Healthy Habits Lead to Success in 2020

Happy New Year and welcome to 2020!

If you resolved to lose weight or improve your heath this year, congratulations!

So, what is your plan? Do you have one?

In 10+ years of working with clients on health and nutrition, I have often found that when January 1st rolls around people decide to make dramatic changes to their eating habits: cutting out all sugar, eliminating all carbohydrates, avoiding alcohol, or eating only chicken and steamed vegetables.

While this may seem like the best way to lose weight and clean up your eating, there are a few flaws with this type of plan.

First of all, if you have spent the past 2 months indulging in cookies, mashed potatoes, wine, and pumpkin spice lattes it will be difficult for your body to give them up cold turkey. You have conditioned your mind, as well as your body, to expect these delicious, comforting treats.

When you say, “Sorry, no more fat, sugary goodness for you!”

Your body replies, “Oh yeah, I’ll just see about that!”

The next thing you know, you are in the midst of some serious carbohydrate and/or alcohol cravings. And we all know that eventually you will cave in and go off the rails vowing to start again tomorrow or next Monday. Even worse, you may quit trying altogether.

Secondly, our bodies need all of the food groups to heal, grow, stay healthy, and function on a daily basis. Eliminating an entire group of foods, such as carbohydrates or fats, restricts the amount of vital nutrients our bodies receive. We may not need processed carbohydrates and saturated fats to fuel our body but we do need to include fruits, vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats from nuts, seeds, or avocados to insure our body functions at its best.

Rather than adopting a drastic “all or nothing” approach, I encourage my clients to make small, manageable changes over a period of time. A kind of “ back to basics” approach that introduces easy to apply lifestyle habits as opposed to diets and deprivation.

For example:

• Eat slowly and mindfully – Rather than scarfing down dinner in front of the tv, sit at the kitchen table and make an effort to experience and enjoy the food you are eating. If you normally finish dinner in 15 minutes, set a timer for 20-25 minutes and allow the act of eating to fill the time.
• Eat less by reducing your normal meal size by 20% – Rather than cutting out, start by cutting back. If you normally get a medium latte, try a small. If you grab a bag of potato chips from the vending machine each day, start cutting back by only eating 1/2 the bag (save the other half for the next day or throw it away if you simply can’t put it down). At lunch, eat your normal foods but order a smaller portion, put some in a to-go box, or share with a friend.
• If you managed to maintain a fairly healthy diet through the holidays, perhaps you focus on adding 15-20 minutes of physical activity to your day 4-5 times per week.

Pick 1 new lifestyle habit and focus on doing it everyday for 2-3 weeks. Strive to do a little bit better each day. Once you have gotten a firm grasp on the habit you can choose to expand on it, such as increasing your physical activity to 30 minutes 4-5 days per week, OR you can add a new habit to your healthy habits repertoire.

Yes, it will take longer to lose weight or improve your eating pattern, however in the long run this slow steady approach will lead to greater success and better long-term results.

Give it a try, be patient, and keep an open mind. If you do, you will see yourself making the progress you want while still enjoying your life.

If you are unsure of where or how to start, my nutritional coaching program will help you get on track and stay on track. Learn more now!

Remember:

If you are like most of my clients you have tried a whole host of different diets, “super foods”, and nutrition gimmicks to lose weight and get healthier.  And like many people you probably overloaded yourself with rules and restrictions, and eventually gave up and went back to your old ways of eating and drinking.  

Luckily, there is a better way.  With my nutritional coaching plan you focus on making small changes over time the lead to big results for a lifetime.  In under 1 year you will be in better shape than you ever imagined was possible.

The program guides you through daily lessons designed to help you build easy and effective nutritional and lifestyle habits.  You can choose to read or listen to the lesson, which ever fits your schedule.  You practice each new habit for 2 weeks to give you the opportunity to learn and apply it until it becomes natural.  And the program holds you accountable through daily check offs and regular progress updates.   The program tracks everything from your measurements to your habits, so you can see how much progress you are making throughout the year.

