Andie McCowan Naturopathy

10/02/2024

So much FUN, awesome space and great to meet you Sheena!! Big day while being right in the middle of our Balanced Bodies Feb intake, hey Big Wellbeing Co by Tegan Barton?! But so worth it!

13/01/2024

T I M E S E N S I T I V E A N N O U N C E M E N T 🚨

Embark on your 6-week journey to sustainable fat loss with Balanced Bodies - where we go beyond diets and numbers!

Hosted by Tegan .teganbarton & Andie

Say goodbye to calorie counting, restrictive diets, and the never-ending cycle of feeling HANGRY. Join us on a path that prioritises nourishing your body, balancing hormones, and fostering a holistic approach to wellness.

🍏 Proven Fat Loss Strategy:
No calorie counting, no diets, no depletion. Discover the core principles for lasting results - elevate energy, improve sleep, manage stress, nourish your gut, and balance hormones.

🍽️ Delicious, Real Foods:
Eat meals that your body (and taste buds!) will love. No more staring into the fridge, feeling overwhelmed, or resorting to UberEats. Our balanced meal plans are designed to take the guesswork out of your daily meals.

🧘‍♀️ Empower Your Choices:
Break free from the shackles of restricted diets. Our program empowers your food choices, leading to food freedom. Feel the liberation of enjoying delicious, balanced meals that not only satisfy your cravings but also balance your blood sugar, giving you sustained energy!

🌟 Enrolment Details:
The next round of Balanced Bodies kicks off on February 5th! Secure your spot now and take advantage of the Early Bird entry.

6-Week Group Program:
* Early Bird: $350 upfront (Ends Sunday, January 21st)
* Regular: $390 upfront or 6 payments of $75
* Weekly live training, Q & A sessions, goal-setting workshops, and a supportive Facebook community.

6-Week Personalised Program:
* Early Bird: $940 upfront (Ends Sunday, January 21st)
* Regular: $990 upfront or 6 payments of $175
* Includes a 60-minute Naturopath Consultation, weekly personalised meal plans, weekly check-ins, and more.

Enrol now and embrace the Balanced Bodies program! 🌈💪 www.bigwellbeingco.com.au/balancedbodies Big Wellbeing Co by Tegan Barton

16/07/2020

Yay for you if you got out and about on this cold and foggy Melbourne morning!

How’s everyone feeling during Melbourne’s fresh restrictions?

If you’re feeling disheartened or angry, this is normal.
If your lifestyle and diet feel a bit out of whack, this is normal too.
When you’re ready, there are some simple steps you can take to help get your wellbeing on track:

Stop whatever you’re doing and drink a whole glass of water
Plan your next meal to include a vegetable, a source of protein, a source of healthy fat and maybe something whole grain.
Take a 20 minute gentle exercise break. If possible, get outside! If not, some stretching or movement will do just fine.
If you can, buy fruit and veg in abundance from your local grocer.

These are the smallest of things you could do to maintain some sanity and a sense of wellness during the next five or so weeks. But if you’d like to take this time to really delve into your health and wellbeing long term, complete a health reset or get back on track with some nutrition tips, you can book a short or long consultation with me - I have plenty of times available for remote consultations, and some limited appointment times in clinic. Head to my website to book online or organise a free chat via phone or email to see how I can help you on your health journey.

And remember, please be as nice to yourself as you would be to your bestie ❤️❤️❤️ xx

20/06/2020

A lot of people have asked me about sugar lately. We are all just emerging out of lockdown here in Melbourne, but we still have the majority of office workers working from home, with good access to the fridge and pantry and just a leisurely lunchtime walk to the local shops to fetch snacks.

Full disclaimer, I feel like the least qualified person to be lecturing people about sugar. I too, love something sweet on most days, and have no plans to give that up. That does not mean I eat cake and chocolate in abundance all day, and it also absolutely does not mean I’m eating loads of treats that contain rice syrup, stevia or coconut sugar and passing them off as sugar free, or even that much healthier than plain ol’ refined sugar.

There is a myriad of reasons why you are craving more sweets. Purely having more access to food or snack breaks than you might in the office environment is probably the big one at the moment. This is something I haven’t wanted to write about until now though, because… we were in lockdown! As my 93 year old Nana said recently, “I never thought I would live through something like this!”… She has so far had 93 years on this earth, and this has thrown her a curveball. It’s the same for everyone.

