A study from the Department of Psychiatry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill suggests that estradiol fluctuations common during the menopausal transition may enhance emotional sensitivity to stress. If you’ve noticed mood swings and more frequent feelings of rejection, anger and irritability as you approach menopause, you’re not alone. In other words, you’re not losing it, you’re just perimenopausal. Your tolerance for stress has diminished. Stress isn’t just a feeling of being pulled in too many directions. Stress comes in many forms… Exercise (too much or too intense or none at all = metabolic stress)Nutritional deprivation and obsession (counting every calorie or macros, not eating enough food to fuel body … [Read more...] about Stress Management + Movement During Perimenopause
Self Care
Is Hiring a Weight Loss Coach Worth It?
Having someone you can turn to, someone who has done what you want to do, is perhaps the most powerful way to fuel change. As your coach, I’ll provide accountability, direction and whole-hearted support every step of the way. I’ll help you stay on track, no matter what life throws at you. One of the reasons I became a Weight Loss Coach is because I saw firsthand how valuable working with professionals was in healing my own food and body issues. Working one-on-on with my coach allowed for a customized experience based on where I was in my journey. More than that, though, a coaching relationship creates a sacred + safe space in which to work through your internal roadblocks in a compassionate way – beyond what usually … [Read more...] about Is Hiring a Weight Loss Coach Worth It?
What’s the Rush?
Have you seen Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory? It happens to be one of my all-time favorite movies. My childhood best friend Jaimee and I know every line + every song. Do you remember the awful Veruca Salt? Guess what? She’s the embodiment of our default brain setting. Yep. We evolved as a species to seek immediate gratification. Just like Veruca. Our brain isn't wired to give a hoot about our long-term health. It only cares that we survive long enough to get our DNA into the next generation (and get a Golden Goose). The journalist (and meditation student) Dan Harris summed this concept up beautifully in a recent episode of his 10% Happier podcast… “We are not naturally inclined to do things like exercise … [Read more...] about What’s the Rush?
Before You Try That Sexy New Fad Diet…
Do you sometimes feel like you’re putting a ridiculous amount of energy into trying to lose weight, but getting nowhere? Like a hamster spinning round and round on its wheel. You’re not alone. When we decide it’s time to lose weight, we want results and we want them NOW! And the fastest way to get results is to follow some “perfect” diet. Which is true – if you stick with that “perfect” diet long-term. But we don’t stick with those diets. Maybe we adhere to it for a few weeks or a few months before our willpower tank hits empty and we devour 47 cookies at Aunt Jane’s cookie exchange. And once we’ve “screwed up,” we inevitably say, “screw it!” See if this pattern looks familiar… Ooh, shiny new diet!Fail at shiny new … [Read more...] about Before You Try That Sexy New Fad Diet…