by Feeling Great | Jan 5, 2019 | Body
Are cracks starting to appear in your New Years health resolutions?
Did you valiantly declare this year was going to be different? Was it going to be the year you made your health a priority?
Was there talk of getting your energy back? Losing that spare tyre around the middle? Or getting rid of that constant bloated feeling? Or doing something about those hot flushes?
Here’s 4 ways to salvage your new year’s health resolutions –
1. Find Your Why
Whether you’re faced with a delicious slice of chocolate cake or a burning desire to skip exercising, if you carry a strong sense of why you want to reach your goal, you’ll find it easier to resist temptations.
Research shows that self-motivated goals are more likely to be reached,[1] so get clear on your own personal ‘why’.
Do you want to be there for your kids, look great at an event, or improve your energy? Remind yourself of this when temptation comes your way.
2. Be SMART
Goals are easier to reach if they are SMART –
- Specific,
- Measurable,
- Attainable,
- Relevant,
- Time-orientated
Allowing you to set clear goals and understand when you are on track to reaching them. For more information and assistance with creating your own SMART goals for the New Year, read this blog.
A big reason to make your goals SMART is that you’ll also improve your weight loss results. Highlighting this, a recent study found that people who set a specific weight loss goal lost an average of 1.5 kg more than those who didn’t.[2]
In another study, it was also found that goal setters were 10 times more likely to lose 10 per cent of their original body weight than non-goal setters.It should be noted that participants in both studies received coaching from qualified healthcare professionals,[4],[5] highlighting the importance of seeking help from a qualified Practitioner. Need help click here to book online.
3. Track Your Progress
Self-monitoring is key to helping you track your progress and make adjustments. When trying to lose weight, tracking your diet and exercise, and regularly weighing yourself, gives real time feedback that helps you stick to your resolution.[6]
4. Get Help
Research shows that health goals are easier to reach if they are set with the help of a Practitioner.[7] This is because your Practitioner can help you identify and implement strategies to reach your goal in a safe and healthy way, as well as helping you anticipate and deal with obstacles and setbacks. For example, problem-solving therapy results in greater losses in body weight, including long-term weight reductions.[8]
Success is guaranteed when ownership and commitment align. Smash your health goals in 2019 by putting these evidence-based strategies to work and reap the rewards that come from your dedication and direction.
Content adapted from Metagenics Australia (permission given)
[1] Teixeira PJ, Silva MN, Mata J, Palmeira AL, Markland D. Motivation, self-determination, and long-term weight control. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2012 Dec;9(1):22.
[2] O’Hara BJ, Gale J, McGill B, Bauman A, Hebden L, Allman-Farinelli M, et al. Weight-Related Goal Setting in a Telephone-Based Preventive Health-Coaching Program: Demonstration of Effectiveness. Am J of Health Promot. 2017 Nov;31(6):491-501.
[3] Avery A, Langley‐Evans SC, Harrington M, Swift JA. Setting targets leads to greater long‐term weight losses and ‘unrealistic’ targets increase the effect in a large community‐based commercial weight management group. J Hum Nutr Diet. 2016 Dec;29(6):687-96.
[4] O’Hara BJ, Gale J, McGill B, Bauman A, Hebden L, Allman-Farinelli M, et al. Weight-Related Goal Setting in a Telephone-Based Preventive Health-Coaching Program: Demonstration of Effectiveness. Am J of Health Promot. 2017 Nov;31(6):491-501.
[5] Avery A, Langley‐Evans SC, Harrington M, Swift JA. Setting targets leads to greater long‐term weight losses and ‘unrealistic’ targets increase the effect in a large community‐based commercial weight management group. J Hum Nutr Diet. 2016 Dec;29(6):687-96.
[6] Burke LE, Wang J, Sevick MA. Self-monitoring in weight loss: a systematic review of the literature. J Am Diet Assoc. 2011 Jan;111(1):92-102.
[7] Leistra E, Streppel MT, Klamer J, Tump AC, Weijs PJ. SUN-PP190: effect of smart goal setting and nutritional assessment on treatment compliance in primary care dietetic treatment. Clin Nutr. 2015 Jan 1;34(Suppl. 1):S94
[8] Perri MG, Nezu AM, McKelvey WF, Shermer RL, Renjilian DA, Viegener BJ. Relapse prevention training and problem-solving therapy in the long-term management of obesity. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2001 Aug;69(4):722-726.
by Feeling Great | Dec 4, 2018 | Body
Recently at a christmas party I ran into an old friend who’d lost 13 kilos and looked amazingly vibrant and happy. I asked her what she’d been up to and how she’d lost the weight after decades of struggling.
She said, “My back pain was so bad I had to do something to get my weight down. I decided to try a ketogenic diet, it’s been amazing I haven’t been that hungry and I’ve got loads of energy. My partner’s doing it with me even though he doesn’t have much more weight to lose to support me.”
