How Good Nutrition Habits Helped me through Lockdown
Last October, coach Ann Towers asked members if they would like to participate in a habit-based nutrition & life-style coaching pilot programme. After completing a questionnaire, ten members were drawn to take part and started their programme in early November.
Of course, Ann and the participants, along with the rest of us, had no idea what was to come in March 2020 and how making that decision back in 2019 would help them through an extremely difficult time when COVID-19 arrived.
For many, lockdown led to over-eating, excess drinking and a decrease in exercise as our usual habits and routines were completely turned upside down. However, those members who were on the programme found the opposite, the programme had given them the habits and information they needed to help them make better changes and choices. We are not suggesting they didn’t have the odd takeaway or enjoy a glass of wine, nor did they “diet”, but through consistent, educated choices they were able to make food (and good food!) a friend and not a foe.
Here are just a handful of comments from those members about their experience of the nutrition programme and how it affected them (and often their family members) during lockdown. We will start with Liz who like many of us when under stress or experiencing change look to food to help….
“When my routine gets disrupted or I feel stressed normally the first thing I drop is healthy eating. Having been following the coaching programme for 5 months prior to lockdown, I found myself in a unique position of maintaining my good habits without even thinking. Not only has meal planning, prep and exercise planning kept me on track, I have actually felt much more able to deal with lockdown mentally as a result of all the lessons and daily habits.” Liz
“The programme came at the right time so in my case I was prepared for the current lockdown. Eating habits in our household have changed: my son would be – “I don’t really fancy that” – but now is ok as he appreciates the current situation. We try to eat balanced meals during the week with homemade food and will have a cheat meal every Saturday.” Pram
“I have found that the coaching course has helped me over lockdown to control food and drink intake. There have been useful insights into the psychology of nutrition and exercise that have also supported my journey to better choices and have helped my overall fitness.” Alison
“I would also like to say thank you for the programme; it has been really great for me both physically and mentally.” Alyn
“I’m a notoriously fussy eater so didn’t expect to be able to keep up with the programme, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. Many of the habits are lifestyle based which helped when life was at full steam ahead and when it ground to a halt in March and I was suddenly being asked to be a teacher as well as a mother and the world was filled with fear. Even during a stressful time, the habits had been instilled so I was able to make the right decisions for me and my body giving me the energy I needed to get through the day. In honesty, some days were harder than others but without the programme it would have been impossible.” Jo
“The programme has been hugely useful, and you will be pleased to know that I am 27lbs down since starting and am over the moon. We have seriously enjoyed our food during lockdown and mealtimes have become a pleasure! Thank you.” Samia.
We hope that a lockdown never happens again, but we know that many will want to prepare for the future and equip themselves with the right tools, habits, and mindset, which is exactly what this programme will do. We also know that the evidence suggests the healthier you are, the stronger you are to fight any illness, not just COVID-19. This includes weight loss (as currently being promoted by the UK Government) as well as exercise. The two work hand in hand, not in isolation.
After a very successful pilot our first full programme will launch on the 15th September. If eating better, without dieting or feeling deprived, with the support of a coach sounds good then this programme is for you. It will help you to achieve and maintain your goals, even when busy, build fitness into your life, without it taking over and quite simply help you be healthier, more resilient and ready to face whatever the world may throw at you next!
As a simple example, these are some of our basic rules of “normal” eating:
- Eat when you are hungry
- Choose food that will satisfy you
- Pay attention to what you are eating and try to enjoy it
- Stop eating when satisfied.
To find out more about the programme, please see our nutrition pages here. You can also read more from members who took part in the pilot programme. Or if you have any questions and would like to speak to coach Ann, please email [email protected].
BACK TO INFO HUBWould you like some help to become the healthiest version of you?
Most people know that regular movement, eating well, sleep and stress management are important, yet many need help applying this knowledge in the context of busy and sometimes stressful lives.
That’s why we now offer nutrition based services at Club Towers, available to members and non-members. Using the proven curriculum & resources of Precision Nutrition (PN) and delivered by our in-house PN Level-2 Certified Coach, our goal is to help our members and the wider community to achieve sustainable vitality through healthy nutrition and lifestyle habits…….whatever challenges you may be dealing with.
This is offered in three ways, a habit-based nutrition & lifestyle coaching programme, 1-1 consultation sessions and Information Hub.
To find out more about how we can help you, book a 20-minute consultation (free for all members) with our Coach, Ann Towers at [email protected].
