Total Health in Midlife Episode #157: Listening to Your Body with Lisa & Stephanie

Ever wondered how two ordinary women, Lisa and Stephanie, navigated their struggles with weight and body image?  Join us as they share their inspiring stories, from discovering intuitive eating and the Feel Good Sisterhood to overcoming menopause setbacks. You’ll be captivated by their resilience in the face of adversity and their pursuit of self-confidence and body positivity.  We break away from the common gym culture and delve into the importance of finding enjoyable, sustainable forms of exercise. Be inspired by our guests’ experiences with a year-long program, where they learned to redefine their relationship with food and movement, supported by a sisterhood of women on the same journey.  Listen, as we unpack emotional eating, explore the complex mind-food connection, and reveal how to make healthier choices without succumbing to guilt and immediate cravings.  To wrap up, we celebrate the triumphant health transformations of Lisa and Stephanie, illustrating how aligning healthy Read More . . .

Done with Dieting Episode #154: Prioritizing Yourself vs The Virtuous Caregiver

Are you feeling the pressure of creating the perfect holiday experience? Ready to break free from the myth of the virtuous caregiver and the associated holiday stress?  Join me as I debunk this damaging myth and provide practical strategies to simplify your holiday agenda. I address the self-imposed and external pressures that come with the holiday season and how they can impact your health. Discover how your worth isn’t tied to your holiday hustle and why it’s vital to put your well-being back on the priority list. Listen in as I explore the concept of creating peace and connection during the holidays. I help you identify the tasks that truly matter and those that you can strike off your holiday to-do list. Uncover how to create an anchor of desired feelings that will guide your decisions and allow you to genuinely enjoy the season.  I also dive into the importance Read More . . .

Done with Dieting Episode #148: Redefine Your Relationship with Alcohol with Molly Watts

Calling all thinkers and social drinkers!  Prepare to reassess your beliefs, confront societal norms, and redefine your relationship with alcohol. My guest, Molly Watts, and I take the lid off the alcohol industry, revealing the disturbing lack of health benefits associated with any level of drinking. Be prepared for a deep dive into the psychological aspects of alcohol consumption and the myths surrounding it that often go unchallenged. In this episode, we dissect the complex relationship between alcohol and anxiety. We shed light on how alcohol disrupts our brain’s homeostasis and potentially induces anxiety in the middle of the night.  Through our conversation, we aim to equip you with crucial insights about habitual drinking, the importance of good sleep hygiene, and the implications of heavy drinking. Here’s where you’ll learn how to address the anxiety that comes with tackling your drinking habits, and why it’s essential to confront it head-on. Read More . . .

Done with Dieting Episode #138: Understanding Binge Eating with Jane Pilger

Can we truly redefine our relationship with food? That’s the provocative question we’re exploring with Jane Pilger, host of the ‘Binge Breakthrough’ podcast and a dedicated binge eating coach.  Drawing from deeply personal experiences, Jane shares her journey, her struggles, and ultimately her triumph, giving us all hope that we can do the same. She speaks candidly about the guilt and secrecy that shrouded her early encounters with binge eating and how understanding her nervous system played a pivotal role in her victory. We explore the undercurrents of binge eating, seeing it not merely as a disorder, but as a symptom of disconnection from our experiences. Jane exposes how diet culture conditions us to ignore our body’s signals, leading to a profound disconnection from our own selves.  We venture into the realm of perfectionism, discussing how our relentless chase for an ‘ideal body’ can trigger unhealthy eating habits and constant Read More . . .

Done with Dieting Episode #124: How to Make More Time for Your Health

Are you constantly running around with no time for yourself? When this is the case, meal prep and exercise can easily slip through the cracks. In this episode, I delve into the impact of how we use time and perceive how much time we have, has on our health. Discover a powerful technique to manage your time and prioritize your well-being: time-blocking. Get ready to face your brain’s resistance as I explore how to make time for what truly matters to you. Then, I’ll explore the societal expectations placed on women and how it impacts the projects we take on, and therefore the amount of time that we have. These expectations often lead to judgment and shame if we fall short and don’t do what we or others expect. The pressure can even trickle down to our children, as parents push them toward success. When we can find balance and Read More . . .

Done with Dieting Episode #121: How to Eat Healthy Without Dieting

Struggling with how to eat healthily without dieting? This episode offers a guide to the eight basic habits of healthy eaters. But finding balance involves more than just what food is on your plate. It involves a mindset shift, allowing you to adopt a healthier lifestyle without the reliance on a number on the scale. With questions such as how we judge what someone is eating, and how we set goals to achieve our desired outcome, I will show you how to create a healthy life without dieting… But will it work for you? If you’re feeling overwhelmed and frustrated by trying to maintain a healthy eating lifestyle while still feeling restricted by dieting rules and not seeing the results you wanted, then you are not alone! I thought I had to be thin to be healthy, but my journey taught me that health comes from so much more. Through Read More . . .