With this self guided program you get all of the lessons and workshops you need to create and practice a lifetime of healthy nutritional habits that can help you not simply lose weight, but sleep better, manage stress, become more mindful, and feel more confident no matter what life sends your way.  

If you are ready to have the body you deserve and be in control of your health and fitness, this program is for you. You will learn doable daily actions designed to make nutrition and fitness a part of your life, without taking it over.

Normally, I only offer this nutritional coaching program with one-on-one personal coaching, but my final nutritional coaching program for 2019 is closed.  Because I am passionate about helping as many people as possible have the health and fitness they deserve I am offering this self guided option, so you can start building a lifetime of healthy habits NOW!  Don’t worry it won’t interfere with your holiday plans either.

For the remainder of 2019, I am offering this self-guided plan for only $69/month!  That is $100 less than the regular personal nutritional coaching program and you get all of the same habits and supporting lessons.

Don’t wait until the new year to get started!   Make today the day you commit to taking control of your health and fitness.  Sign up NOW!

Want to include exercise to your daily health routine?  Add on our personalized workout plan for $39/month.  You will get month workouts created with your goals in mind along with options to modify exercises or even workout at home.  And at a mere $39/month it is much easier and more economical than hiring a personal trainer.

Yes, I want to add on workouts!

You CAN Build Good Nutritional Habits Over the Holidays

Traditionally, Halloween marks the start of the holiday season. With Halloween and the start of the holidays just a few days away you may think that starting a nutritional overhaul is an invitation to failure. But, with the right plan you can build a healthy lifestyle without having to give up the food and fun of the holidays.

Simple things like: eating slowly, drinking plenty of water, eating 5-7 servings of fruits and vegetables daily, choosing lean protein, and getting plenty of rest can make a big difference in building a healthy lifestyle.

My nutritional coaching plan is based on simple nutrition and lifestyle habits that will help you look good, feel great, and maybe even lose some weight this holiday season all without depriving you of your favorite foods. Find out more at https://procoach.app/wellnessphx

The plan progresses slowly giving you a new healthy habit to practice every 2 weeks along with daily lessons that help explain and reinforce your new habit. Over the course of a year you will develop a set of habits that you can use for the rest of your life to help you look and feel your best. And the best part is you get 1-on-1 access to me, your coach, through out the program, so you are never alone.

The next program starts Monday November 18th. There are 15 slots left and they will fill quickly, so don’t wait too long.

Because I want to help as many people as possible successfully navigate a healthy holiday season, I am offering a 20% early bird discount for the next 2 weeks. That makes the price of the program $127/month! That is an amazing value for all of the lessons, tips, and personalized feedback you receive. After November 11th, the price goes back to $159/month, still a great value, but why wait: Sign Up Now!

Having fun over the holidays and following a solid nutritional plan ARE possible, IF you have the support and guidance to help you build good habits and keep you motivated. Make 2020 the year you don’t make losing weight or eating better one of your resolutions, get started now, click here to get started now!

Declutter to Achieve Your Nutritional Goals – Purge Your Pantry

Last week we discussed how decluttering your environment can have a powerful positive affect on your life. From reducing stress and increasing productivity, to helping you feel happier, more optimistic and even improving the nutritional choices you make. If you want to review last week’s post or get caught up, click here.

Decluttering your kitchen makes preparing healthy meals faster and easier. When there is plenty of room in your fridge for healthy foods like vegetables, lean protein, nuts, and fruit you are more likely to choose those rather than eat processed junk food. The easier it is to navigate your pantry and cabinets the better the chance you will prepare nutritious meals as opposed to stopping for take out or ordering pizza.

Your task for last week was to clean out your refrigerator. I showed you what mine looked like before I cleaned it out and I promised to show you the after. So, here they are:

I make a habit of decluttering and cleaning my fridge every few months, so there wasn’t a big difference, however it is definitely easier to find what I am looking for post-cleaning.

Now, if you took the time last week to declutter your freezer as well as the fridge, bonus points to you. But if you didn’t, don’t worry, we will get to that in a few weeks.

