Healthy to Whole Philosophy
Having a philosophy about nutrition feels . . . limiting. I'm not interested in forcing my clients into a pre-constructed box, where their individual personalities, preferences, and needs are sacrificed in order to maintain my beliefs about food and life. We are far more complex, and it serves everyone well to keep that in mind.
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What I recommend for one client may be the complete opposite of what I tell another. This makes it challenging to defend too many "hills" that others believe are worth dying on. However, there are those few beliefs that are non-negotiable, and I'm unwavering in my commitment to them.
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A "Healthy to Whole" Approach Is Best.
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Moving from healthy to whole means integrating all aspects
of one's life to achieve holistic health. It involves recognizing
the need to nourish the body with proper nutrition, engage
in regular physical activity, and maintain a healthy lifestyle
to be well.
However, being whole also extends beyond physical health
and encompasses emotional and spiritual aspects. It means
paying attention to and nurturing one's emotional well-being by managing stress, practicing self-care, and cultivating healthy relationships. It involves exploring and connecting with one's sense of purpose, whether it be through faith, mindfulness, meditation, or other means of finding inner peace and fulfillment.
Going from healthy to whole requires a balanced approach that integrates all these dimensions of well-being. It means being aware of how diet and lifestyle choices impact not only physical health but also emotional and spiritual well-being. It involves making conscious choices to nourish the body with nutritious foods, engage in physical activities that bring joy and promote vitality, cultivate positive emotions, rest to restore the mind, and nurture a sense of purpose and connection to something greater than oneself.
By embracing this holistic approach, individuals can experience a deeper level of contentment, fulfillment, and overall wholeness in their lives.
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Real Food First.
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Real food brings life. It has the ability to strengthen and, at times, heal. We were not meant to supplement our way to health. A pill, a powder, or a bar should never be the first option towards healing. While they may be necessary as dietary changes are made to incorporate whole foods, it is not the only line of defense.
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Change Is Hard. Hard is Good.
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Changing habits is hard. Learning a new way of eating, finding ways to minimize stress . . . modifications such as these are not implemented without effort. But I believe that these hard choices produce a great reward. Something that is easily achieved is never valued as greatly as something that is hard-earned. Making hard choices to do what is necessary strengthens not only the body but the spirit.
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Some Foods Should Not Be Eaten.
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If the body does not recognize a food as something it can use, then I also don't recognize it as food. Our diets are filled with choices produced in a lab, and our bodies do not benefit from their consumption. The bottom line? I'll never be o.k. with a Twinkie.
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