Ali Edwards's Blog, page 158
September 12, 2017
December Daily® 2017 | Second Order Selection Period Open
Over the last week we’ve been putting plans in place to give you the opportunity to purchase four of the products that sold out quickly during the initial day(s) of the initial December Daily® Order Selection Period.
To do this we have opened a Second Order Selection Period that includes the ability to purchase the Jasmine Jones 6x8 album, the dark green star 6x8 album, the chipboard bundle, and the transparency bundle. Quantities are still limited but we hope to be able to get closer to getting product to all those that want it. You can also add other products from that page to your box (we've simply added the other products available to that page as well). Products added to the box on the Second Order Selection Period page will ship in late October at the earliest.
Due to logistics, orders placed on this Second Order Selection page can not be combined or merged with orders on the original December Daily® Order Selection Page. Orders placed on the original September Order Selection Page will still ship in early October.
Check out the Second Order Selection page here.
AE Creative Team | Details Digital Story Kit™
Happy Tuesday!
We're so happy to share the projects created by our awesome Creative Team using the Details Digital Story Kit™. Today is the last day left to start a subscription to receive this current theme.
A big thank you to our awesome team for sharing the stories of their lives and crafting it so beautifully!
September 7, 2017
December Daily® 2017 | Updates
Ordering for December Daily® 2017 began yesterday and you can access available products here.
At launch time yesterday we again experienced a crash of our servers. In preparation for this year we had doubled the capacity based on the highest point last year and it was still not enough. We received triple the amount of traffic overall. We will be completely revisiting our entire process and going back to the drawing board to take a close look at what's working and what's not working to come up with a plan for the future. Many people in the December Daily® Facebook Group have mentioned a pre-order option. I have initial reservations about going that route - including issues related to quality + the manufacturing timeline - that could potentially lead to disappointment as well. That said, the conversation will be had.
At this time the majority of products released for this launch yesterday are still available. Because of the server issues yesterday products continue to come in and back out of stock as my Customer Service team sorts out orders from yesterday where multiple quantities were added during the order process. This will likely continue to happen throughout the day as they work through those conversations.
If a product is able to be re-stocked it will have a Notify Me button rather than a Sold Out button (the Word Phrases Sticker Bundle is one product where that is the case).
The main thing I want to express to you within this post is that we care very much about this project and the products that support it and we will continue to work towards finding the best way to offer you products to support the project.
Below you'll find information about the new December Daily® Journal as well as video walk-throughs of the additional products we are offering this year. You can see full kit video walkthroughs on my previous post here.
This Order Selection Period will run from now until the end of September and then we will package up your box and ship it to you in October. For a full FAQ about how this ordering process works please go here.
If you have any questions or issues with the order selection process please start a conversation with our Customer Service team.
One thing we are super excited to announce is a brand new product this year - a December Daily® Journal. This Journal has it's own page for purchasing (not a part of your December Daily® order) and it will ship FREE everywhere in late October.
This spiral bound journal is designed to be a home for planning and documenting your holiday season. It includes 120 pages of storytelling prompts, undated calendar pages, tear out art prints, and stickers in the back. Here's a look at some of the interior pages:
I'll be sharing more about the journal as the season progresses.
A few days ago I posted full video walk-throughs of the kits we are offering this year. You can check those out here.
Below I'm including two videos that will walk you through the additional products we have available this year:
VIDEO WALK-THROUGH OF ADDITIONAL PRODUCTS // PARTS 1 + 2
The first video above includes a look at the albums, stamps, 6x8 pattern papers, 6x8 transparencies, journal card sets, and the log book.
This second video includes a look at all the rest of the products offered as part of this year's
December Daily® release.
Digital products, for those of you who are interested, will be available on October 16th. These will include new layered templates and overlays for 2017, as well as digital versions for most of the products we are offering this year.
If you have any questions about the process or issues with the order selection process
please start a conversation with our Customer Service team.
Thank you, as always, for your support and excitement about this project.
September 5, 2017
December Daily® 2017 | Full Look At The Kits
We've been listening to your feedback over the last week and have decided to do something different this year and give you a full look at the 2017 December Daily® kits the day before they go live. I won't promise that we will do this every year going forward but we are going to try it and see how it goes. We aren't showing images of all the additional products that will be available along with the kits but you can see a bunch of first looks at many of those products in the recording of last week's Facebook Live video here.
All December Daily® 2017 products will go on sale
tomorrow Wednesday, September 6th at 10:30am PDT. While supplies last. For more information on how ordering works please check out the December Daily® FAQ.
We sincerely hope you enjoy this advance preview!
Below you'll see images and videos of what's included in each of the kits this year. Additional images and information will be included when the products are released tomorrow:
Here's a video overview of what's included in this kit:
2017 JASMINE JONES MINI KIT // 19.99 USD
Here's a video overview of what's included in this kit:
2017 PAISLEE PRESS MINI KIT // 19.99 USD
Here's a video overview of what's included in this kit:
2017 KIDS KIT // 29.99 USD
Here's a video walk-through that Anna and I put together to share with you what's included in the Kids Kit:
I hope you enjoyed this full preview of the kits we are offering this year!
Reminder: The Order Selection Period for December Daily® begins on Wednesday, September 6th at 10:30am PDT.
September 2, 2017
September 2017 Monthly Digital Release
Happy September!
In January we announced that we are switching things up a bit with our digital products and will be releasing one main themed digital kit at the beginning of each month. These are similar to the Digital Story Kits™ in terms of the products included in the package. They will have journal cards, digital chipboard shapes, a stamp set, quote card, and sometimes other elements that will change from month to month.
We also will be changing our release dates up a bit due to some logistical reasons, and will now be releasing new products on the 1st Friday of each month.
We are absolutely still continuing to offer our Story Kit™ subscription that includes options for a physical kit, a physical stamp set, and a digital kit. This digital kit has nothing to do with the subscription program and is simply a change to the way we are adding projects to our digital shop.
This month's digital kit theme is all about the seasons changing, final summer adventures, and back to school time.
This digital kit package includes 12 journal cards, a quote card (in both horizontal + vertical orientations), a "stamp" set, and a set of digital chipboard pieces/shapes. Like this style of kit? Make sure to check out our past monthly digital kits which are still available for purchase here.
NEW PRODUCT BREAKDOWN FOR AUGUSTLost & Found Digital Story Stamp™
We hope you have a great weekend!
September 1, 2017
For The Love Of Books | August 2017
As fall is starting to wiggle it's way into my heart once again I'm actually looking forward to more reading time as the days get shorter (as in I'm super excited to clean out my fireplace so I can sit on the couch and read and read and read). Reading is one of my favorite ways to rest (those of you in One Little Word® will be reading more about that this month) and feed my mind and spirit.
