Moms in Motion: The Power of Postnatal Yoga and Pilates

The Power of Postnatal Yoga and Pilates.

Postnatal Yoga and Pilates aren’t your average workouts but gentle, nurturing practices tailored for new moms.

Becoming a mom is a wild ride filled with joy but also a rollercoaster of physical and emotional changes. For new moms, the postpartum period can feel like solving a complex puzzle blindfolded. Finding a supportive yoga studio during this time can be a game-changer. 

Yoga offers stretches, calming breaths, and relaxation, while Pilates focuses on core strength and posture. Both go beyond physical recovery and help you rediscover yourself.

Every postpartum journey is unique, and postnatal yoga and Pilates respect and cater to that.

They provide safe spaces for healing, recharging, and finding your footing in motherhood. Together, they offer a holistic approach to recovery, guiding new moms through the challenges of early motherhood with a focus on both body and mind.

What exactly is postnatal yoga?

5 Reasons to Try Yoga and Pilates After Giving Birth.

Precautions for Postnatal Yoga and Pilates.

Yoga and Pilates pose for new moms. 

How Abbysan Yoga and Wellness Center can help.

Conclusion 

 

What exactly is postnatal yoga? 

Yoga is very beneficial during pregnancy as it has more relaxing effects.

A personalised Postnatal yoga program is a gentle form of yoga designed specifically for the unique needs of new mothers. Unlike the more vigorous styles often associated with yoga, postnatal yoga focuses on restoring your body after childbirth, relieving stress, and boosting your overall well-being.

This practice is like a targeted tune-up for your post-baby body. Imagine your core getting a serious workout, your pelvic floor finding its strength again, and your spine lengthening like a blooming flower. 

 

5 Reasons to Try Yoga and Pilates After Giving Birth.

Whether you’re a resident of Phuket’s vibrant Phuket or visiting the island paradise, our local yoga school in Phuket is here to support you.

We offer specialized yoga and Pilates courses tailored to the needs of new mothers, providing a safe and nurturing environment for your postpartum recovery.

 

Did you know that Pilates core strengthening exercises mixed with selected yoga stretches after six to eight weeks postpartum have even better effects on recovery? 

 

Here’s how it can help new moms:

1. Regain Strength and Flexibility: 

At our Phuket Yoga Studio, we guide you through yoga poses and Pilates exercises that help rebuild core strength and restore flexibility, essential for managing the physical demands of caring for a newborn. These practices target weakened core and pelvic floor muscles, helping prevent postpartum issues like incontinence and diastasis recti.

2. Promote Relaxation and Stress Relief: 

Our experienced yoga teachers in Phuket lead soothing practices that can help alleviate the mental and emotional strain of postpartum life, allowing you to find a peaceful oasis through the changes.

3. Reconnect with Your Body: 

In our yoga classes in Phuket, you can reestablish a deeper connection with your postpartum body through mindful movements and breathwork. Pilatus Phuket offers complementary techniques to help you feel empowered in your new role as a mother.

4. Build Community: 

Participating in a yoga retreat in Phuket provides the opportunity to connect with other new mothers, fostering a supportive network during this transformative time.

5. Cultivate Mindfulness: 

Our Phuket Island Yoga Retreat offers a serene setting to cultivate mindfulness, helping you approach motherhood with more significant presence and intention.

 

Precautions for Postnatal Yoga and Pilates.

Before embarking on postnatal yoga or Pilates at any Phuket Yoga Studio, it’s crucial to understand your body’s changes and start with pelvic floor strengthening.

A full postpartum assessment is critical to planning a safe recovery and avoiding complications like diastasis recti or incontinence.

Click here and book a 1:1 session with posture assessment for a special 50% OFF your first time.

Yoga and Pilates can improve core strength, posture, and flexibility and reduce stress – all beneficial for new moms. However, it’s vital to work with qualified instructors, like those at Abbysan, who specialize in postnatal recovery.

Consider your stress levels, delivery method, pelvic floor condition, and any existing issues. Our programs are designed to address these concerns safely.

