A Nutrition Coaching Experience

With the recent addition of Nutrition Coaching on the roster of services within The Athlete's Edge at The Sports Medicine Centre, we wanted to see what it was about and exactly what it involved. With perfect timing on our side, as March is #NationalNutritionMonth, we were excited to see what the process entailed.

Katelyn, The Athlete’s Edge Coordinator, was up for the experiment and lived to tell the tale! In this Q&A below, find out what she thought about the experience and if she would recommend it to others.

Q: Why Did You Decide To Try Our Nutrition Coaching Program?

A: I wanted to try the nutrition program out of curiosity and intrigue. Dianna Moulden, the Nutrition Coach, had explained to me that the simplest of body symptoms, anything from body aches to dental health, can be linked to nutrition in many cases. Knowing that I never ate the healthiest of diets I thought I would test that theory on myself.

Q: Was There Anything In Particular That You Struggled With And Hoped Nutrition Would Fix?

A: Yes there were many things! My biggest bodily complaint was my constant fatigue, despite my high caffeine intake- no matter how much coffee I drank or how many hours I slept, I still woke up every morning exhausted, carrying it with me throughout the day. Next to that, things like hair health, regularity, and gum health were also of interest to me.

Q: Can You Give Us A Brief Outline Of What Dianna Had You Do?

A: The first step was to take the assessment. It was very easy, there was no food tracking or calorie counting, I simply rated a series of symptoms as they pertained to my body. Then after about a week, I met with Dianna to receive my results. She gave me a printout graph of what my rate scale indicated that I was lacking. Serious areas of improvement (Or where I experienced multiple, or severe symptoms) were colored red, less serious in yellow, and non-concerning areas in green or no colour. She suggested that I start a cleanse to hit the “re-start button” on my system. It was a 3-5 day cleanse that eliminated dairy, grains, sugar, processed food, and caffeine from my diet. I was allowed fruit only in the morning, and was to sip lemon water throughout the day. After the cleanse I began re-introducing foods into my system and noting how I felt. I met with Dianna to go over the process and due to my reaction to certain food types, she suggested adding small things into my diet to aid those feelings. For me, I felt extremely tired when I reintroduced grains. Because of that, Dianna suggested I make a special drink to have before my first meal of the day, to help kick-start my metabolism which helps my body process the grains more effectively, making me less tired. Not only was this extremely effective, but the drink was simple to make, cost effective, and tasted pretty good too.

Q: Did You Struggle With Anything On The Program?

A: The only struggle for me was the cleanse. During that time I felt tired, unfocused and had a severe headache. However, I would chalk this up to caffeine withdrawal. Before the cleanse I would drink a medium coffee and a medium tea daily. Cutting it out cold-turkey was probably why I felt the way I did. What was surprising to me though was by the end, I didn't need the caffeine anymore, and I was never hungry during the cleanse.

Q: Did You Feel Better?Anything You're Still Following On The Plan?

A: Yes I feel much better! I still have my drink before my first meal of the day as it really does help keep me awake! I add flax oil wherever I can to increase my fatty acids. Since implementing these changes, I've noticed I’m more awake, less irritable, and have much fewer cravings.

Q: Would you recommend this to others?

A: Yes! I've been telling all my friends about how easy the whole process was. Dianna worked with me to find solutions that not only fit my body, but also my lifestyle. I would say whether you’re experiencing some body issues that don’t seem to have a cause, looking to enhance your sport performance, have dietary restrictions, or are like me and just looking for nutritional guidance, then this program is perfect for you!

You heard it here first folks! If you're struggling with anything from fatigue to skin issues, Nutrition Coaching could be for you. For more information, check them out online!

10 Clean Eating Tips We Think Work (And We're Not Nutritionists!)

While they're not necessarily nutritionists at The Pulse, they're lucky enough to be exposed to lots of nutrition information, including some from our own Holistic Nutritionist, Dianna, in the David Braley Sport Medicine Centre. 

Since it’s #NationalNutritionMonth, we’re looking at our own eating habits. We all know that sound eating habits have the ability to improve sport performance, so providing your body with the right type of fuel is essential, especially for those who lead an active lifestyle.

The following tips are brought to you by The Pulse staff. Everyone is different, so hopefully if you’re not already following some of these, you find a few to keep in your back pocket for the month!

1. Eat Your Veggies First –An Avid Snacker at The Pulse

Eat your veggies first during a meal, that way you fill up on the good stuff you need and won’t be too full to eat them later!

2. Eat Less From A Box –Jake (Yoga Instructor)

Boxed food is usually full of preservatives, chemicals, and hosts many ingredients that you’re likely unable to pronounce. Jake works on eating more whole and natural foods; the less chemicals, the better.

3. Write it Down –Lori (Cycling instructor)

Like many of us, Lori often finds herself with a very busy schedule. She likes to write down what she’s going to eat for the day. She finds that this helps her to stick to a plan and not stray too far to less than healthy choices!

4. Eat Less CRAP (Carbonated Drinks, Refined Sugars, Artificial Sweeteners, Processed Foods) & Eat More FOOD (Fruits & Veggies, Organic Lean Protein, Omega 3 Fatty Acids, Drink Water)—Laura (Fitness & Wellness Coordinator)

Laura’s mantra is great because it doesn't focus on perfection, but rather, progress. Once you start eating less CRAP, your body will naturally stop wanting it as much. Fill up with FOOD and your body will thank you!

5. Drink Lots Of Water –Chelsea (Trainer)

Chelsea uses an app to ensure she continually drinks water throughout the day called ‘Water Your Body’. For people who are on the move all day, it can sometimes be difficult to remember to keeping sipping! If an app isn’t your thing, put measured increments or times on your water bottle so you have a goal to be working towards.

6. Do Your Research –Blair (Dietitian, Fitness Instructor, Cycling Instructor)

With all the information out there, it can sometimes be hard to find valid information. Blair likes Dietitian, Leslie Beck. When reading about certain topics, just be sure that you find research to back it up. You can check out Leslie’s website here: http://www.lesliebeck.com/.

7. Love Your Healthy Filler—Aravind (Trainer, President, McMcaster MBA Association)

We’ve all witnessed and maybe succumbed to filler. It’s those empty calorie items that can cause a spike in your blood sugar. Instead of reaching for them, there are lots of alternatives! Aravind likes to make ‘mashed potatoes’ with cauliflower. He blends cauliflower with spices and a bit of non-dairy milk. He tells us it’s ‘wayyyy good’!

8. Cook Your Own Food!—Mariam (Fitness Instructor)

Instead of going out for lunch and dinner, cook your own meal. Not only will this allow you to know exactly what’s going into your body, but it will also save you a ton of money.

9. Keep It Simple—Lauren (Fitness Instructor, Cycling Instructor)

Nutrition has gone from simple (many, many, years ago!) to complicated with all the information out there. Try not to over think it, and eat clean about 80% of the time.

For an interesting video on how simple nutrition can be, check this out!  

10.Eat In Colour—Caylea (Fitness Instructor, Cycling Instructor, TRX Instructor)

Make sure you fill your plate with lots of different colour! The more the better! Caylea eats a big salad for lunch almost every day. She fills it with lots of greens and tries to keep it nutrient dense. 

The Sport Medicine Centre now offers Nutrition Coaching as they understand how important nutrition is to a person's overall health! There are so many things linked to nutrition, some you may not even think of! If you've struggled with energy levels, skin problems, or digestive issues, come see Dianna and she can help you get back on track!