Steve teaches high school art. He is a confident person with a great relationship with food– but it hasn’t always been this way.

When Steve turned 40, he went on vacation and found himself overeating at the buffet. After that, Steve noticed he often overate, ate mindlessly, or chose foods that didn’t make him feel great.

Convenience eating was costing Steve his health
With kids in sports and a busy schedule, convenience was key. It was easy to whip into a gas station and Steve’s daily breakfast routine became a Red Bull and a Honey Bun.

He rarely exercised, and when he did, it felt like a chore.

He knew his habits were contributing to his low energy levels, and he decided it was time to change.

Accountability and education helped Steve change his habits
When he heard about the personal coaching program with NuStart through his school corporation, he and his wife started the program together. Steve says this was important: “It would be really difficult to change if we weren’t on the same page.”

Steve remembers a turning point when he learned about macronutrients, fiber, and reading ingredient lists to find out what was in his food. He quickly realized why his beloved Honey Bun didn’t deliver sustainable energy.

Steve’s regular meetings with his coach provided the encouragement he and his wife needed to choose more whole foods and incorporate activity into their daily routine. Instead of being a chore, eating nutritious, balanced meals and getting exercise became a part of their lifestyle. Steve found his coach to be supportive and easy to talk to, and she had (or found) an answer to every question he had. “I cannot say enough good things about her.”

A new life
Several months in, Steve came across a Honey Bun and decided to indulge himself. Steve was surprised to find that it didn’t even taste good. His body had learned to prefer the way healthy foods made him feel, and Steve truly didn’t crave a Honey Bun anymore. He still enjoys desserts, but he chooses ones that are satisfying.

These days, Steve gives his friends articles to read and tells them they don’t need to diet to be healthy. He considers himself an advocate against dieting. He knows that eating healthy, whole foods and listening to his body’s cues have made him feel better without the struggle of a diet. He eats satisfying, enjoyable foods when he’s hungry and follows the principles of Intuitive Eating. He is eating more fruit and vegetables than ever before—and enjoying them!

What replaced Steve’s breakfast routine of Honey Bun and Red Bull? Fruit and oatmeal. More importantly, Steve’s new habits help him enjoy working out, he feels good after eating, and he’s confident in his choices.

At NuStart, we believe that healthy living and dieting are very different—so different, in fact, that we don’t think they go together.

At its core, dieting is about restriction, deprivation, and the need to follow rules. In contrast, healthy living is about getting in tune with your body’s signals and developing sustainable habits that can be integrated within your daily routine.

The NuStart Team wants to empower you to live healthier, happier, and more fulfilling lives through greater self-awareness. Our philosophy is based in nutritional and behavioral science as much as in compassion and body respect.

We believe that honoring your body’s needs leads to greater self-trust. (In contrast, how many diets have made you feel more distrustful of your desires and more unhappy with your body?)

Building self-trust may sound difficult, but it’s not! Honoring your own needs is life-giving, freeing, and empowering. It is the first domino in a cascade of self-kindness that radically changes your ability and desire to live a healthy lifestyle.

So, what do you think? Are you ready to stop dieting and start living?

After your initial coaching session you will receive the direction, support, and accountability you need to address your unique challenges. Your coach will supply you with the information, tools, and skills you need to make positive choices every day. Our primary objective is for you to continuously improve within your journey to achieve better health for life.

“NuStart gives me the direction, support, and accountability I need.”