Today, I’m bringing something a little different to the conversation – a plasma ball. Now, you might be thinking, “What on earth does this have to do with health?” But bear with me; I promise it will make sense.
Recently, when spending time with my son, we were playing with a plasma ball.
As I watched it, I noticed something fascinating…..When you place your finger on the ball, the electric current follows it. If you add more fingers, the current doesn’t seem to know where to go – it’s scattered, unable to focus.
It took me back to my own childhood, where I remember being mesmerised by the same thing. What struck me this time, though, was how the current followed a single point with precision when it had one finger to focus on, but when I placed my whole hand on the ball, the current couldn’t find its path.
You’re probably wondering, “Where is she going with this?”
Well, this plasma ball got me thinking about health goals – whether it’s weight loss, boosting energy, gaining mental clarity, or managing a health condition.
We often make big promises to ourselves regarding health, especially around New Year’s resolutions. You might decide to eat healthier, exercise every day, cut out sugar, quit alcohol – the list goes on.
It’s a great plan in theory, but in practice, it’s overwhelming.
Before long, it feels like too much, and you find yourself falling back into old habits. Why? Because your brain prefers the familiar and will remain in the comfort zone if too many changes occur at once.
It’s similar to what happens with the plasma ball. When I put all my fingers on it, the current couldn’t figure out where to go. The same issue occurs when we try to make too many changes at once – we lose focus and direction.
When working towards your health goals, let’s think about making things simpler and more sustainable. Working with my clients, I like to focus on just one, two, or at most three recommendations. These are simple adjustments to their diet, lifestyle, emotional patterns, or exercise routines.
It’s about making small, subtle changes that can be implemented without feeling overwhelming.
For example, if you aim to lose weight and want to start exercising, jumping straight into an intense routine, such as going to the gym for an hour every day, can quickly lead to a sore and fatigued body, triggering you to give up quickly.
Instead, start small.
Begin with a manageable goal, like a 10, 15, or 20-minute walk.
Once that becomes part of your routine, then consider adding a Pilates class or an hour at the gym once a week. Gradually, you’ll build on these routines.
Over time, these small steps will turn into habits. You no longer have to think about these habits because they’ve seamlessly become part of your everyday life.
This is how I love to work with my clients—by helping them make these small, subtle changes that lead to big, sustainable results.
Recently, I chatted with one of my clients, who reminded me why those small, sustainable changes are so important. She came into my clinic and sat down. The first thing she said was, “I just want to thank you.”
This client explained how she’d been to many practitioners and tried many different therapies to work on her lifelong health challenges. But every time, it felt like there were too many changes to make all at once, and it just became too overwhelming to stick with.
She described the multitude of changes as “throwing spaghetti at the wall and seeing what sticks.” There was always so much to change that it felt impossible to sustain, and she’d eventually go back to old habits because, as we know, the brain loves its comfort zone and doesn’t like stepping too far outside of it.
She even compared it to that scattered feeling – just like when the plasma ball’s current can’t figure out which finger to follow. Too many changes at once can leave us feeling confused and lost.
As with many clients, I approach things differently.
For this client, I only suggested a couple of simple tweaks—changes that were easy to manage and fit into her life. And soon enough, she started seeing results. She was losing weight, feeling better emotionally and mentally, had more energy, and was waking up ready to take on the day. Most importantly, she felt like she could actually stick to these new habits for the long haul.
That’s what it’s all about—creating healthy routines that are do-able and can last a lifetime. Small shifts, when done right, really do lead to big wins!
So, it’s not about making a whole bunch of big changes all at once that end up feeling unsustainable. The real power comes from making small habit adjustments – just a few tiny changes, getting comfortable with them and then moving on to the next adjustment.
By doing this, you’re helping your brain create new neural pathways and expand its comfort zone at a pace it can handle.
This approach builds a long-term strategy that actually supports your health goals. Living a healthy life doesn’t have to be hard, and that’s exactly how I love to work with my clients.
Let’s shift towards sustainable health, one small change at a time.
If you have health goals and want to make changes, think about it like one finger on the plasma ball at a time. Start with small, sustainable steps – one or two manageable changes – and let them lead you to long-lasting results.
It’s the small, steady steps that help you move forward and truly achieve your health goals.
If you’d like help getting started, I’d LOVE to support you on this journey! Feel free to message me, and together, we can take those first tiny steps that are sustainable for your future.
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This is how gut microbes can influence weight!
Probiotics can help you gain weight or lose weight by interacting with our genetics, food and metabolism.
And yes, I did say lose or gain weight……..
Firstly, let me explain that the trillions of microbes in the gut need to be varied, meaning that there should be a large variety of species. There are many different species (or breeds) of microbes, and they all have their place in aiding health — the more variety and balance, the better health results.
Back to the weight loss or weight gain issue….
Do you eat yogurt and berries for breakfast? Thinking that it’s helping you lose weight?
Well, Lactobacillus acidophilus (like the species found in yoghurt) has been connected to weight gain.
I am not saying throw your yoghurt and berries in the bin. Instead, I am suggesting looking at the overall picture. If Lactobacillus acidophilus is the predominant micro-organism of the gut, then weight gain can result.
It is about the variety of species of gut microbes. Imagine if we only have trained german shepherd guard dogs in the world. It may be a safe world, but I am sure that other breeds may be more suitable as a family pet.
While Lactobacillus acidophilus is associated with weight gain, other Lactobacillus species correlate with weight loss.
Species like Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus gasseri, and Bifidobacteria animalis have been found to support weight loss.
Want to lose weight?
Look at your gut flora to support your goal.
Tests can be performed to identify the predominant species of the gut, and specific species can be utilised to support weight changes.
Want more information about your gut health?
Or want to look at all the factors contributing to weight gain, I’d love to be able to help.