4 MISTAKES YOU NEED TO AVOID FOR A SUCCESSFUL HEALTH JOURNEY
I was only 13 when I started out on my health journey and I wish I’d had the knowledge I have today. I learnt through trial and error, making mistakes and seeing others do the same. But this is the main reason I studied to become a health coach; to teach women the crucial foundations needed for healthy nutrition, fitness and mindset. Read on to discover the 4 steps that will transform your health journey.
The Simple Truth Behind Your 'Random Acts’ of Health
Let’s talk ‘random acts’ of health.
WARNING - please do not let this deter you from your efforts, but to help guide you in choosing what efforts are best for your personal situation.
I talk to a lot of people about their health goals, behaviors and learnings. Which means I hear a lot about what so many of you are learning and even believing when it comes to your health.
What I have learned is that people, you, care to be healthy, want to make better choices, and even put in intentional efforts to feel good, create better health and live a longer life and that is absolutely fantastic. However, because there is just so much information being shared, the efforts that many of you are putting in to be healthy, to achieve your goals, may not actually be leading you to be any healthier or any closer.
For example, we have probably all seen diets advertised or social media influencers sharing fun creative exercises and yes, the diets may work quickly (side note: quick = temporary) and the workouts might get you sweating, but the facts are, without identifying IF these exercises are effective for you and your goals or IF that diet is the right one for your body right now, you’ll always be chasing results.
It’s also important to note that there can be notable (not so great) effects from ‘random’ acts of health other than just unsustained weight loss such as dehydration, nausea, headaches and constipation. I will go into more detail of this later but first, check whether you are making any of the common mistakes I often find with my clients. Let me clarify and help you feel more enlightened about what you choose to focus your energy on for your personal situation.
4 Common Mistakes and What I'd Recommend Doing Instead:
Diving right into cutting carbs, cutting intake, restricting food groups or food in general.
Instead, spend the time to log your food and simply get consistent, really consistent in your day to day intake. This amount should be enough food that you feel content.
2. Following a meal plan
This can work for a time period but without fail, every time, it causes guilt, food relationship issues, and is short lived.
Instead, take the time to learn about nutrition. Again this is why I like food logging, it allows you to mend your relationship with food by learning how to fit life and goals into your choices. This is a tool, not a diet, that brings choice and nourishment together. If you haven't tried it, I highly, highly recommend!
3. Changing up your exercises often, doing the latest fitness trend, mixing and matching videos, classes and workouts
Instead, pick 3-4 half or full body workouts. Do these each week for the next 2 months. YES the same workouts for the next 2 months. Focus on gaining strength in the exercises that are there. This alone will do wonders for your shape - try it!
4. Taking random supplements
You will waste a lot of money on supplements based on their marketing.
Instead, get your daily disciplines in place (stress management, sleep practices, hydration, consistent food intake, and movement). Then, get some serum labs drawn to see what outlying markers may reside IN CONJUNCTION with how you are feeling. This is going to save you a lot of money, physiological chaos and more.
Side Effects of Doing the Wrong ‘Healthy Things’
I have seen many spin their wheels and even end up feeling worse practicing ‘random acts of health’. You can be doing all the ‘healthy things’, yet create a very unhealthy body simply by doing the wrong ‘healthy things’.
If you still don’t feel good (digestive issues, energy lulls, sleep disturbances, weight loss resistance, PMS symptoms, brain fog, etc…) after incorporating “healthy behaviors”, it's telling you that there's either something else going on or those healthy behaviors aren't the right ones for you and it might be time to get some professional guidance.
I get that it seems like something you should be able to do yourself with a bit of research, how hard can it be right? (Perhaps, however you could probably find a new house yourself but a realtor is an expert so we hire them, right?)
Well, I invite you to take a sec to consider how many different diets you have tried and the results. How many different workouts do you do a week and have you ever repeated the routine? Does anyone correct your methods? Do you understand your body - what works and doesn’t work for it, when and how you get your energy bursts or lulls?
There’s a LOT to learn about your body and you might already understand it pretty well. But if you have been trying and trying with no real noticeable results, why not just get in touch? We can chat to you for free to see whether coaching is right for you, no commitments, just a chat to gain some clarity.
Have a look at what we offer with our consultations and 1:1 coaching services to help you with the what and the how to building your best self.
Stop and ask yourself, how long have I been trying to lose weight? Trying to feel better? Trying to follow through on that behavior?
This is when professional help is warranted. Don't just keep thinking that you "should" be able to do this alone. "Should" is a bully and it sabotages you from success.
I'm here for you, just reach out!