Note to self: my friend’s secret formula to getting healthier and happier by shifting her 40 kilo excess was ketosis, support from a loving partner and needing to get out of pain. Mmmmm….all the balls had lined up and it was time to treat herself well.
Do you need a secret formula to getting happier and healthier?
Find out if ketosis is a good fit for you.
————————————————————————————————–
Ketogenic diets have rocketed into the mainstream in recent years, helping people lose body fat, sharpen mental focus and amplify physical energy; all thanks to tweaking your metabolism.
How does a ketogenic diet work?
Normally, your body is fueled by breaking down carbohydrates into their simplest form, glucose. Glucose is then taken up by cells throughout your body and burned to create energy that keeps all your systems functioning well during the day. Whilst your body can burn all macronutrients (carbohydrates, fats and proteins) for energy, carbohydrates are the easiest for your body to breakdown and utilise, leading it to preferentially burn them whenever available.
In contrast, a ketogenic diet adapts the body to using fat for energy, by consuming a higher fat, moderate protein and limited carbohydrate diet.
To do this you need to limit the intake of carbohydrates, so your body does not have enough glucose for its metabolic needs. When this occurs (alongside consuming adequate protein), the body sources fats for fuel and converts them into compounds called ketones. It is ketones, instead of glucose, that the body then starts to use as its primary source of energy. This process is known as ketosis.
The ketogenic diet is quite different to a standard western diet, and different variations of the diet do exist. However, as shown in Figure 1 below, it is comprised of a specific balance of macronutrients, generally being:
- 50% of calories from high quality, unprocessed fats such as avocado, nuts, seeds, egg yolks, organic meat and coconut;
- 30% of calories from protein, such as fish, tofu/tempeh or organic animal protein; and
- 20% of calories from wholefood, complex carbohydrates such as leafy greens, non-starchy vegetables, legumes and low fructose fruit (such as berries).
Figure 1: The balance of macronutrients within a ketogenic diet.
Who can benefit from a ketogenic diet?
- Those wanting to lose weight.
- If you couple your ketogenic diet with being in a calorie deficit, your body will draw on your fat stores for energy, resulting in a reduction in overall body fat.
- Those who struggle to lose weight due to insulin resistance will also benefit from ketogenic eating, as ketones do not require insulin to create energy.
- Athletes
- As a body that has entered ketosis efficiently draws energy from ingested and stored fat, the ketogenic diet can provide a constant and stable source of energy. This offers an advantage over glucose-dependant metabolism, which eventually requires regular glucose intake to sustain intense exercise performance beyond two hours.
- Individuals who prefer eating higher amounts of dietary fat;
- Those who experience digestive issues with high carbohydrate diets; and
- Individuals who respond poorly to low fat dieting.
Who might struggle with a ketogenic diet?
There are people who may not easily adjust to a ketogenic diet due to conditions that limit the absorption of fats, or conversion of fats into energy. This may include individuals who experience:
- Digestive upset when consuming fat containing meals;
- Inborn mitochondrial conditions;
- Recurrent pancreatitis; and
- Gallstones or have had their gall bladder removed.
Is a Ketogenic Diet Right for You?
Whether it’s weight loss or enhanced wellness, it’s worth talking to a naturopath to see if a ketogenic diet will help you reach your health goals. As a bonus, working with a naturopath will also greatly increase your ketogenic success, as they can help identify any barriers to successfully implementing the diet, and create strategies for you to overcome them.
Finally, as with any diet, it’s important to remember that each individual can respond uniquely, and that certain diets will suit some more than others. However, if you feel this diet is right for you, you could soon be joining the many that feel clearer, lighter and more energetic eating keto!
Have a ketosis question? Love to hear from you or book in to get started today.
Julie x
Naturopath, pharmacist, life coach/ 0438 593523/ julie@feelinggreatnaturopath.com.au
*Permission obtained from Metagenics Australia to repurpose graphics and content.
by Feeling Great | Nov 28, 2018 | Mind
Overwhelm can grab hold and give you a big squeeze at this time of year. I’m seeing and feeling it’s effects on many clients as well as myself.
In today’s world we are bombarded with infinite distractions, choices and responsibilities. Perfect conditions for overwhelm – where you get crazily future focused, over-thinking and fearful, letting go of where you are right now. You’re left feeling dis-empowered, disconnected and exhausted.
What happens to you – fight, flight or freeze? Or a you a mix of all 3?
“You can’t calm the storm, so stop trying. What you can do is calm yourself. The storm will pass.” – Timber Hawkeye
What can you do about overwhelm?
Overwhelm is more about how you choose to respond to the world rather than the actual events. Managing your time and energy are crucial elements and keeping a big picture perspective.
