FIRST THOUGHT: Eat Your Heart Out
When a kid, say, hits his brother, we wonder why he does something he knows he isn’t supposed to do. It’s hard to empathize when he’s sent to timeout because come on, Charlie, you knew you weren’t supposed to do that! Why, then, as grown women, are we no better than Charlie? For instance, I totally know I shouldn’t eat raw cookie dough but I can’t stop! The next time you hear about how some celeb just loves to lift weights or eat salad, remember that most of us “normal” people fall prey to the sweet, sweet allure of our favorite treats. And that’s OK.
WOMEN IN NUMBERS: 80 Percent
When I see some hottie actress in a TV interview, I remind myself that she probably has a trainer, chef, aesthetician and so on. Having a support system is super crucial, so why do 80 percent of people try to lose weight without one?
WOMAN TO WATCH: Deanna Minich, Founder of Food & Spirit
While there are plenty of fad diets involving complicated guidelines and rigid restrictions, today’s Woman to Watch, Deanna Minich, makes it easier than ever to eat healthy. All you have to do is follow the rainbow.
As the founder of Food & Spirit, Deanna uses her education in nutrition and functional medicine to help others eat to feel good—period. Using what she calls The Rainbow Diet, Deanna focuses on a facet of eating that many of us women can relate to: the psychosocial aspects.
When Deanna was growing up, her mom was what she describes a “health nut,” and there was a ton of restriction around what she was allowed to eat. By the time Deanna was a teenager, she ended up with a handful of chronic health conditions, like stress, endometriosis and IBS. According to Deanna, her idea to start Food & Spirit stemmed from her personal journey of wanting to feel healthy.
She went on to study nutrition in the Netherlands before heading over to the United States for a position as a research scientist for companies like General Mills and Cooke Pharma. Now she’s an educator both on the web and at the University of Western States.
The message Food & Spirit sends is that food is so integrated into every aspect of our everyday lives that our approach to it needs to match. It’s not about portion control or banning a particular food group, but rather about making your plate as colorful as possible. That means eating more whole and unprocessed fruits and vegetables, which translates into our emotional well-being.
Food & Spirit offers client-assessment materials, programs, webinars and more for those who want to become practitioners. It’s the perfect complement to a nutritionist’s professional studies, as it focuses on a more holistic approach to food. Deanna categorizes food into seven color codes, and after answering a quick questionnaire, you can figure out which color you’re depleted in.
Deanna says one of her favorite parts about having her own business is waking up to a day she can create. When it comes to making sure you feel mentally healthy, her advice is to make a two-sided list: Title one side with a plus sign and one with a minus sign. Then write down what drains your energy and what gives you energy. From there, figure out how to get rid of the toxic things and people bringing you down.
Finally, she says having a support system is not only advantageous to your physical health, but also to your mental well-being.
Follow Deanna on Instagram at @deannaminich.
If you work a 9-5, you know just how real the 2 PM slump is. While more mid-day coffee may be the answer to a dip in energy levels, so is making sure you eat all the right foods. Check out these four tips on how to nourish your soul the right way by clicking here or, if you’re listening via podcast, head over to OnTheDotWoman.com!
QUITE THE QUOTE
Fitness guru Holly Mosier said:
“Be patient with yourself. It took you years to form the bad habits of thought that you no longer want. It will take a little time to form new and better ones.”