Remember, every postnatal journey is unique. Our yoga teachers in Phuket can tailor practices to your needs, ensuring a gradual and safe return to exercise. 

Review our “Postpartum Precaution” consideration checklist before starting postpartum yoga or Pilates.

Discuss this with a professional before starting Yoga or Pilates.

  • Stress and Support: Consider your overall stress level and support system at home.
  • C-section and Scar Massage: Have you received a scar massage if you had a C-section?
  • Vaginal Delivery and Tearing: If you had a vaginal delivery, did you experience tearing?
  • Pelvic Floor Health: Assess your ability to contract pelvic floor muscles and any associated issues (e.g., bowel, bladder, gas, and heaviness).
  • Diastasis Recti: Check for abdominal muscle separation.

 

Power of Postnatal Yoga and Pilates.

Yoga and Pilates for new moms.

Remember, postpartum recovery success starts with these simple steps:

  • Pelvic floor strengthening.
  • Improving breathing.
  • Maintaining good posture.
  • Daily 10-15 minute walks.
  • Pilates core exercises for abdomen and glutes (no sit-ups).
  • Selected yoga poses to lengthen tight muscles and reduce lower back stress.

For specific concerns, try these Yoga and Pilates moves:

  • Good posture: Cat-Cow, Mountain Pose, and Pilates Shoulder Bridge. 
  • Flatter tummy: Pelvic Tilts, Pilates Hundred, and Plank variations. 
  • Sleep deprivation: Legs-Up-the-Wall, Child’s Pose, and Pilates Roll-Down. 
  • Low energy: Warrior poses, Sun Salutations, and Pilates Spine Twist. 
  • Pain relief: Parrot Pose, Cobra, and Pilates Swimming.

Remember to always consult your healthcare provider before starting any postpartum exercise routine. 

At Abbysan, we offer expert, tailored guidance for new moms, ensuring a safe and effective recovery.

 

How Abbysan Yoga and Wellness Center can help.

At Abbysan, we combine Dr Abhishek’s signature Yogkinesis® method with Phuket’s finest Pilates and yoga instructors to support your postpartum journey. 

Our team, versed in STOTT® Pilates, Original Pilates, Hatha Yoga, and Vinyasa Flow, is dedicated to your overall health and well-being. We pride ourselves on being responsible, accountable, honest, and ethical, using our drive to energize and inspire our clients.

For new mothers, we offer a range of suitable courses after initial 1:1 postpartum recovery sessions.

Our Yoga classes in Phuket follow balanced sequences with tracked progress and personalized modifications. Ashtanga Yoga offers a steady flow of poses coordinated with breath, while Hatha Yoga focuses on proper technique. Our Yoga Therapy classes address specific health issues, adapting traditional poses to promote healing.

Our Pilates classes, including the Posture Clinic and Mat Pilates, are tailored to all levels and focus on core strength and body alignment. We recommend consulting with our professional staff at our Phuket Yoga Studio to determine the most suitable postpartum exercise routine for you.

Click here and book a 1:1 session with consultation for a special 50% OFF your first time.

 

Conclusion

Pilates core strengthening exercises and selected yoga stretches after six to eight weeks of postpartum or childbirth can lead to better recovery.

Fitting postnatal yoga into a busy new mom’s schedule can be challenging, but it’s not impossible. Remind yourself of your goals, find reliable childcare, and commit to making time for yourself. Small steps, like starting with just a few minutes a day, can make a big difference.

Remember, you deserve the care.

Are you interested in joining one of our classes or seeing Dr. Abhishek for a free consultation at our Phuket Boat Lagoon Koh Kaew location?

Check availability and reserve your place using our online booking system. If you have any questions about our Yoga Retreat in Phuket or Pilatus Phuket offerings, please don’t hesitate to contact us. 

Let Abbysan be your partner in this beautiful journey of motherhood and self-care.

What Is Yoga?

What-is-Yoga-header_abbysan-1160x653-1024x576

Dr Abhishek founded Abbysan in 2007, he did so with a vision to create a comfortable studio atmosphere for clients to attain Yoga mastery away from the pressure of daily life.

