In their new book, Balanced and Whole: 21 Day Jumpstart for Weight Loss and Wellness, Julie Cohen and Bill McHugh present a comprehensive plan to start the New Year with a new you.
On January 9th at Just Jersey in Morristown and January 10th at Watchung Book Sellers in Montclair, Cohen, a holistic health counselor, and McHugh, a personal trainer, will give food and exercise demonstrations, samples made from their healthy recipes and sign copies of their book. Both events are free and will run from 2 to 4 pm.
As a nutritionist and trainer, says Cohen, “we both felt that our clients needed a simple how-to manual.”
“There are so many people who are de-conditioned, overweight and inactive, stressed out and confused,” contends McHugh. “They needed a guide on how to start and where to start.”
The pair is clear that theirs is not a quick-fix, but a way for people to determine what changes they need to make in order to break bad habits and reach long-term goals.
Their back-to-basics approach begins with logging food intake and exercise output to create a map of each individual’s pitfalls.
“I’ve seen a food log be huge for all my clients,” says Cohen, who lives in Morristown. “It makes them pay attention to their own internal feedback loop.”
In the first week, the goal is to begin eliminating processed foods and excess sugar. Week two “introduces portion control within the world of whole foods,” says Cohen. During week three the “whole thing is tightened a little further,” in order to begin turning changes into new habits.
The food plan is coupled with McHugh’s exercise routine, which can be done at home with minimal investment in equipment. “Everything is done within 30 minutes, with three days of toning and strengthening, alternating with three days of cardio,” says McHugh, who lives in Sparta. “It’s six days a week, but just in small dosages.”
The book adds more exercises each week, complete with descriptions and pictures. “It’s very doable,” he says.
The graduated process, they say, is healthier than cleanse and detox plans. It involves learning smarter ways to shop, prepare food and eat outside the home, and it offers tips to reduce stress improve sleep.
“It’s about the bigger picture and living a more balanced life,” says McHugh, “and we’re so excited when people connect the dots.”
balancedandwhole.com
justjerseygoods.com
watchungbooksellers.com