There is a cycle of nutrition, and it isn’t just about food. As a nutrition coach, I often find that when someone comes to me to “eat healthier” they are surprised to find that I won’t just write up a meal plan.

To be fair, I’m not a registered dietician so I can’t legally write meal plans… but that’s beside the point. As a nutrition coach, I work with people on the nutrition ON their plate and their habits OFF their plate.

There’s a saying “Abs are made in the kitchen” and I’m going to call BS on that this week on the podcast.

When your sleep is off, you’re less likely to aim for healthier foods (hello cravings). When you are reaching for less healthy foods, you are less likely to move your body. When you don’t move your body, sleep can be harder. When your stress levels are high, all three of them suffer…

Let’s break them all down individually.

Sleep

Sleep is one of the most overlooked aspects of health. One of the biggest things you can do for your health is figure out your sleeping sweet spot. 8 hours is the recommended sweet spot but not for everyone. Some people function better on 7, and some function better on 9. However, unless you’re unusual circumstances, you don’t want more than 10.

In order to get better sleep, avoid using things like sleeping pills, alcohol, etc. to help you sleep. They can actually DISRUPT your sleep because your body has to spend the night fighting off the foreign invaders instead of resting.

Instead, focus on building a bedtime routine that works for you.

Movement

Many people think of exercise and immediately respond “I don’t run”. Guess what! It doesn’t have to be running or cardio. In fact, a mix of different workouts may be the best for your body.

We are all individuals, with individual goals, finding what WORKS FOR YOU is the most important part of moving your body. By finding something you enjoy, you are more likely to become more consistent at moving your body.

Stress Levels

When your stress levels are high, your body is operating in a fight or flight mode. When it is constantly in that mode, we are unable to truly relax or RECOVER. Not only is it preventing you from sleeping, but it’s also preventing you from making better decisions about the food on your plate.

There are many, many ways to approach bringing down your stress levels but acknowledging what is causing the problem is a good place to start! You can’t control every situation, but taking time to step back from the situation using meditation, exercise, therapy, or even coaching can help you start to bring those stress levels down.

Food on Your Plate

While this podcast is about the cycle of nutrition, the food on your plate is an area we aren’t going to dive into too much. The key of the nutrition on your plate is making sure it is best supporting your body.

We will not eliminate fast food or processed foods completely from our diet, but finding the right balance of processed and whole foods, such as fruits, vegetables, grains, etc. will be key to your long-term health.

The most important thing about the cycle of nutrition is recognizing when it is off… chances are your body is telling you somehow… are you listening?