Now, on to this week’s task. Much like the refrigerator, your pantry can become a collection of stale crackers, half-eaten bags of chips, expired cans of food, nutritional supplements you haven’t used in years, and cookbooks and magazines with recipes you will never actually cook. Over the next week, take 10-15 minutes each day to declutter 1 shelf in your pantry. Throw away anything that is expired or stale. If you have canned goods you won’t eat yourself, donate them to a local food bank. Use baskets and tiered organizers to make it easier to see what is in the pantry. Store nuts, grains, cereals, etc. in clear glass/plastic containers to keep them fresh and easy to find quickly. Don’t forget to label them so you remember what they are. Go through your cookbooks and magazines and tear out the recipes you use regularly and create a binder or computer file to store them neatly away. Wipe down the shelves and line them with shelf paper if you choose. I’m pretty OCD, so I alphabetize everything based on category: spices, canned goods, baking supplies, oils, etc. It makes finding things quick and easy, but it is a bit extreme.

Once you have your pantry decluttered, cleaned, and organized, take stock of what nutritious foods you still need to prepare healthy meals such as: grains, spices, nuts/seeds. Add these items to your shopping list.

Having a pantry that is organized and easy to navigate will make preparing nutritious and delicious meals faster, easier, and more enjoyable as well as keep you on track with your nutritional goals.

Until next week, happy decluttering!

Decluttering your kitchen is just one easy habit that will help you stay on track with your health and wellness goals. Building a series of healthy habits is the best way to maintain your goals for life. My nutritional coaching program is designed to teach you how to build a healthy nutrition routine that you can maintain for life. Learn more about how I can help you achieve a balanced and healthy lifestyle by visiting my website today!

Meal Prep to Reach Your Goals

What ever your nutritional goals: weight loss, weight gain, eating more vegetables, or reducing your fat intake, taking time to preplan your meals or prep ingredients ahead of time is a great way to ensure you stay on track.

One of the biggest excuses I hear from clients about why the cannot follow their nutrition plan is, they don’t have the time or energy to cook. It is much easier to run through a drive through or pop a frozen pizza in the oven.

While a lack of time can be an issue for some of us, most of us waste at least 30-60 minutes each day on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, or watching reality TV. I am here to tell you that if you devote just 1-2 hours of your social media/tv time each week to prepping your meals for the week you will have more time and energy to achieve your nutritional goals (or any other goals).

Fuel your body with nutritious foods and you will be able to conquer the world!

Ok, maybe not the world but definitely your own personal goals, dreams, and desires.

So, how do I go about “meal prepping”, you ask.

Meal prepping can be as easy as simply doubling batch of something you are already making and then portioning it out into individual containers. You can easily pull the containers out of the fridge for quick meals during the week or put some in the freezer to eat later. I like this method for things like soup, grains like quinoa, rice, and oatmeal, roasted vegetables, and meat.

Another method is to take 15-20 minutes after dinner to put together breakfast and lunch for the next day. For example, if you cook an extra chicken breast for dinner, you can slice it and put it on top of some leafy greens and quinoa for a lunchtime salad. Also, you can prep some overnight oats for a fast delicious breakfast.

My favorite way to meal prep, is to take a few hours one day (I like Sunday) to prep my ingredients for the week. I wash and slice raw vegetables so they are easy to grab for snacks or salads. I grill 4-5 chicken breasts and 2-3lbs of ground turkey or other meat and portion them into individual containers so that I plenty of quick easy sources for protein. You can do this with beans and grains as well if you prefer a more vegetable protein based diet. I will steam or roast vegetables to use for breakfast egg bites, soups, or as a side dish. For me, this technique significantly reduces the time I spend cooking during the week. I simply mix and match a few containers from of the refrigerator, reheat and I’m done.

Once you get into the habit of prepping your meals, you will discover what methods work best for you. Then you can start to experiment with ways to make your favorite nutritious dishes ahead of time so you can have them on hand when you want them.

Meal prepping does take time, but it is an investment in your health, happiness, and success and it will improve your lifestyle waaaaay more than those crazy cat videos you’ve been watching.

If you need help learning how to get into the habit of meal prepping or how to create any other nutritional habit, our nutritional coaching plan can help! Check out our website at: https://procoach.app/wellnessphx.