For many of us, when kids go back to school it might open a little more time for reading - for me that tends to come in the form of reading in my car while I wait in the pick-up line or for kids during activities. I have fond memories last year of leaving early from my house to get Simon just so I could read for another 20-30 minutes.
Looking forward to diving into my Book Of The Month selections below!
This post is part of my monthly series "
For The Love Of Books" where I track and share what I've been reading in 2017. I'm also trying to do that on Goodreads as well if you are already into that platform. My hope is to post on or near the first of each month to share what I ended up reading last month and then share what books I'm selecting from Book Of The Month (BOTM) for the next month.
Please Note // This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.
Today is September 1 and that means it's time for current
BOTM subscribers to choose books from this month's selections.
For September's
Book Of The Month I chose three books (I'd never heard of any of them before but they all sounded interesting and I'm excited to dive in):
Sometimes people ask how I have my books already when most people are just choosing? I initially received a gift subscription from Katie for Christmas and started posting about it on Instagram because I was so in love with the idea of getting a book in the mail each month. After that I was contacted by their media team and invited to be part of their Ambassador program where they give me the chance to see the books in advance and they send them to me in exchange for a post when the new books become available each month.
SEPTEMBER BOTM PROMOTION // Join Book Of The Month as a new member using the code FREEBIE this month (subscribe to a 2 or 3 month subscription) and you can add one their extra books to your box for FREE. The extra's this month include The Handmaid's Tale, The Glass Castle, and The Rules Of Civility.
IN PROGRESS
Currently Reading:
The Power Of Meaning: Crafting A Life That Matters // Savoring this one slowly. Spirit Junkie: A Radical Road To Self-Love And Miracles // Reading this as part of an online workshop I'm currently taking.
Started But Haven't Finished // Sometimes I start a book and get part way through and set it down for one reason or another - lately it's been that I've been more excited to read something else:
Secret Garden // I think I have about 1/4 left of this one. Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind The Frantic For A Simpler, More Soulful Way Of Living // Reading this one slowly when I feel like I want/need to read the words. Born A Crime: Stories From A South African Childhood (Kindle) // Loving this one and picking it up here and there between other books. At Home In The World: Reflections On Belonging While Wandering The Globe // A new book from Tsh Oxenreider who runs the site The Art of Simple. This one is a memoir about her family's nine-month traveling adventures.
READ IN 2017
NOTE:
(BOTM) means the book came from the Book Of the Month Club.
JANUARY
You Will Know Me (BOTM) // First book from BOTM. Read it in a day and a half (suspense). Enjoyed. Lucky You (BOTM) // I remember liking this one as I was reading it but to be honest I can barely remember it now. This is why I'm trying to remember to post some short thoughts on Instagram when I finish each one.
FEBRUARY
Behind Her Eyes (BOTM) // Suspense. Crazy twist. Enjoyed. Perfect Little World (BOTM) // Vacation read. Liked the change of pace on this one (had been reading more suspense). This one was a sweet little story with topics of motherhood and family and tribes of people and how things change. What Alice Forgot (Kindle) // Vacation read. Totally enjoyed this story and imagining what it would be like to experience memory loss in this way. Not suspense.
MARCH
The Twilight Wife // Aaron picked this one out at Target to read while we were on vacation and I read it when he was done. I thought this one was okay - probably had something to do with the fact that I read What Alice Forgot right before this one and they both deal with memory loss (this one is more suspense). The Stranger In The Woods (BOTM) // Non-fiction. This true story about a man living in the woods of Maine for almost 30 years read like a long-form magazine article. I enjoyed the break from the fiction I've been reading. Exit West (BOTM) // This one was a lot different from what I've been reading and I appreciated it for that. Different kind of narrator (omniscient) and subject matter (refugees). Glad I read it. Marlena (BOTM) // Gave this one three stars on Goodreads. I'm going to go with "like" but not "love" on this one. I kinda think, after finishing it, that it might be one that will pop up in my mind as I go about my days (so maybe it should get a better review). I enjoyed the story and she used a few writing techniques that I really liked. Sometimes it felt slow and I just wanted her to get on with the story :). Pachinko (BOTM) // Seriously loved this one and am super glad I picked it up again after putting it down before our Mexico trip. Epic generational tale of Koreans living in Japan (really loved learning more about that).
APRIL
Good As Gone (Kindle) // Definitely stayed interested and engaged with the story and wanted to know what was going to happen. As others have mentioned, the beginning felt stronger than the end. Felt like the author had a unique voice. Glad I read it. Three stars. American War (BOTM) // This book took me longer to read than others recently and sometimes I would forget that it was a future US civil war vs. the past civil war and I wondered more than once where in the world the story was actually heading (and was it actually heading anywhere)? There were days where I felt like I was making myself read it - which I don't always don - but for some reason I wanted to keep reading. There was a certain point in this book, probably more than halfway through the story, where I realized that this was an exceptional book. I finished it today and I think it's one of the best books I've read in awhile. I found the author to be an extremely sophisticated writer/storyteller who was very purposeful and deliberate with his prose - I can't remember the last time I really felt that way about the words I was reading on the page. Into The Water (BOTM) // A super fast, page-turning read for me. At first I felt like it was hard to keep up with all the different narrators but as I got more into it I was able to keep all the characters straight (it was one of those where I needed to keep flipping back and forth to remember who was who). Definitely enjoyed for a quick read!
MAY
Since We Fell (BOTM) // Totally enjoyed this one. Kept my interest with it's twists and definitely wanted to know what was going to happen in the end. As you might tell from most of my reviews, I'm not a super critical reader. If I like it, I like it and I liked this one. Woman No. 17 (BOTM) // This one was a just-okay for me where I definitely felt like I was making myself finish it. Small Great Things (Kindle) // So, so good. Hard and thought-provoking and worth it. Definitely my favorite of the month. The Butterfly Hours: Transforming Memories Into Memoir //Picked this one up randomly at a bookstore. I'm always attracted to books about memoir writing (totally in alignment with my memory keeping endeavors) and this one really filled me up these last few weeks as I was working on some new classroom content. Patty Dann also loves to use one word jumping off points to pull stories from our memories/prompt us to tell more (similar to my 31 Things and 31 More Things workshops) so I loved checking out her writing style and reading her stories. I loved how her writing is fact based but conveys so much meaning and feeling just via the ways she chooses to construct her sentences. Quick and easy read.