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WHAT TO DO WHEN IN PAIN

Pilates is a style of training created by Joseph Pilates in the 1920s as a form of rehabilitation. It’s safe and perfect for injured athletes, new moms with a weak core, and people who have arthritis, body aches and back pains, etc.

Pilates’ entire concept revolves around helping bedridden people get strong and healthy enough to move smoothly and without pain.

That makes Pilates one of the best forms of exercise for people who have led sedentary lives for years. Start Pilates even if you’ve hardly exercised before. It’s advised to start Pilates rather than jumping into a strenuous CrossFit or HIIT program.

Benefit 1:  Pilates exercises will align your body and improves balance. Series of 34 Mat pilates exercises or exercises on the reformer creates balance in the musculoskeletal system.

Most people do not do enough exercise. The ones who do exercise regularly either are not doing them correctly or doing too many of the same movements, leading to dysfunction and misalignment in the body that results in aches, pains, stiffness, or impaired movements.

Just after a 10-session of Pilates, most people notice the change in their posture and no longer have a belly. Their abdominal muscles have developed enough strength to hold the organs. As a result, there is less pressure on the back, which leads to relief from backaches.

Benefit 2:  Pilates improves flexibility
It’s inevitable to get tighter and less flexible as we age. This is mostly due to a sedentary lifestyle that makes us move within a limited range of motion. Since the body doesn’t get a chance to move much, we become less supple and flexible. Pilates exercises correct all that and improve your flexibility.

Benefits 3:  Pilates will make you stronger
Muscle atrophy is a part of aging. If you do not engage your muscles enough, it will wither, and you will lose strength. Pilates exercises on the mat utilize your body weight as a form of resistance and help develop a stronger core, abdominal, and back muscles. We also offer pilates exercises on reformer machines to help you tone and safely strengthen your muscles faster.

Just after 20-30 Pilates training over 3-month’s time, you’ll notice more definition in your muscles and an increase in overall strength. You’ll be able to execute the moves fluidly and hold the poses without quivering or trembling.

Even people who have not exercised in years can start doing Pilates and move at their own pace. There is no rush with this style of training. You will not pant, gasp or end up breathless from intense cardio.

Pilates exercises consist of slow, controlled movements that allow you to progress slowly but surely. If you’ve been inactive for a very long time, are recovering from an illness, cancer, or want to resume your sports and think of embarking on an exercise program, Pilates is the best method to start.

Come and give it a try with professional and certified Pilates instructors who will encourage and help you get started. You will enjoy it so much and wish you’ve had started earlier. Get on board now.

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4 Pain Flare Triggers To Avoid In Crohn’s Disease Or Fibromyalgia

Try and avoid some common triggers if you suffer from chronic pains of Arthritis, Crohn’s disease, or Fibromyalgia.

1. Changes in the Weather

The extreme weather change from hot to cold or cold to hot can affect various chronic pain types. This is especially true when your pain is related to your joints and muscles, such as with arthritis or Fibromyalgia. 

Most of my clients suffering from chronic pains keep a pain journal and record everything that occurred on the days when they had a significant flare-up. I suggest you do that too because it helps you record if your neck or knee pains worsen when it rains or gets extremely cold compared to other days. Knowing if the change in weather will increase your pain, helping you prepare for the future.

2. High Levels of Stress

Everyone experiences stress, but some can handle stress better than others. If you have chronic conditions like Crohn’s disease, the stress can impact your pain and cause painful flare-ups. 

People also experience stress due to chronic pain, especially when you have migraines or stomach problems from Crohn’s. Reversely, you notice that work stress or personal issues can aggravate the pain. The good news is when you know the triggers for your pain and stress, you are well prepared to overcome pains with proper stress relief methods that have worked for you.

3. Hormonal Changes in Women

Concerning women, a notable flare trigger for chronic pain can be when you have hormonal changes during different times of life. Pre-menstrual syndrome, where your pain is worse when you are about to start your period, or you might experience more pain as you head toward menopause. This is another good reason to keep a pain journal because it helps you notice these patterns and be more prepared for the potential triggers.

