LADIES WHO CRUNCH WITH NANCY BEST

This month at Tin Man, our Hearts and Minds theme is consumption - a timely topic as we enter the festive season. Christmas parties and fun-fuelled events can come with triggers and make us think about our relationship with food and alcohol. 

So we invited Nancy Best, founder of Ladies Who Crunch, to talk to the team about keeping the pressure off ourselves during the Christmas period. 

Our words have power 

Nancy kicked off with some words of wisdom on building a positive relationship with your body when it comes to our approach to food and looking at it as fuel. She also challenged us to think about the language we use that provokes guilt, like ‘cheat day’ or ‘snaccident.’ Something we all need to bear in mind with regards to dipping into the office biscuit tin and not feeling bad about it.

Debunking food myths 

We also did some digging into long standing food myths - such as ‘skipping breakfast boosts my metabolism’ - and how most of the time these myths have no scientific backing. Instead, Nancy advised increasing your protein intake and prioritising nutrient-dense meals, rather than calorie tracking and food restriction. 

Period power 

In our female-heavy office, we also delved into the taboo around menstruation - and how feeling hungrier at certain times in your cycle is nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, women’s Basal Metabolic Rate (i.e. the number of calories you burn per day from simply existing) increases during women’s luteal phase just before their period - so our bodies need an extra 100-300 calories a day. 

Exercise for mental health

Nancy also discussed our relationship with exercise, and how this ties into our mental health. She debunked exercise myths, like HIIT is the best way to get fit’ or ‘no pain, no gain’ and explained that moderate-intensity continuous training is just as effective - and if you’re in pain whilst working out, you’re probably injuring yourself. Instead, we should reframe our training mindset. Try going from, ‘I’m punishing my body to change it,’ to “I’m protecting my body for the future” and see how you go. 

Social media rules 

But it is hard when we have to undo years of consuming diet culture. In fact, one in three women continue to follow influencers on social media, even when it makes them feel bad about themselves. Nancy gave us a checklist to consider when it comes to who we let into our feeds which included examining how someone’s content is making us feel, and whether it’s adding positivity or value to our lives. 

By the end, Nancy had engaged and educated a bunch of happy Tin Manners and left us feeling refreshed and mindful as we enter into a period that can for some cause stress - we’ll certainly be actively trying to reframe our mindsets over the holiday season. And enjoying a mince pie (or two) without shame. x