A Journey of Self-Love and Nutrition

Siobhan Jaffray is a nutrition coach who embarked on her journey into the world of nutrition after struggling with yo-yo dieting for many years. In a recent episode of the Create Your Kindspace Podcast, she shared her experiences, insights, and advice on nutrition, self-love, and mindset. Here's a deeper dive into her journey and some key takeaways from the podcast.

The Journey to Nutrition Coaching

Siobhan's journey into nutrition coaching started with a struggle that many people can relate to - yo-yo dieting. "If there was a fad diet, trust me, I've tried it," she shared. After doing her own research and realising the importance of getting correct information, Siobhan started getting asked for advice by friends and family. Although she felt it was unethical to give advice without proper qualifications, it sparked her interest in studying nutrition. The Covid-19 lockdown provided her with the time to study nutrition coaching with the National Academy of Sports Medicine and then Lifespan Nutrition with RGU. Two and a half years later, she is now a qualified nutrition coach.

"I always felt a bit unethical giving advice when I wasn't qualified to do so... Then lockdown happened and then we all had all the time in the world. There wasn't really an excuse."

The Importance of Journaling

Siobhan also discussed the importance of journaling and self-love in one's journey towards a healthier lifestyle. She started journaling during the lockdown and noticed a positive impact on her mental health and productivity. Although she initially resisted journaling, she eventually embraced it and has been doing it consistently since.

“When I first started, it was just a few prompts that I followed, just like something you're grateful for, something good that happened yesterday, and something you're looking forward to today, start the day on a high. I've been journaling since lockdown pretty consistently. There was a point last year when I stopped because you know life happens. Then my morning routine took a bit of a nosedive. A couple of weeks later, I was like, I don't feel myself. I'm not as productive. I'm procrastinating more. My mood's a bit lower. I realised it was the journaling and so started again.”

Siobhan also emphasised that one cannot hate themselves into a better position. While many people know the basics of a healthy diet, what they often need is to practice self-love, gratitude, and self-belief.

"A lot of people don't need someone telling them what to eat, but what they do need is to start practicing a bit of self-love, gratitude, and just self-belief in themselves as well that they can do something."

Making Adjustments in Diet

Siobhan stressed the importance of starting with small, manageable changes in one’s diet rather than making drastic modifications all at once. She encouraged a positive approach by focusing on what one can add to their diet instead of concentrating on what they can remove.

"Instead, reframe that and think what can you add into your diet to improve it? Could you be having an extra portion of fruit or veg? Could you be drinking more water?"

Siobhan also emphasised that motivation is not a finite resource and does not last forever, so it is crucial to create habits that can be automatically incorporated into your daily routine.

"Start small. Make habits that you just automatically go to. We brush our teeth every morning. It's something we do without thinking about. When I say start small, really start small, it could be that you start parking your car a little bit further away when you go shopping. That's easy to sustain. It just becomes your identity."

Coaching Programmes

Siobhan provides both group coaching programmes and one-to-one coaching, which are structured to educate and empower individuals on their food choices and mindset. She likens her role to that of a driving instructor, providing her clients with the essential tools they need to continue on their own after the coaching is completed.

"Accountability is huge and I need it as well. I know I procrastinate and need somebody there just to gently nudge me in the right direction. Once you're finished with me, you don't need to come back. I've given you the tools to go off on your own."

Preventing Burnout

Prevention is better than cure, according to Siobhan. She is strict with her morning routine, which includes journaling, meditation, and reading. These activities, along with baking, yoga, and hiking, help her prevent burnout and maintain a healthy mindset.

"I think it's just really listening to your body. When burnout happens, take the time, step back... I find baking quite meditative."

Making Healthy Eating Convenient

Siobhan emphasised the importance of making healthy eating convenient for busy lifestyles, acknowledging that many people have the perception that eating healthily requires hours of cooking. She shared her approach to creating recipes and her fondness for batch cooking, which saves time and effort during busy weeks.

"The recipes I share as well, I always say I'm a lazy cook and if there's a shortcut, I will absolutely find it. I think we've got this perception in our head that to eat healthy, we must spend hours slaving away in the kitchen. It's not like that at all."

Kindness to Oneself and Nourishing the Body Go Hand in Hand

Siobhan Jaffray’s journey from struggling with yo-yo dieting to becoming a nutrition coach is truly inspiring. Her insights on self-love, making small adjustments in your diet, staying motivated, and preventing burnout are invaluable lessons for anyone on their journey towards a healthier lifestyle.

Siobhan’s philosophy embodies the idea that kindness to oneself and nourishing the body go hand in hand. Making small, positive changes to your diet, maintaining a routine to prevent burnout, and adopting a mindset of self-love and self-care are all essential components of a holistic approach to health and wellbeing. Ultimately, taking care of one’s body through proper nourishment and self-care is an act of kindness that can lead to a happier and healthier life.