The Mindset Shift From Restriction to Addition

For most people, when they start to consider what to change to start a weight loss journey or even just to eat healthier, they think about what foods they'll have to cut out to be successful. I was also guilty of this! I'm going to challenge you to reframe this thinking...

In my more recent work with clients, I've been focusing on helping people to make small changes that they can stack on each other and see results that are actually sustainable (check out my program based on this concept: Stronger, Healthier, You). Part of that is making changes to nutrition choices, but so many clients come to me after trying diets that are based on cutting out specific foods or even whole food groups. How realistic is it to commit to never eating ice cream again? That's not sustainable...

SO instead of thinking about your nutrition goals in terms of what you can't eat anymore, I've been working with people on what we can add to a meal to make it more balanced and meet their needs. I've seen clients have a healthier relationship with food and are better able to stick to their nutrition goals when they don't have this scarcity mindset.

Think of it this way... instead of thinking that you're going to cut out those Girl Scout cookies after dinner, let's look at what's on your plate for dinner. Do you need to add a serving of veggies to get all the necessary nutrients? Do you have a protein to help with muscle growth and recovery? How about a healthy fat to help with hormone function and satiety? Let's figure out how to fuel your body for your daily activities and focus less on avoiding those cookies in the cabinet!

How do you think about creating meals when you're in a dieting phase?