5 top reasons you’re no longer getting the results you want

5 top reasons you’re no longer getting the results you want

Are you ready to ramp up your results? I hope so because this month I’m focusing on the TOP ACTIONS you can take to 10x your results …… even (especially!) if you’re stuck in a plateau.

Basically, a plateau is when your results stall out and you stop seeing the progress you saw when you first started your program.

Nearly EVERYONE goes through a plateau from time to time. It’s not a fun place to be – but the good news is that if you DO experience one (or are in one right now), there are a few key things to pay attention to…

I have an entire GUIDE on this topic for you coming soon.

 

In the meantime…

1. You Are “Kinda-Sorta” Following Your Program.

Have you started to slack on your plan? Be honest! This is one of the top causes of plateaus and it’s a good sign to shake things up with new recipes, workouts, or injecting some more FUN into the mix!

2. Your Body is Used to Your WORKOUT or FOOD Plan.

This is another top cause of plateaus! The good news is this means you’re fitter and healthier. It also means it’s time to (safely) challenge your body in a different way.

Regular updates to your plan is KEY to your success! A great coach can help you quickly identify small tweaks to fire up your results again.

3. Hormones, Stress, Sleep Deprivation, and More. Your body isn’t a machine! It’s an incredibly complex organism that functions best when it’s in balance.

So many things can throw it out of balance, from being overtired to overstressed and even undernourished and overworked.

4. You’re Not REALLY in a Plateau (Part 1). If you only rely on the scale to track your results, you’re missing out!

Your body could actually be changing in a big way EVEN if the scale doesn’t move. That’s why it’s important to measure other things, such as the percentage of body fat or circumference measurements.

5. You’re Not REALLY in a Plateau (Part 2). If you’re struggling to lose those “last 5 pounds,” you might be at a weight that’s healthy and natural for your body.

Losing those pounds can take a lot of extra effort, as can keeping them off once you hit your goal.

I hope this list helps you rev up your results.

The fastest and surest way to get – and keep – your momentum going is to work with an experienced coach with a tried & tested program. They’ll be able to make adjustments as you need to make sure you stay on track with your goals to get the results you’re looking for!

How to get your “hope” molecules flowing

How to get your “hope” molecules flowing

You’ve heard about the mind-body-spirit connection, right? It turns out there is some real practical SCIENCE involved. It’s science that will have you lacing up your workout sneakers AND give you inspiration to pick up some weights! 🙂 

Have you heard about “hope molecules”? These are real, live molecules that are in your body – and they get released when you exercise, specifically when your muscles contract.

They are called myokines, and they’re a BIG topic of research. They can affect your mood, your immune system, and basically every organ in your body (even your brain).

Myokines are special chemicals that your muscles create and secrete when you contract them. 

They travel through your bloodstream to your brain, and they act as an antidepressant, make you feel less stressed, and can help you learn.

PLUS … myokines can help:

  • Reduce inflammation
  • Control blood sugar
  • Battle cancer cells
  • Improve brain function
  • Burn more fat as fuel 

The only way to get these chemicals into your brain is to use your muscles!

Researchers started calling myokines “hope molecules” because they appear to work at the brain level to help it recover from stress.

So …. exactly HOW do you exercise to spur more myokine action in your body? 

It really doesn’t matter – basically, just make sure your muscles contract. That could mean walking, biking, running, lifting weights, participating in a fitness class or any other continuous action that makes your muscles move.

Just another reason to feel good about including fitness as part of your self-care routine!

REFERENCES:

https://realfoodwholelife.com/feelgoodeffect/joy-of-movement-kelly-mcgonigal/

https://www.cnet.com/health/ways-exercise-makes-you-happier/

https://www.richroll.com/podcast/kelly-mcgonigal-491/

Why you should know about “drockling”

Why you should know about “drockling”

Do you hit the “snooze” button in the morning after your alarm goes off? Did you know there’s a word for that?
It’s called drockling … and instead of giving you a few extra minutes of sleep to help you feel more rested, it actually can make you feel groggier!

This month we’re talking a lot about starting the day off right and drockling is NOT a part of the plan.

Here’s why…that extra 5-10 minutes of dozing you get between alarms isn’t enough time to give you a complete sleep cycle, and disrupting it in the middle can leave you feeling foggy, cranky, and even more tired.

And according to the National Sleep Foundation, that grogginess can last up to 90 minutes!
Not the best way to start your day.

Instead: if you find yourself getting into the “drockling habit” … ask yourself WHY:

  • Are you going to bed too late to get a full night of sleep?
  • Is something interrupting your sleep?
  • What can you do to make sure you get 7-8 hours of sleep at night?

Maybe it’s time to do a little goal-setting and planning so you’re more inspired and excited to get up and tackle the day! This will go a long way toward having less stressful and more productive mornings – which can set the tone for a really great day.

REFERENCES:

Why you should know about “drockling”

Did you do this when you were a kid?

