This Could Be What You Need to Finally Reach Your Goals

We all have things we’d like to improve on in life. Some of us aspire to run a marathon. Some of us just want to feel good in our jeans—and some of us are better at setting goals and following through than others. Wherever you land on the spectrum, there are many reasons a nutrition coach may be just what you need to guide you along the way. Why? We can’t do everything ourselves. Having someone who’s been there before or has knowledge you don’t have is key to  creating and sticking to a plan. (If you’ve been trying to reach a goal without a concrete plan, you know it’s a practically impossible feat!) The best news is that there are different coaches who can meet your specific needs—such as a nutrition coach, life coach or health coach. RELATED: 3 Expert Tips to Set Achievable Goals Ready to start crushing your goals? Consider these three reasons a coach may be just what you need. 3 Reasons to Get a Coach 1. A Coach Will Hold You Accountable This is often the No. 1 reason why my clients seek coaching. They have an idea of what they “should be doing” but really need someone to push them along the way, or push them harder if they hit a roadblock. If you struggle to connect the dots to make a behavior a habit, you need a coach. Bonus: Our greatest assets can be ones we don’t realize, and a good coach will help you discover those and bring them to life. 2. You Feel Overwhelmed Many of my clients know they need a complete overhaul, but are so overwhelmed they don’t know where to begin. This is where coaching can help you break out of the rut you are in and start new habits. We begin by looking at your big picture goals and breaking them down into actionable steps. RELATED: How to Manage Your Stress So You Can Focus on Healthier Habits 3. A Coach Provides a Personalized, Outside Perspective Sometimes when we’re stuck in the muck we can’t see through to the other side. An outside perspective is crucial, especially when it comes with one-on-one personalized advice (as opposed to internet research providing you with a one-size-fits-all approach). For example, I’ve been working with a client who has been trying her hardest to overcome her sugar habit. When we finally talked it out, she discovered ways she could change her routines in order to break the habit. She has been able to skip having a nightly sweet treat and opt for some fruit or herbal tea instead. Although the solutions seemed simple, she admitted she hadn’t thought about trying these things. One final tip before you go get a coach: I encourage you to make sure the coach you seek out is a certified one. Look for someone who’s educated on the subject they’re helping you with, with a a degree or full certification that goes beyond a two-week course. By Gretchen Riddle, CHES, CHWC, NLC About Gretchen: Gretchen Riddle, CHES, CHWC, NLC is a certified health and wellness coach and a graduate of Nutritious Life Studio’s Become a Nutrition Coach course.   She has worked in corporate wellness for over 12 years coaching and incorporating programs for weight and stress management among other topics. She uses a real food approach to nutrition and works to empower clients to make lifestyle changes that stick. She also provides coaching independently through her own coaching company, Gretchen Leigh Wellness. Learn more at gretchenleighwellness.com.  

Why You Should Think About New Year’s Resolutions in a Totally New Way

The indulgence-followed-by-resolution mindset can often set people up for failure. Keri explains how to focus on consistency, instead.

Why Self-Discipline Is a Muscle You Should Start Flexing

By Patricia Moreno When I was growing up, I thought the word discipline meant punishment. I didn’t like to be reprimanded, be told what to do, or follow rules. When I was in my 30s, I finally realized that line of thinking wasn’t doing me any good and that I needed to develop the muscle of self-discipline. After reading The Yoga of Discipline by Gurumayi, I basically put myself into self-discipline boot camp. I had a life coach at the time and the rules were strict. If I didn’t follow through on what I said I was going to do, I would have to pay a fine, give up drinking coffee the next day, or even do something more drastic. Why did I want to put myself through this? I wanted to develop the ability to follow through on the things I said I wanted to do. I wanted to stop overindulging frequently and eat more healthfully. I wanted to stop regretting my choices and feeling hopeless in the attainment of my dreams. I wanted my weight to stop fluctuating constantly and to stop using unsustainable means to manage it. I knew that my bad attitude needed an overhaul, and I wanted a change. I was tired of letting myself down, and I finally realized that letting myself off the hook wasn’t always the answer. Sometimes, I needed to simply follow through on things whether I felt like it or not. I needed to keep my word and delay instant gratification. In other words, I needed to flex my self-discipline muscle much more. The Power of Self-Discipline It sure wasn’t easy, but it was a great investment I made in myself. It radically improved my life and how I felt about myself and opened my mind up to more possibilities than I had envisioned before. Take a second to think about it. What is holding you back from achieving your goals? As we move into the new year—a time of reflection and new beginnings—it is a great opportunity to become more self-aware. Ask yourself, “What would my life be like if I had a little more self-discipline? What would more self-discipline open up the door to for me to accomplish?” This year, instead of simply thinking of goals you want to achieve like losing 20 pounds or making an extra 100k, I invite you to instead focus on your character. Decide to use your goals as opportunities to develop self-discipline, integrity, self-acceptance, confidence, or appreciation. The goals are a way to keep yourself in the game of becoming a total badass, inside and out, but when you set them, don’t think about the goal as the prize. Instead, focus on who you need to become in order to experience more personal fulfillment. When you focus on developing yourself instead of simply achieving a goal, a whole new world of opportunities will open up for you. Exercise your power to choose. About Patricia: Patricia Moreno—a Guest Expert for The Nutrition School—is all about helping people awaken their inner bad-ass by combining practices that exercise mental, physical, and spiritual muscle so they can live a life of Thinner Peace. Her secret recipe is the integration of mind, body, and spirit and the deliberate development of self-love and self-mastery. She is the creator of the intenSati method and The Practice which will be released January 2017.

Why Bad Words Can Make You Fat

Sayings like “having willpower”, “eating in moderation”, and “guilt free” are thrown around all of the time. They’re generally thought to help you, to guide you in the right direction when it comes to eating healthy. But rather than empowering, inspiring, and helping you achieve your health goals, what if I told you that this “inspiration” might actually be sabotaging your valiant efforts towards becoming your healthiest self? These terms—dare I say “bad words”—are used…overused…even abused! And they can be detrimental when it comes to supporting your weight goals and even your happiness. For my clients, I find that these terms are too vague, are negative energy, cause them to think about and focus on unhealthy foods even more, and at some point, put them in a losing situation. While these words don’t have to be completely thrown out of your vocabulary, it’s important to realize how even simple words can have a huge effect on your health. Why Bad Words Can Make You Fat