body image

A good friend emailed me this talk the other day and I took the time to watch it this morning. I find Kathryn Budig so authentic and loved her feelings on this topic. Body image and a negative relationship with one's body is something I confront a lot in my work with clients with eating disorders --- but what she says on being someone who eats kale and lentils but who isn't afraid of a cookie (in my case, a hamburger or nachos!); being someone who is hydrated but isn't afraid of a glass of wine; being someone who works their body hard daily but who isn't afraid of lounging and relaxing also --- this is something that I believe and live out daily in my own life. This is where my "healthy" lies.

She talks about changing what she normally did for a photo shoot in order to look "healthy" - only eating 5 foods to prep --- I am struck that when people do that they are choosing an unhealthy lifestyle to look healthy on camera! How backwards!

But I encourage you to watch the video, it is well worth it. Find Kathryn on twitter here, and instagram here for more inspiration.

Vote with your Dollar

This is a belief that I regularly try to translate to my daily life. Vote with my dollar. Support the brands that I believe in. Don't like what certain companies are doing? Don't buy their products.

Sometimes I get cynical about large corporations - what will my buying a different brand matter to them? Why am I driving more out of my way to go to a different store that aligns with my values? Well, first of all, it is good for my soul. Secondly, let's talk about trans fats. What?! (Trust me, it will make sense). Science has shown they are B-A-D, bad for you. I'm not going to bore you with why, but trust me here. There was never any legislation that made food companies stop using trans fats. However, a large chunk of the informed public stopped buying foods that had them in it, and companies did it without being made to. Are trans fats gone from our diet? No. But companies reacted. They tend to react when people stop buying from them.

Ok, tangent over? Kind of.

A brand where I love their product, but also their values ---- Everlane. Well made clothing, made responsibly. I recently made my first (and second) purchases and plan to continue to shop. I love the product AND the mission. Think you maybe don't need to be worried about where your clothes come from? Here is some enlightment via John Oliver.




*I was not asked to promote this company and receive no compensation for writing this. I simply like to share products that I use and believe in.

Monday Motto

What about a lot of both?

Inspiration from here via here 

File under: art that imitates life

Real talk: no yoga today. In favor of couch time, drinking way too much coffee, and other things that are not as exciting (name changes are a bummer, but also another B word). To recharge before another week is a beautiful thing.

You do you.

If this is your motto also, you can wear it proud via this tshirt on Etsy.



(graphic was a link from pinterest that linked to the aerie website... sooo)

Ira Glass on the Creative Process (www.getoutthebox.org)

This is the truth. And it made me think of this silly blog. I wanted to start a blog forever, and then I did and I didn't love it the way I loved other blogs - but it was mine! It had MY thoughts in it, why didn't I like it. I just commented on a blog less than 5 minutes ago and there's that space for "website" - and I was embarrassed! So I skipped it. But then Ira comes along - bless Ira, and says this is normal. Oh snap. And that I should keep doing it anyway. Because there are still things I want to share.



Like how I am soaking up this current moment I am in. On the porch, on the couch (nevermind, we have a couch on our porch, it's white trash and I am never giving it up), with a cup of coffee in a blanket. It's 56 out! And I'm getting married in less than 72 hours. Wow.



Random, I know. But listen to Ira --- and keep doing, keep creating, it's good for you. And for others! Amen.





Oh and thanks so much for posting this and the inspiration, Ancora-Imparo.

#IWillWhatIWant

I'm currently in the midst of redoing P90X - Month 2, Week 2. So halfway... I decided to take the weekend off. My body is exhausted. Not just the workout regimen, but work, meetings, wedding planning - tiring. So, completely decided to rest this weekend.

But I woke up Sunday morning and after about a half cup of coffee, I looked outside and wanted to go on a run. It hit me so quickly. It's finally cooling off a bit in Arizona, and by cooling off, I mean the rest of the week it is supposed to be only 100. So I laced up my shoes, and went off for a mile run. It was nice out, beautiful even. 79 degrees, a bit humid for AZ, but it was delightful. Weather-wise. It felt like a herd of elephants on my chest. I haven't run in so long! I've been doing interval cardio with P90X, which is difficult - but this was a consistent mile. Ouch.

But it was worth it. My point is this. I will what I want. This is a great campaign from Under Armour Women. Love me some Misty Copeland. Listen to your body. No workout plan can speak exactly to what you need. If you are enjoying your workout, mentally engaged --- even when it is difficult --- your results will be better. You will be more consistent. It will lead to more personal bests. Do what you want.

Dietitian Habit #1

loving this

I love being a dietitian, it is my passion and I love it. Being a food and nutrition expert is amazing and I wouldn't trade it for the world, but man is it annoying to see all the "advice" out there of what to eat and what not to eat - every time you look at a magazines, TV, blogs! I'm sure people have good intentions, but a lot of it is encouraging people to do crazy things. Drink cayenne pepper and lemon juice every day, all day! Add cinnamon to everything! Don't eat after 5pm! I would like to look at the habits and behaviors that I see in the healthiest people I know who have fantastic relationships with food. Not saying that all dietitians have the best relationships with food, I know some who have very disordered eating habits. But I am lucky enough with my job to see many people on a day-to-day basis who are nutrition experts and have very positive relationships with food. 

Ok, so RD food habit #1:

Don't Count Calories. 

No RD I know counts calories. You know that everyone says that a pound is 3500 calories? Yea, that's a lie. It came from 1 scientific paper awhile back, and efforts to duplicate it have not shown that it is true. It depends on a ton of factors within your body, and it certainly isn't the same for everyone. Even if it is 3500 calories for you right now, once you lose a pound it will change. A study was done where people ate the same exact thing every week (in a controlled, monitored environment = no cheating) and they lost dramatically different amounts of weight. 

Therefore: A calorie isn't a calorie isn't a calorie. What matters is the type of food you put into your body and the amount - not the numbers. Can also lead to obsession and disorder. Delete the app from your phone. Listen to your body, not a number. Your body is fueled with nutrients - not simply numbers. You can eat your calorie requirement with cookies and soda. ORRR you can eat it with whole grains, fruit, veggies, lean proteins.