4. Eating Inflammatory Foods

Suppose your pain is related to your digestive systems, such as Crohn’s disease or irritable bowel syndrome. In that case, You should be following an anti-inflammatory diet as it helps to reduce this trigger. 

Ensure you AVOID the following inflammatory foods. Your body will thank you.

  1. Butter or eat real butter in less quantity.
  2. Red meat includes steak and hamburgers, processed meats like sausage, bacon, hot dogs.
  3. Fried foods like french fries, potato chips, shortening, and margarine.
  4. Refined carbs like white bread and pasta, white rice, white potatoes, and pastries.
  5.  Alcohol and sweetened soda beverages.

Ensure you CONSUME the following Anti-inflammatory foods.

  1. Fruits: Consume plenty of tomatoes, cherries, oranges, blueberries, and strawberries. Luckily, these are all delicious and easy to add to cereal, yogurt, oatmeal, smoothies, and eating as a light snack. 
  2. Green leafy vegetables: Regularly consume spinach and kale. 
  3. Nuts & Seeds: Consume a thumb size of walnuts and almonds every day. You can add pumpkin seeds and pine seeds on top of salads or eat a light snack with cheese. Healthy fats like olive oil are delicious to cook with or use for a light dressing.

You can make a smooth transition to help with your chronic pain by making slight adjustments to your current diet, like replacing a steak with chicken for dinner, adding more leafy greens on the side with your preferred  meal, and make a smoothie every morning for breakfast.

How Yoga and Pilates Help With Chronic Pain

 

An exercise is generally good for chronic pain. Still, for specific types, specialized yoga practices help decrease certain pain types, like shoulder, back, or neck pain, and the relaxation you get can also teach you to manage stress. Simultaneously Pilates on reformers assist in joints’ movements and increase circulations within the joints, reducing stiffness and pains.

When you want to use yoga for your chronic pain, you should first consider the type of yoga you do. While all yoga forms can be beneficial, certain types are useful for people struggling with physical pain. Check out the recommended Abbysan Yoga classes that help with chronic pains.

Yoga – Restorative, Back Flow, Yoga Core, Back Care.

Pilates – Core Recovery, Shoulder Clinic, Spine Clinic, Hip Clinic, Total Body.

One of the best types of yoga for pain is restorative yoga, which aligns with your physical and mental well-being. The movements are not complicated or overly advanced, so they are suitable even for beginners.

You can try restorative yoga at home with our online video or visit our studio for in-person guidance.

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6 Reflections You Must Use For Self-Care.

6 Reflections You Must Use For Self-Care

Self-care is an essential aspect of mental and emotional health, and it doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming.

Check out these six reflections; you must repeat them every day, especially when having a bad day and facing obstacles. As you repeat, you’ll start to believe it and embody it honestly.

  1. I love myself; Accepting to love yourself the same way you love your friends and family will help you realize that you’re unique and deserve happiness just as much as they do. It’s an essential step toward positive mental and spiritual health.
  2. I am worthy of things that bring me joy; Spending time with a good friend, buying something nice for yourself, sleeping late, or anything else that brings joy. If you often deprive yourself of good things or feel guilty for indulging in what you love, remember that it’s okay to seek what brings you joy in all manners.
  3. I deserve to take care of my body and mind; If you’re always stressed at work or school and have family obligations, you might neglect your physical and mental health. However, even in the middle of all the stress, you deserve to treat your mind and body well.
  4. I am important; It’s easy to prioritize everyone and everything else above yourself, and this reflection reminds you of that.
  5. I choose to be positive; The struggles and stress that come your way might seem out of your control, but not your attitude. You can decide to concentrate on uplifting ideas, be positive, and focus on the real things in your life.
  6. I am strong; Even though you have made it through several obstacles in your life so far, and you’ll continue. Being assertive requires practicing self-care, which helps you become healthy and focused enough to tackle whatever comes your way.

