With the holiday festivities being in full swing, most of us will be indulging in way too much good stuff…then feel bad about it later. Don’t! I recently started my dear friend and client’s(since 2010!) healthy eating program. After the birth of Zayne, I lost weight quickly but was having an issue with ab separation and dropping those last 5 pounds…not to mention drinking too much wine(newborn anxiety) and craving carbs morning, noon and night. Doing her program isn’t about being skinny or even losing the weight, Abha has shifted the way I view meals…and not to mention she told me I didn’t have to give up my wine. YASSS!
Enjoy Abha’s guest blog post and follow her on Instagram for her FREE GIVEAWAY happening NOW. Following her tips will help you stay happy and healthy this holiday season and beyond. This is literally style from the inside out!
FROM ABHA:
A healthy mind ALWAYS radiates beauty.
Yes, mindset really IS everything. As Motivational Speaker Steve Maraboli put it best, “Once your mindset changes, everything on the outside will change along with it.”
A huge part of our mindset as women is our relationship with food and our bodies. As young as age 3, we hear and see the women around us have a negative body image and relationship with food, and learn early on to adopt these behaviors. Does “Mom can’t eat that, she’s on a diet” sound familiar?
The good news is, it is never too late to change YOUR mindset towards food and your body, so that you are glowing, inside AND out. Imagine pairing that with a flattering new dress and a pair of shoes!
Not sure where to start? Here are five changes you can make NOW to get going on your glow up!
- LET GO of the guilt with food
Why do we riddle eating with apologies and guilt? Stop thinking and or saying:
- “I’m so sorry I’m taking so long, I’m a slow eater” (that has come out of my mouth on more than one occasion..)
- “I feel bad for eating XYZ”
- “No one else is having dessert – I’ll look like a pig if i get some.”
Try replacing those statements with : - “I’m choosing this because I enjoy the way it tastes”. Then go on and ENJOY and take in the experience – the company you are with, the way the food smells and tastes, and how happy you are in the moment!
2. Focus on what the food you’re eating does for your mind and body.
REAL food is comprised of macro and micronutrients. It gives our body and mind specific instructions. No, I won’t bore you with all of the details – but in a nutshell, these instructions ensure that your body operates at its optimum. Soooo.. Just think about what happens if you eat “fake” or “diet” foods that are lacking in nutrients. Your body gets sent the wrong signals – and as a result your gut health, mood, and skin and so many functions and processes in the body suffer.
3. If calorie counting, measuring, and food weighing is something you’ve been doing and it stresses you out, change your approach.
In my work with women just like you, I’ve found that using your hand to determine portion sizes helps lift off the stress and allow you to enjoy that meal! One of each part of the hand serve as a great starting point for most women’s meals; this may need to be adjusted, depending on your activity level.
YOUR PALM = PROTEIN PORTIONS
YOUR FIST = VEGGIE PORTIONS
YOUR CUPPED HAND = CARB PORTIONS
YOUR THUMB = FAT PORTIONS
4. Stop the negative talk.
Get out a notepad and write down all of the things you commonly say before, during, and after meals – and take note of how many things are NEGATIVE. Here are some unfortunately common examples:
- I’ve been bad with my eating
- I’m cheating on my “diet”
- I shouldn’t have eaten that
- I can’t eat that
Now, replace “I” with “You” and try saying this to your significant other or best friend. See what happened? You probably bit your tongue while stopping yourself from spitting out the negativity!
(For those of you that are moms- stopping the negative self-talk is doubly important as kids as young as 3 hear and mirror attitudes towards eating and self-image.)
5. Create a healthy space for your positive mindset to flourish.
You know that friend that constantly comments on your food choices? Let them know that it is not acceptable in your friendship if they love and respect you. Those negative thoughts we have from the minute we wake up till its time to lay down for the night, wreak havoc on our confidence and don’t do much for our bodies’ health!
Real beauty is created when you are feeling good inside, whether that means being healthy, feeling confident in your style or just wearing your favorite scent.
About Abha
Abha is a Professional Working Woman, Mother, and Wife residing in Southern California. She is a Precision Nutrition Level 1 (PN1) Certified Coach and Owner of Health Has No Finishline LLC. Her company’s coaching services guide professional working moms on how to integrate healthy habits into their lives.
I hope you enjoyed this food tip post as much as me. Reach out to Abha for help or to get in on her giveaway NOW on Instagram @healthhasnofinishline.