JUNE
The Sisters Chase (BOTM) // Loved the story and the characters. Chemistry (BOTM) // I really enjoyed the totally different writing style - basically it's written in snippets of thoughts/memories/etc. Being introduced to different writing styles is definitely one of the things I'm loving from reading so many books right now. I really liked the micro-story approach (a lot like what we do with memory keeping) and I also really liked the weaving of science/chemistry in with the lessons of life and love and moving forward. Super quick read. This Is How It Always Is // Jessica Turner told me I had to read this one next so it jumped to the top of my list after I finished Chemistry. This book was amazing. Basically I feel a whole lot of love for this story. For the characters, for the message of acceptance and inclusion, for the nuances of the middle-path. Highly recommended.
JULY
Final Girls (BOTM) // Great quick mystery. Totally waned to know what happened in the end.
AUGUST
The Blinds (BOTM) // Really ended up enjoying this one. All The Ugly And Wonderful Things (Kindle) // This is one of those ones that was recommended by quite a few people. Brutal. Honest. Challenging. Loved it.
August 31, 2017
December Daily® 2017 | First Look Facebook Live Video
Yesterday I did a Live Video in the December Daily® Facebook Group that we recorded on a second camera in order to share with you here on my blog and on YouTube.
For additional preview images from the kits please check out this page.
This is the first year that we've shared more of the product selection in advance of the Order Selection Period starting (begins next Wednesday, September 6th at 10:30am PDT) and it was so fun to get to show you some of the new products in the video. As always we look forward to sharing the season with you.
Feel free to ask questions in the comment section of this post!
August 30, 2017
December Daily® 2017 | Schedule & How It Works
It's time to start initial thinking about December Daily® for 2017.
It's definitely not time to bring out your Christmas stuff (unless you really, really want to but man I am so not ready for that) but it is time to start thinking about how you want to document your holiday season.
Around here we start that off by sharing new December Daily® products right around the first of September. Last year we changed the name of this ordering time from "pre-order period" to "Order Selection Period." There was some confusion in the past regarding "pre-order" and what that meant when products sell out. In keeping with our goal of clear communication we hope that changing the name will help make it more clear that when things sell out they are likely gone. The production timeline for these products began in early 2017 - for us that means design, production, manufacturing, etc. - and we make every effort to order in quantities that will meet demand but that are also responsible business decisions (and some of those things are tough to predict). Thank you for understanding.
This week we are releasing some First Looks at a few of the product offerings for this year. You can check those out here. I will also be doing a Facebook Live on Thursday, August 31st at 2:30pm PDT in the December Daily® Facebook Group sharing a closer look at some of the products. If you aren't available during the live recording it will be available for later viewing.
This year we are so excited to be bringing you a variety of kits and products to help you record and celebrate your December stories no matter how you choose to approach the documentation.
Here's a look at the general timeline for 2017:
On September 6th at 10:30am PDT the order selection period will begin (kits + albums + other add-on products). You will be able to locate the shopping page under the December Daily® 2017 menu at the top of this page. Products are available on a first-come, first-served basis and are limited. The selection period, where you can add products to your December Daily® box, will be open until September 30th.
Add products to your December Daily® box. Click "Order Box" to start the checkout process. Review your order and click "Confirm Selection." At that time your credit card will be charged for the items you added to your box. Throughout the month of September you can add more products to your December Daily® box (your card will be charged each time you click "Confirm Selection"). For example if on 9/6 you select my kit + Jasmine's kit, you will be charged for those two kits at that time. If you return on 9/10 and add an album and a stamp set to your box you will be charged for those items at that time. Once shipping begins in October, we'll pack everything up and send it to you. The December Daily® box process includes a "Your Shipping" section which will allow you to see how much your current shipping charges are at any time. Shipping charges, if they apply to your order, will be charged upon shipment.
Shipping rates for all items are as follows (these are the same as last year):
Mini Kits: $2 US / $3 CAN / $4 Int'l per kit Main Kit: FREE US / $4 CAN / $7 Int'l per kit Shop Items (dies, stamps, and tab stickers): Free shipping to everyone Albums: $3 US / $4 CAN / $7 Int'l per album Domestic customers who spend $99 on items will receive free shipping.DIGITAL PRODUCTS AVAILABLE OCTOBER 16th
December Daily® digital products for this year including the kits (cards + embellishments that translate to digital products), layered templates, and other products will be available for sale on October 16th (time TBA).
This year we will be offering two workshop options for those looking for additional inspiration and encouragement.
The first one will be a new workshop called December Daily® Product Play. This self-paced workshop will be a fun look at different ways to work with and tell stories with the December Daily® products we are offering for 2017. This workshop is designed to show you different ways to play with the products either before or during December. More details to come. I will continue to share the process of my foundation pages and my daily pages on my blog as always.
We will also be offering my well-received foundational workshop Storytelling With December Daily® again for those of you who may have missed it in the past. The main content of this workshop will be the same as in the past since it is a deep-dive into my processes and inspirations and storytelling ideas for the project since I first started. It includes video walk-throughs and in-depth discussions of most of my past albums and the way I told stories in each one. This workshop is not about working with any specific kit or product and includes overviews of my albums through 2015.
If you are brand new to the concept of
December Daily® you can check out all my past projects here. You can also check out all my past blog posts sharing my foundation pages, processes, stories and more in my archives here.
August 29, 2017
Wellness Journey | Q&A, Part 2
Welcome back to Part 2 of my Wellness Q&A. You can read Part 1 here.
kl_wells // I'd love to hear about your food plans! Also what book is it that your getting all your recipes from?! I know it was from a podcast you're listening to but can't remember what it's called!
The book that I've really been into on this journey so far is
Body Love by Kelly LeVeque. The principles in this book have really been a jumping off point for me in creating a foundation to simplify what I choose to eat. It's about adding more to your plate rather than restricting - the goal is to elongate your blood sugar curve - with the focus is on fat, fiber, protein, and greens. I honestly can't recommend this book highly enough - it is such a well-rounded, practical approach. You can listen to her talk about her approach on Episode 3 of the Feel Good Effect Podcast and Episode 18 of That's So Maven (there is a particularly good part about sugar/insulin in this one). I keep coming back to her book again and again - reading and re-reading to actually learn more about the science behind what she is talking about (so totally not in my wheelhouse). This isn't about calorie counting, it's about fueling your body with the nutrients need.
I'll list other cookbooks I'm enjoying below in the inspiration section.
sarabhirt //
You posted recently that you
have gotten to the point where the good, healthy food is what you crave. How
long did that take to get to that place?
jenhart5 // I would like to hear more about the food side of it. How long it took you to get rid of the sugar monsters, how long before you felt better, have you tweaked it at all? Etc, I have been listening to your podcast recommendation of the Feel Good Effect and absolutely loved Kelly LeVeque's talk and it was really inspiring.