Everyone has different priorities and values, so some of them might not benefit you as much as others. Choose and practice one reflection at a time for a minimum of one week.

A good reflection helps you focus on the positive, but it also has the power to influence your actions. Your reflection should help you accept yourself, take care of yourself, and make positive choices that benefit your life.

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How To Deal With Chronic Pains – The Holistic Ways.

I am Dr. Abhishek, a naturopath with over 15 years of practicing and teaching Yoga, Pilates and mindful exercises. I have this incredible talent to help you break free from pains and limitations, improve your posture and body awareness so you can live mindful life.

I believe that our body is a complex machine and we need to deal with it in the Holistic Way.

In this article, I will try to highlight a few practical ways to manage chronic pains. And If you are suffering from chronic pains and physical limitations, you are definitely going to read this.

The Pain affects everyone in one way or another. The acute pain tends to resolve in a short time but has a sharp, aching sensation associated with it. On the other hand, the chronic pain is usually a dull and throbbing ache that could last for more than six months.

All pain starts as acute pain, in the form of injury, bad posture, or repeated movements and if not treated during the early onset, it can become chronic. Chronic pain affects a person’s everyday life without them realising it.

And most people, who suffer from chronic pain, have a reduced ability to function normally and the optimal efficiency of their work and duties are significantly reduced.

Chronic pain is also linked to depression, anxiety, and sleeping disorders, and may even reduce that person’s ability to stay normal. And, some chronic pains like arthritis, could inhibit mobility and flexibility. This results in a loss of contact with friends or families because you only wants to stay home and be left alone.

You may also have difficulty walking or carrying things which make you feel like a burden because you need to rely on other people. Plus you are unable to perform activities that you took for granted, such as running, dancing, or maintaining personal hygiene. And, in long term some conditions could even cause constipation or incontinence.

Therefore, it is crucial to properly manage your pain to be able to restore the quality of your life and your loved ones who are suffering from chronic pain, and not be restrained by the pain that can cause disability.

Often the feeling and sensation of pain is the sign that there is an ongoing inflammation and may be due to arthritis, sprains, headaches, lower back issues, and so on.

Proper treatment and plans are necessary to combat the chronic pains. I mean, How long can someone rely on Painkillers? Plus, the painkillers are not the only way to tackle pain, and the good ones are costly.

I am sure you have herd this before, but its so true that, by making changes in your lifestyle, you can be free from the pain in the long term. The three major changes required to be successful in dealing with these inflammatory pains are;

  1. Changing your diets,
  2. Restoring natural body heat, and
  3. Proper exercise.

Changing diet, sounds simple but it’s more complicated than that. It requires a proper evaluation of your current intake of nutrient rich food.

Most researches have proved that antioxidants are known to reduce inflammation. Antioxidants can be found in deep-coloured fruits and vegetables such as blueberries, prunes, pomegranates, blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, kale, spinach, Brussels sprouts, red beans, and kidney beans.

Besides that, other good sources of antioxidants are spices and herbs such as cinnamon, oregano, turmeric, parsley, basil, and curry powder. By incorporating foods rich in antioxidants into your diet, you can reduce pain without relying on painkillers.

A diet compromising of salmon, olive oil, and flaxseed oil is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, which are good for cholesterol levels and reducing inflammation.

Drinking hot liquids such as hot herbal teas with peppermint or wintergreen, and hot ginger tea with honey can help expel excess wind from the stomach and restore heat to the body.

Exercising is also good for the body and improves limb function. Muscles work as shock absorbers. By doing yoga, pilates on mat or reformer and strengthening exercises, they help the body to combat pain. However, a customised exercises regimen must be done regularly to get positive results.

It is essential to be able to accept pain as a part of your life that needs to be addressed before combating it. It is not impossible to get rid of the pain. With determination, making slight changes in your lifestyle, incorporating the right mindset, and genuine support from us, you will be able to overcome anything, including pain.