Eating high sugar foods all the time can can come with consequences to your gut health, overall health and overall capacity to take in and absorb nutrients. It’s also a double edged sword, because many underlying health issues related to gut health, blood sugar control, candida and liver function (to name a very small few) can actually cause you to seek and eat more sugar. Tie this in with the simpler reasons, like the availability of sugar and the fact that it’s in everything and it can be a nightmare to avoid.

Link to blog for seven tips on how to curb the cravings, plus some simple recipe and snack ideas.

Sugar! Why you are reaching for it, what you can do about it… and scroll down for recipe and snack ideas. A lot of people have asked me about sugar lately. We are all just emerging out of lockdown here in Melbourne, but we still…

08/06/2020

The quick consultation. This 20 minute consultation is a quick check in and mainly focused on simple nutrition and lifestyle tips to start you off on your health journey. For new clients, this appointment can help you decide whether you’re ready to commit to a more comprehensive treatment plan and support for your health concerns. During these consults you are armed with the info you need to make a start on or stay on track with your health journey. So it’s also great if you feel like you have a handle on your health and lifestyle, but just need some tips and motivation. Up until 30th of June, you can choose to come into my clinic at Alpha Sports Med for this consult, or you can book it as a phone, Zoom or Telehealth appointment if you’d rather stay at home. Taking control of your health is taking control of your life, and everyone has 20 minutes up their sleeve to do that. Only $35. Book now via the online bookings tab on the website, or use the contact page for more info. https://andiemccowannaturopathy.com.au/bookings/

02/06/2020

The initial consultation: Where it all starts.

At this point, you’ve already taken the first brave step towards improving your health and optimising your wellbeing. The initial consultation delves deep into your current health concerns, past health history and goes on a fact finding mission to identify and treat the underlying cause of what might be standing in the way of you being the healthiest version of you. It’s a no judgement space with a structured approach. The treatment plan stemming from this consultation contains the short and long term goals for your health that we have agreed upon as realistic, recommendations for any referrals or testing necessary and any initial treatments such as lifestyle and diet interventions, herbal medicine or nutritional supplements to support those goals.

After our initial consultation, a follow up appointment is made and I present you with a report of findings, which educate you on what’s going on and includes further recommendations, which I thoroughly study and research between your two appointments… it might sound creepy, but yes! I do spend time thinking about you between our consults 😉. Follow ups beyond this are usually to keep you on track with your goals and bring up any new concerns you might have.

The truth is, we often sail through life just accepting that we feel mediocre, that we are not as optimally healthy as we want to be, for example with a chronic condition or food intolerances we have just learned to live with. It’s up to you to start the process, and I promise I will be invested in you and your health from that point forward.

Blog post in pic: I wrote this one a few years ago, but it gives a good insight into what Naturopaths actually do and the therapies they have access to.

The best part? Initial consultations are available at a reduced rate until 30th June 2020, and we can do them in clinic at Alpha Sports Med, via Zoom or Telehealth

https://andiemccowannaturopathy.com.au/services/

27/05/2020

NEW BLOG: Do you feel like you are exercising and eating right, but are not seeing results such as weight loss, muscle gain or body fat reduction? This blog post took me a little bit too long to write, because it’s something I am passionate about and there are so many reasons for why you might not be getting the results you want, even if you have successfully embarked on a great healthy eating and exercise routine! It can be so frustrating.

💪 The blog post is a long read, but here are the key headlines, and you can read the details when you have time:
💪
You have a starvation mindset
Your hormones are out of whack
You are sleep deprived
You’re doing only one form of exercise
Your liver and gut health need attention
Your diet looks good on paper, but might be missing some key nutrients needed for optimal metabolism and body composition
You are over- exercising, under- exercising or inconsistently exercising

And the final reason you might not be seeing results?...

You’re following someone else’s diet and exercise routine on social media and... well, you are not them!

🤗 As usual, I am here for you if you have any questions, and available for personalised naturopathy, nutrition and exercise programs, at Alpha Sports Med or online. I am also launching a brand new program called ‘Health Control’, which includes loads of personalised support, weekly tips, an exercise program and detox program complete with all the information, recipes and supplements you need to start. All of this can be individualised- as a qualified health professional, I know there is never a one size fits all approach, so let’s get you all the help you’ll ever need for the rest of your life. Head to my website for a sneak peek of what’s on offer and to find out more.

https://andiemccowannaturopathy.com.au/2020/05/26/why-you-are-exercising-and-eating-right-but-not-getting-the-results-you-want/

25/05/2020

VITAMIN D: The sunshine vitamin... and much more!

Recent research has shown a correlation between Vitamin D deficiency and cases of COVID-19.