I've been consistent with my food changes for a couple of months now (gluten free/dairy free with a focus on protein, fat, fiber and greens). I think it probably took a few weeks to a month for me to really be looking forward to the clean, healthy meals. Part of it is that I started to feel better and that motivated me to keep eating this way. I also started from a generally okay place with my diet - I'd already eliminated a lot of unhealthy things over the last few years.
At this time I'm still eating some sugar (natural sugars) and soy but may take those out at some time in the future either as part of an
AIP elimination diet or just to see how I feel. Having a small piece of dark chocolate at the end of the day has been working well - I'm not having huge cravings for it at other times during the day and I think this is because I'm getting the protein, fat, fiber and greens to propel me to the next meal.
I'm continually tweaking, continually seeing how I feel after eating particular foods, continually learning on this journey.
lbonahoom
// I'm eager to hear if changing your diet has improved mood and/or
hormonal symptoms if you ever had any trouble with those. I'm 46 & the last
year has thrown me for a curve more than once regarding hormonal shifts &
I'm changing my diet to see if it helps
.
I know that medication has helped me with
my moods/hormonal fluctuations (
see Part 1 of this series). I want to think that changing my diet has also helped but it's hard to tell when both are a part of my day. That said, I've been taking the medication longer than I've been eating pretty clean and I feel significantly better these last month without gluten and dairy in my diet.
mjbloves //
What would you recommend for
people who can't afford too much? It's pricey to eat healthy, and for picky
eaters maybe? My husband and I are both super picky. Everything you put in your
bowls look good, but not mixed together lol Absolutely loving your aewellness
posts, very very inspiring. My hubby and I lost a lot of weight last year and
gained half of it back.
I googled a little bit about healthy food costing more and thought these were two interesting articles. For me, eating healthy has become my priority and I'd rather move a little over into my food budget and out of a different category in order to get to eat in the way that I want to eat:
Eating healthy vs. unhealthy diet costs about $1.50 more per day (Harvard Public Health)
Why Healthy Food Doesn't Have To Cost More (Consumer Reports)
Do you live in an area where you can grow your own vegetables? That's definitely a more cost effective way to tackle getting more nutrients.
My experience with picky eating has long been that it's possible to become less picky via the continued introduction of the food(s). That depends a little bit on where your pickiness originates from - are you sensitive to textures or is it that you've just decided you don't like something so you are unwilling to try it again? I know for me, I went years saying how much I disliked sweet potatoes and refusing to eat or make them. Then at some point last year I tried them again and I really liked them and now I eat them regularly and am not eating white potatoes. Same with brussel sprouts. Our tastes are able to change and evolve - for me I'm definitely now motivated by wanting to feel better and am willing to try new things in order to get different nutrients into my body. I've also lived with Simon now for 15 years and he has gone from being very picky to eating just about anything - watching his evolution has been super, super inspiring.
As for my bowls, I don't mix the food all together – I just eat bites. If all the individual components of my bowls look good you could just put a pile of each on a plate and eat it that way! The bowls for me are just an easy way to see that I'm eating greens, protein, fat and fiber at each meal.
mobilenurse
// I would love to know a general idea of what all you shop for all a
time and how you prep for healthy meals for the week. I think time is one of
the hardest things for sustaining healthy meals.
crhardin2003 // How do you shop and budget for your groceries? I ask because I
have to buy different foods for my kids.
satokob74 // Thank you for keeping me motivated by sharing your wellness journey. It might be too personal but I'd like to see your grocery shopping hauls at Costco and Trader Joe's. What do you usually buy there? Also can we see not only your lunch bowls but also your dinner pictures, too?
I generally shop once or twice a week at either Trader Joes, a local grocery chain (Market Of Choice), or Whole Foods. Aaron does the Costco shopping for us and that's generally once a month, sometimes more than once depending on what's happening.
When I shop at my grocery store, Trader Joes or Whole Foods I'm generally purchasing thinks like:
Greens (spinach and kale)
Cucumbers (I love the Persian ones from Trader Joes)
Vegetables: brussel sprouts, asparagus, cauliflower, broccoli, squash, etc
Apples
Lemons & Limes
Almond Flower
Coconut Oil
Dark Chocolate
Avocado
Almond Milk
Olive packs (Trader Joes)
Cooked chicken
Cauliflower Rice
Broccoli Rice
Green Salsa
Salmon
Canned salmon, tuna
Almond Butter
Honey
From Costco we usually stock things like:
Strawberries, Blueberries, Bananas, Sweet Potatoes, Grapes, watermelon, and frozen fruit
Flank Steak, pork tenderloins, chicken tenderloins, whole chickens, ground beef, ground turkey, turkey burgers
Organic Milk
Almonds
Flax, Chia Seeds
LaCroix Sparkling Water
Avocado
Olives
Shredded Cheese
Tortillas
Frozen shrimp
Frozen salmon
Frozen broccoli, green beans, corn
Oatmeal
Coffee
Dessert treats (something from the frozen section)
Dave's Bread
Hard Boiled Eggs
Hummus
Guacamole
Wine
Coconut water
Greek Yogurt
From Amazon I order:
Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides (this is the protein powder I use most in my smoothies)
Primal Kitchen Grass Fed Collagen Protein Bars Variety Pack
Chomps Grass Fed Beef Sticks
Sometimes I'm super organized and prep and plan meals and other times we fly by the seat of our pants. We also have kids here sometimes and sometimes we have no kids here and that plays a role in the way we plan and eat. Here are some inspiring meal plan/prep posts from Real Food Whole Life - again, my goal is simple, straightforward cooking:
Ditch The Complicated Meal Plan And Try This Instead
Five Meal Planning Myths And Why It's Not As Complicated As You Think
canadianlindsay // Really curious about how cutting out dairy and gluten has affected
this journey.
For me it's been one of the best decisions. One of the things that was bothering me previously was feeling bloated all the time - for me that means that my stomach was sticking out and I just felt full. Removing both gluten and dairy (which I had done previously via an
Autoimmune Protocol at the beginning of this post) has made a major different for me in how I feel overall. If you are curious about trying it you can go cold turkey or you can remove one at a time and see how it goes.
teacherlisa
// im super curious how you are handling food choices in social
situations (ie, eating out w/ friends) and dealing w/ any people who are not
supportive of your choices.
desertgirl8 // I, too, want to hear how you balance eating out, particularly with friends at their homes. That is the struggle for me. Do you avoid any foods at all?
This hasn't been an issue and I've been pretty social recently. Most of the restaurants around here include gluten/dairy free options and I haven't had any trouble finding things on the menus to eat or requesting substitutions. I don't have anybody in my life right now that's not supportive of my dietary changes that I know of at least.
