The Fall Reset with Ignite: Lean

It is time for the start of the school year, Sunday gatherings for watching football, cooler weather, and fall bonfires. Our minds and bodies search for a sense of routine and the familiar, but this year, so many of the "normal" fall events look different. In our household, we are balancing full-time online school for the first time, adjusting to a new family routine and work schedule. 

The level of uncertainty, stress, and grief experienced by our communities can seem overwhelming. With so many unknowns and mounting stress, people are turning to sometimes unhealthy behaviors for comfort, the most consistent being food choices that revolve around too much sugar and excess carbohydrates. These are the comforts that in our culture are within easy reach-- food, sometimes an extra glass of wine, or curling up on the couch and watching too much TV. While these may be OK as temporary strategies, for many they have now become long-term strategies; a sure-fire path to weight gain and declining health.  

When the pandemic started, most people did not expect it to last for this long. If these strategies have now become new, ingrained habits, even blood work numbers like cholesterol and triglycerides are now increasing along with the root of so many diseases: inflammation. As you may have read, those with increased inflammation and accompanying diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and autoimmune conditions are most at risk for contracting COVID and having more serious consequences. 

There is no better time than now to take control of your health and your life. At Body In Balance, we have patients using this time with fewer commitments, less travel and more time to learn healthy eating and cooking strategies, as an opportunity to lose weight and improve their health. While this time has many stressful facets, how can we use it as an opportunity to change long-term habits and set ourselves up for success in the future, as well as avoid a serious consequence from COVID? There are so many things we cannot control in the world, but we can change our level of health, our energy level, and feel our best in our bodies.

On Wednesday, September 23rd, Jenn Evon, MS, CNS, the Body In Balance Functional Medicine Nutritionist, and I will explain the Ignite:Lean program. After many years of helping patients shift their lifestyle, we have honed our strategies for helping people gain outcomes like weight loss, inflammation-loss, improving blood work, and healthy-habit development. 

The Ignite:Lean program is 8 weeks. Most studies show that habit change takes 21 days, but newer studies are showing that to truly change the root behaviors such as why we choose to eat food that does not bless our bodies or why we choose to manage our stress with an extra glass of wine or eating chips can take longer than 21 days. The science of habit change lets us know that habits are not changed, habits are replaced.  

The 8-week program kicks off with a 1-hour meeting (virtually or in-person)* with Jenn, exploring healthy and unhealthy habits as well as outlining the program materials for cooking, meals and exercise guidance. Check-ins happen weekly as Ignite:Lean participants work on long-term habit and behavior replacement as well as strategies for improving mindset, self-talk, and stress management. While Jenn teaches participants with her expertise in nutrition and behavior change, the level of accountability she provides sets clients up for long-term, sustainable success. 

The fall is a perfect time to prepare for the holidays. I know I certainly do not want to move into the holiday season craving sugar. Don't do it! Make the decision to change your habits now!  

Join Jenn and I as we outline the Ignite: Lean program over a complimentary virtual class on Wednesday, September 23rd at 6:15 pm. Register at bodyinbalancechiropractic.com/events. If you are ready to take control of your life and your health during these uncertain times, I urge you to join us. 

Remember, Create Health by Choice, Not by Chance.

*Ignite:Lean weekly meetings with Jenn can be done in person, over the phone, or over the Practice Better virtual platform utilized by Jenn.