You've ditched the processed junk foods and started bringing healthy lunches to work. These are powerful first steps that sound simple but make a profound impact. You even saw some significant improvements in the beginning, but you've seemed to hit a plateau. So, what's going on? While eating clean is of utmost importance when paving a healthier path, there could be some non-food related reasons why you’re not seeing or feeling any improvements lately. Here are a few non-food related reasons you may be feeling stuck... Being too focused on the scale When you feel like you’re doing all the right things, it can be frustrating not to see or feel any improvements -- try not to get discouraged, though. We tend to measure our success by the number staring back at us on our scale, which isn't an effective way to gauge our progress. With things like fluid fluctuations and building muscle, the scale can be deceptive. It is most practical and accurate to assess our growth by how we feel and how our clothes are fitting. Don't let the scale tell you how you're feeling; you are far more than that number. Not exercising If you're eating healthy and not prioritizing exercise of some sort, you will likely hit that plateau. While eating clean is a crucial piece of staying healthy, exercise is the other puzzle piece necessary to achieve the goals you've set for yourself. You don’t need to workout in the gym for an hour every day if you don’t want to but at the very least, walk briskly for 20 to 30 minutes each day. Find the exercise that fits into your schedule and that you enjoy the most. Exercising too much And yes, there’s a fine line to walk with exercise. If you don’t exercise enough, it's not ideal -- but if you exercise too much it causes stress and impairs your adrenal hormone production. So if you’re working out too much in hopes to reach your goals faster, take a couple of days off and reevaluate your workout strategy for better results, like with yoga and weights instead. Contrary to what you might think, weights are an important part of an exercise that will help you build a stronger body, even when your body is at rest. You’re still drinking sugar Sure, you eat salads and healthy meals all day long but your morning coffee is filled with cream and sugar, or you’re drinking fruit juices or diet soda. If this is a struggle, make it a goal this week to begin making some changes in this area. If your drink of choice is something other than water, begin trading water in for your beverage of choice until you crave water more than that sugary drink. It will happen, I assure you! Try flavored sparkling water like LaCroix to satisfy the bubbly craving, and infuse your water with fruit to add some flavor. So when you feel like you're stuck in a rut, reevaluate the non-food related daily habits that may be hindering your progress.
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It happens to us all -- you’ve been crushing your health goals, and things are going great. Until vacation rolls around, and the endless buffet on your cruise ship derails you...or so you think. We often feel shame afterward, and it’s common to let these “slip-ups” demotivate us. The important piece of this puzzle is learning how not to let such a thing hinder you and how to find your motivation to jump back on track. Here are a few of my favorite ways I do this in my own life… Don’t use a slip-up as an excuse. When you have a cupcake that you have deemed forbidden to eat, an easy trap to fall into is turn it into a downward spiral. You feel as if you've already messed up, so what's another cupcake, or three? This mindset often continues with the rest of your day -- you'll just turn it into a cheat day, you say. When you reason with yourself in this way, you can easily let one treat turn into an entire day or weekend of less than healthy eating choices. Don’t let one treat spoil your plans; bounce right back and choose to balance your decision with a very healthy lunch or an extra side of greens at dinner. Enjoy the cupcake, and move right along. Observe and learn from your habits. Instead of seeing your slip-up as a failure, find the lesson in it. Often people tend to identify with the mistakes or successes they experience. I invite you to look at the slip-up and search for the reasons behind it. Dig deep to find what triggered you to make the choices you did, which can also lead to finding a way to prevent it from becoming a habit in the future. Sometimes a fresh gelato on vacation is just a necessity! But when habits creep in that derail your health plans on a regular basis, they are worth observing and learning from. Seek support from others. Feeling supported and being motivated by others is a great way to breeze past your slip-ups and get back in the health game. That’s exactly what I do as a Health Coach, and I’d love to chat with you about how I can help you reach your health goals and not get derailed. When you’ve used these tips, and given yourself the pep-talk that you need, then you’re ready to move on from the slip-up and continue on your health journey. Small slips will no longer sabotage your motivation. Having the wisdom to see it for what it is, not let it keep you from pursuing your goals, is the fuel that will keep you on track for many years to come. To get tips personalized for your individual needs, click the green button below and sign up below for a Chat Session with me today.
Last year I discovered a shea butter product that I absolutely can not live without. Now don't misunderstand, I have used shea butter for years and my skin loves me for it, but this shea butter is different. Before I go into how this particular shea butter is different, let me tell you a little about the company. This information about the company is very important to me, because I value companies that value and respect people and nature. Nilotic was founded in 2015. One of their central pillars is women and community empowerment. Their products are 100% natural; there are no added chemicals, preservatives, sulfates, or parabens; also, no animals are used in the creation of these products, not even beeswax! Nilotic's commitment to women and community runs so deep, that for each order placed, they pay 3 weeks (or ¼ of a semester) of school fees for a disadvantaged child in Kampala, Uganda and also plant one moringa tree, one bamboo tree and one nilotic fruit tree (shea tree) in Northern Uganda. For more information about Nilotic and their initiatives, please visit the website at www.nilotic.us. So, what's different about this shea butter you ask? Well, first, this shea is grown in Northern Uganda unlike the West African grown popular shea that most of us know. Second, it contains a higher percentage of phytonutrients which are very healing to the skin. The third difference is immediately noticeable, and that is the texture. This nilotic shea,is soft, smooth & light with a whipped velvety texture; it is not hard, crumbly and difficult to scoop with your fingers at all, which is quickly absorbed by the skin. This stuff is nothing short of amazing and I just had to share. It smells good, it feels good and did I mention, 100% natural! I love these products so much, that when presented with the opportunity to become a company ambassador, I jumped at the opportunity. I urge you to go try it for yourself. Go to the site, www.nilotic.us and use my code VELVETSKIN642005 for a 20% discount off your order. Trust me, you'll be glad you did! |
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