Remember when you were little, and it was the last day of summer vacation? That means that tomorrow would be your first day back at school …Before bed, you’d chose your favorite outfit and laid it out so you would be ready. You (or your parents) might have planned your breakfast and morning routine so you could get out the door on time, ready to take on the all-important start of a brand-new school year.

Does this sound like you?

Somewhere along the line, most of us outgrew that nighttime prep routine – usually in our rebellious teenage years.

We stopped giving much thought to setting ourselves up for success in the morning.

This is pretty ironic, since for a lot of us, the morning can be one of the most stressful, chaotic parts of our days!

How you START your day will set the tone for your entire day.

Well, here’s a little challenge for you.

Take a cue from 8-year-old “you” and think about the things you can do TONIGHT to get tomorrow off to a GREAT start.

Then spend a few minutes after dinner getting them done!

Maybe it’s making sure your clothes are ready for tomorrow … that your meals are planned and/or prepped … and your workout clothes are packed and ready to go.

Maybe you even go the extra mile and put together a quick to-do list so you don’t lose sleep worrying you’ll forget something.

It worked then, and it will still work now.

It’s the small habits we build into our daily lives that will help create a great 2021, makes your goals a reality, and reduce your level of stress.

Try this for ONE week and see what a difference it can make for you.

Keep up the greatness!

 

Are you in the elite 10%?

Are you in the elite 10%?

Did you know that 90% of us don’t get enough vegetables every day?

90%! Pretty shocking, right?

According to the Canada Food Guide and the USDA, most of us need between 2 and 4 cups a day (based on activity level, gender, mass, ect…), and these numbers are conservative according to some medical professionals and nutritionists!

But the truth is, most people don’t sit down to eat a big bowl of veggies every day. They usually end up as an afterthought in a side dish, at best.

This is why sneaking veggies into your meals (including BREAKFAST) is such a great idea! It’s a pain- and bother-free way to get more of them into your diet.

I know this tip might fall into the category “I know, but I don’t do it very often.”

Consider this your reminder that it’s time to START! 🙂

I have some ideas to get you going.

6 Easy Ways to Add Veggies to Your Breakfast

  1. Stir spinach or kale or any other green into your eggs – or blend them into a smoothie
  2. Shred zucchini or carrots into overnight oats or chia pudding – or stir them into your oats while they cook (surprisingly yum!)
  3. Make a big batch of veggie hash (basically sauté a bunch of veggies together) ahead of time, and when it’s time to eat, heat it up and add a poached egg or browned tofu on top.
  4. Add cauliflower or beets to a smoothie.
  5. Top your avocado toast with some tomatoes or salsa (yes, salsa counts!).
  6. Make a grain bowl with leftover quinoa or whole rice and stir in some spinach, broccoli, bok choy, or leftover grilled veggies like peppers and zucchini, and top it off with some cheese (my go to is goat cheese) while you heat it up. This will keep you feeling full for hours!

Your assignment: Sneak some veggies into your breakfast on 2 days this week.

You don’t have to overhaul your entire lifestyle to feel healthier and more energized fast.

It really IS about making small changes over time that you can actually live with!

We’re all about creating REAL sustainable transformation and change!

Post a pic of your 2 Veggie Filled Breakfasts in the Natural Solutions for Peak Wellness Facebook Group! Let’s share so we can all get ideas!

Committed to your Success,

Christina

 

Why Eating Breakfast is Linked to Being Healthier

Why Eating Breakfast is Linked to Being Healthier

Quick Question: Did you eat breakfast this morning? Of all the meals we eat, breakfast gets the least respect. 

Here’s what I’m talking about:

1 – Breakfast is the most skipped meal. As many as 25% of us skip it every day!

2 – It’s often an afterthought – or even seen as being a problem! 

3 – When we do eat it, we want something that’s fast and requires no/little effort.

4 – And it’s even better if we can eat (or drink) our breakfast on the run.

The fact is, there are a LOT of studies investigating whether we even need to eat breakfast in the first place. 

However, many of those studies have linked eating breakfast to being healthier. 

People who eat breakfast tend to have: 

  • Lower levels of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, 
  • Less risk of getting diabetes, heart disease, or being overweight. 
  • Better memory and concentration.

But the fact is, researchers don’t know whether all of that is caused by eating breakfast – or whether people who eat breakfast tend to have healthier habits.

Either way, that’s a solid enough reason to eat breakfast! It sets the tone for your entire day. 

Remember: It’s the small things that we do every day that add up to big results. 

What did YOU have for breakfast this morning!?

I had a bowl of cooked oats, topped with walnut crumbles, ground flaxseed, fresh blueberries, and maple syrup. One of my favorite GO TO cold weather breakfasts option. And a half-caf cappuccino made with toasted almond-coconut milk and a dash of raw cocoa powder, stevia, and cinnamon. YUM!

Lots more good stuff to come … stay posted! 

Post a pic of what you had for breakfast in the Natural Solutions for Peak Wellness Facebook Group! We love to see what other people eat!