Are you on a weight loss journey? Or are you trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle? You might be wondering why regular self-care helps with this.

Because it is all tied together! When I’m working with my clients, we focus on improving their overall total lifestyle, including reducing stress levels and increasing social support, so that they are able to successfully boost their weight loss.

MANY studies have shown that individuals who maintain a stable weight are much more likely to have a greater sense of well-being than those who neglect to practice self-care. Those who are neglectful with self-care often suffer from weight-related issues.

Practicing self-care leaves you more equipped to support and help others while being sure you’re making yourself a priority as well. I see you: parents & busy professionals…life can be DRAINING at times and we have to fill up our cups.

The way self-care is portrayed today is a little backwards. First, self-care as a concept is almost exclusively aimed at women (generally wealthy women who can afford the goods and services that get marketed to them as self-care). The media shows self-care as something we are occasionally allowed to indulge in and that self-care should feel like an indulgence. 

Think expensive bath products, luxurious chocolates and coffees, spa appointments. When we spend more time talking about the self-care power of high thread count sheets than we do about getting enough sleep we’ve wandered pretty far from anything that can be remotely considered healthy for either mind or body.

Self-care is not an indulgence. It's a discipline. It requires tough-mindedness, a deep knowledge of your priorities, and a respect for both yourself and the people you choose to spend your life with.

Examples of practical self-care:

• Turning off the TV instead of watching another episode of “The Bachelor” because the alarm is going off at 5am so you can get to the gym.

• Lighting a beautiful smelling candle by your bed and reading a chapter of a book that is not related to work! (OMG I’m linking my favorite candles below! You need one.)

• Declining the second drink at the office party. It might even be declining the first drink if you know it affects you.

• Saying “no” to the thing you don’t want to do even if someone is might be a little upset with you.

• Taking 5 minutes to pack some healthy snacks & fill up your water to bring in the car before leaving for hours (so you don't find yourself in the drive-thru)

***It takes discipline to do the things that are good for us instead of what feels good in the moment. Self-care isn't something you do once in awhile when the world gets crazy. It’s what you do every day, every week, month in and month out. It’s taking care of yourself in a way that doesn't require over-indulgence in order to restore balance. 

It's hard to have a balanced plate…when you aren't feeling balanced.