5 things I've changed since becoming a nutritional therapist

I've never thought of myself as a super unhealthy person - I was the type whose pre-drinks at uni would involve whizzing up a green juice and adding vodka to it - but since delving into the world of nutritional therapy over five years ago, I have definitely made some changes.

Sniffing out bakeries is still one of my all-time favourite activities though so rest assured I really do advocate for balance in life. However, I also enjoy waking up with a clear head, feeling energised throughout the day, and not being stuck in a constant loop of 'my diet starts tomorrow.' To feel like this on a consistent basis, it's important to have some ground rules in place.

This is them:

1. Doing a big weekly shop:

   PAST me would do adhoc food shops almost every day. I'd pop into Sainsbury's or Tesco on my way home from the office and pick up whatever I felt like at the time. Invariably I'd be tired after a day of work so I'd get filled pasta or gnocchi, a fresh pesto, and spinach, peas, olives and cheese to add in. Where is my protein, I hear you ask? It's a very good question! Shopping like this meant I didn't really have things in the fridge to make any lunches or snacks to take to the office either.

   
   

   PRESENT me does a big online shop at the start of every week so we're stocked up. It means when it comes to making supper or snacks, we have nutritious staples (like turkey mince, organic chicken legs, lots of veg and beans etc.) ready to go, so our tiredness isn't making the choice of what to eat for us.

   
   

2. Prioritising regular meal times:

   PAST me would often skip breakfast (because of my aforementioned lack of preparation!) and eat dinner at quite erratic times depending on my social plans. This meant I was often hungry and snacking on whatever I could get my paws on. Unbeknownst to me at the time, this would also be having a huge impact on my blood sugar levels, leading to peaks and troughs of energy, unhappy skin, and weight gain.

   
   

   PRESENT me makes sure I eat roughly every 4 hours and I never skip breakfast. This means I don't get really hungry so I'm able to make better choices when I eat, and my blood sugar and stress hormones are much more regulated.

   
   

3. Having 30g of protein at every meal:

   PAST me thought that protein was for body-builders - I genuinely didn't understand the point of it, hence why it wasn't a consideration in my favoured pasta supper. I knew that getting lots of different veg in was important, but I really had no clue about protein.

   
   

   PRESENT me knows that protein will keep me full, stop me snacking, be the foundation for producing neurotransmitters and hormones, and enable me to build muscle. Muscle improves body composition and metabolic function, supports longevity, and reduces risk of injury and disease. I have roughly 30g at every meal and I love using The Organic Protein Company and Kiki Health collagen peptides to increase my intake at breakfast.

   (Use code LAJN15 for 15% off these supplements, as well as everything else at The Natural Dispensary)

   
   

   

   
   

4. Consistently taking targeted supplements:

   PAST me was an easy marketing target. I'd try loads of different supplements in the hope that I'd find one which was the silver bullet for my skin. I jumped around from supplement to supplement because if they didn't work instantly (which, surprise surprise, they didn't), I was onto the next.

   
   

   PRESENT me knows that less is often more and consistency is key. I now take very minimal supplements, just magnesium glycinate every evening and vitamin D drops when it's not summer. I'll occasionally mix in a B complex, zinc or omega 3, depending on what I need, but I know that the biggest thing that moves the needle is how you're eating and living on a day to day basis. Supplements are the cherry on the cake.

   
   

5. Drinking less alcohol:

   PAST me would drink multiple times a week and would be hungover pretty much every weekend. Alcohol in itself disrupts your gut lining and microbiome, depletes you of nutrients, raises your blood pressure, dampens your immune system and increases anxiety (and much more) but it also has a huge knock on effect on your behaviour. When you've been drinking you're much less likely to go on that run the next day, and you're much more likely to lie on the sofa eating crisps/cookies/pizza/anything that will make you feel better.

   
   

   PRESENT me still occasionally loves going for drinks, but I'm much more intentional about it. I really value waking up with a clear head and making the most of my day (I am truly terrible on a hangover), so when I do drink I'll choose something that keeps me hydrated at the same time or doesn't have added sugar which will add to my hangover. I love a campari soda or an organic brut nature cava. Otherwise, I go for something non-alcoholic, like kombucha or a Pentire spritz.

If any of this resonates and makes you feel like working out your own ground rules, please do book a free twenty minute call with me to discover how we could work together. Just click the button below!