Until we meet, try to take charge of your pain today with these 10 simple steps:

  1. Keep yourself hydrated as dehydration can aggravate the symptoms of chronic conditions such as headaches and back pain. Drink loads of water! By drinking eight glasses of water a day, you are taking a simple step to keep your body hydrated, and it will thank you for that. Chronic pain tends to get worse when the body does not have enough water. It is best to avoid coffee, soda, or tea as they have diuretic effects that can cause dehydration.
  2. Load your body with nutritious foods that can help combat pain and reduce fatigue. Consume lots of leafy greens, foods with Omega3 fatty acids, asparagus, low-sugar fruits such as cherries, pineapples, plums, cranberries, and soy products. They can help alleviate pain and alkalinize your body to make it less acidic. These foods help to increase chronic pain resistance and are also fatigue busters.
  3. Avoid processed foods and foods containing chemicals that can increase inflammation such as dairy, chocolate, eggs, citrus fruits, high fat red meat, coffee, tea, sodas, red wine.
  4. Incorporate turmeric when you are cooking and take a Curcumin supplement. Originating from India, this brightly coloured spice is used for cooking delicious foods, while having anti-inflammatory properties. Turmeric contains Curcumin and has been used for centuries to treat many health ailments such as chronic pain. It is a natural pain reliever without harming the liver or the kidneys.
  5. Keep a positive outlook. Thinking positively will help you to overcome blocks and lessen the pain you are feeling.
  6. Try to incorporate a form of exercise into your daily life. Exercise is beneficial by strengthening the body and increasing blood flow. Start with simple exercises or learn yoga to increase strength and flexibility. Yoga can calm the mind and reduce the stress caused by pain. You can also try pilates on mat or reformer it has low impact on your joints and will help you  strengthen your core.
  7. Distract yourself with activities that are not stressful such as listening to music, watching movies, and so on. It is vital to engage in activities that make you feel good. Humans are not able to work all the time. It is crucial to have a hobby that you enjoy and allow yourself time to engage in the hobby to distract yourself from the stress. By doing something that makes you feel good, you are indirectly releasing endorphins, which can reduce pain.
  8. Maintain a proper posture. Being in a C-slump, which is a bend back with the head in front of the spine, can impair nerve and blood flow. It is best to keep a straight back with your head resting on top of your spine. Remember, you are not a question mark. This can help prevent strain on your back and neck muscles. It is important to have a good posture not just to give a good impression to other people, but also for your health. Book a free consultation with Dr Abhishek to screen your posture and analyse functional movement patterns.
  9. Discuss your pain with a specialist. You may be able to find solutions to problems that cause your stress and helpful coping skills. Keep a diary that can help you keep track of your pain and record down medications that can help you and any adverse effects you experience while taking them. This can help you to be in more control of your pain. Book a free consultation with Dr Abhishek to make lifestyle changes by drawing a clear path through journaling for pain.
  10. Take rest whenever you feel pain. Pain could be an indication of the body telling you to stop overworking yourself. Sleeping is one of the ways for the body to rest and regenerate itself. By depriving the body of it, it will have low resistance towards pain.

The pain could occur with no apparent reason which puzzles prescribers and patients. It is important to bear in mind that chronic pain cannot be treated in one quick solution but needs an extensive personalised plan to manage.

So be patient!

Thank you for reading.

If you are suffering from pain please click here to book a free consultation and assessment session.

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Why Yo-Yo Dieting Can Be Worse Than Obesity.

More research is coming out to show that dieting in general is harmful to your body (and your mind), and that it most likely isn’t making you healthier in most situations.

However, yo-yo dieting, where you are constantly back and forth between being on and off a diet, can be even worse for you. This is when you either bounce to different types of diets constantly, or you are on a perpetual restrict and binge cycle.

Your body is going through a lot of changes at a rapid pace, which can be far unhealthier than if you had stayed overweight.

 

  • Your hormones fluctuate like crazy – when you diet, especially back and forth between eating and restricting, your hormones are completely out of control.
 
