CHASING SUMMER

Sarah Tee MPH RD LRD Owner of Inspire Nutrition, LLC

What is it about New Year’s resolutions, and the threat of summer that sparks a frenzy in the minds of all those hyper focused on getting the best body they can? “Hot girl summer, ” “beach body ready,” these are just a few phrases in which we create these expectations for ourselves, thus creating an overwhelming sense of pressure, that most of the time, if we are truly honest with ourselves, fails

If you googled, “How to get the best summer body?”, what would you find? Lucky for you, I found a few things during my very short-lived search Common “must haves” are, stay hydrated, eat foods to fight cellulite, do lots of cardio, eat protein, cut carbs, and the list goes on If I showed you the sources, most would be far from credible Not all of those are bad per se, and I would most likely include some of them, but my question goes far beyond that initial question I posed Even if those suggestions were all correct, how do you go about making them personal and individualized? The answer is, you cannot Unless you take the time with someone who has the knowledge to direct you to the right plan for your body, and takes the time to really focus on the why and the inner you, how can you truthfully meet your goals What I found was very general information and mostly aimed at unrealistic and biased goals Let me remind you, this was from the google search drive, and NOT with a specific source in mind I wanted to recreate what could be searched for, and the random answers that typically appear.

The constant messages we see thrown across our social media screens, the influencers, the commercials, the movies, the music, all lend to this pressure of having and being the best version of you during those warm months But in the end, why are we looking for this quick fix anyway? Only to then give up on it, or get tired of it, because it's not realistic, and we repeat the cycle again next year? Instead, why not make lifelong changes, find yourself focusing less on the outward appearance of the body, and more on the inward! What are we reaching for? Better yet, grasping for?

Have you found yourself minding your own business when those pesky bathing suit commercials come on I can’t stand them Hey viewer, let’s just hang that suit on the outside of your fridge as a threat to your hunger or snacking with the hope that it will deter you from making a “bad” choice Is this the example we want to set for the generation that is to come after us? Is it how we want to feel every time we come into the kitchen? The 90s and 2000s were great years, yet they came with a heavy price on our body image The overly sexualized uniform of low-rise jeans, mid drift shirts, short skirts, tanning bed Playboy bunny tattoos, and the crushing pressure to look this way or you simply did not fit in If your body did not fit this mold, it became an obsession on how to obtain it I can picture myself during those years, and the choices I made to have that body Little did I know then how hurtful I was being towards myself, and the foundation I was laying for later in life It is seeing this all now that drives me to fight for this next generation, even more so, those of us pushing 40 and beyond, that are mentally still healing from that era. We are so much more than those images we may still have tucked away in that shoe box under our bed, we are so much more than the social media flooding our feed, we are more because of where we have come now Plant the seeds for the forever you Be the Sunflower Stand tall, face the sun, move with the day so gracefully that others may not even notice, so that they may see your beauty within

1- Wear that bathing suit: Be comfortable being naked in front of yourself again!

2- Be realistic: I encourage you to do a “ person ” check Does your person you ’ re in a relationship with love you just the way you are? Do your kids love you just the way you are? Do your friends and family love you the way you are? If the answer is yes (and I do hope it is), evaluate the why behind your goals I would say what you do moving forward is bonus! Do it for you

3- Unfollow: Edit those accounts that don’t bring joy!

4- Remember your colors: Take advantage of all the colors of the rainbow (shop those farmer markers, eat those fruits and veggies, and mix up your wardrobe with bright colors you may not normally wear!)

5-Stay hydrated and include electrolytes: Remember if you're thirsty you are already on your way to being dehydrated

6- Grill!: Get outdoors, grill all the things! Lean meats, fish, and veggies make for easy clean up, and a meal that will surely keep you satisfied!

7- Listen to your body: Hear your hunger cues, and when you are full! Slow down, taste your food again! Make it an experience!

8- Movement: what can you do 3-4 times a week? Prioritize strength training and incorporate realistic cardio routines

-S

In the midst of summer, are you going to go down the path of quick fixes, disordered eating, and body shaming, or will you empower yourself to wear that bathing suit, to enjoy the tastes of summer, to be present both inward and outward with your people, and take back the day and live life to the fullest? I urge you to do the latter See yourself as others see you, focus on your goals and dreams, but fight for the joy in the now. We will reach our goals, we will see the success, fight for those things, and let’s take back summer!

SarahTee,MPH,RD,LRDSarahTeehasbeenaRegistered Dietitiansince2014andhasbeenworkinginPrivate PracticeasOwnerofInspireNutritionsince2016 Sarah focusesonteachingnutritionandcounselingfroman integrativeandfunctionalapproachwhilefocusingonand implementingevidence-basedresearchasthenutrition expert Sarahhasexperienceworkingwithadiversegroup ofclientsandcasesandworksindividuallywitheachperson tofocusontheirneeds Sarahspecializesinnutrition therapy,guthealth,andaimstogiveapersonalapproachto eachclient’sjourney https://wwwinspirenutritionndcom/

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Introducing our new Holistic Business Series These will be monthly two-hour workshops from different experts sharing their wisdom to help YOU feel more aligned in your business This series delves into the principles of holistic business practices, ensuring that every aspect of your enterprise strategy, operations, marketing, and leadership works together harmoniously

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SarahTee,MPH,RD,LRDSarahTeehasbeenaRegistered Dietitiansince2014andhasbeenworkinginPrivate PracticeasOwnerofInspireNutritionsince2016 Sarah focusesonteachingnutritionandcounselingfroman integrativeandfunctionalapproachwhilefocusingonand implementingevidence-basedresearchasthenutrition expert Sarahhasexperienceworkingwithadiversegroup ofclientsandcasesandworksindividuallywitheachperson tofocusontheirneeds Sarahspecializesinnutrition therapy,guthealth,andaimstogiveapersonalapproachto eachclient’sjourney