The Question That Can Change Your Life & Body {And How You Feel IN Both}

At some point during our work, all of my health coaching clients ask me the same question… “What should I be doing to lose weight // feel better in my skin // get results?” And while it’s super tempting to answer their questions with a laundry list of suggestions, I know better. There comes a point for all of us in our journey where we need to stop looking outside ourselves for the answers on what is going to make us feel {and look} our best and start FEELING the wisdom that’s already inside us.
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So instead, I have them take a moment, close their eyes and turn inward – feeling their breath & body and ask what answers come up if they ask themselves a simple question… “What do I need right now?”
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I know…it’s not the “easy” answer you want and it’s so simple it seems almost stupid, right? It’s definitely NOT a follow-along blueprint that you can immediately execute and feel like you’re making progress because you’re doing all the things you think you *should* to doing to “be healthy”. But seriously, when has that EVER worked for you LONG-TERM? Like beyond the “diet” or before you burned out on that exercise binge? 
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Following someone else’s diet or plan for your body & life isn’t a lifelong, REAL LIFE strategy because as women, we are cyclical, not linear beings and we are both unique and ever-changing. This is one reason why it’s so important for us to have a daily practice that matches our nature and allows us to tap into signs & signals our body is sending us {that we usually ignore}.
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This overly simple, yet life-changing question will actually get you where you want to go (intuitively!), and here’s a great way to start putting putting it into practice…
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What if for every meal (when choosing to eat) and every workout (when deciding/scheduling what type of workout to do), you asked first, “what do I need right now, today, right now, in this moment?” In other words, what if you led with CURIOSITY, versus engaging in a dictatorship with your body?
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This in-the-moment check-in allows you to adjust to how you’re feeling ✨right now ✨ – which is key to a healthy life & body you ❤️ – because how you feel {physically, mentally, emotionally, energetically} changes DAILY. What you *need* on all levels, CHANGES daily. And it’s impacted by food, sleep, hormones, your thoughts, habits, your cycle and so much more).
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We all have a lot on our plates. We plan meals and schedule workouts because our lives are full. Even that though, doesn’t inhibit our ability to be inquisitive, CHOOSE and engage in a loving, mutual relationship with body & mind.
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If I’m feeling depleted and exhausted, anything high intensity or heavy is going to make that worse (affecting hormones in particular – which drives all weight loss and how we feel on a physiological level). In these moments, checking in with what I *need* would likely tell me that I instead need things like sleep, nourishing + whole foods, time spent outside, a bath, or some restorative/gentle yoga + stretching (even barre, lighter/muscle endurance-based strength training or Pilates).
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Likewise, it’s equally important – when I have the energy and *feel* like it – for me to feel the depth of my strength, to push my edge to understand my capabilities and feel the aliveness that comes from growth (in muscle & spirit) when I challenge myself to a workout that demands more from me physically (and mentally ?).
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The point is – your body will work FOR you, you will feel better and in alignment with your desires if you LISTEN to your body’s needs on a daily basis versus dictating how it will move & what it will eat, in disregard for what you actually need and/or feel. Be curious to uncover what feels best on the daily and you WILL feel better, on the daily. The biggest little gift you can give yourself this year, I promise. ✨