For the next two weeks The Pole Story will be featuring a two-part article called “The Pole Body”. The first part will focus on Nutrition and Fitness (with guest blogger and Integrative Nutritionist Rebekah Fuller) and the second will focus on Strengthening and Fitness (with the help of expert Pilates Instructor Michelle Blum). The goal is to help dancers learn new ways to get into optimal shape, whether it be for competitions or simply for personal satisfaction. And of course, with the holidays right around the corner, it doesn’t hurt to have a little fitness advice!
I have had the pleasure of working closely with both of these women and they are not only knowledgeable, but deeply passionate about their work. They both have a pole dancing background, and Rebekah, in addition to being a nutritionist, is also a pole dance instructor. (She also came up with the title for this series!) Rebekah and Michelle are also very interested in the mind-body connection and this is reflected in their work. So if you are looking for someone to help take your pole dance training to the next level, or even if you are just interested in getting physically and psychologically healthier, consider checking out Fuller Health and Michellates. They are both offering specials to anyone who references these articles. So without further ado, let's see what Rebekah has to say!
As a Pole Dancing Instructor and Holistic Health Counselor in Nutrition, I am an advocate for eating for energy and maintaining lean, strong and healthy curves from the inside out. I became a dance instructor at S Factor prior to my studies and practice in nutrition. While I just assumed my up & down waves of energy and lack of focus at times were normal, it was not until I really learned about nutrition that I realized food changes everything.
I will say that prior to my education in nutrition I already did eat fairly healthy and was not oblivious to food and labels. I understood the concept of macronutrients: protein, carbs and fats. I felt I had a pretty decent grasp on eating well and steered clear of fried foods, sodas and candy. But my awareness and knowledge of what I was putting into my body only went so far.
I didn’t realize how much sugar I was consuming with all its disguised names. How it was and IS secretly in foods I would have never imagined it to be: Fat free milk and yogurt, tomato sauce, ketchup, on the go energy bars and even healthy cereals, just to name of few. I got sick a few times a year. I suffered from congestion, irregular digestion, waves of energy then fatigue, acne and simply did not feel that I was at my optimal health.
Then, I discovered that food is medicine and there are so many different ways to heal the human body through food and healthy lifestyle. I wanted to share with you some of the ways I keep my “Pole Body” lean, clean and strong.
Check out my Top Ten Ways to Increase Energy:
1. Reduce or eliminate caffeine.
· The ups and downs of caffeine include dehydration and blood sugar ups and downs, making mood swings more frequent.
2. Drink water.
· Most Americans are chronically dehydrated. Before you go to sugar or caffeine, have a glass of water and wait a few minutes to see what happens.
· Caution: Soft drinks are now America’s number one source of added sugar.
3. Eat dark leafy green vegetables.
· Green is associated with spring, the time of renewal and refreshing, vital energy. Greens are full of vitamins and nutrients and great for improving circulation, lifting the spirit, purifying the blood and strengthening the immune system.
· Broccoli, collards, bok choy, kale, mustard greens, broccoli rabe, arugula and dandelion greens are some of the many to choose from.
4. Use gentle sweets.
· Avoid sugar and chemicalized artificial sweeteners.
· Use gentle sweeteners like maple syrup, brown rice syrup, and stevia.
· Also eat sweet vegetables such as yams, carrots and beets.
5. Get physical activity.
· Start with simple activities, like walking or yoga—start with 10 minutes a day and increase.
6. Get more sleep and rest and relaxation.
· When you are tired or stressed, your body will crave energy.
· These cravings are often a result of being sleep-deprived, going to bed late, waking up early, for months and years on end.
· Eating too much meat, dairy, chicken and eggs can lead to low energy. So can eating too little! Experiment. Respect your body’s individuality.
8. Take time for yourself.
· Find activities that restore your energy, such as a walk, a bath, a museum, a movie or whatever you enjoy, and schedule a weekly date with yourself to do these things!
9. Get in touch with your spirituality.
· We are spiritual beings in a physical world.
· Find ways to get in touch with your spiritual side, be it meditating, dancing, drawing, church, temple or being in nature.
10. Get rid of relationships that drain you.
· People can drain you of your energy. It doesn’t mean that they are bad, but it is good to notice who drains you and why.
· See if you can transform those relationships by communicating and setting boundaries, or end the relationship.
By improving eating habits, understanding your body better, and feeling confident in preparing better food for you and your loved ones you will experience an increase in overall energy and happiness in your life. If you would like to learn more about what foods are right for you, please check out the sweet offer below.
As a big thank you to Claire for featuring this healthy article in her fabulous blog, I am offering a COMPLIMENTARY CONSULTATION to anyone that mentions this article in their inquiry. To take advantage of this offer please visit my website at www.fullerhealth.net and click on the Health History link. Be one of the first 10 people to act and receive $100 off the first month of working one-on-one with me as your Holistic Health Counselor. Salud!
Rebekah Fuller
Health Counselor in Nutrition
