Factors That Are Affecting Your Fitness and Nutrition Goals
The (Simplified) Hierarchy of Health
If you're having trouble sticking to your fitness goals,
…take a look at your nutrition.
If you're not eating enough you won't have enough energy to get through the day, let alone a workout. If you're not eating enough (especially protein) your body won't be able to grow muscle. If you're consuming a lot of fast-energy foods (processed foods, foods high in sugar) you'll have a hard time regulating your blood sugar levels and will experience crashes and fatigue. Bottom line, if you're not eating enough and well, sticking to your fitness goals is going to be difficult.
If you're having trouble sticking to your nutrition goals,
…take a look at your sleep and stress management.
Not getting enough good sleep can affect things like your hunger/fullness hormones (increasing your appetite) and how your body regulates your blood sugar (energy). People that habitually get less sleep are also shown to be more impulsive and prone to making less health-conscious choices. Chronic high levels of stress can cause inflammation, suppress your immune system, lower your metabolism, and also make you more prone to emotional eating. Bottom line, if you're not sleeping well enough and are super stressed out all the time, sticking to your nutrition and fitness goals is going to be very, very difficult.
I'm not saying this to be discouraging. I'm actually trying to ENCOURAGE you and set you up for success. If you're wondering why it's so difficult to stick to your fitness and nutrition goals, this might be why, you're working in the wrong order. Instead of working against yourself, build your foundation to support you. It's about working smarter, not harder.
If you're finding that it's hard to have energy to workout, look at your nutrition.
If you're eating too little, you won't have enough energy.
If you're eating a lot of processed foods, you might be getting energy crashes throughout the day.
If you're not eating enough protein, your muscles don't have the nutrients they need to grow.
If you're finding that it's hard to make healthier nutritional choices, look at your lifestyle.
If you're not getting enough sleep, you're probably too exhausted to think about cooking.
If you're not getting enough sleep, your muscles don't have time to repair and grow.
If you're stressed at work, you probably want more comforting foods at night.
If you're stressed about all the things you have to do, you won't find time to do a workout.
If you're stressed while you eat, you might be affecting the way you digest and metabolize food.
First time health coaching clients often get confused when, in our first session, they expect to dive right into nutrition advice, and I welcome them with questions about their lifestyle, sleep, stress, relationships, etc. In our time together, they learn that health isn't just about what you eat and how much you workout. There's so much more that goes into leading a healthy life and adopting healthy behaviors. The choices you make (or don't make) are directly affected by your environment and state of mind. If that wasn't the case, it would be super easy to make these choices and we'd all be healthy and fit.
I hope this motivates you to look at your health and your goals in a slightly different way. Perhaps, you've been placing too much focus on the things that don't matter as much right now. Perhaps, what you need, is a little more sleep, a little more help with managing stress and your time, maybe it's therapy, or maybe it's that you need a little more fun and relaxation in your life. Take an inventory of your mental and physical health, they're both important.
If you’re looking for a safe space where you'll receive support and guidance in achieving your health goals, you're right where you need to be :) Submit a client application to receive your free 15 min consultation with me. I work with clients all over the world helping those who are frustrated and confused become empowered and confident - changing their relationship with food, fitness and most importantly, themselves.
Hi, I’m Azul Corajoria, an Integrative Health Coach, Personal Trainer & Yoga Instructor. I support my clients in making step-by-step changes so that they can live a healthy and balanced life. By recognizing the interdependent roles of mindset, nutrition, and movement I educate and hold my clients accountable for achieving their health goals through lifestyle and behavior adjustments with an emphasis on self-care. Together, we navigate the contradictory world of nutrition through intuitive eating, practice mindful movement, and implement small mindset and lifestyle shifts that empower them to be their best selves in the easiest way possible.
