Post Lockdown: How Do We Get Back On Track?

As we come slowly but steadily out of the other side of lockdown, many of us are hastily searching online for the best diets, detoxes and weight loss plans ready for summer.

But never fear! Restrictions are easing and we can now go hard at the gym, go hard on our nutrition and go hard on our bodies. But should we? Not in my opinion.

The number of searches for ‘binge eating’ and overeating have steadily increased and overall many of us are feeling like 6+ weeks in lockdown surrounded by food, comfort baking and comfort eating has left us feeling a bit out of sorts and ‘out of control’ around food.

I believe that firstly, we need to be compassionate with ourselves, this is a global pandemic, not summer holidays.

The last few weeks have been full of upheavals, uncertainty and stress like we’ve never experienced before.

Going HARD on ourselves is an added intensity when things are still very uncertain and very stressful for many of us.

So, where should we start? How DO we get back on track?

Reset your WHY

Before you start anything it’s important to know WHY you’re doing it. Sounds like a no-brainer, but if you don’t know your 'WHY' it’s really difficult to sustain any changes long term.

Your WHY should be compelling and based on your values. You can ask yourself some simple questions to get started. Write the answers down and keep them somewhere handy.

• Why do I want to eat better?
• Why is this important to me?
• How will life be better?

Make a plan

If you want to start eating more nourishing foods again, the most important thing is to start meal planning again.

When we take the time to plan some of our favourite healthy meals and snacks it becomes super easy to nourish ourselves because everything we need is in arms reach.

It doesn’t have to take long, start with your current faves and go from there.

How to reset your food rituals...

Bring in awareness

Now, I want you to practice asking yourself another important question: “Am I hungry?”

Simply asking yourself this question before you grab something to eat can be an insightful way to tune into your eating habits and triggers.

Hungry? Why your body may be telling you you're hungry when you're not...

Before you grab that third snack, try to pause and ask yourself if the physical symptoms of hunger are there. If not, what’s going on? What triggers are causing you to want to eat?

Are you bored? Stressed? Not sleeping? Checking in with hunger can open up so many useful answers.

Feed the need

Once you’ve asked yourself, “Am I Hungry” and determined that you are indeed NOT hungry it’s really important to feed the true need because if you’re not hungry in the first place, no amount of food is going to satisfy you.

If you’re bored, try to find something enjoyable to do. Stressed? Practice mindfulness. Lonely? Call a friend or snuggle up to your pet.

Only you can determine what alternative will feed the true need, but I promise you that doing so will do wonders for your mental and physical health.

Add in

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it a million times again – completely overhauling our entire diet may work short term but is rarely a long term solution without some level of stress.

Instead, start to flip things around to focus on getting more of the stuff that makes you feel awesome.

Look for ways to get more vegetables into your life, add fruit to your snacks, try some new whole grains, spoil yourself with fancy olive oil.

10 tips to get more greens into your diet...

The more we focus on ‘adding in’ the less room there will be for the stuff that may not make us feel so great.

And if there’s one thing that you can add in right away that can have amazing effects on how you feel, it’s Good Green Vitality. Everyone I’ve ever known who has started taking it, myself included, have noticed its positive effects on how we feel.

*********************

When we go hard on ourselves through diet or exercise, it’s as if we’re punishing ourselves rather than caring and the number one theme of these past few weeks has been to simply be kind. Let’s apply this kindness to our bodies and enjoy the lasting health effects of gentle nutrition and joyful movement.

Remember, this is an unprecedented time. More than ever we need to engage in care and kindness. Not just to others but ourselves as well. Together we’ll continue to get through this and before you know it you’ll be back on track to feeling great again. One day at a time.

Read more

6 ways to have a better night sleep...

The empowered eating handbook...

10 tips to get more enjoyment out of your food...

The information provided in this article is intended for educational purposes only and is general advice. It should not, nor is it intended to be, relied on as a substitute for individual medical advice or care. If the contents of this, or any other of the blogs in this series raises any concerns or questions regarding your health, please consult a qualified healthcare practitioner.