If I was planning to eat at a friends house I would likely have a chat with them about how I'm not eating gluten/dairy right now and could I bring a salad or contribute something for our meal? That way I would know that I would have something to eat that was going to fuel me through the meal. Eating in a way that's making you feel good is nothing to feel shame about or feel uncomfortable about sharing. It's becoming so much more common for people to have dietary restrictions.
deirdreokeating // Friday Night is
Pizza Night at our house and I try to plan for it, but so often it derails me.
Also, popcorn. What hurdles used to throw you and how have you overcome them
this time?
I've got to the point where I just don't want to eat some of the foods that I've loved previously - pizza and popcorn included. It's just not worth it in the way that I feel afterward = just overall blah + bloated and I don't want to feel that way more than I want to eat the pizza AND I'm eating foods that are filling me up and making me feel good. I ordered pizza for the kids the other night and made steak + broccoli + avocado for Aaron and me. What we ate is something that we would often make and have the kids eat as well but last night we just wanted easy for the kids (there is always someone protesting something in one way or another and it had been a long day).
kelsterjean // Do you have any issues with food? Like digestive-type issues? I've
been trying to eat healthier and good foods, but I'm restricted to what foods
don't bother me, and right now I'm on a diet where I can't have any raw fruits
or veggies. It makes it hard to eat healthy when there's lots of restrictions.
I do - that's why I'm eating gluten and dairy free. So far that has been enough for me to feel better but like I mentioned above it's likely I will eliminate other things at some point again to see if that makes an additional difference.
rnpluswellness // Would love to know your food plans when you travel (just done a
road trip with the kids and had limited food options). Are you still drinking
alcohol? Oh and the big one... have you given up Haribos?!?!?! Thanks!
Yep, still drinking alcohol (usually wine or cider) and I have given up the Haribos for now.
I'm using suggestions made in
Body Love for what to do while traveling, including bringing healthy snacks. She has a whole section in there that I review before I leave for a trip. For a road trip I would probably pack a bag just for my own snacks, including protein packets to make smoothies/drinks for breakfast along with almonds, fruit, Chomps sticks, etc. I would also target some grocery stores along with way if possible vs. having to stop for fast food. Whole Foods has an awesome deli/take out section (so does our local grocery store) that I would much rather go out of my way to go to vs. ending up at fast food. It takes a little more planning but is now definitely worth it to me.
maketodaycreative
// I also would like to hear more about how your diet is helping with
Hashimoto. What you think is most effective or what was the first best step on
that side of things? I was recently diagnosed and need to craft a strategy.
vjm28 // I would love to hear more about how it has helped your thyroid, Hashimoto symptoms, etc. Have you been able to reduce medicine dosage? Has going gluten free helped with this as well? Any info on this topic would be great. Thx!
First off, for anyone living with autoimmune issues I highly recommend checking out
Autoimmune Wellness and The Paleo Mom. Those were the two places where I started learning more about living with autoimmune diseases and dietary/lifestyle interventions after realizing that I actually had Hashimotos vs. just Hypothyroidism. I'm not currently following the eating portion of the Autoimmune Protocol - it's significantly more restrictive and meant to be more of an elimination diet but some people find they feel best following it even longer. It's highly possible that I will try it again in the future (I felt really good last fall when I was on it for about a month before the holidays) as I've been reading more about it again - specially How To Heal Hashimotos: An Integrative Road Map To Remission (and website here).
I haven't had my levels tested since starting my wellness journey and am still taking Levothyroxine. My goal is less about going off the medication - it's totally possible that mine is already damaged past the point of reversing the damage - but more about just feeling good (less fatigue, brain fog, etc).
borcherding
// Hi Ali. I have thyroid/hasitmotos like you and I was wondering if
you are using any essential oils or something else besides medication for
treatment. Wondering if you are also keeping a written journal vs. just the IG
feed. And what's the single, most important thing that makes you feel relaxed.
I struggle with relaxing and just being ok with where I am
now..
I don't use any essential oils. Medication is working for me "generally" along with gluten/free dairy free, yoga, walking, Barre3, starting to meditate more regularly and rest (this is huge for me and I am super protective of my sleep). I'm not keeping a written journal outside of my IG feed at this time.
The single most important thing that makes me feel relaxed? I think right now it's probably exercise - the kinds of working out I'm doing right now (even walking) is the kind where I feel happy and rejuvenated at the end vs. so depleted that I have to go to bed right away. I also still love to read so making time for that continues to be a high priority in the evening as well (and I don't watch a whole lot of TV).
shannonkruger // How have you incorporated theses changes into your kids' lives?
Has it been a lot of extra/separate meals for yourself?
mrsmod // Yes! Interested in how you
manage with the kids- i.e., rescheduling time to make it to classes and re:
food- do they eat all the good stuff you do or do you essentially make 2
different meals (one for them, one for you)?
canadadiane // I'd be super interested to hear how you manage food choices when you have a family. I don't have kids but I do have a handicap senior parent who is a hugely picky eater. Managing convenient healthy meals that work with both our allergies/diets/restrictions/prejudices/biases is almost killing me.
ourlife5 // I love to hear how involved or uninvolved your fiancé and kids are in the journey. Do you make separate meals? When I was doing whole 30 my spouse and kids were not a part of that journey. I loved whole 30 and did it for 3 months but I find in summer it was too hard to keep passing on cocktails, ice cream and other things. I wish I had kept eating that way though. I felt so good!
Lots and lots of questions related to what I'm eating vs. what everyone else is eating.
Here's a general overview of what a day of food looks like around here when the kids are here:
BREAKFAST // Around here everyone makes their own breakfast. On the weekends we might cook something for everyone but most of the time everyone just makes something for themselves. The kids eat things like cereal (Aaron's kids + sometimes Anna), breakfast sandwiches (Simon has one of these just about everyday - it's a frozen version available from Costco that includes sausage, egg and cheese if I remember right), toast with Nutella or peanut butter + banana, smoothies (every once in awhile), scrambled eggs, bacon, yogurt, fruit, sausage, etc. Aaron generally has yogurt + toast and peanut butter or sometimes he'll make a poached egg and eat it with spinach and bacon or sausage. I have a Fab Four smoothie for breakfast most mornings with the recipe coming from Body Love.
LUNCH // Often leftovers from dinner or a "plate lunch" that includes protein, veggie, fruit, and something crunchy/salty (crackers, nuts, etc). I usually have a bowl for lunch that includes a protein (often leftover), greens, vegetables, and some kind of fat - often an avocado (you can see lots of examples of these on my IG account).