Until next time, have a happy healthy day!

Learn more about nutritional coaching

If you have set a goal to lose weight, improve your health, or get in shape this year, you may be realizing that you need a little bit of help and support to reach your goals.

Watch this video to learn how hiring a nutritional coach can help you reach your goals and help you maintain your success.

Now that you know how a nutritional coaching can help you finally achieve and maintain your health and wellness goals, visit our website to sign up for our 12 month coaching program. You will receive daily lessons designed to guide you through the process of learning how to stop dieting and start creating healthy, balanced, and fun lifestyle changes that get you to your goal.

Get started NOW!

5 Habits to Help You Get Back on Track After the Holidays

Welcome to 2019!

I hope you had a happy and prosperous holiday season!

If you fell off the nutritional wagon over the holidays, it is time to get back on track. This week take a few moments to review the 5 Basic Nutritional Habits:

1. Eat Slowly and to 80% Full
2. Eat 1 Serving of Lean Protein with each meal (animal of vegetable based protein)
3. Eat 2-3 Servings of Vegetables per Meal. Include some Fruit (1 serving = 1/2 cup/ 1 fist size)
4. Consume Starchy Carbs only After Exercise if You Want to Lose Fat (potatoes, rice, bread, pasta)
5. Focus on Healthy Fats (nuts, seeds, eggs, avocado, fatty fish, olives)

Next pick 1 and only 1 of the habits to focus on this week. Trying to do too many new things at once can lead to feeling overwhelmed, deprived, and frustrated all of which can lead to noncompliance. Keep it simple and do your best each day. Don’t beat yourself up if you mess up a little. It’s ok. Just get a little better each day. Stick with this habit for 1-2 weeks then add a new habit. Keep rebuilding your habits 1 at a time until you are reacquainted with each one.

If you stuck to your nutritional plan over the holidays. Great Job!!! You’ve truly built up some great nutritional habits.

Keep up the good work and check back on Friday for a new tip that will help keep you moving in the right direction.

If you want help building your own good nutritional habits this year, sign up for our next session starting 1/7/19. Space is limited! Click here to find out more or visit: https://procoach.app/wellnessphx

How to eat healthy on a budget: 5 ways to prioritize nutrition while reducing cost. [Infographic]

Local organic produce, artisanal sourdough, strictly grass-fed meat: Yes, they’re ‘good’ for you… but they’re also too expensive for most people. The great news? There are foods available that are both nutrient-dense and budget-friendly. In this infographic, we’ll show you five ways to eat healthy on a budget — while making your taste buds happy too.
— Read on www.precisionnutrition.com/eat-healthy-on-a-budget-infographic

How to eat healthy on a budget: 5 ways to prioritize nutrition while reducing cost. [Infographic]

Local organic produce, artisanal sourdough, strictly grass-fed meat: Yes, they’re ‘good’ for you… but they’re also too expensive for most people. The great news? There are foods available that are both nutrient-dense and budget-friendly. In this infographic, we’ll show you five ways to eat healthy on a budget — while making your taste buds happy too.
— Read on www.precisionnutrition.com/eat-healthy-on-a-budget-infographic

Give the Gift of Good Health this Holiday Season

This year, give the gift of good health you your friends, family, or to yourself.

Join our exclusive nutritional coaching program and get started on the path to becoming the healthiest you, you can be.

This program includes daily lessons designed to help build healthy habits that will last a lifetime as well as personal guidance from me, your nutrition coach (and cheerleader).

This is not a diet or a gimmick, it is a program based on scientific research and years of program testing. This is not, a quick fix either. We will spend 12 months building the habits and knowledge you need to be successful. It will take time and effort on your part, but the results will be worth it and can last a lifetime.

This holiday season make the commitment to take charge and invest in a healthier you!

Sign Up Now!

I’m limiting the number of enrollees to 15 to ensure everyone gets the personalized attention they deserve. While this is great news for your success, it also means spaces will fill up quickly. Response to the program so far has been amazing, and I expect slots to fill up quickly. Don’t miss out on your chance to get in your best shape!

Register Now!!!