My Love (Food) and I go to Therapy

I always saw yoga instructors as the embodiment of health. I assumed they spent their days practicing yoga and drinking green things. So I was surprised when I started teaching yoga last year that the exact opposite thing happened in my life! I had never attended so few classes. I was usually dehydrated and sleepy. And the only green in my life was the envy I felt when I saw Instagram posts from rested yogis in handstands.

Clearly it was time for a reset!! Amy Longard and I crossed paths about a year ago when we were both getting our butts kicked at Andrea Robertson's Parliament Hill Bootcamps. So when I decided to reassess my nutritional needs she was the first person who came to mind. She is a vegan and so I knew she would have lots of options for someone like me who doesn't eat meat in a world where every healthy eating blog seems to be Paleo.

So here were my needs:

- I was feeling dizzy and foggy regularly

- I wanted the energy to maintain my personal practice as well as hold an excellent class

- I wanted to see the bathroom on the regular O.O

- I wanted more interesting dishes that would get me excited about cooking again.

So Amy and I sat down at my first appointment and discussed what I was eating but we also discussed how I was FEELING. I thought this was amazing because there is such a strong connection between our emotional/mental state and our relationship with food. She assessed my food diary (JTT + Katherine = <3) and sent me home with some recipes to try and some basic rules therefore easing me into this new lifestyle instead of shocking and overwhelming me. So nice of her!!

Below are some changes I incorporated:

WATER

I know this seems obvious. And honestly if someone had asked me I would've said that I drink a lot of water. But when I actually started paying attention I was hardly drinking any at all! Yes that's a jar the size of my head. I didn't realize how much better I would feel if I just made sure I was hydrated! Now, if I don't get enough water I notice such a big difference... blah.

MAKE SURE I'M SNACKING!

She provided me with so many delicious dip recipes to ensure I'm getting in my veggies (another thing I thought I was getting enough of but wasn't... I'm a vegetarian! What was I eating?!) Here is pictured one of my snacks of apples and almond butter...mm.. I was getting home after work or yoga starving and then eating the first thing I saw (a brick of cheese) so this helped regulate those impulsive choices... some of them.

BREAKFAST

I've realized I'm not the kind of person who can drink a shake for breakfast everyday. I need to chew my food! Amy provided me with lots of breakfast options that were different from the generic shake or hard boiled egg. Also by incorporating some healthy carbohydrates into my breakfast I felt like I had much more sustained energy to get me through my day. Pictured here is a before and after shot of some slow cooker apple oatmeal and avocado toast with hemp seeds!

OTHER MEAL IDEAS

To keep this post short-ish, and also because I pretty much eat the same thing for lunches and dinners below are some ideas of what I had for these meals. One picture is a salad with mixed greens, veggies, quinoa, and feta. The other is a veggie coconut curry with rice. She has so many awesome options though the possibilities were endless.

She made switching over easy and she really made sure you weren't just eating right but feeling good which I think is so rare in a world that moves so fast we barely make eye contact. After incorporating her suggestions I definitely have more sustained energy, the dizziness has stopped (which was the worst), and I feel like my relationship with food is healthier than it was.

And small confession before closing today... I was a cheese ADDICT!!! If it was in the house it was gone within days - a meal didn't feel complete without it. Amy suggested months ago that I shouldn't be eating cheese because there were obvious signs that my body was not a fan. I decided to ignore her and smile and nod at the time... but following her recipes I've eliminated most of the dairy in my diet (except for the odd occasion but we must live a little!!) without even noticing! For serious. Cheese and I just grew apart, It was nothing personal. No one's fault. Just we both grew in different directions.

So in conclusion - check her out!!! http://www.amylongard.com/