I’m Back! And We’re Back to Basics

Since this post is a fresh start, I thought I’d re-share the photo from my very first blog post. My Yiayia (Grandmother, second from left) and three of my aunts in the kitchen, of course.

Hey there! Miss me? Well I’ve missed all of you! If you didn’t know, I had a short stint in the corporate world, and it left me with little time for my coaching practice, or this blog. So, it’s been on the back burner (cooking pun intended). But guess what? I’m back in the game! I’m cooking, writing this blog, taking on new coaching clients, and it feels great being back in the groove.

A few days ago, one of my clients told me a hilarious story. When she was a little girl, she begged her mom - on her knees - to never make her eat fish again. Can you imagine? Well, she recently had lunch with her sister and ordered salmon. Her sister was shocked and exclaimed, “Who are you?” I love this story because it illustrates how simply opening your mind is truly transformative. A mindset shift is powerful. She recognized the benefits and gave it a try. And she liked it!

And so, I’m getting back to basics with my coaching practice. Sometimes, in all the social media frenzy, we get wrapped up in the latest thing, and it all sounds so complicated. When it really just all comes down to food. Simple. And being proactive is key to make change. Why do so many of us wait for some terrible diagnosis, or get fed up with not getting the answers we deserve from our health care professionals, to change the most basic part of our lifestyle?

Probably the same reason that you never have the umbrella when it starts to rain, or you start wearing a helmet after you fall off of the bike. We are reactive rather than proactive. Aren’t we the same with our health? Most of us don’t see a need for preventative care until it’s too late, and then, hind-sight is 20/20.

It’s crucial to stay motivated and focused on what truly matters. We’re bombarded with advice on what we ‘should’ do, but there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Finding what works for you takes time and effort. I see many people chasing after what I like to call the “shiny objects”, the latest trends or fads, never giving anything a chance to make real improvements.

Of course it goes without saying that I’ve spent the past 10 years (can you believe I started this journey in 2015?) making changes in my diet for my own health, and eventually for clients who have seen dramatic results. How can you become more proactive about your own health? What sorts of changes do you need to make? First and most importantly, change your mindset. Just as my client in the anecdote did. What sort of changes do you see as beneficial for yourself? What types of health issues are you trying to avoid? Or reverse? What are your goals? Do you want to climb mountains, or just take a walk around your neighborhood without pain? Do you want to play with your kids or grandkids? Or dance until you’re 99 years old? (Have you seen the videos of Dick Van Dyke? Hashtag “goals”). Getting back to basics starts with your “why”. It has to come from within, not some external source that says you “should” or “need to”. That motivation is the driver. It’s the reason you return to whenever you feel like you can’t continue. Food is the foundation of any healthy lifestyle. It’s all about using simple ingredients and basic recipes. You don’t need to spend hours in the kitchen or plan a complicated menu. Just focus on eating well and feeling good. As you start to feel better, you’ll naturally want to make more changes. It’s a gradual process, and it’s okay to take things one step at a time. Don’t feel pressured to make drastic changes all at once. People who do that often end up falling back into old habits. Instead, focus on making small, sustainable changes that you can stick with. And remember, it’s never too late to improve your health. Just a few small changes can lead to big transformations in your lifestyle. And I’m here to support you every step of the way!