In it Together

Welcome to the inaugural post for our April blog series: In it Together. The entire month of April is going to be devoted to making your days better. We’ll be solving problems, decreasing anxiety, making you look and feel better. It’s all happening here. And, it’s all happening thanks to the genius of local small businesses in the Poplin community.

First up, Nutrition Coach and Personal Trainer, Natalie Joffe, dives right into one of the questions so many of us are struggling with right now, how to avoid stress eating during this crisis. Natalie Joffe is a long time friend, client, coach and all around inspiration. Our work to help every woman embrace her authentic inner voice and express herself has obvious cross over. Despite that, I learn something new from her every time we are together. Natalie is the friend you wish you had who knows all about food and having a healthy lifestyle, but who listens and advises with compassion and an understanding of what is actually realistic for your day to day. I’m a big fan.

From Nutritionist and Personal Trainer, Natalie Joffe:

COVID-19 Stress Eating Survival Tips

 We’ve all seen the memes about stress eating and the “Quarantine 15” which are humorous in their relatability.  Working from home is new territory for many, and combined with fitness centers being closed and an increase in stress, food has become a greater than normal source of comfort and escape.

In my nutrition practice, I help my clients create positive and sustainable relationships with food, movement and body image. Now more than ever, people are needing support on how to navigate this period of isolation as food struggles come to the surface.

Below are three tips I’ve been sharing with my clients this week:

1)   Give yourself a break!

Many of my clients have been expressing feelings of inadequacy for not having accomplished more compared to those on social media who are sharing all the new hobbies they have started, and the to-do lists they have accomplished.

Isolation, uncertainty, lack of structure, and fear are all exhausting. It is easy to overlook that just making it through the day and taking care of basic needs is a lot right now.  What would it look like to give yourself permission to rest, to slow down, to be gentle with yourself and let go of trying to do it all?  This is new territory for everyone, and it is going to be messy as we figure out a new normal.

2)   What actually needs to be fed?

Often, when we feel the pull towards emotional eating, we try and use willpower to resist. Unfortunately, like a Chinese finger trap, the harder we try, the more we get stuck.

When you feel the pull towards using food to cope with emotions, instead of getting frustrated and relying on willpower, ask yourself, “What am I feeling and what am I needing?”

Right now, what most of us are needing is structure, breaks during the day, movement, connection, pleasure and something to look forward to.  With our normal outlets being unavailable, the challenge is getting creative and finding new ways to meet our needs. One of the traps I am seeing clients falling into is aiming too high. For example, instead of planning hour long home workouts each day, start with 10min of gentle stretching or light cardio. Create a basic structure and build from there.

3)   Change the way you approach meals.

When there is worry around weight gain, the pull often goes towards trying to plan and control food. The irony is that the more we tell ourselves not to eat something, the more we want it. Threat of deprivation or scarcity is powerful. Our current pandemic toilet paper situation is a perfect macro example of this.

When it comes to meals and snacks, instead of asking “How many calories can I have?” or “Is XYZ ‘good’ or ‘bad’?” try getting out of your head and into your body.  Ask questions like “How hungry am I?” “What will leave me feeling good physically?” “What will be satisfying?” “Am I looking for what I need in a place where it can be found?”

If you’re struggling with food right now or feeling overall in a physical funk, let’s connect!  I am offering free consultation calls and working with clients virtually through this time.

You can sign up for a consultation via my website or email me directly at natalie.m.joffe@gmail.com

And if you want more tips and thoughts on how to stop feeling crazy around food, follow me on Instagram @nataliejoffe