Welcome to Part II of this installment. If you missed Part I, you can read it here.

Willpower. Willpower and food. Willpower and dieting. Willpower and resisting cravings. When we think of typical dieting, we think 'all I need is a little (or a lot) of willpower.' This is such a misconception.

Let's look at sugar for a moment. There are studies that suggest sugar is more addictive than cocaine. That is quite a bold statement. I include it to illustrate to you that reducing your sugar intake may require more than just willpower. Realize, that sugar is just one aspect here. When we recognize that there are actual physiological things happening in our bodies and brains when we eat certain foods, then we can start getting somewhere. Real progress and change can begin.

You may be thinking, 'But shouldn't I go on a diet just to lose the weight? Once the diet is over I'll be really careful not to gain the weight back.' This is tempting and possibly even logical. Realistically though, will it work? The problem lies with 'HOW'? How will you be careful not to gain it back? A clear, definitive answer is needed.

Diets focus on losing weight as opposed to focusing on how to eat to enhance our health. If we focus on the latter first, weight loss will follow. By focusing solely on weight loss, we can, without conscious intention, create a vicious cycle of yo-yo dieting. If you're constantly losing and gaining the last 10 pounds, then something is amiss. Our bodies look for homeostasis. Consistency. Dieting, in the traditional sense, can confuse the body.

Dieting is often connected with a slew of negative emotions including guilt, shame, and embarrassment. Again, let's go back to that word willpower. We feel if we just had more willpower, we'd be a better person. We'd be farther along by now and we'd be worth so much more.

Recognize this:

• It's not about willpower.
• Physiologically there are things going on in your body that first must be addressed.
• A diet tells you what to eat, but it doesn't always address your relationship with food.

My job isn't so much teaching you what to eat, but how. How to listen to your body. How to properly nourish your cells. And how to change your relationship with food.  I'll be bringing you the final piece to this installment next week!

Let's talk health and wellness a minute, shall we? So many women feel they need to wait until the New Year to take charge of their health. While I understand the reasoning behind why they feel this way, it's simply not the truth.

If you approach health and wellness by trying to tackle typical dieting, then I agree, that would be difficult to do during the holiday season. Dieting, in the traditional sense, can be very stringent, not allowing much room for error. Fortunately for you, my method provides a completely different approach. It is absolutely doable anytime of the year, even around Thanksgiving and Christmas.

There is no need to attend the holiday festivities feeling left out or deprived from having delicious foods. Just as ridiculous, is trying to starve yourself for days leading up to an event so you can feel free to eat once the big day arrives. These approaches confuse your body and over time can do a great deal of damage to your body.

I want to teach you how to eat right, every day, regardless of the situation you're in. We're not always going to be cooking at home in our own kitchen where we can control all the ingredients. Life just doesn't work that way. We are social beings and let's face it, a big part of our social gatherings involves food. This isn't a bad thing! It is meant to be enjoyed, so enjoy! With my approach, you'll learn how to best nourish your body and make wise choices whether you're having dinner at home, at a friend's house or in a restaurant. There is no calorie counting, dieting in the traditional sense, or swearing off pie.

Positive things happen once you learn HOW to feed your body the way it wants to be fed. Clearer skin, increased energy, and reaching a comfortable weight for your body are all benefits of this approach. It can be scary in the beginning to ditch traditional dieting methods, but I promise you won't ever regret it or miss it!

I have 3 spots in my private coaching program left to finish out the year. Everything is private and confidential. You have personal access to me and I help you every step of the way. Currently I work within the United States skype, phone, text, and email so don't worry if you're not local to me.

If you've been thinking about making a positive change in your health and wellness, don't wait until the New Year. 
Begin today. I'll show you how!

Diets, in fact, do work. Just not as people hope for.

Diets rely on the concept of deprivation. Deprivation goes against human nature. We weren't designed to feel deprived. We were designed to be fed and well nourished.

In the past several years I've paid especially close attention to the concept of dieting. I've observed women go on a diet and lose weight successfully. The problem is the results only last so long. The reason: diets aren't sustainable. You can't live your life feeling deprived. What happens to these women is they work hard, they do all this 'dieting', they lose weight and then eventually they gain it all back. Oftentimes, they end up gaining back more than they had to lose in the first place.

Diets also require food labeling. Some foods are good, other foods are bad. This may sound like a smart idea but unfortunately doing this hurts our relationship with food and leads to food shaming and guilt which can result in a trap of rewards and punishment.

Counting calories, assigning points to foods, counting macros, etc. can prove to be exhausting, relentless and more than you are willing to handle. Who wants to go through life counting every single calorie they eat?
If you asked me how many calories I consume in a day, I would honestly have no way to answer that question. I have no idea how many calories I consume and I'm positive it varies quite a bit from day to day depending on how much I have exercised and how much sleep I got, among other factors.

I share this with you not to discourage you but to encourage you! The good news is dieting in the traditional sense does not have to be a part of your life. You can have control over your body, over your weight, over the way you look and feel, all without performing another diet. I'd be honored to show you how.

This blog is the first in a 3-part series. Keep an eye out for the next installment!