A healthy lifestyle is the foundation for lasting change

In order to create long lasting change in your body, health, and lifestyle, it's important to get clear about your priorities.  I believe that you have to start with the big picture. You have to engage all aspects of your body, mind, and soul so that all of who you are is totally engaged in the journey of reclaiming your health and wellbeing.  

I work from a holistic perspective to create a comprehensive diet and exercise plan backed by lifestyle strategies that get results for the life you lead.  My approach is unique, intense, and effective.

It means learning how to nourish yourself at a deeper level with healthy foods and a way of eating that supports fundamental change at the metabolic level.  It means exercise that you can stick with because it feeds your vitality and makes you feel terrific.  It means creating balance and harmony in your life so that you are present to your needs and able to manage your energy, your outlook, and your stresses.  And it means finding what jazzes you and drives you to stay in touch with the goals that matter most.    

So, let’s get with the program!

In my experience there are six important dimensions that need to be explored and integrated into your program in order for you to get where you want to go.  Whether I’m training you at the gym or we’re engaged in a coaching session by phone, a dive into these topics will be the foundation of my work with you.

1:  Start where you are

This isn’t a competition.  It’s an opportunity to start right where are, today.  Whatever shape you’re in and whatever weight you’re at – there is a way forward.  I’m guessing that you’re here because whatever you’ve tried in the past hasn’t worked.  So that means it's time to get started in a new direction.  We’ll take a look at your health history and the biochemical factors that may be hindering your progress.  We’ll look at the attitudes, habits, and self-limiting beliefs that are sabotaging you.  I’ll work with you to create a program that takes into account your particular health challenges; your likes, dislikes, and abilities; your aspirations and intentions; and your unique life situation.

2:  Light the passion

Lasting change doesn’t come from working at a superficial level.  We know that calorie restriction diets don’t work in the long run.  Look at the overwhelming percentage of people who go on a diet and successfully lose weight, then not only gain the pounds back, but often end up heavier than when they started.  We also know that a significant percentage of people who start an exercise program drop out because of time constraints and lack of motivation.

Whatever your goals are – shaping up, losing weight, controlling impulse eating, or taking charge of a health challenge – I will guide you in framing your goals within the context of what really makes you tick.  Aside from taking action to get your diet and exercise on track, we’ll delve into your work, family and relationships; we’ll explore your hopes and dreams; and we’ll jack up your motivation.

3:  Create an environment that drives success

I’ll be your support as you move forward.  We’ll take a look at issues that lurk internally and externally that sabotage your desire for change.  We’ll consider factors from your inner world, including your internal dialogue, body image issues, and emotional cues that wreck your willpower and steer you off track.  We’ll also work to make sure that what surrounds you is programmed for success.  That means ridding your kitchen of junk food and stocking up on quality, whole foods that rev up your metabolism, taste terrific, and support your goals.  It means that we’ll concentrate on heading into each week with a workable schedule and a plan for healthy meals and snacks that satisfy you and help you resist temptations that don’t serve you.  We’ll also take a look at how friends and family can support or disrupt your efforts to stay on track.

4:  Make the moves

It’s easier than you think to make exercise a priority in your life.  Exercise has a powerful impact on your metabolism and your chemistry, and the payoffs are huge in terms of your health, your psychology, and your longevity, not to mention your weight.  It isn’t just a matter of “calories in and calories out,” i.e., burning up more calories than you take in with food.  There is joy to be had in movement, whether it involves a brisk walk in the park, a high intensity aerobic workout, a quiet, calming yoga class, or an all out session pumping weights.  It’s all about connecting with your body.  It’s all about learning to feed your momentum because a good workout animates you physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  When you enjoy your workouts, it’s easy to make exercise a consistent part of your life; and that, in turn, fuels wellness and weight control.  The more muscle mass and stamina you build, the more you boost your natural metabolic fire.   

5:  Get with the greens

Nothing affects you more profoundly than what you put into your body each and every day.  We’ll focus on filling your diet with high quality, vibrant foods that tantalize your senses and spark your metabolism.  We’ll focus on establishing a healthy rhythm to your meals and snacks so that you’re able to curb your cravings for sweet and salty foods.  We’ll work out an optimal balance of protein, carbs, and fat that naturally helps you control your appetite and hunger.  We’ll talk about the importance of how you eat, because slowing down and listening to your body are critical aspects of learning how to truly nourish yourself.  You’ll learn to focus on the effect that various foods have on your digestion, your mood, and your energy level so that you can effectively navigate around boobytraps that fuel your binges, cravings, and self-sabotaging behaviors.  A healthy weight loss diet doesn’t have to make you feel deprived!

6:  Go with the flow

Chronic stress is a disease of our times.  The speed of life in our culture is more intense now than at any time in human history, and the impact that stress can have on your emotional and physical well-being is profound.  It influences your weight and metabolism, your muscle mass and body composition, and it can also be a factor in insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, premature aging, and a host of other health problems.  Juggling the day-to-day stresses associated with job, family, home, and obligations can be difficult, but when you compound these challenges with self-chosen stresses, you further deplete your energy and stifle the power of your metabolism.  Building a healthy lifestyle means distinguishing between the things in your life that nourish and support you, and the things that are detrimental and wear you down.  It’s essential to learn when and how to decelerate your life so that you can begin to pay attention to the wisdom of your body.  And it’s important to recognize that the activities and relationships that comfort your heart and soul are every bit as important as the food that feeds your body.  So, we’ll talk about getting present to your needs and re-orienting your choices so that the ability to stick with your goals is programmed into the fabric of your life.

Are you ready for the next step?