I’ve said it before and I’ll say it over and over and over again until I’m blue in the face:

Stop dieting. Start educating. Learn.

LEARN how to nourish your body.

Alright, first thing’s first: What is Body Smarts?

Body Smarts is a program I came up with after my first year of working on my Hot Mama business. We were focused heavily on the fitness aspect of healthy, active living by providing safe and effective classes Mamas could bring their entire family to. But, I kept getting asked, “what diet should I be on?”. I would subsequently hang my head, sigh and softly say “why don’t you just eat well and feed your body the way it deserves to be fed?”.

And the answer would almost always be “I don’t know how”, or “what does that even mean?”.

A-HA! Okay then. I can work with that! Body Smarts came was born from my desire to help women stop dieting and actually learn how to feed themselves (and their families) in a healthy, nutritious way. I wanted women to stop searching for magic pills, wraps, cleanses, etc. and really buckle down and learn what, when, where, why and how to nourish themselves.

Now, my Ph.D. is in Exercise Physiology and my nutrition background is minimal. Being a firm believer in education, I knew I was stepping outside my scope of knowledge and I refuse to pretend to know something I definitely do not. So, I to a woman already coming to Hot Mama classes who was a Registered Dietitian. Not a Nutritionist, not a weekend-warrior, an educated-super-smarty-pants-amazingly-awesome Mama to help me. I told her my idea for a new nutrition program I wanted to implement and she said: “No, no…that won’t work…how about we do it like this…”. From there she and I worked together to write, create, develop and implement our 12-week fitness and nutrition program we eventually called Body Smarts.

We’ve been running Body Smarts through Hot Mama for about three years now and feedback is phenomenal. Although the program is not designed as a weight loss program, we’ve seen transformation after transformation. We’ve recently tweaked the program yet again (we stay very current) and it just gets better and better. No diets, no pills…just women learning and experiencing what their body is supposed to feel like when it’s active and nourished properly.

Weight lost. Inches lost. Bodies transformed. Energy found. Now that…that’s Body Smarts. 

Here are a few testimonials from women who have taken the Body Smarts program:

Throughout the 12 weeks, I gained awareness of optimal foods but I also learned to cut myself some slack and just relax a little bit around food. Instead of labeling foods as “good” and “bad”, just see it as nourishment. When you choose to nourish your body with the foods it needs to perform, your need to consume “treats” and “bad food” decreases! We’ve heard the phrase “honor your body” before and that’s what Body Smarts allowed me to do. Honour my body with nutrient dense food for fuel, healthy and longevity but to also let go of the guilt associated with less optimal foods can still be consumed for pure enjoyment. Food is supposed to be fun! Body Smarts takes the burden out of designing a healthy diet and gives you the tools to use for the rest of your life.

– Heather Johansen, Franchise Owner, Hot Mama to 1 daughter (2 years old)

Body Smarts has been a life changer for me. As someone who struggles with lifelong depression and anxiety, I had found myself this year at my ultimate highest weight to date. More than the day I delivered my little boy. So I joined Body Smarts with the intention of weight loss. I did experience weight loss and inches lost (about 15+ lbs and 10+ inches) but that is not even the great part. With the healthy eating habits, the increased physical activity, the support from our instructor and the great network of ladies I found myself feeling better. There are no words I can find to describe the change. But around the 6-week mark, I started to notice that the telltale signs of my depression that I had been feeling for my entire life were starting to lift. I was excited to start each new day, I had more energy and was more engaged in my life. The “heavy jacket” I felt I was wearing daily (the depression feeling) was gone. And still, is gone. This is a feeling I have never felt before. Happy. How amazing!

– Kris de Ruiter, Hot Mama to 1 son (5 years old)

I have celiac disease and as such was extremely hesitant to take the program but Amanda convinced me it was at least worth a try and I am so glad I tried! The best part is that they don’t tell you what to eat and you don’t have to eat food you don’t like just because it’s healthy. There are challenges and some weeks are more difficult than others but you are part of a team and they are there to help you through it. I was breastfeeding through about half of the course and there are special rules that take that into account!!! It was easy to cook BS friendly meals for my family (a 5 and 3-year-old included) and my husband actually loved the program as well. He’s following the rules and everything! To be honest I don’t think we will go back to how we were eating before (even though we were really doing a great job) because I figured out how to improve our family eating habits for the better and it just works for us. I’m so thankful that I enrolled in this class.

