First world problem solved! All right so I know that peace across the world and the laying down of arms would be huge, but this is kinda big for me. I have solved my first world problem of that mid week lack of energy, come hump day and downhill slide to the weekend, REVIVE and then start it all over again.
As a yoga teacher, I want to be authentic in the message I deliver, so this means that I need to live and breathe what I talk about in my classes and to friends. If I don’t set the example, how can others follow? Whilst my life and food choices are pretty healthy and I have a good amount of yoga in it, I was still struggling with energy. So after moaning about it for a couple of years (pre contemplation stage of the cycle of change), I decided to do something about it. Yes, it’s the story of changing my food choices and yes this is a first world problem and yes I am incredibly lucky that I can make these changes and blog about it. Read on if you will.
I’m no nutritionist or dietician but I do believe that as we age, the food choices we make need to change. I’ve never been a big junk food eater, but I am a lazy, time pressured, vegetarian lacking in protein. 5th Element Wellness, a gym where I teach yoga, offered me a thorough lifestyle assessment, recommended a bit of a change in diet and some strength and conditioning training.
For the first month this has been NO coffee, sugar, dairy, soy, legumes, alcohol and gluten and despite the fun police taking over my diet, I do feel amazing. I also don’t eat meat, so I’ve had to incorporate this as well. Basically fish, eggs and lots of vegetables, back to basic, simple, clean eating. Makes me feel light inside. Yes I have to plan and prepare more, which I never thought I’d have time for, but the energetic lift I’ve had from changing diet means that I get through work faster, think clearer, more organised etc, so more time to shop and prepare food. Here are some of the benefits I’ve experienced:
• Consistent high energy levels
• Increased sex drive
• Moods are consistent (pretty happy and positive)
• Massive sleep improvements.
• Greater sense of creativity and possibilities
• Clearer decision making
• Far, far less painful period – THIS IS HUGE FOR ME and what has kept me on track
I invite you to challenge yourself, to cut out one of the above that you have regularly, just for one month and see what a change it makes. Interestingly enough, I’m not missing too much now that it’s not around, but I still have my beef about what replaces a coffee in a cafe.
Write to me and let me know what change you’ve made and why, I’m curious.