  • You are at the risk – Severe calorie restriction and yo-yo dieting where you have a lot of changes in what you eat over a long period of time can cause your cortisol levels to increase. Cortisol is a stress hormone, and can actually increase your risk for heart disease and diabetes!
 
  • You might have a bigger appetite and more cravings – Yo-Yo dieting also changes your appetite and what you crave. It may seem like you are out of control, but this is not about willpower, it is actually from dieting itself. In your body, you have two different hunger hormones – leptin and ghrelin. Ghrelin is the hormone that increases your appetite, while leptin decreases your appetite, and can help you feel full. If you are dieting, the hormone leptin often decreases, while ghrelin increases, creating an imbalance. Your diet might be the reason why you feel like starving, and not just because you aren’t eating enough.
 
  • Your metabolism slows down – Wonder why when you start a diet, you seem to hit a plateau quickly? This is probably the result of your metabolism slowing down because of all the feast and famine periods your body has gone through. And when you put your body through the ringer from yo-yo diets, you are actually making it harder to lose weight thanks to your metabolism slowing down. You need to stop under-eating, give up the diets, and start to eat intuitively.
 
  • You lose all sense of hunger and fullness cues – When you have pre-determined portions, types of food, how many calories you can have, how many carbs, making sure your sugar is low and protein is high, watching your fibre and meal eating windows, or intermittent fasting, you stop relying on your hunger, but instead on numbers. All of this damages your ability to know when you are hungry or full.
 

In my experience eating only slightly less than you should, all the time; eating only when you are hungry, and doing physical exercise is much more likely to help you reach a healthy weight than going on low-calorie diets.

3 Simple Steps to help you create a nutrition plan that will work for you and your family.

  1. Control your portion size: Using hands to measure your portion size is versatile and works well for three reasons. First, hands are portable. They come with you to work lunches, restaurants, social gatherings, etc. Second, hands are scaled to the individual. Bigger people need more food, and tend to have bigger hands, therefore getting larger portions. Smaller people need less food, and tend to have smaller hands, therefore getting smaller portions. Third, it provides reasonable amounts of nutrient dense foods and their specific macronutrients (thus preventing deficiencies). It will help you meet your protein, vegetable, carb, fat, and calorie needs without having to count a gram or weigh a food. You can easily adjust portions based on hunger, fullness, preferences, goals, overall activity level, and most importantly, results. If you need more help in learning how to use portion size, book a coaching session with Dr. Abhishek. He will give you the basic template and teach you to adjust portions at any time.
  2. Eat until 80% full: Once you have adjusted your portion size the next step will be to only eat until 80% full. This is the important step if your goal is to loose weight and/or gain muscles.
  3. Eat Slowly: Our body has a built-in “satiety mechanisms” that kicks in about 20 minutes after we started a meal. No matter how much you eat during the first 20 minutes of starting a meal, you wouldn’t feel satisfied or even full until we hit the magical satiety time. So if you ate too much during the first 20 minutes, thinking you’re not full. Then, 20 minutes later, you’ll feel “overfull” and guilty. However, if you only slowed down, your bodies’ natural satiety mechanisms would have kicked in to put on the brakes. (Remember that: You can and will feel full if you just slow down. The body’s natural signals will do the work for you. You don’t have to overthink it.)

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How Intuitive Eating Works?

You might be under this misconception that intuitive eating is just perpetuating obesity and unhealthy lifestyles, and just causing people to eat nothing but Oreo cookies and McDonald’s. To some extent its true that many people eat foods they previously thought of as off-limits, they also eat a lot of nourishing food as well.

Intuitive eating is not a free-for-all where you eat whatever you want, in whatever quantity, regardless of how it makes you feel. It is about 

  1. Honouring your hunger,
  2. Trusting your body, and
  3. Eating to fuel and nourish your body. 

If you fear food, afraid of sugar and fat, and think carbs are coming for you, then intuitive eating is the best option for you.

I like to share some ways that intuitive eating works, and can help you be the healthiest you have ever been.

