Ever heard the story of the frog in boiling water? 🐸 It’s a powerful metaphor that reminds us how gradual changes can sneak up on us. If you drop a frog in boiling water, it’ll jump right out. But if you put it in lukewarm water and slowly raise the heat, it won’t notice the danger until it’s too late. The lesson? Sometimes, we don’t realize how small, seemingly harmless shifts in our lives can add up—until we’re suddenly feeling stuck or out of sorts. Even after nearly 15 years of coaching, I’m still amazed by how easily these “unhelpful habits” can creep in. One small shift, then another… and before you know it, you’re asking, “Wait, how did I get here?” For me, it happened during a whirlwind of life changes: losing my dad, becoming … [Read more...] about Saying “No” to Alcohol with Confidence
Menopause and Weight Gain
First things first—menopause is not just a “phase”; it’s the point after 12 months without a period. The years leading up to it, called perimenopause, often bring changes that can contribute to weight gain. And it’s not just menopause—aging is a player too! On average, women gain around 4-6 pounds during perimenopause, though this varies widely. Why Weight Increases: Smart Strategies for Managing Menopause Weight Gain: It turns out, the usual “eat less, exercise more” approach doesn’t quite work the same way after menopause. Here’s what has helped me: The bottom line? Weight gain during menopause isn’t a given, but it does require some adjustments. It’s all about tuning in to what your body needs now—experimenting with sleep … [Read more...] about Menopause and Weight Gain
How Being Kind to Yourself Can Transform Your Eating Habits
Some people think self-compassion is just fluff. Fair enough: It’s not always easy to see the link between self-compassion and nutrition habits. But here’s the truth: Properly harnessing self-compassion can be a game-changer, helping you eat, move, and live better. And a recent study published in Nutrients sheds light on exactly why that is. What is Self-Compassion? Self-compassion involves treating yourself with the same kindness and understanding as you would a good friend. It has three core components: How the Study Was Conducted To explore the connection between self-compassion, body image, and eating habits, researchers surveyed 100 mothers using online questionnaires. These surveys measured levels of … [Read more...] about How Being Kind to Yourself Can Transform Your Eating Habits
Finding Joy: Simple Steps to a Happier Life
I've recently embraced a new goal for myself: being more joyful. Since deciding to focus on joy, I’ve been noticing signs of it everywhere. In my pottery class, one of the other students consistently forgets my name and says, “I keep thinking it’s Joy, but I know it’s not.” A few days ago, I told her to call me Joy, and I even started signing my pottery with the name. What better way to remind myself to embrace joy than by inhabiting the name, right? In a world filled with suffering, discontentment, and conflict, it is easy to lose sight of joy. Yet, we can learn to see and appreciate all the little and big ways that joy permeates our life, allowing for more happiness even as we aspire to grow and change for the better. All of this … [Read more...] about Finding Joy: Simple Steps to a Happier Life