Journals have been around since pen and paper were invented. Explorers, scientists, and artists have long kept diligent records of their journeys and creations. It’s been said that only by knowing where you are will you get to where you want to go.
And, as it turns out — the same is true for your health, fitness, and wellness journey.
When you undertake an adventure like a healthier lifestyle (and, yes, it is an adventure) it’s a great idea to document your journey.…
I have pictures of myself as a little kid. I’m always amazed when I look at them.
Not because I consistently wore horizontal and vertical stripes together or that I had the audacity to combine bright purple, brown, and green (c’mon it was the ‘70s) — but because I had always thought of myself as being on the husky side. Maybe not “the fat kid,” but definitely chunkier than all my peers.…
We live in a loud world.
Every moment of our day is likely filled with some sort of sound — some pleasant, some that fades into the background, and some that assaults our ears like a tone-deaf bagpiper playing Bad Romance.
We have control, though. Just as we can choose to fill our bodies with junk food, we can fill our ears with junk sound — turning on the radio or TV to fill the quiet space because that’s what we’ve always done.…
You’ve seen the benefit of paying attention to your actions so that you become conscious of the choices you make. Now, you want to take that concept a step further and really dig into what and how much you eat so you can make even better choices.
It’s a big commitment but you feel you’re ready: you’ve decided to keep a food journal.…
I know you. You want to be perfect. You want to go to the gym and do everything just right. You want to count your macros, your calories, how many times you chew, and how many hours, minutes, and seconds you take between feedings.
Here’s my advice: stop it. You are killing your fitness. Seriously. There is no such thing as “perfect.” You know this.…
We’re facing one of the worst flu seasons of recent memory. There’s nothing worse than that achy, tired, don’t-want-to-do-anything feeling that comes with the flu.
Actually, there is one thing worse — getting those achy, tired, don’t-want-to-do-anything feelings just as you have established some really amazing and healthy habits in your life.
So, here you are: you’ve taken on the Whole Life Challenge and life throws the flu at you.…
When the weather turns cold and winter buries us under snow and ice, it can be hard to get excited about seasonal vegetables. We all know what to do with tomatoes and greens and all the amazing fruit available in spring, summer, and autumn, but what do you do with those roots and other weird-looking things that show up at the store during winter?…
Offal, or organ meats, is harder to find in stores and less popular to eat than in the past. But offal can provide us with vital nutrients like zinc, iron, and the B vitamins, and potentially CoQ10, folate, and vitamin A, as well.
But even though eating organ meats is good for us, it’s hard for a lot of people to get over the hump of that first try.…
The holidays are a time of celebration and fun. Parties and events fill our calendars. But if, like me, you are a raging introvert, the holidays can also be one of the most challenging times of the year.
The constant push to be social, to be busy, to buy, and to share can be overwhelming. It can push you to be even more of a hermit than normal.…
Once you’ve gone through the Whole Life Challenge, you know how important it is to pay attention to what you eat, how you exercise, and how you take care of yourself. This greater awareness is awesome because it means you have taken control of your future and are seeking solid ways to optimize your life.
But then you come across a health news story that blows your new world apart.…
I’m seriously obsessed with beets right now. Which is kind of funny, because as I kid I wouldn’t touch them. Of course, my only experience with beets back then was the mushy ones that came out of a can.
As a grown up, I’ve discovered beets can be so much more. I love fresh beets, nicely grilled with salt and pepper — they’re simple, easy, and delicious.…
We all know how important self-care is. And yet, as a health and fitness coach, I talk with people all the time who say that they put everyone else first and suffer for it. Of course, from time to time, we all have too much on our proverbial plates and literally run out of time in a day to do something nice for good ol’ number one.…