  1. It Relieves Stress About Food and Diets – Think about how much time you spend thinking about food, researching diets, trying to plan your life around healthy meals, and the stress that comes from fear of hunger, binge and restrict cycles, and an obsession with how you look. So much of this is alleviated when you begin eating intuitively.
  2. You Stop Obsessing About Food – You stop obsessing about every single thing you consume. Food just becomes food. It becomes a way to fuel your body, to nourish it with nutrients, to feel satisfied and happy. When you get to this point, you start noticing when you are actually hungry and when you are full, and are able to discover the foods you love.
  3. You Avoid Binge Cycles – This is a big deal for chronic dieters, people with disordered eating and eating disorders, and anyone who feels out of control around food.
  4. You No Longer Have Intense Cravings – Feel like you will always crave chocolate chip cookies or salty snacks forever? First of all, there is nothing wrong with these foods. Second, with intuitive eating you will learn when a craving is physical, or if it is an emotional pull from a history of restrictions.

That is the beauty of intuitive eating. If you want to learn about gentle nutrition and eating to live a healthy and energetic-life, Check out my mini course on intuitive eating in a diet-obsessed world.

Intuitive Eating In A Diet-Obsessed World

This mini-course provides high-quality information on intuitive eating, where you can learn how to stop obsessing over food, get rid of food fear and anxiety and take your lives back. Click the link below to sign up.
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Do You Know Real Benefits of Daily Walking

Real benefits of daily walking

A walk might seem like child’s play compared to running a marathon or competing in CrossFit, but a walk can be a very healthy alternative if you lack the time or interest in exercising intensely.

Consider the many health benefits that walking provides. Going for a walk can do a lot more for your health and outlook on life than a gym membership that is rarely used. It’s much less expensive, too.

Humans were built for walking, and some health experts believe that the chair was the worst invention ever created. You can do a lot to enhance your health by standing up and taking a walk.

Are you feeling down, constipated, or overweight? Is your blood pressure or blood sugar a little high? Do you have trouble falling asleep at night? The solution might be as simple as walking for 30 minutes each day.

Enjoy the many benefits of a daily walk:

  1. You’ll feel better. If you’re currently not getting enough exercise, a walk is a simple way to fill that void. Getting out of the house and breathing a little fresh air is bound to enhance your mood and outlook on life.
  2. Walking is good for your bones. Hip fractures are reduced in postmenopausal women that walk for at least 30 minutes each day.
  3. You can expect to sleep better if you walk regularly. Those that walk report a lower incidence of insomnia. If you’re having trouble sleeping at night, the solution might be as simple as a daily walk.
  4. Your risk of chronic disease is lower if you walk each day. Studies have found that your risk of developing diabetes or suffering a stroke are reduced significantly. Thirty minutes of walking is all you need each day to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease by 30%. A stroll can also lower your blood pressure.
  5. Walking increases the motility of your bowels. If you suffer from constipation, a walk can work wonders for your issue.
  6. You are developing a good habit. Walking can be a positive addition to your routine. The most successful people have routines. You’re more likely to experience success if you can maintain positive routines in your life.
  7. You’re likely to lose weight. If you increase your physical activity without increasing your caloric intake, you can expect to drop a few pounds. Even if you don’t lose weight, you may experience a shift in your weight that allows your tight clothing to fit much more comfortably.
  8. Walking is good for your brain. Older seniors that walk daily have a 50% decreased risk of developing Alzheimer’s or dementia.
  9. Your creativity will increase. More than one study has demonstrated that going for a walk boosts creativity. Those that walk are more creative than those that sit. Having a challenge at work or at home? You’re more likely to find the solution during a nice, long walk.
  10. You’ll live longer. Those that spend more time on their feet have been shown to live longer than those that spend too much time sitting each day. Get up on your feet and go for a walk if you want to extend your life. It has been suggested that a daily walk adds 3-7 years of life.

 

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Walking is free, low-impact, and simple to do.

There’s no new skill to learn and no equipment to purchase. Unlike many other forms of exercise, walking can be done by those with weight issues and those with no athletic ability whatsoever. Just put on your shoes and get out the door.