Smarter Not Harder Wellness!
Let’s face it, none of us are getting any younger each day, but there are many things we can do to feel younger and move like we’re younger. When it comes to our exercise and nutrition though, we might have things a bit off if we think we need to keep working harder to get our body to move or feel better.
Every week I get to chat with women with the following goals:
Lose weight
Feel more confident in their skin
Less brain fog
More energy
Feel like I eat “normal” or aren’t always on a diet
And these are all very real goals, and ones that so many of us can relate too…especially if we are busy running a business and a family.
So…why should we work smarter and not harder when it comes to our wellness? Here are 5 tips why.
Hormones – they aren’t what they used to be.
Stress – elevates our cortisol
We know the value of a good night’s rest
Carbs aren’t the enemy
Years of experience have taught us how to prepare better
Hormones…
As we age our hormones change! With these changes come changes in how we need to do things. What is shocking for all women to realize…what you used to do for your fitness and nutrition to lose weight or get in shape no longer works when we are older. Instead of restricting calories, choose protein, good fats, lots of vegetables and be sure to get in your fiber. Drop the sugar as much as possible and get back to enjoying your food!
Stress…
Cortisol is a major hormonal player in our body. When our cortisol is elevated, as women especially, we tend to hold onto weight in our mid-section, increasing our chances for developing heart disease. High impact exercise can also increase our cortisol. So how do we work smarter – we keep moving, but we focus on the exercises that make us happy and bring us joy. Yep, keep moving, but do it with something you love. Results can still come at just 3 days a week or 10 minutes a day!
Sleep…
Sleeping more is the key to everything – really! Some of the most successful people on the planet talk about self-care and the importance of sleep. When we get better sleep, we can focus better and work, and thus the project we are working on actually takes less time to complete, allowing us more time to sleep. Plus, we recover while we sleep…and this is good for productivity and reducing overall stress.
Carbs…
Carbohydrates aren’t the enemy. Let me repeat that again for everyone - Carbohydrates aren’t the enemy. Regardless of how many articles you read – high quality carbohydrates are good for balancing your thyroid…and when your thyroid is optimized - you feel better. So, go back to the basics when it comes to carbs – think starchy vegetables and the best non-processed ones you can find – rice, potatoes, lentil, quinoa and legumes.
Experience…
What would you tell your client, younger self or children about taking time for themselves? That it is important – right? We as women are so guilty of not taking the time we need to recover. Please use your own experience and tell yourself it’s ok, we don’t need to be go, go, go 1000% of the time! We can slow down, take a breath, and get prepared for what’s ahead next. Our years of experience bring us unparalleled experience, so let’s use it!
