Right about now, many of us are getting ready for the last moments of willful gluttony...all so that it can be completely abandoned at the stroke of midnight as we begin a sort of Cinderella Detox.
With the New Year comes its many and varied resolutions, the most resolved one being to get healthy. "Healthy" means different things to different people: gaining/losing weight, better BMI, better blood pressure. Whatever your goal, it can be achieved by eating well.
We talked to two of our go-to people regarding fitness and nutrition about how to achieve a being healthy resolution, but also how to think about it and make it a lifelong way of living, so it can stop being a resolution and, instead, a daily reality.
When we talked with Jean Gillis, founder of Jean Gillis Wellness she touched on the most common resolution that she hears. "Many people want to focus on losing weight in the New Year, but it's so much deeper than numbers on a scale. Rather than focusing on diet, and deprivation, what if we focused on nourishing and giving to ourselves, physically, mentally, and spiritually?"
As a USA Triathlon and Chi Running certified coach, Jean works with a wide spectrum of clients, from those just starting to take better care of themselves, to those who are competitive athletes. She explains to her clients that it's not just about food, nor just training, there is a balance, a sort of equation to being well. "Nourishing our bodies with healthy whole foods, will help us to feel better overall and have more energy. Nourishing our minds and spirits with meditation, walks in nature, and more activities that bring us joy, will help us find more calm and reduce stress. All of these will help us to live happier lives, rather than just fit in to smaller sized jeans."
Rethinking that fad cleanse yet? It might purge your system of bloat and some alleged toxins, but it's not a long term solution. And believe me, I have witnessed many people for whom those cleanses aren't a one time thing. They use them repeatedly, trying different ones, hoping for different results. Those results don't come because it's not a real way of living. I mean, let's be honest, when was that last time you saw an ape tear open a Skinny Girl cleanse packet?
According to Stacy Berman, the creator of The System by Stacy, "If you ask most people what 'eating well' means you’ll probably get some rendition of a diet. But eating well is more than just the types of foods you do or don’t put in your body." Stacy received her Ph.D. in Natural Medicine while running her successful bootcamps, and by doing so, found a connection between sound body and sound mind. "Eating well is about honor. Honoring the earth for the bounty she provides, honoring the food for nourishing you, honoring those whom you share meals with, and honoring yourself. Eating well is a cycle of giving and receiving."
Speaking with these two knowledgeable and experienced folks, we were left with this very nurturing image of eating well and wellness as a whole. The thought of wellness as a friend, a best friend formed. Imagine if we treated our bodies as well as we treat our good friends, imagine how healthy we would be!
So, as this year comes to a close and 2019 greets us with opportunities, we at Rubarama encourage you all to live well, eat well, and be well.
The Crew at Rubarama
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About Stacy Berman, Ph.D. | Stacy created the first all year outdoor bootcamp in NYC back in 1999. Called a “NYC fitness icon” by Forbes Magazine, Stacy trail-blazed the way for the global boutique fitness craze we see today. Soon after her creating the first boot camp in NYC, Stacy realized food was the foundation for creating a sound mind in a sound body. She threw herself into nutrition with a passion, became a certified nutrition specialist and worked with thousands of busy New Yorkers to figure out what worked and what didn’t. With feet on the ground practice Stacy created The System to help herself, her clients, and the world at large achieve a higher, more meaningful level of health and fitness.
About Jean Gillis, USAT1 | Jean graduated from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition where she learned innovative coaching methods, practical lifestyle management techniques, and over 100 dietary theories; everything from Ayurveda, gluten-free, and Paleo, to raw, vegan, and macrobiotics, and everything in between. As a certified coach by USA Triathlon and ChiRunning in addition to being certified personal trainer (ACSM), Jean creates balanced and achievable training and wellness plans for all walks of life.