DINNER // Dinner is the main meal that includes everyone and generally we all eat the same thing and sit down at the table but it might look different on everyone's plates. We usually cook a protein (chicken, salmon, steak, pork, turkey burger, etc) and then have at least one vegetable (broccoli, beans, peas, corn, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, etc). They are super simple meals. The protein is often cooked in a crock pot or on the BBQ or on the stove top and the vegetables are often roasted or cooked in the microwave. Sometimes we also include a grain such as rice or quinoa. Sometimes one kid complains. Sometimes more than one kid complains. Sometimes they all just eat it. We mix those meals in with things that they all generally like such as pizza or lasagna or mandarin chicken (from the frozen section at Costco).
On those nights when the kids are eating something I'm just not going to eat (like lasagna) I'll make myself a bowl (protein, fat, fiber, and greens - these come together super quick because I generally chop stuff up at the beginning of the week or cook a protein that can be eaten for a few days added to my bowls) or I'll experiment with making something similar. On Tuesdays we have taco night so that usually includes a bunch of things out on the counter where everyone can pick and choose what they might want to have in their own burrito or taco. Things we generally have available include refried beans, a meat (ground turkey, shrimp, beef or shredded pork from the crock pot), cheese, olives, greens (spinach or lettuce), corn, salsa, avocado, etc.
chowwgn // I would like to know how you
are making time for yourself. With work and kids, I find it hard to stay
committed.
liftin4ever // I always struggle with consistency. How do you just keep going?? Between kids, work, hubby, and hobbies I find it hard to get it all in. And when it comes to eating I love all kinds of foods but feel I need to make more family meals which please my picky eaters. My hubby says to make what works for me but I am a mom who wants to be sure her kids eat good too. So for me it is the grind. .. and how to just keep putting one foot in front of the other??
This summer I've been able to be fairly flexible with my time - it's the season of life I'm in right now. Aaron works from home so that's a big help in terms of me being able to leave the house. Our kids are also getting older and some of them are able to be here on their own. Also, because I share kids with Chris I simply have times when I don't have kid responsibilities and that opens doors for getting in more body movement.
In previous years I've started and stalled fitness adventures and have also found it hard to stay committed. This time it really does feel different to my core - I talked more about that in part one of my series. The way that I'm making time for myself is honestly and simply by actually TAKING time for myself. I am prioritizing it and talking about it and making it happen because it is positively impacting my mind and body and heart and that's positively impacting my other relationships.
And it's the way I want to live my life. I'm just done living the other way - it's taken me years to make this a reality for myself.
kdarli // I would love to know what sources you are using for guidance and inspiration on your wellness journey. What are you finding most helpful? Anything you've found not to be helpful?
monitripa //
I'm new to podcasts....could
you recommend us some good ones??? About mind, body, health, happiness...
lauramacfarlanelcsw // I'd be interested in learning about where you are finding inspiration for your wellness journey. Any books, magazines, podcasts, music, conversations that are helping you "own who you are" besides the sources that you have already mentioned in IG posts.
Podcasts:
Feel Good Effect from Real Food Whole Life (current favorite wellness-related podcast)
Motivated
The Daily (New York Times)
The Chasing Joy Podcast
The Balanced Blonde
The Autoimmune Wellness Podcast (not sure if they are adding more to these but the archives are great
especially if you are interested in AIP – autoimmune paleo – related topics
)
Cookbooks - all of these are ones I have in my house and have enjoyed cooking from or just browsing for general ideas. I don't try to make something new every day - maybe once a week - again, simple is my goal:
Against All Grain, Againt All Grain Meals Made Simple, Celebrations
Healing Kitchen
Body Love
Ready Or Not (from NomNom Paleo)
The Autoimmune Paleo Cookbook
Some of my favorite accounts to follow on Instagram (I love, love, love having a separate IG account where I follow a whole different group of people, brands, etc):
minimalwellness
minimalistbaker
bewellbykelly
againstallgrain
simplyrealhealth
rachelgoodeats
PROGRESS
loveleeteacher
// I love how you have learned and inspired us to not be so black and
white or rigid about your/our exercise 'schedule' each day. For instance, you
don't ALWAYS exercise at the same time of day or attend the exact same classes
or do only one type of physical activity. That was an A-ha moment for me. Could
you talk more about that? Also, do you do any mindfulness or meditation on your
own outside of yoga classes? If so, do you use an app, do guided meditation,
etc? Thanks so much for starting this! I've lost 20 lbs since following you and
joining a local yoga studio.
Sure. One of the things that I think has made this "stick" more for me this time has been that flexibility. For example this week I just felt like doing yoga classes more than anything else so that's what I did most days. My goal is to simply get some movement in - and that might come in a variety of different forms. I'm choosing not to be rigid about what I do on particular days and instead listening to how my body/mind is feeling - knowing that I'll incorporate all the things over the course of a month (or week). When school starts in a few weeks it might be more necessary for me to stick to more of a schedule - I'm not sure how that will all work out just yet. I am lucky in that I work for myself and can make my own hours and leave when I want to, but as you might have read above that still isn't always easy for me to give myself permission to do that.
I just started using the
Headspace app again recently and would like to make that a more regular part of my life. Many people on a recent IG post also recommended the Calm app.
kg_balance
// I guess my curiosity lies in
your personal philosophies - on food, on health, on mental well-being. For
example, my mom and I had a discussion not long ago about our personal
relationships with food - she felt like she wanted to reduce her portion sizes
(per the 21 day fix program) because she felt like food had become the focus of
everything as opposed to secondary to enjoying time with loved ones, being
present, and experiencing life. On the flip side - I have a hard time with
restrictions, not for lack of willpower, but rather fear of telling myself
"no" to anything. I've been trying to reframe my relationship as
saying "yes" to healthy more often instead of "no" to
things that aren't of value to my wellness (in all areas). So I wonder what
your philosophies/relationships with these areas of wellness are like - or if
you have similar challenges.
I want simple. I don't want to obsess about food - I want to open up my fridge and have it be simple and easy to pull together a bowl that includes protein, fiber, fat and greens. I want to eat and not feel stuffed or bloated and then not think about food again until the next meal time comes around.
One of the things I love about Body Love + Kelly's philosophy is that it's about adding more vs. taking things away. Adding more fat, more protein, more fiber, more greens vs. limiting, restricting or counting calories.
thestampspot // I would love to know how you are 'measuring' your success and
progress.
Right now I'm measuring success simply by how I feel in my body. I'm watching the scale just to be aware but not obsessing or charting the numbers. Success to me right now is a combination of simply sticking with it and being in touch with how I actually feel in my body.
maria_sonoma // I'd love any tips on balancing my time. I work outside the home so
I am on someone else's schedule daily so that coupled with kids and chores
leaves literally no time for any exercise. I know you work for yourself so you
have more flexibility but I am still curious about your thoughts. You are great
at simplifying and I am great at complicating!
