“Will I get a meal plan?’ This is a question I hear from potential clients quite a bit – and the answer is no. Let me explain. Meal plans and diets simply aren’t useful or sustainable for the vast majority of people. Clients often feel like they’re either “on” them or “off” them. The black and white nature of a meal plan suggests that people have to eat perfectly at each meal (to match what’s listed in the plan) — or else they’ve failed. It’s psychologically unpalatable and unsustainable. Even more, meal plans are frequently too inflexible. They don’t work with the reality of people’s busy lives. Work meetings, children’s activities, meals out, dogs that need walking, cars that break down, family members that get ill, … [Read more...] about The Problem with Meal Plans
How to Ask Family + Friends for Support (Scripts Included)
Several years ago, I decided to rearrange the furniture in my living room. We’re talking two big sofas, a coffee table and one HEAVY! + unwieldy area rug. There was sweat and swearing - but I did it! Yay me. Right? Not really. I had to take Aleve + wear my ice belt of shame for a few days because my back was so jacked up. So why did I move it all by myself – when I have a capable + strong + willing husband living with me? Because I hated asking for help. When given the chance, I would much rather move sofas + do pretty much anything on my own, thank-you-very-much. “I’ve got this.” “I can handle it.” But doing it all yourself isn’t some great act of strength and independence. I know that now. Asking for help is the true act of … [Read more...] about How to Ask Family + Friends for Support (Scripts Included)
4 Reasons We Struggle With Overeating (Hint: It’s Not Your Fault)
Guess what? It’s not your fault. You need to know this. It’s the very first step on the pathway to healing our relationship with food. Most people in industrialized countries struggle with overeating. But why? Reason #1 – Hyperawareness We’ve never been so damn aware of how we look. If you’re living in a primitive village somewhere, there’s no Facebook or Vogue magazine or skinny jeans or bikini competitions or CrossFit or selfies or MIRRORS. We’re hyperaware of physical appearances and we’re constantly comparing. And that’s freaking stressful. Reason #2 – Processed Food There is delicious + cheap food available 24/7. Food that overrides our natural hunger signals and makes our biology go haywire. Food that creates a desire for MORE … [Read more...] about 4 Reasons We Struggle With Overeating (Hint: It’s Not Your Fault)
How Much Protein Do We Need?
Back in February, one of my clients expressed an interest in experimenting with a whole foods plant based diet (WFPB). A fancy way of saying vegan – without all the processed junk food. Because Oreo’s and Fruity Pebbles are technically vegan. I’ve coached vegetarian clients (dairy + eggs are permitted), but never a vegan client (zero animal products). I had questions. What might we need to supplement?How will she get enough protein?What are good sources of information and recipes? Ever the curious student, I dove in head first. In fact, I challenged myself to eat exclusively WFPB for two weeks - to fully understand what it’s like + what it takes to eat this way. In the weeks leading up my own WFPD experiment, I was certain I’d … [Read more...] about How Much Protein Do We Need?