Done with Dieting Episode #111: Menopause Series Part 1: Eating & Nutrition

The connection between eating and menopause is complex and multi-faceted. During menopause, changes in hormone levels can impact a woman’s metabolism and make it more difficult to maintain a healthy weight. Additionally, changes in appetite, cravings, and food preferences can also occur during this time. Here are some ways that eating and menopause are connected: Hormonal fluctuations: Hormone levels, including estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, can impact a woman’s metabolism and hunger levels during menopause. These fluctuations can lead to changes in appetite and food cravings. Weight gain: The hormonal changes that occur during menopause can slow down metabolism and make it more difficult to maintain a healthy weight. Poor eating habits, such as consuming a diet high in processed foods and added sugars, can exacerbate this issue and lead to weight gain. Fatigue and energy levels: Menopause can also impact energy levels and fatigue, which can in turn impact a Read More . . .

Done with Dieting Episode #91: What Type of Eater Are You?

Over the past 17 years of working with women, I’ve noticed that when it comes to how we look at food, and eat, that there are 3 different eating styles. What’s super interesting, is looking at these eating styles, are unique to women, because we’ve been socialized to take care of others at the expense of our own health, look at food as good or bad, never say no, not have boundaries, take responsibility for other people’s emotional health, and more. Depending on which messages that you received as a  young woman, will influence how you eat and care for yourself. Tune in to this episode to understand what type of eater you are, find solace in knowing that you’re not alone, and how to move forward. What You’ll Learn from this Episode Listen to the Full Episode: Featured on the Show: Full Episode Transcript: Are you a Monica, or Read More . . .

Done with Dieting Episode #84: How to Create Your Own Meal Plan

Design a capsule wardrobe for your meals. Have you ever had someone create a meal plan for you, but it didn’t work out really well? Or, maybe there was a time when it did, but then years later when you pulled it out of the cabinet & dusted it off, you couldn’t get back on track. In this episode of the Done with Dieting Podcast, I’m going to teach you the exact steps I use with my clients to help them create their own meal plans, or what I call food uniforms.  What I love about this approach is that it: Get a pen and paper because You’re going to want to take notes. What You’ll Learn from this Episode Listen to the Full Episode: Featured on the Show: Full Episode Transcript: Hi, have you ever had someone create a meal plan for you, but it didn’t work out really Read More . . .

Done with Dieting Episode #76: Body Neutrality

 If loving your body seems completely out of reach, you might want to try a more neutral approach. Body love – it’s something that we all aspire to. Women are consistently told that we should love our bodies. But instead of actually doing that, we use it as evidence of one more way in which we’re not doing ‘being a woman’ good enough. We use the fact that we dislike our bodies (and we shouldn’t) as further evidence of why we suck. Although loving our bodies is for sure something that we can aspire to, for many of us, it feels unattainable. Like – how do you even DO that? If this is you, you’re going to want to tune in because in this episode, we’re addressing body neutrality, which may feel more realistic for you. What you’ll Learn from this Episode How Body Neutrality differs from Body Love or Read More . . .

Done with Dieting Episode #64: Creating Adult Friendships with Xena Jones

How to ask other adults, “Do you want to be my friend?” without feeling creepy. Many folks in midlife start to notice that their life circumstances change rapidly. As their children leave the house, they also notice that their relationships in general are also changing at the same time. Some of us realize that we have more time on our hands, or that the friendships that we cultivated with other parents aren’t fully meeting our needs.  We want more meaningful relationships in our lives – ones that support the same positive habits that we’re trying to cultivate ourselves. My guest on this episode of the Done with Dieting Podcast recently went on a “Friendsperiment” where she actively went out and made new friends as an adult. When I learned about it, I had to have her on the show so that she could share her insight with you and help Read More . . .

Done with Dieting Episode #62: Why we Eat What we Eat

When we buy food, we vote with our dollars. Which foods do you want to vote for? Why do we eat the foods that we eat? Have you ever asked yourself that question? Probably not – but you might think about it when you observe other people eating. In this episode, I’m talking about the very unconscious decisions that we make when we decide to eat one food over another. What’s super important in this episode is to become aware of WHY we DO make the decisions that we do and then decide if we want to keep making those decisions. This episode has the potential to be a game changer when it comes to your eating habits. What you’ll Learn from this Episode Why it’s important to decide what we value when we eat How when we purchase food, we vote for the type of food that we want Read More . . .