So much about this for me has been about prioritizing myself. How can you carve out 20 mins? 30 mins? Up earlier? A class during your lunch hour?
It also might be that you do what you can with what you have right now. Maybe you focus on shifting your diet because that's what you have time for in this season of your life. Or maybe it's just focusing on carving out a little time for yourself for your mental health - reading, relaxing, walking, etc.
Maybe asking yourself what the least complicated thing you could do would be? So often we think we have to do ALL THE THINGS at the same time when the reality is that you have to start somewhere with one thing and then as time goes on other things might become easier or more clear in terms of a path forward for when you could add in some exercise.
dee2501
// I would love to know if you have slip ups in your wellness journey
and how do you deal with it. I went out on Saturday and had too many cocktails
and felt horrendous and guilty for two days. I think because I really don't
drink anymore having four drinks made me so ill.
No guilt! This is a journey and a lifestyle that's naturally going to include ups and downs and slip ups and meh times and on and on - it's just another piece of life and we should have no expectation that it will be perfect. Right now I am really focused on giving myself grace through the process of making this a lifestyle and I'm continuing to be curious. Oh, I drank too much last night - how do I feel now - hmmm, maybe next time I'll just have two. Can I still have fun if I just have one and then have sparkling water (of course).
My slip ups right now tend to be more about being motivated to get the exercise in - food has been fairly simple for me this time. I really am just trying to come at it from the standpoint of valuing myself enough to make it happen and if it doesn't then I'm planning a way to make it happen tomorrow.
abrandnewdawn2
// My questions are do you miss popcorn? Have you noticed physical changes?
Not in numbers but other things? What has surprised you the most? Do you write
any of your thoughts along the way?
I kinda miss popcorn but I'm
so over how I would feel after eating it. It took me a long time to recognize how I was actually feeling after eating it because it just seemed normal. I know now that it's not and that my body was telling me that it wasn't a fan and I wasn't listening. Right now I feel better in my body, have lost a few pounds, and am significantly less bloated. I think the thinkg I've been writing and talking my way through this over on my IG wellness account :).
Please let me know if you have any follow-up questions in the comments. We can do this together!
August 28, 2017
Wellness Journey | History + Q&A, Part 1
For over thirteen years I've been advocating intentional living through the lens of memory keeping - via this blog, my classes, my projects, my products and the general way in which I've tried to live my life. Embracing imperfection, going with the flow, stories matter, living the length and the width, progress not perfection - these have all been phrases that have been a part of my own personal story as well as what I've incorporated into the work that I do.
They have most often been the messages I personally needed to hear.
Memory keeping is a very big part of how I've tried to live an intentional life. Now I'm taking that same passion I've had towards memory keeping and putting some of that energy and intention into
taking care of myself physically, mentally, and emotionally.
This post is the first of a two part series which will go deeper into some of my health history, document where I'm at in my wellness journey right now, and answer questions asked on my Instagram
@ae_wellness account.
A couple disclaimers before I dive into sharing and responding to questions:
I am not a doctor or a health care provider or a nutritionist. I
wholeheartedly encourage you to have a conversation with your health team (this
might include a traditional doctor, a functional medicine practitioner, naturopath,
etc) about your own health before embarking on any changes since each of our stories are so different.
I am just beginning this journey. I’m not an expert – I’m
traveling this wellness road right along with everyone else. I’m learning as I
go and what I’m sharing here is my own personal experience with food, exercise, and mental wellness.
As you read this I’d love for you to just imagine we are two
friends chatting about what’s working and not working for us on our wellness
journey.
PS // If you don't see your question below it's likely I combined it with another one or someone else already asked something similar. I'm happy to address follow-up questions in the comments.
rebecca_farmer4 // What made you take your first steps towards wellness? Why did it
stick this time kind of thing? I love to hear stories of how people started
their wellness journey.
smultringunn // I would love to hear more about what made it click for you this time (if you even know - sometimes things just fall into place).
Aaron and I have been chatting about this quite a bit in an attempt to pinpoint why this time just feels different. I think it's totally possible that it's partly because I started taking Prozac earlier this year.
Before I tell you more about that I need to go back in time a bit:
A few years ago I found myself experiencing a dramatic increase in really intense mood swings that seemed to be following my monthly cycle. I had a conversation with my doctor about it (after Katie and I, and also Aaron and I, had multiple conversations about it where I was telling her that I felt like I was going crazy) and she changed my birth control prescription to one that other's had found to stop the intensity of those mood swings (Zarah was what was prescribed for me). Technically what she was treating is called PMDD: Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. PMDD is essentially when you have really extreme premenstrual symptoms which can include mood swings, depression, intense anger, fatigue, feeling out of control, anxiety, etc. Growing up and throughout my 20's and early-mid 30's I didn't experience this high level of intensity at all - I had some PMS symptoms but nothing at all like this. Changing my prescription made a major difference in my mood.
Fast forward a year or so to last fall when I ended up in the hospital with blood clots (
story about that here). Immediately upon being diagnosed with both a deep vein thrombosis (blood clot in my leg) and a pulmonary embolism (blood clots in my lungs) I was told to stop taking birth control pills and that I wouldn't be able to take them again due to having the blood clots. I quit the pills immediately and decided to "wait and see" if the mood swings would come back (because I still, from time to time, carry the fear that I'm making these things up) before talking to my doctor again.
A week after being in the hospital I had an appointment with my doctor for a follow-up and it was during that appointment that I learned that all these years I've actually had Hashimotos vs. just Hypothyroidism. There's a difference. I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism after Simon was born and have been taking medication daily ever since. At the time I was diagnosed I was just told it was Hypothyroidism and to start taking medication and that was it. I have my levels checked regularly and adjusted as needed. But at this particular appointment I was actually seeing my regular doctor's partner and he was the one who was reviewing my chart and mentioned Hashimotos. The difference between Hashimotos and Hypothyroidism is this:
Hashimotos (Chronic Lymphocytic Thyroiditis) is an autoimmune disease where the body's defense system is somehow tricked into thinking that healthy tissue is a threat (in this case the thyroid) and turns against it - essentially destroying it. Some people, like me, develop a goiter - which is when the thyroid is enlarged to the point that you can see it (makes your neck look swollen - this was actually how I originally even went to the doctor was because someone mentioned it to me at the store). Hashimotos is a disease. Common symptoms include fatigue, brain fog, weight gain, depression, anxiety, hair loss/thinning, constipation and insomnia. Hashimotos is the leading cause of Hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism is when your body lacks sufficient thyroid hormones - the main purpose of those hormones is to regulate your body's metabolism. Hypothyroidism is a condition. It's most commonly caused by Hashimotos but the two terms are not interchangeable.
