Picture this. You decide you want to lose weight. You’re ready. This is YOUR time. What’s the first thing you do? If you’re like most women out there, you clean out the kitchen. No more ice creamToss the cookiesBread = no bueno Diet. Fast. Restrict. Detox. Deny. Avoid. No wonder diets fail 98% of the time. After nearly a decade of doing this work, what I’ve discovered so many of my clients need more of – is PLEASURE. More fun + laughter + beauty + love + connection in their daily lives. When we begin to bring beauty and art and flowers and music and meaningful projects and books back into our lives —then we don’t need to turn to food for our pleasure. We no longer rely on food to satisfy all of our emotional … [Read more...] about Pleasure Changes Lives + Bodies
Self Care
How to Ask Family + Friends for Support (Scripts Included)
Several years ago, I decided to rearrange the furniture in my living room. We’re talking two big sofas, a coffee table and one HEAVY! + unwieldy area rug. There was sweat and swearing - but I did it! Yay me. Right? Not really. I had to take Aleve + wear my ice belt of shame for a few days because my back was so jacked up. So why did I move it all by myself – when I have a capable + strong + willing husband living with me? Because I hated asking for help. When given the chance, I would much rather move sofas + do pretty much anything on my own, thank-you-very-much. “I’ve got this.” “I can handle it.” But doing it all yourself isn’t some great act of strength and independence. I know that now. Asking for help is the true act of … [Read more...] about How to Ask Family + Friends for Support (Scripts Included)
Permission to Slow Down
I've been laying low the past few months on purpose. Zero blogging + taking on only a handful of new clients + reading for pleasure + binge watching Big Little Lies (so good!)+ giving myself time to rest and rejuvenate. Because sometimes, no matter how much of a control freak we are - life happens and we need to step on the brakes. Maybe a parent gets ill or your own health takes a blow or you're simply worn out from all the go go go. Or all of the above. Now slowing down is NOT what I normally do. What I normally do when life goes a little sideways is push harder + sleep less + double down. And the result is always crap. So I decided to make a different choice this time. And the result has been 1,000,000 times better. Here's my advice … [Read more...] about Permission to Slow Down
It’s Time to Put the Scale Away When…
If you have a history of yo-yo dieting, relying on the scale for motivation can easily backfire. Let me explain. If the scale number is higher than we hoped for, it can cause anxiety. And anxiety about our weight tends to send us beelining toward our “hidden” stash of Thin Mints. On the other hand, that same higher than hoped for number can trigger calorie restriction or the elimination of foods/food groups (no more ice cream, no more carbs), thereby setting the stage for an inevitable binge. Now if the number is lower than expected, it’s easy to justify a food “reward” or overeating. “Woohoo, I lost 3 pounds, it’s cheesecake for dinner tonight!” If any of these scenarios ring true, know that you’re not alone. In fact, you’re … [Read more...] about It’s Time to Put the Scale Away When…