It’s all in your guts

I don’t know how many times I have heard from clients after they start eating better that NOTHING is happening. That is not quite correct, but I know what they mean. They haven’t lost any weight.

I ask them how they feel, the answer always goes something like this  “much better, my clothes fit better, I am sleeping better, I can’t explain it, but I feel like I have more energy”

I tell them that they didn’t gain all their weight overnight, so it might take a little time. I encourage them to stick to their lifestyle resolutions. That this isn’t a quick fix and isn’t that why they came to see me in the first place? They were sick of the up and down cycle of weight, fitness, feeling unhappy with themselves. They were ready for a change that lasted more than 6 weeks.

People who want to work with me generally fall into 2 categories:

1. They are at their limit. They are smart, educated, successful and know that this is a part of their life where they don’t feel successful. They are ready to make permanent changes. They want to feel good. They want to be healthy. They are not interested in a quick fix, diet, fitness fad. They want results. They want to improve their health and fitness for life. They want it all, just not all at once.
2. They are not quite ready to change. They may not feel as successful as they appear. They want to feel good, have more energy, lose weight, reduce their risk of lifestyle disease. They want to be healthy. They are not ready to make permanent changes, yet. They are still looking for a quick, effortless way to see results.

These clients are not ready to take action. This is where the delay between making some healthy changes and seeing results makes it clear.

Crystal clear. 

Being ready to commit to permanent change is just another step in the process. Some folks never make it to action, constantly stuck in contemplation, thinking about change, but not ready to actually stick with it. Others seem to effortlessly decide and stick to it. Most of us are somewhere in the middle. Taking a few steps forward and improving slowly, with the occasionally relapse into old habits.

I am not saying that once you decide everything is smooth sailing. It is not. It can be an incredible journey and there are a few tricks to making it easier. Now I have another.

Your guts.

There is more research about what happens inside your guts than ever before. The diversity of the microbiota, microbes that live in your digestive tract, has an effect on all aspects our health, including weight loss.

Multiple studies have proven that the Standard American Diet, SAD, is a key contributor to obesity, diabetes, cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer’s. Other studies have shown that a whole foods, plant-based, diet is best when reducing your risk of chronic, lifestyle disease.  

A new study has shown that when switching from a traditional SAD to a plant-based diet your gut microbes take time to respond which slows the response to the health benefits of a plant based diet.

It takes longer to see the benefits because your guts need to diversify their microbiota.

Think of changing your diet to improve your health as a real cleanse. Starting from the inside out, a healthy gut first and then you can reap the rewards of improved health, weight loss, fitness and everything else on your list of resolutions to be your personal best. Because in the end it’s what is on the inside that matters most, not the scale.

Change your mind, change your health,

Shayla