– Kendra Long, Hot Mama to 3 kiddos (5 years, 3 years and 9 months old)

I lost 16 pounds and 15 inches in 90 days. But what’s more? I completely changed my mindset in regards to health and nutrition. My focus shifted from what the number on the scale said to “What feats am I capable of today?” I wake up every morning excited to start my day. My head feels clearer, I am happier, more energetic (I DRASTICALLY improved my running time, can lift and squat way more weight and managed to do unassisted pull-ups!!!), and the head/stomach aches have practically disappeared. I am more confident in myself which has made me a better mom/wife/person.”Losing weight” was a great side effect to the program but the best results are the ones you cannot see in a before & after picture: gaining confidence, knowledge, strength and FEELING awesome. Most importantly? Finally loving my body for all it is capable of.

– Stacey Williams, Hot Mama to 2 kiddos (11 & 6 years old)

I know this isn’t about losing weight but I do want to say what drew me to the program (and I hate to even call it a program!) was that I could eat and eat all the food groups as I’m tired of restrictive trends. I really did want to learn how to eat well and kick old habits! I feel strong after Body Smarts. I did not knowingly feel ‘unwell’ before I started but now I realize how great I feel eating well and that encourages me every day! This is a long term lifestyle change that I have made and that I am committing to. I have more energy for parenting and I’m more likely to hop on that toboggan with my girls. I spend less time worrying what to wear because everything in my closet fits and jeans are actually comfortable. I have an awareness and knowledge about ingredients and actual healthy cooking that I never had before. The only exclusions are my choices if I want to make them. I had no idea the impact Body Smarts would have on me and my overall mental and physical health when I signed up. I recognize myself again and as one friend noted…that smile! I’m so happy!

– Deanne Fairfield, Hot Mama to 3 kiddos (5-year-old & 3-year-old twins!)

20 lbs and a ton of inches lost in 12 weeks. I discovered new food, and I found cooking and planning healthy meals and snacks was not that hard. I was eating and not starving and bingeing, and my energy level came up making those long sleepless nights easier to manage. The biggest thing that happened was I found a confidence in myself I never had before. I was taking selfies with my kids and wear clothes from my closet that haven’t seen the light of day since my wedding 10 years ago. I even tried on a dress modeled it for friends and strangers at a clothing party, something I wouldn’t have done even in my teenage years. I can’t say enough about body smarts. No gimmicks, no diets, no magic pills or expensive shakes just healthy, wholesome foods and the tools and support to make the change.

– Candace Nicholson-Wilson, Hot Mama to 2 kiddos (8 years old and 9 months old) 

See? Body Smarts…who knew nutrition education could change your life so thoroughly? Me. I did. YAY! And now we have a bunch of franchise owners who also know how to implement the program and take their Hot Mama community through the 12-weeks of awesome. 

It’s time to break the dieting cycle and really educate yourself on food. Once you know the basics, you know them for life. It’s not a diet and it is definitely not a fad. It’s a way of living that can positively change your life (and your family’s lives). You’ll have more energy. You’ll feel better. You’ll have more confident. You will glow.

I’ve seen it. Mama after Mama. The confidence that comes from a well-nourished body and soul is amazing.

Body Smarts is nutrition and fitness education. But it’s also support from an incredible group of women. You’re not alone in the process because yes, some weeks are grueling and change is hard, so you need the support of strong like-minded women around you. We have weekly meetings, a support group on Facebook, recipes, encouragement and a whole lot of love and laughter. The power of the group is amazing and I hope you’ll grab your courage and join us. We can, absolutely, change your life with Body Smarts. 

I encourage you to try out our 12-week program. We have classes in-person at most of our Hot Mama locations. If you don’t have a Hot Mama location near you, we offer the course online. Our next course is starting the week of January 23rd. So, connect with your local franchise owner OR connect with me! I can hook you up! 

Email me at lindsay@lindsaygee.ca for more information. OR CLICK HERE, choose a location, then click “Body Smarts”