Here are symptoms of overwhelm:
- Feeling anxious
- Nerves are shot
- Have no inner space
- It’s hard to breathe
- Constantly feeling stressed and tense
- You’re irritable
- There’s no fun in your life
- You’re feeling constant pressure
- Procrastination and indecision
Awareness is essential to finding YOUR antidote to overwhelm. So many people unconsciously live in an overwhelmed, anxious and stressed state. Take the time to check in now by stepping your mind back into your body then scan from head to toe like a glass of water emptying – “how do I feel?”, “how does my body feel?”
Here’s what you can do to shift overwhelm –
1. Stop
Have the courage to stop what you’re doing, step back and get a big picture perspective. Do this by shutting your eyes, deep breathing and checking in with your body – how do I feel? Opt out for chill time – 15 minutes, an hour, a day or a weekend to reset.
2. Simplify
Overwhelm is literally your head being full of complicated thoughts. Let’s aim for simplicity and spaciousness. Ask yourself, how could I make my life simpler? Brainstorm possibilities.
3. Know your priorities
What’s most important to you? What do you value? How do you want to live on a day-to-day basis? How do you want to spend your precious time and energy? The answers will give you focused flow, which will feel so much easier.
4. Value yourself
Needing to constantly produce, perform and prove can be a sign of low self-esteem. You turn yourself into a human doing to get external appreciation and approval. Are you over-doing and over-committing? Check in – why am I doing what I’m doing?
When you value yourself, you are approving and appreciating yourself from the inside out.
5. Tune into what you want to feel
Refocus your attention and intention on how you want to feel most of the time. Is it balanced, free, kind, playful? What are your words? Now aim towards living it. Aim for progress over perfection.
6. Let go or limit things
Notice where you’re spending most of your time. What’s draining your time and energy? What are you able to delegate or let go of? A good way of uncovering these things is to journal nightly to uncover your overwhelm triggers.
Paradoxically by creating more discipline in your life, you have a greater sense of inner freedom.
7. Commit to less
Are you over-committing your time and energy? Are you setting unrealistic goals? Are you a people pleaser? Is it time to say thanks but no thanks more often?
8. Re-imagine a new schedule
Ok, it’s time to create a new schedule that keeps you out of overwhelm. If your happiness and health were a priority, what would your day look like? What time would you go to bed and wake? What morning routine would you have? How would you set up your day to thrive? What self nurturing elements would you include regularly?
Overwhelm is a very uncomfortable place to live. Know that it is only a perspective shift away and you have a choice in every moment. Is it time you chose, checked in, scheduled and made time for a new way? Start somewhere and improve over time.
“Promise me you will not spend so much time treading water and trying to keep your head above the waves that you forget, truly forget, how much you have always loved to swim.” – Tyler Knott Gregson
Wishing you a soul nourishing week.
Julie xx
PS. If self care has been missing from your schedule? Please value yourself and make time. Click here to book in with Emily Pettigrew, a Self Care & Relaxation Specialist for 1 hour Divine Massage (only $70) or Nurture Package or purchase a soul-nourishing bath soak online.
by Feeling Great | Nov 20, 2018 | Body, Mind
Your brain is running your life whether you are Awake or Asleep.
Sleep isn’t a luxury and the brain has a big ‘To Do’ list to achieve during your sleeping hours.
“The brain is actually very active during sleep doing important things. It’s not just resting, and if you don’t get sleep you don’t function on a number of levels the way you should.”…says Dr. Caitlin Tynan Doyle, Professor of Neurology at Columbia University Medical Center.
Skimping on zzz’s compromises a wide range of functions including…
- mood regulation
- immunity/the risk of getting sick
- cellular regeneration
- premature aging
- weight gain & obesity
- productivity
- thinking and memory
- hormonal balance
- sex drive
- anxiety and depression
- and obviously fatigue and insomnia
Our whole body and brain can get thrown off kilter when our sleep is not optimal.
For 30% of the population, insomnia is a debilitating condition affecting every aspect of life.
About 50% of people lose sleep due to worrying and anxiety. We all know that feeling of something “weighing” on our mind. It can be hard to switch off and slow our train of thought to relax the brain and get to sleep.
Many employees say they actually call in sick or even doze off at work after their anxiety kept them up all night.
So what can be done?
To explain what can be done, it is important to understand that everything is a pattern in the brain.
These patterns, called “Neural Maps” determine the way we feel and think such as with Anxiety as well as our behaviours and physical functions such as in Sleep.
When anxiety is the cause of insomnia, it’s best to treat a patient for the anxiety, changing both the pattern or “Neural Map” as well as addressing the initial underlying cause of the worrying.
Even though sleep is a natural function, it can sometimes get out of balance.
Our brains produce Melatonin and Serotonin and regulate their balance.
When the sun goes down, Melatonin levels go up which makes us sleepy. When the sun comes up our brain naturally produces Serotonin which makes us feel alert and switched on.
