Time to find some balance!

Women are frequently pulled in too many directions at once.  And when they’re also dealing with hormonal fluctuations, the body can become even more imbalanced. The body likes to be in a state of equilibrium, which is why it has so many in-built systems to keep it that way.  However, we don’t always look after the body as well as we should and the balance gets upset.

Here’s three key tips to help keep the scales level.

Avoid ‘fad’

If you’ve put on weight during lock-down, it’s understandable that many of us look for a quick fix.  However, adopting a fad diet, especially one that advocates strict calorie restriction is going to cause problems not too far down the track. We know the body likes to be balanced and if it thinks it’s going to starve it will slow metabolism down to preserve energy stores.

Sure, you’ll lose weight initially but it’s not sustainable to live feeling permanently hungry, plus research suggests weight goes back on once ‘normal’ eating is resumed, AND more!  

If you’re worried about excess kilos, then for sure you need to be watching portion sizes.  Stick to three balanced meals a day and avoid snacking if possible, in-between.  This ensures the body can enter the post-absorptive phase of digestion, assimilate nutrients and avoid insulin spikes which ultimately lead to fat being deposited.

Keep protein levels high, meaning protein from fish, meat, poultry, eggs, soya, dairy, beans or nuts, at every meal.  Contrary to popular belief, it’s protein that keeps you feeling fuller for longer, not carbs.  Protein keeps blood sugar levels balanced so energy will be sustained.  Think about the quantities on your plate too; if it’s piled high, it’s too much.  The protein source should be about the size of your outstretched palm (think about a chicken breast) and carbohydrate no bigger than a fist. Keep the rules simple, try to cook ‘from scratch’ (using frozen fruit and veg is fine) and banish nutrient-poor cakes, biscuits and pastries as much as possible. 

Balance your mind

If you’re rushing around in a constant state of stress then it’s going to take its toll sooner or later.  The body has amazing powers of adaptation so many people continue living their life this way for years.  However, at some point the body loses tolerance and you can fall into what’s called adrenal exhaustion. It’s when the adrenal glands secreting our stress hormones, such as cortisol, can’t take any more.

Clearly, it’s difficult to avoid some form of stress in your life, and right now, many people have really high stress levels.  However, be strict with yourself.  Even taking a 20-minute rest each day with a calming app can make a huge difference.  You’ll feel refreshed afterwards and you’ll sleep better at night.

It’s also good to put some mental boundaries in place too.  Instead of going to bed with all your worries on top of you, write them down before bedtime and visualise a block.  Tell yourself that’s tomorrow’s issue, not right now.  If you need help with better balancing your mind then, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or neuro linguistic programming (NLP) are very effective.

Balance your lifestyle

Once you feel more balanced in your thought processes, then you’ll feel better equipped to tackle any issues in your life that need resolving and are sending you off balance. 

There’s no getting away from it, the human body evolved to be active and it doesn’t like being sedentary.  Blood flow to the brain is so much better too when you’re active.  Not to mention the feel-good endorphins that are released, giving you an extra boost.  Just a brisk walk around the block every day will help. However, if you can find an activity you enjoy, so much the better.  

If you work long hours or there’s lots of stress in your home life, you need to be able to take yourself out of this at regular intervals.  Whether that’s learning a new skill, reading a book, listening to a Ted talk or joining a networking group, there’s no end of available options, especially now with so much happening on-line.  Whilst you might not necessarily be feeling the negative effects of long-term stress right now, at some point the body will start to complain.