The path to change...one step at a time.

Changes are hard, but not impossible. Especially when those changes are designed to create a new, or better, you.

I was speaking with a new client about changing her diet, and her family's diet. Right now it's fast food. Not because they can't afford good food, not because they don't know how bad it is, but because they don't have the time to prepare balanced and nutritious meals.

As we talked, I realized this client was overwhelmed with ALL the changes she needed to make. From soda, to white bread, to fried foods, to pastas and potatoes...there is so much information to take in. This daunting task proved too overwhelming for her; so we settled on step-by-step plan.

Rather than sit there and give her a list of changes she needs to make, we wrote up a schedule together

Rather than change her shopping habits and eating habits overnight, we designed a tiered framework for this massive lifestyle change. For each week we listed something small (but nutritionally poor) to remove from her diet. For each month we listed a much larger lifestyle change.

The small items were addressed first. During week one of June soda was out, in exchange for water and diet iced tea. The next week white bread was out, in exchange for high quality whole grain breads. The third week of June, white potatoes were out, in exchange for sweet potatoes. The last week chocolate disappeared in exchange for fruit.

The larger item was McDonalds. Starting in June the family no longer ate at McDonalds. Rather than going to McDonalds, the Subway (which happened to be 1 block away from the neighborhood McDonalds) became the alternative.

June is the furthest out we scheduled. During the last week of the month, we'll conduct another planning meeting to develop July's plan for changing and switching.

These small steps make something so daunting, so far away, seem reachable. Lifestyle change is the same as anything else; a new job, buying a house, moving away, even starting your day. Everything is one step at a time.

So, like I said...Changes are hard...but not impossible.

--BA

Fit2You Fitness, LLC
www.fit2youfitness.com
Philadelphia and Main-Line In Home Personal Training, Yoga, Nutrition and Corporate Health and Wellness

Bee pollen...this got me thinking

The other day, Stefanie (my girlfriend) and I were talking. Stef asked me about the supplement bee pollen as she discussed the latest article in her favorite fitness magazine. Apparently many of the contributing writers, models, and authors include bee pollen in their diets. Stef's question struck me, as much as it impressed me. Stef was reading about how great bee pollen is, but realized that no one really said what exactly bee pollen was so good at doing. Just to let you know, this article is not about the benefits of bee pollen (which are MANY!), rather I thought I'd take the opportunity to discuss supplements in general.

So many people out there frequent GNC, or Vitamin Shoppe, or other nutrition outlets. These same consumers purchase all kinds of vitamins, minerals, chemicals, supplements, and homeopathic remedies. Whether each individual actually knows why they take what they take is beyond me...but I am willing to bet that a good number take one pill or the other because they read about it, heard about it, or were told about it. Don't get me wrong, this is a great way to expand your knowledge base and enhance your own wellness, but take the time to really look into what it is that you're putting into your body.

For example, many are unaware of the difference between regular and standardized supplements. A standardized supplement will contain the same percentage of that supplement across every pill and every bottle, while regular supplements may not contain the same level of consistency.

Perhaps you're taking "anti-oxidants", and most know that "anti-oxidants" tend to aide in the prevention of cancer. Ask yourself if you know how they aide in this prevention. Anti-oxidants provide a barrier to free-radicals which cause oxidation of the cells. It is this oxidation that may lead to cancer and other problems.

My goal in writing this isn't to expound the benefits of anti-oxidants or bee pollen. I want everyone to question why you're taking one supplement over another, or this pill or that pill. Chances are there's a great reason, and the supplement is doing wonderful things for you. Just ask questions, not to doubt anything, but to learn everything. Let's go back to GI Joe (The Real American Hero)...Knowing is half the battle.

-BA

Fit2You Fitness, LLC
www.fit2youfitness.com
Philadelphia and Main-Line In Home Personal Training, Yoga, Nutrition and Corporate Health and Wellness