Nutrition 911 - HELP!
A couple of months ago I registered for the Nutritionist Certification through International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA). I want to turn food and nutrition into my hidden superpower so that I can help anyone and everyone reach their health and wellness goals. Because lets face it - in order to reach your wildest health goals - you need to go well beyond just a great workout plan.
I felt like getting certified as a nutritionist was the next natural progression for me since I’ve been counting my macros (macronutrients) now for 6-7 years (off and on). And believe me when I say, if you want to lose weight, counting macros works 100% of the time, every time. I know it works. I’ve seen it work on me. I’ve seen others drop pounds quickly using this method. That is why it’s so easy for me to “fall off the wagon” and jump back on after a weekend of greasy foods, sweet desserts and beer (yes, I am a beer girl - and I cannot turn down a flight or two of locally brewed craft beer) but it works! Over the last 11 months I have been counting my macros more regularly AND working out with a goal in mind. I met that goal a while back but I still count to make sure I am aware of what I am putting in my mouth. It’s OK to splurge every now and again…. but it should be the exception and not the rule.
This past Monday, my husband Jason and I began a 4-5 week-long Live Wellness Program with online coursework, zoom meetings and one on one interactions. Dr. Krista and her husband Dr. Adam are both Naturopathic Doctors. At Live Wellness, we take a proactive, whole-body approach to health. You’ll partner with our holistic health coach and functional specialists to gain a true understanding of what’s happening within your body. They take a proactive, whole-body approach to health to gain a true understanding of what’s happening within our bodies. We are learning that illness (especially autoimmunity) is often rooted in several complex causes and mechanisms. Throughout the course we will focus on the 5 pillars of health: Nutrition, Energy, Detox, Hormones and Mentoring. The goal of the course for us to walk away with the ability to take an active, empowered role in our health through nutrition, natural and non-toxic therapies as much as possible, harnessing the body’s amazing ability to heal itself. Like I said, we just started it, and I have already learned so much.
Between counting macros (which I am pretty good and can teach others) and completing my nutritionist course and now taking the Live Wellness Program I have realized that there is so much more to meeting health and wellness goals. Just because I count macros and am able to drop a few pounds here and there doesn’t mean I am filling my gut with the right stuff. Nor does it mean I am “healthy.”
Did you know: Less than 3% of Americans meet the basic qualifications for a “healthy lifestyle”, according to a study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
That means 97% of American’s are not engaging in healthy living? That is an astonishing statistic. But after learning everything I have learned so far (and I can’t wait to learn more) it makes sense.
Dr. Krista (who I mentioned a few paragraphs ago) spoke to my FITTEAM group in Charlotte, NC about gut health. She opened up by describing the symptoms that are indicators of poor gut health. They are: bowel difficulty, weight gain, rashes and joint pain, fatigue, brain fog, poor concentration, mood swings and emotional, anxiety and depression. I was sitting in front of Jason at this event and just as I was having the OMG moment, he taps me on the shoulder and I knew immediately why he was tapping me - I exhibit EVERY. SINGLE. SYMPTOM. As a matter of fact, I am on 5-6 medications for those symptoms. But I never knew the root problem could be because of my gut. This was eye opening. This was my Nutrition 911 moment… I needed help!
So long story short….. it’s time for a change. And you get to join me on my journey while I learn as much as I can and apply that knowledge to not only improve my gut health and become one of the 3%, but to give you the tools that could help you improve your gut health as well.
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