3 Shifts I made with my nutrition that transformed my health

As a personal trainer and nutrition coach for women over 30, I've made significant changes to my nutrition that have not only helped me achieve my goals but also maintain a healthy lifestyle. If you're struggling with weight loss and find yourself caught in the cycle of constant dieting, these shifts can help you, too. Here's what I did:

 Learned My Maintenance Calories

One of the biggest shifts I made was learning how many calories I needed to maintain my current body weight. This was a game-changer. For years, I either dieted or overate, toggling between these extremes. This vicious cycle didn't bring me closer to my goals of losing body fat and creating a more toned physique.

Dieting constantly made me feel like I wasn't healthy unless I was eating less. But as an active woman, I was doing my body a huge disservice by not learning to eat at maintenance and support my fitness routine. When I finally started eating enough to support my activity level, my body felt amazing, and I noticed significant improvements in my energy levels and overall well-being.

Stopped Labeling Food as Good or Bad

Another significant shift was changing my mindset about food. I stopped labeling certain foods as off-limits or "bad." Instead, I educated myself on what these foods really are. For example, sugar is just quick energy.

By focusing on giving my body what it needed first—protein and fiber—I enjoyed true moderation with foods I previously considered "bad." Coming from a place of feeling satiated, I had more control over my hunger and cravings and true moderation with treats became possible.

Eliminated Snacking and Focused on Balanced Meals

Finally, I stopped snacking and started focusing on 3-4 balanced meals a day that included protein and fiber. Snacking often leads to unbalanced eating, and when our bodies don't get what they need, they'll keep asking for it. By eliminating snacking and concentrating on balanced meals, I felt fuller and more satisfied, which helped eliminate cravings.

Why These Shifts Matter

Women often approach nutrition from a place of restriction, thinking that eating less is the key to health and weight loss. While this might yield short-term results, it's not sustainable or healthy in the long term, especially for active women.

Your body doesn't want to live on less than it's burning every day. This only impacts your health negatively over time. Supporting your body with the right amount of food, balanced nutrition, and a healthy mindset is crucial if you want to look and feel your best!

We may need to "eat less" if we want to lose weight, but that does not mean we should live there all the time!