Sincerely, Health

What does diet culture mean to you?

The health and wellness industry has been overwhelmingly filled with diet trends that are not only bad nutrition advice rooted in nonsense, but also presented with shame to sell the solution the world so desperately needs. This is where the ‘eat this, not that’, ‘what 10 foods to never eat’ and ‘X is toxic’ stuff comes from. It says you must be ‘skinny’ or you don’t fit in, you must know the current foods to restrict to get there and what program to buy.

I am very much an anti-shame, pro-science, habit based coach that knows that health is about many things, but definitely includes what we put in our mouthes.

A balanced behavioural approach to nutrition and movement with good information is what most people need to reach their goals. A meal plan and a restricted list of foods with nutty workouts to get you sweating, well, that’s just silly, ineffective and not manageable long term.

When I say diets suck, I’m not talking about lifestyle changes and getting better informed, I’m talking about the anti-carb, anti-fat, and now anti-protein trends that require some level of ignorance on your part to buy into.

There are currently thousands of very vocal science based coaches online talking about how to live with balance and eat and move in a way that nourishes you instead of making you crazy.

My top ten are:

Self image and body image are two different things. No one should ever feel like their body disqualifies them for love, acceptance, respect or that they are less valued. But also, taking care of your body and your health are important. Self care and self indulgence are two different things.

Balance is important here.

Give yourself a break and let go of your own judgments regarding your body. In letting go, we can better see areas that can be improved, for example, binging can be the result of restriction, which can happen because we are trying to fit someone else’s body ideal. Letting go of that ideal and relaxing into a kinder approach will allow natural barriers (satisfaction and fullness) to regulate a more balanced approach to food.

Seeing areas that can be improved (sleep, nutrition, movement) without shame or anyone else’s agenda is important. Self improvement, when guided by health, isn’t a judgment on anyone else.

Take care of your health and the rest will fall into place.

The healthy lifestyle involves lots of things: quality sleep, good nutrition that takes into account your lifestyle/needs/goals, movement, mental and emotional health, stress reduction, fulfillment amongst others, but supplements?! They are the last 1% unless you have a deficiency. Get yourself tested if you are taking care of the big rocks and still not feeling right, but do not waste your hard earned money on the last 1% if all the other areas are not being managed.

Wait, isn’t this a healthy coaching page? Well, yes, yes it is!

Happy Purim! 😉

Most of the work is done outside of the gym. Reaching your goals and making the most of your efforts is really about understanding your body’s needs and giving it the support it needs. Your body wants to be healthy, it does not want to be manic, dieting, restricted and shamed. Enjoy the process and take care of yourself to meet your healthiest self.

Diet culture over the years have come up with all kinds of wacky rules that sometimes sound good, but aren’t based in science. Don’t feel bad if you believed any of this, just walk away from the myths and into science 😉

♥️

alexandra.solomon is brilliant - give her follow if you aren’t already!

Don’t get caught up in the warped perception of ‘fitness’ sold to us by companies that want our cash for their ‘solutions’. Let science guide you to health through a balanced approach in nutrition, movement and self-fulfillment.

Happy Saturday all! 😘

In all things, our intention matters. Punishing, restricting and hard-knuckling only works for so long and then some pretty negative consequences pop up. Let’s switch the focus to health and self care - the rest will take care of itself. Remember that a healthy body and mind is beautiful, happy and requires no external validation.

I’ve been taken down the rabbit-hole of fitness and nutrition. I’ve done everything: eliminate foods, bad foods vs good foods, train 6 days per week, macros, gluten-free, dairy-free, online challenges, daily weigh-ins and progress pics, supplements, fat-burners, intermittent fasting, fasting, SO. MUCH. CARDIO, no cardio-only weights, etc., etc., etc. Guess where it led me? Serious issues with food, an eating disorder, yo-yo dieting and a complete loss of control. NONE of this was necessary.

The one approach I had never seen before, the one approach I’ve never had even suggested to me by a ‘coach’ or ‘expert’ was what we all sorely need: Let’s start with the basics of nutrition and movement, explore the principles backed by science, take a deep breath and start to incorporate daily buildable habits that create a foundation of health in your life. Easy stuff that with knowledge and support, will lead you to live your best life.

So here’s my promise to you that I so desperately wished I had heard when I wanted to live a happy, healthy life: I will support you in making real, life-altering, habit based changes to help you create the healthy lifestyle you’ve always heard about and wanted for yourself.

Let’s get this out of the way – there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach that will get you where you want to go and trust me, you will hear about all kinds of approaches that sound fantastic. They may not be incorrect, but this isn’t a game and you are not a problem to solve. There are principles of nutrition and physical movement, based in science, which will lead you to a healthier, more balanced life without tricks, supplements or restriction. As we move forward, science evolves and we learn more about the body and I am committed to growth and science-based coaching, not rigid, hard-core programming that no one in their right mind can stick to long term. I’m striving to create balance and ease in your life with a focus on health and wellness, not a six-pack abs and a stringent eating plan that involves chicken breasts and broccoli every night.

Let’s dive in, shall we?

(Cont’d in comments)

Meditation by Jennifer Weinberg

With your eyes closed, place your hands over your heart. Take a few deep breaths and relax any tension you are holding in your body.

As you exhale, feel that stress dispersing and leaving your body. Feel the gentle touch and warmth of your hands resting on your chest. Feel a warm, comforting, kind light building in your hands and spreading to your heart.

Give this healing to yourself. Allow this gentle, healing energy to flow from you and to you, spreading to your whole body and bringing calm and healing where it is needed.

Ask yourself what you need to hear and feel right now to give kindness to yourself. Say the following:

"May I be kind to myself."

"May I forgive myself."

"May I be strong."

"May I be compassionate to myself."

"May I learn from my experiences."

"May I accept myself as I am in this moment."

"May I be patient."

"May I give myself the kindness and compassion that I need."

—Jennifer Weinberg

If you are anything, be kind.