Have you been told to count calories, points or macros or miles? Most of us have tried this diet or that new tool. It’s not inherently a wrong or right way to do it, but we want to offer a different way – a way that will remove the guilt when we don’t hit the numbers. A way to be with our body and be with our choices that use curiosity, not counting.
There is not one way or a right way – there is simply your way of noticing and exploring.
In order to have lifelong vitality, we must find OUR way. This is a shift from what we are told over and over and over again from the diet culture. Count calories, count macros, stop eating this (it’s bad), start eating that (it’s good). As health coaches, we want to interrupt that pattern.
At Nourish Coaches, the number one rule/idea we share is to eat real, whole foods whenever possible. That is the answer to most questions when someone asks us if a food is ok to eat. We understand there is confusion. With the industry pumping out an average of 15,000 products per year, the choices continue to confuse us.
We all – every one of us – lose weight when we start paying attention to our food choices, move away from processed foods and add nutrients. There is more to it than that! When we start adding nourishment on all levels of our life, we start aligning with true health and every decision is just a bit less of a struggle. It’s why we talk with our clients about more than just food. We explore what else is happening in your life with sleep, movement, mindset and connection. It goes beyond the plate. When any of these Nourish Five Foundations of Health is off, well, so are our decision making skills.
Health, vitality, our body shape, our happiness, our fulfillment does not come in eating the perfect diet, it comes from discovering what is happening in our body as a result of our choices.
When choices do come up, the number one question to ask is:
Is what I’m doing, thinking and eating right now moving me closer to my goals?
If the answer is yes, keep going.
If the answer is no, that too is helpful information and allows us to explore what’s behind the decision. What’s the reason for me doing (or not doing) this habit that serves me or doesn’t serve me? It’s sometimes easier to have a pint of ice cream than it is to face the icky feeling. This is something we talk about with our clients – coaching through curiosity instead of criticism and shame is what sets a Health and Wellness Coach apart from other professions (though a lot of the industry is catching up to these ideas – and that’s a beautiful thing).
Let’s go back to ‘counting.’ It can absolutely be of service. It helps us get clear about what food groups there are and helps put things in perspective. These kinds of rules can be of service for a while, until they aren’t anymore. Counting removes us from any internal intuitive connection with what we are feeling. How satisfied are you? Does your food taste good? How is my body and mind performing when I eat this? All that is stripped away when we are only focused on following the numbers.
Let’s be clear, boundaries can keep us safe when we are in a vulnerable or challenging place. So setting up your own list is key – when I go to a gathering where there is food, I ask if there is gluten in the food prepared. If yes, then I don’t eat it – not worth it to me in most cases as it makes me feel terrible – sometimes for days. However, on special occasions, if it is made from someone I love, who made this food with joy and the ingredients are real, whole foods, I”m going to find pure pleasure in a few bites and say thank you. This comes from a place of choice and from knowing – not guilt, shame or shoulds.
Counting VS Curiosity
So count if you need to for a bit AND pay attention to how your body and mind are responding to the choices, to the experience of eating. When we ‘hate on food’ (good vs bad), we are hating on ourselves and this is a pattern that is not of higher service to your goals of health. For example, when we go to a party and we are worried about the food (what will be served, can I eat it, how many points, calories, etc…) it’s a recipe for anxiety. Instead, what would happen if you went to the gathering 1. not hungry. 2. focused on connecting with friends, the environment and the event, and 3. curious if any of the food choices were in alignment with your goals of looking, feeling and performing your best. Curiosity is a wonderful way to come to the table.
Counting takes us away from ourselves. It’s using outside rules instead of inside knowing and feeling. To shift to this way, it takes practice. It takes on a curious mind. It takes someone who has a commitment to self health for the long term. If you are interested in learning more, schedule a consult.
