Speaker 1 – Welcome back. With warmer weather approaching, many people are returning to healthier habits. But what does it take to lose weight and keep it off? Here with some answers is Dr. Erica Steele from holistic family practice in Virginia Beach. Dr. Steele? Dr. Erica, as I call you, how are you doing
Speaker 2 – today? I’m doing so well; April’s so good to see you. Good to
Speaker 1 – see you as well. Okay, so we’re coming around that time of year again, you know, winter is out, spring is in, and we want to improve, you know, our, the way we look and perhaps our weight loss. So, any suggestions for that?
Speaker 2 – Well, it depends on your mindset, right? And that’s surprising because most people think, Oh, I gotta break out the shoes. I’ve got to start working out; I’ve got to start eating right. But what does it take to do that? It takes a healthy mindset, right? So if I am thinking thoughts about okay, how can I be built my health? And how can I create health? Then, of course, your actions and behaviors will follow? Okay,
Speaker 1 – so, are you saying it’s like a self-fulfilling prophecy?
Speaker 2 – Yes, exactly. Yeah. So if I’m sitting around that saying, Oh, I’m looking in the mirror and going, oh, I need to pinch this, or oh, I’m a little bit overweight here. Or you’re constantly telling yourself all the identity, meaning the thoughts and feelings around being overweight, then, of course, you’re going to continue to create those habits.
Speaker 1 – Okay, so where do we start? Do we, like, start giving ourselves positive affirmations? Like, oh, girl, look at those curves? Do you look good? Or why do you do it? Yeah, in
Speaker 2 – 100%. So we’re gonna start with that mental diet. We discussed that last month; mental diet is what you tell yourself. So I’m fit, trim, and beautiful; I’m sexy and unique. I’m toned. What it is you want to create, you want to start telling yourself that even if the 3d even if our current reality isn’t showing that,
Speaker 1 – Okay, so once you get the mindset together, how do you follow it with good habits.
Speaker 2 – So once your thought process continues, you will feel better. Then you’re going to be more motivated into action, meaning you’re gonna want to necessarily order the salad over the burger, or you’re gonna want to get up and work out and take a walk somewhere; your actions are then going to follow based off of your thoughts as well as your feelings. Okay, so
Speaker 1 – I’m thinking about metabolism and women of a certain age, you know, our metabolism slows down. So is that something to consider?
Speaker 2 – That’s actually not accurate. Think that, Oh, because I get older, aging is not a prerequisite for poor health, believe it or not, so we don’t get off the hook based on that. Metabolism is all the chemical processes in the body, starting with what you eat and how you digest and assimilate. So as people get older, their lifestyle habits get slightly worse. And so that’s why people tend to associate aging with a slower metabolism. But it’s really not true. I have 80-year-old patients that are fit, trim, and healthier than some of my 30 and 40-year-old patients.
Speaker 1 – Oh, I didn’t know that. And I know you have a program that deals with the metabolism coming out. Can you tell us a little bit more about that?
Speaker 2 – I’m so excited about this; I’ve spent the last two and a half years building out all of this data; you know, I’m such a data girl. We’ll talk about it more in my webinar coming up. It’s a free mindset and metabolism. I’m excited because I can take all of the data to fine-tune a program for people looking to change their lifestyle from a mental, emotional, and of course, a physical perspective. Okay,
Speaker 1 – I do have a question for you to back up a little bit. Once you get the mindset together. Do you then have to like to restart your metabolism? Are there ways to get your if you have a slow metabolism? Are there ways to get it pumping?
Speaker 2 – You’re so cute. Yes, of course, we are. The body is made to heal itself. And it always wants to heal itself. So we look at lab work, we’re able to support with different supplements, we’re able to get the body to work efficiently and effortlessly. The body was made to heal; we just need to know how.
Speaker 1 – Okay. And then the mindset to work out. Helped me with that one.
Speaker 2 – It’s it’s really about what you enjoy, right? So I enjoy Pilates. I just started rowing; I actually really want that as well. So I do things that I wish to, but it also, you know, it’s about what they say, like 90% In the kitchen, right? You don’t need to run off to the CrossFit gym if you’re not a big workout fan. You know, you can do the simple things like walking or moving your body or yoga, especially as you age, it’s important to stretch because, as you know, things get stiffer things, you know, need to be able to be relaxed and looser. So yeah, definitely. All
Speaker 1 – right. Here’s the information to contact Dr. Erica; thank you for answering our questions today.
Speaker 2 – Awesome. Thank you, Abraham. Great day you too.