thrown in the deep end you discover that in fact you do know how to swim. Or at the least, stay afloat.
Every now and then we all need a wake-up call, and I wouldn’t be doing you any favours by supporting your choice to kid yourself and dishonouring your desire to look, feel and be better.
I am currently working with one incredibly inspiring lady. All my clients are inspiring, but this woman is incredible. She came to me at 150kg and declared she wanted my assistance to publicly shed 50kg in 50 weeks. Now I admit, I smelt somewhat of a Fad Rat in the beginning and I kept my incredibly skeptical sunshades on so that I could get a true scope of the whole scene.
What I can tell you now is that this woman means business. And if anything, she is the one who taught me that kidding yourself is self-sabotage. It doesn’t help you and it doesn’t get you results. It simply keeps you trapped in a cycle, feeling bad about yourself and year, after year, making the same New Year’s resolutions.
Since commencing work with this amazing lady, I have promised myself to remember to always be honest about where someone is at in relation to their goals and if that current state is moving them towards where they want to go.
So now let’s get to the crux of this column. What I would love you to take away from this piece is a new perspective. A new way of looking at the whole ‘lose weight, get fit, be healthy’ spectrum that completely and utterly serves us. A new approach that does everything to support you in your desires to have more energy, be healthier, look better and feel good.
This perspective is framed with the L.E.A.N acronym. Take on this perspective, make it your mantra and be amazed at the results by the year’s end. You will need to keep this mantra close and in mind all the time. Do not be strayed, seduced or distracted by those other ‘garden-path’ approaches. Stay true and loyal to this perspective and I promise you will be delighted with yourself.
LOVING and LIGHT – ‘Argh,’ you may disappointingly sigh. Another ‘fluffy, fairy approach’, another ‘new-ager’ or simply ‘what the?!’ But take a little time to digest the meaning of this simple perspective.
Take time to be aware of how loving, forgiving, non-judgmental, compassionate and kind you are in every moment towards yourself, others and the world in general. If your mental chatter is primarily negative, cynical, critical, un-trusting and just plain ‘stick in the mud’, then I would seriously consider what impact this is having on your external world.
What we focus on we create more of. There is SO much for me to share on this, but you are highly intelligent, so all I ask is for you to test this idea. First notice what you focus on most of the time; what your primary thoughts are. Then look at what’s showing up for you and if you are in fact getting more of the very content that lives in your mind.
Simply, if you are constantly thinking things like, ‘I’m tired, lazy, slack, unmotivated, and hopeless’, then it’s little surprise you would feel that way. Try focusing on things that you like about yourself, things you are grateful for and really live in that space and see how your external world changes. Try, ‘I love that I have functioning and capable limbs, I love that I have the choice to exercise or not, I love that I have access to fresh, wholesome, delicious food.’
See how much lighter you feel when you change your thoughts. Feeling heavy and tired comes from directing our energy and focus into numerous and endless energy DRAINS. They are everywhere. Stop your leaks and direct your energy to places that renew your vibrancy.
ENERGETIC – ‘Eat to Energise’ is the key here. Constantly observe your food choices and how they make you feel afterwards. Do you feel light, happy and energised or sluggish, guilty and cloudy? I guarantee you that if you start to pay the slightest attention to how you feel after you eat (especially 1-2 hours afterwards), then you will automatically start to consider options that may make you feel different.
Foods that give us endless energy include water, vegies, fruit, herbs and spices. Just like the ad for Centrum that tells you that the little vitamin pill “unlocks the energy within”, these babies will properly and thoroughly unlock the energy contained within your body. They contain vitamins, minerals and a whole array of synergistically acting compounds that magically make you feel alive.
I challenge you to first consider how many of these types of foods make up your day, and then to double that. Notice what impact it has and how different you feel after eating a meal that is 50-75% this composition vs. highly processed, refined and instant foods. Choose more foods that are fresh and minimally processed.
ACTIVE – Be active in life, in love and in learning. When you are taking an active role in looking after your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs you will feel instantly more energised.
Being physically active is something that we as humans need. It is a basic need and something that we definitely suffer from not having in our life. Furthermore, being physically active has profound effects on our mental, emotional and spiritual domains. We feel less stressed, happier, more motivated and energised when we simply “suck it up” and get on with at least starting some type of physical movement.
This is one area that my incredibly inspirational lady excels at. Even at 150kg with numerous challenges, this woman enrolled the help she needed and dedicated herself to daily physical activity NO MATTER what was going on, how busy she was, or how sore she felt. Her mantra really was, “suck it up” and “no excuses”. It was really tough for her in the first few weeks, then after that, each session made her feel more positive, more healthy and more motivated. Stick it out, make the commitment and see the difference.
NOURISHED – Nurture and nourish your body, mind and soul. Constantly reflect on how your THOUGHTS, ACTIONS and CHOICES are either nourishing, depleting or doing nothing for you and the goals you are striving for. Is this meal nourishing me? Is this thought nourishing me? This situation? This person? This way of being?
Big questions, with massive pay-offs.
I wanted to set the framework with you today. I am not a surface dweller who plays in fantasyland with the fairies. I have done this for long enough to know what works and what doesn’t.
I can tell you that only by being and getting real will we get the results we want. Not just in health, but in life.
And that means diving deep.
Bridget Jane
Food Body Lifestyle Guru
Writer, Speaker, Consultant
Bridget@newleafnutrition.com.au
0421 332 243
Image credit: Kathryn Sprigg