Serotonin incidentally is our a happy hormone and is the primary element in depression medications.
Whether it’s due to irregular hours, worries, hormonal changes or other stressors in our lives, once the sleep pattern in the brain gets out of balance it needs to be reset and a new pattern of sleep established.
This can be done through clinical hypnotherapy which resets the sleep pattern and neural map in the brain.
I treat many people, both women and men, every week for sleep oriented issues.
However women are twice as likely as men to be hit by insomnia… finding it hard to get to sleep and stay asleep, every week.
The good news is, if your brain created the problem it can also be influenced to create the solution.
In hypnotherapy we reintroduce healthy sleep patterns by creating a ‘Sleep Protocol’. This is list of individualized triggers that the brain associates with going into a deep sleep.
It’s like a series of reminders that move the mind towards the brain wave pattern that occurs when we are deeply asleep. This brain wave pattern is called Delta.
There are 5 types of brain waves.
Gamma and Beta are both high brain waves associated with alertness, learning and communication.
Alpha and Theta are lower brain waves associated with relaxation and creative thinking.
Finally, Delta brain waves occur while we are in deep sleep.
Once the brain is retrained to move into Delta, normal sleep patterns are re-established.
I always make patients a digital voice recording of the hypnotherapy on their own phone. They can use this at bedtime to strengthen the sleep pattern.
I’ve had a number of patients who after successfully changing their sleep patterns, still use their recordings years later if they have had a late night and need to get to sleep quickly! It’s a great tool and is free as part of the consultation.
Remember…
Your Brain Is Running Your Life Whether You’re Awake Or Asleep
Your brain made the pattern so, it can make something different.
Every pattern is susceptible to change.
So if you’re ready for a change and a better sleep, book in to see…
Perri at Mt Eliza Wellbeing Sanctuary by calling 9787 2111 or email any queries to perri@wellbeingsanctuary.com.au
by Feeling Great | Nov 6, 2018 | Body
Most mums will already be planning on how to shed the baby weight even before the baby has arrived which in turn can lead to unsafe exercise and extreme ways of showing the world that you can ‘bounce back’ quickly.
Nope. Nope times two. Wrong.
——————————————————————
Okay, sit down, we need to chat. You just grew a human so give yourself a huge pat on the back and be proud of what you have achieved. Don’t be so hard on yourself after your body has done so much for you!
Now, to the fitness side. Although we are all different and pregnancy is a completely unique experience to each and every woman – there’s a way to get back into the world of fitness and do it safely. Listen up!
——————————————————————
Okay, you’ve had your baby and it’s all joyous and overwhelming! Firstly, enjoy this. In the most cliché way possible – it genuinely doesn’t last forever. Take it in that newborn smell, feel the love and have all the cuddles – all while doing pelvic floor exercises.
Yes, this is the first exercise you can do to start getting your body back to your version of normal and feeling more human. Not long after, ease in slowly with short walks (even if they are around the lounge room!) and concentrate on nourishing your body with good food.
Before you know it, your six-week check-up comes along and you’ve been cleared for exercise. Please, please and I’ll say it again, please don’t instantly take this as an indication to run a marathon the next week or lift the heaviest weights you can find.
It’s still all a process. You have to remember that growing a human usually takes nine months with extreme changes to your body so you have it give it time.
Don’t decide to exercise just to get your body back. Do it for ‘you time’, for your mental health, to relieve stress or to help boost your energy levels. Having a newborn is very hard work – slow and steady wins the race!
————————————————————–
It’s so important to not overdo it. Even if you’re feeling great after having your little bub, allow your body to heal and recover. Pregnancy hormones can affect your joints and ligaments for up to six months after birth which leads to a higher risk of injury.
You also may have back pain, issues with your bladder (pelvic floor exercises as stated above ladiessssss!) and even separated abdominal muscles.
Start off with low impact exercise, walking, swimming, yoga/pilates which will all help to strengthen up elements of your body that may have become weaker.
——————————————————————
The most important tip of all is to find someone that knows what your fitness routine should be based on for your individual circumstances. There are so many gyms, PTs and fitness groups that don’t understand how much your exercises need to be changed in order to accommodate your changing body.
That’s why I highly recommend Emma and her team at Step Into Life Mornington, who understand these changes and can help you make a customised plan on what you should be doing and how to do it the safest way possible. You can also bring your gorgeous little babe down to the park when you train which not only allows you the freedom to start your fitness journey after birth but so many cuddles for us! Haha.
Get in contact with Emma today to find out more or trial 3 FREE classes.
It’s so vital for our mothers to nurture themselves back to health in a positive and loving way, honouring where they’re at. So, if you know anyone who could benefit from this information, please share it.
Heartfelt thanks, Julie xx
PS. Same applies to those recovering from injuries or returning to exercise after a break.