There has been lots of growing evidence for a long time that Vitamin D plays a significant role in the immune system, allergy prevention and lowering inflammation, including that related to infection and respiratory illness, so it doesn’t come as a surprise.

Vitamin D has always bugged me a bit, because it’s not always a nutrient that is routinely tested, yet deficiency can be prevalent in many people. Back in 2017 when I first became pregnant, the midwife was really impressed by my high-ish vitamin D levels. I replied to the midwife, yes a couple of years ago I was tested for a few nutrients including vitamin D on the advice of an integrative GP, and ever since then I have taken a proactive approach to supplementing and maximising absorption. Yet so many people miss out on this key preventative knowledge before their levels drop. Also worth noting, my excellent GP obviously did test for vitamin D at some point.

What can you do about your own vitamin D? Testing is one of the only ways you can look at your levels, and a chat with your GP or health practitioner would be useful as a starting point. Maximising your absorption of this nutrient is your best bet. Vitamin D is best provided by sunlight through the skin, so getting at least 20 minutes of sunlight per day on as much skin as possible during the sunniest part of the day is really important. Vitamin D is a fat soluble steroid hormone produced by cholesterol, so consuming healthy fats is a must to ensure it is turned into its active form in the body. Other health factors can affect the absorption of vitamin D, so you may need to address concerns around liver, gut, kidney and general health before you bother supplementing. There can be a need to supplement vitamin D for some people, and in my opinion individuals do need to monitor this nutrient.

Photo by Eric Ward on Unsplash

10/05/2020

NEW BLOG POST: Ready to improve your health, enjoy the journey and make realistic changes? Some Sunday thoughts on the journey towards health are on my blog now, as well as a sneak peek on what my next blog will be about. Improving your health doesn’t have to be an uphill climb or a quest for perfection. Making small decisions every day to prioritise your health and incorporate it into your life will be key to lasting healthy habits. Of course, identifying and addressing underlying health issues is an essential piece to this journey. When was the last time you felt 100% healthy?

https://andiemccowannaturopathy.com.au/2020/05/07/health-is-not-an-uphill-climb-nor-is-it-a-linear-quest-for-perfection/

07/05/2020

Mother’s Day gift vouchers available!
Help Mum put her health first.
Gift certificate emailed to you ready for Sunday. Choose from a dollar value towards a service, or a particular product or service listed on my website. Online and in clinic options available.
Some ideas to help Mum kickstart her health include:

* 20 minute express appointment
* 60 minute naturopathy appointment with personalised treatment plan
* Personalised nutrition plan
* Tailored exercise plan- only $49 with six weeks of follow up!

More options on my website
Call or email to arrange your voucher

07/05/2020

PLANS TO PUT YOUR HEALTH FIRST? Hi everyone! How are you doing at the moment, with all those extra demands you’ve been facing during the lockdown period? Hopefully these demands have also come with some silver linings. It looks like there might be some light at the end of the tunnel soon, which means we will gradually be able to return to normal life.

Things have been understandably quiet on my front, even though I have still been there for my clients both in person at Alpha Sports Med and Osteo and through Zoom or Telehealth for those who prefer that option. I have also been working on some blog posts which hopefully continue to inspire you to take control of and prioritise your health. All of this while looking after my toddler, with my main job being keeping him occupied while my husband works from home and we have no formal activities to do or friends to see! It has been a challenge, but I am very lucky to have my happy family. My other job as a personal trainer has also been put on hold due to the gym closing, but I have been redeployed into other work which is a relief.

I hope you have been at least thinking about prioritising your health and wellbeing, even if it might be a bit difficult at the moment. At the moment, if you’re getting out of bed in the morning and getting some fresh air every day, keeping stocked up on healthy food options and checking in with your friends and family from afar, you’re doing a great job.

If you have started to form some big plans on how you’re going to take control of your health and wellness in the (near future), I am here to help when you’re ready. All of my online appointment options are available via the link in comments, and of course I am always available in clinic at Alpha Sports Med & Osteo - as are Ashton (pictured) and the other brilliant osteos.

NEW BLOG POSTS COMING SOON: Some musings on the (imperfect) journey towards good health (and what it might mean for you), and another post on why you might be training hard and eating really well, but still not getting the results you want.

30/04/2020

NEW BLOG POST! This post is hardly revolutionary, but I promise it’s the easiest, most foolproof routine to start following if you want to get on or back on track to prioritising your health! ❤️

If you need help with or beyond the basics, my doors are open- via Zoom, Telehealth and at Alpha Sports Med.

http://andiemccowannaturopathy.com.au/2020/04/30/the-most-basic-foolproof-daily-health-routine/