Done with Dieting Episode #60: Diet vs Just the Way I Eat

What is the difference between a Diet with a Big D vs a Diet with a Small D? What is the difference between a DIET – a way of eating that we follow from a book – and the idea that ‘this is just the way that I eat?’ If you pay attention to social media, you’ll learn pretty quickly that diet is a four-letter word. That we should not be dieting, and that weight loss is bad. But is it? Are all diets bad? The vegetarian way of eating can be considered just the way someone eats, while someone else may look at it as a diet. How can we tell the difference between a good diet and a bad diet? Or is there such a thing? Listen in to episode 60 to learn how to know if what you’re doing is subscribing to looking at food in an Read More . . .

Done with Dieting Episode #23: How many meals should I eat in a day?

Over the years, advice on the number of meals you should eat as well as when you should be eating them has changed. And if you talk to anyone who has lost weight long term, I’m sure that you’ll find that the answers for what they do as far as their meals is as varied as their personalities. One of the most popular questions I get after “What should I be eating?” Is “How many meals should I be eating per day?” So, if this is a question that you’ve asked yourself, tune in to episode 23 of the Done with Dieting Podcast. In the episode, I’ll outline the steps to take so that you can tune in to the number of meals that are right for you and your body. What you’ll Learn from this Episode Listen to the Full Episode: Featured on the Show: Full Episode Transcript: You Read More . . .

Done with Dieting Episode #11: Creating CALM & FOCUS with Ryan Lanier

There’s no doubt that if we have an organized space, and systems in place to stay organized, that it will free up time and energy, and support the healthy habits that we want to create or maintain. We THINK that it takes a ton of time and work to get everything under control – when we look at our surroundings, it seems completely overwhelming! But today’s guest, Ryan Lanier from Organizing4Good shows us how spending time getting organized ahead of time will actually save time when we don’t have time to spare. If you’re someone who identifies as a ‘hot mess’, and can’t seem to get things under control – AND you’re self-esteem is taking a hit because of it – you do not want to miss this episode. About Ryan Lanier Ryan is the owner and founder of Organizing4Good where she helps busy women/moms control their crazy by simplifying Read More . . .

Done with Dieting Episode #7: What’s it mean to Listen to your Body

We’re told that we should listen to our body. What does that even mean? Nobody ever taught me that. Was I missing from school that day?  When I was on my quest to get my eating and desire for sweets under control, I was always amazed at people who could eat just one cookie. And so when I started talking to them about their eating habits, I learned that they paid attention to how food made them feel. It was something that I never thought about.  Sure! I knew when I was hungry & occasionally I knew when I had overeaten, but when I started actually paying attention to my body, I learned that my body gave me subtle cues  that were my body’s way of communicating with me about what it needed. Listening to your body is the first step in creating the awareness needed to decode the messages Read More . . .

How many carbs do you need to eat?

Carbs! Such a controversial subject in today’s national conversation about nutrition and proper diet! It’s so confusing. Eat carbs or don’t eat carbs? Which carbs are good? Which carbs are bad? (hint: there are no bad foods. There may be more or less nutritious foods, but none are good or bad.) Okay so let’s break this whole carb thing down. What is a carb? We get our calories from Protein, Fat and Carbohydrates (these are called macronutrients). If we divide macronutrients into two vveeeerrrry broad groups, we have things that grow out of the ground (plants), and things that had a mother (animals). Carbohydrates come from plants, and protein mostly comes from animals. Fat can be found in both plants and animals. Good Carbs & Bad Carbs? First. Carbs really run the specturm in terms of nutrition (aka: nutrient density). Nutrient density is the term you want to think about Read More . . .

5 Ways to Mindlessly Eat Less

Here’s the scene: You’re out to dinner with friends. It’s been a lovely dinner; you’ve really enjoyed the evening and have gotten completely swept up in the conversation. The server comes over to start clearing the plates & dishes. As he approaches you, and asks whether you’re finished, you look down at your plate. What do you see? What do you say? Is there food still on your plate? Are you finished eating? I am reading this great book called Mindless Eating. The author, Brian Wansink, a food researcher at Cornell, says that if you asked folks, “How do you know when you’re done eating?” or, “How do you know when to eat?” you’d think that most would answer these two questions with ‘I eat when I’m hungry; and I stop when I’m satisfied.’ But that’s not the case. Far too often we eat for other reasons. In the book, he exposes Read More . . .

What is your ‘Why’?

When I meet with clients for the first time, one of my first questions is always, “Why are you hiring me? Why now?” The range of answers is as diverse as my clients: some want to be able to play with their grandkids, some just want to be around to see their grandkids grow up, some have more aesthetic goals, like wanting to lose baby weight, or its spring (i.e.: bathing suit season), and some have an active vacation planned, where being in shape is definitely going to enhance their experience. None of these answers are better than another, BUUUUT…. Some motivations may create more lasting results than others. See, there are two different types of motivation: external and internal. External motivators are defined as behaviors that earn us a reward, or allow us to avoid punishment. Internal motivators are typically performed for the sake of doing them, or a Read More . . .