Here's the deal - most likely my doctor didn't talk more about it being Hashimotos because from her perspective in terms of what she was going to prescribe it didn't make a difference. Either way she was going to prescribe thyroid medication because my thyroid was damaged enough to need the medication. But for me personally, finding out that I actually had an autoimmune disease vs. just a condition sprang me to action initially last fall. I came home from that appointment and started googling Hashimotos and found
Autoimmune Wellness and The Paleo Mom. Both sites encourage a more wholistic approach to dealing with autoimmune diseases, including dietary interventions. I ordered their cookbooks (The Autoimmune Paleo Cookbook, The Autoimmune Wellness Handbook, and The Paleo Approach) and decided to jump into the AIP (Autoimmune Protocol) cold turkey. I highly recommend checking them out if you want to learn more about AIP (a fairly strict elimination diet to help you actually figure out how you react to different kinds of foods).
I followed a fairly strict AIP for most of September and October last year before stopping and going back to my normal eating habits around the holidays. I felt great eating that way (some of my earliest posts on my
@ae_wellness account are from this time period - I started it initially just as a private account sharing with a few friends) and was doing some walking and yoga during that time but nothing consistent. Even after stopping AIP I still listened to their podcasts and read blog posts and followed them on Instagram but was back to my regular ways of not moving my body and eating whatever and whenever I wanted.
Back to the PMDD.
After the blood clot experience I went for a couple months and the PMDD didn't got back to the same intensity as it was previously, but my anxiety seemed to definitely be amping up. I take Xanax from time to time -
most often for airplane travel - but what started happening was I felt like I needed it more in my everyday life to do some everyday things. That wasn't normal.
During my yearly physical with my doctor in the spring the conversation about not taking birth control came up again and I reminded her that I had mainly been taking it for the PMDD (that was actually originally prescribed by my OBGYN vs. my internal medicine doctor). She asked how things were going and I told her about the increasing anxiety and she said there were definitely other options for dealing with my symptoms (both the PMDD and the anxiety) and recommended I try taking Prozac. I was willing to try.
Fast foward to today. I've been taking it for a few months now and I am significantly more calm and more clear and more even.
I think it's totally possible that part of the reason I'm sticking with the journey this time is because the chemicals in my brain are actually level.
I am also about 10-15 pounds heavier.
I knew that weight gain was a side effect of antidepressants (I've taken others during the course of my life) but I was willing to try it because there have definitely been times when I wondered if the chemicals in my brain are simply not working how they are supposed to. Maybe it was really as simple as I needed more serotonin.
My hope in sharing my recent health history is to give you an understanding of where I'm coming from.
Here are a few other things that have happened in the last few months that are also likely contributing to my commitment to this wellness journey:
I reached a weight I didn’t want to be at - a number on the scale that I didn't and don't want to see. Some of that is definitely due to the Prozac but it's also due to my own personal unwillingness to take care of myself in an more intentional way (and probably Hashimotos). I came across the book Body Love and I was ready to learn and the information made sense to me. It has given me a path forward and a foundation to build my meals around. More about this below. At the beginning of the year I empowered Katie to take charge of some work responsibilities. This is probably a big piece of this whole conversation about why this time is different. I'll talk more about this below. It has taken me years and years to let go of some of those pieces. Aaron called this "Katie relieving you of your unrelenting sense of work responsibility." I call it letting go of control. Making my wellness IG account public for accountability and simply to share my story. I'm so glad I made that choice It's summer. The summer schedule in my house is a lot more flexible which has enabled me to have quite a few more choices for times of day to exercise. My home-life has stabilized. Aaron brought that one up too. Making this whole journey about a wellness lifestyle vs. fitness and/or diet. I want to be how I live my life. I want to include moving my body each day. I want to eat foods that fuel me. Learning more about how foods impact our overall wellbeing and beginning to learn how that works in my own body is making a difference. Both places where I take classes - Hard Core Yoga and Barre3 use an app called MINDBODY which makes registering for classes (and cancelling them - because it happens) super easy. They also both offer a variety of classes throughout the day so I can mix it up based on what I've got going on during my day. You can use this app to discover new places in your own town as well - they have sections for "places to try" and "deals near me" for fitness, wellness, and beauty. SO WHAT AM I DOING RIGHT NOW
A couple months ago now I began this journey (you can read more in my first post here) and I've been consistently and regularly moving my body and changing my diet. I just decided it was time. Here are a few things I'm focusing on right now:
Moving my body. I'm doing a combination of yoga classes, Barre3 classes and walking. Aiming for one activity per day. Daily smoothie for breakfast using recipes from Body Love. This has been awesome and I highly recommend this - I've never been much of a breakfast fan but drinking these really set me up for success because I'm managing my hunger hormones by having a combination of fat, protein, greens and fiber (the book is awesome and goes into detail). Gluten free/dairy free and eating a whole lot more plants. This has significantly reduced the bloating I was experiencing and is likely most contributing to the way I'm feeling better overall. Prioritizing rest. I've long been fairly protective of my sleep and generally go to bed fairly early in order to get close to 8 hours a night. Learning. Reading a lot about wellness (resources will be included in the next Q&A post) and generally soaking up information - and then re-reading it again in an attempt to really learn it. Self care. Taking things off my list vs. adding things on. Being kind to myself. Putting myself first when possible to make sure that I'm actually taking care of myself vs. waiting until the end of the day and being too tired to care. Simplifying. Letting go of literal stuff and figurative stuff.
It seems like a long list when I type it up here. My main focus right now is on diet, movement, and self care.
MENTAL WELLNESS
smwy.86
// For me it has always been about the physical side but as I grow
older I am more aware that mental health is just as important. Was there a
certain time or event that it clicked with you that the mental is as important
or did they come hand in hand for you?
I have struggled for a long time with low-medium levels of depression and anxiety so mental health has always been a part of my story. I think I'm one of those people who has lived with it for so long that it feels more "normal" than it necessarily should. One of the reasons I absolutely love going to yoga is because it feeds me mentally as well as working my body physically. The yoga studio I go to here is awesome particularly because all of the teachers incorporate words into their practices - the words are about letting go, surrendering, strength, setting intentions, etc. I go as much for the mental piece as the physical piece.
I also think that I learned a lot about myself through the process of getting a divorce (wanting to live the length and width and not stuff my feelings away - giving myself permission when I wanted/needed to be sad or angry or happy) and then meeting Aaron and having totally different conversations about my mental health with him. Things that had felt "normal" for a long time to me weren't normal for him. Having a new person to "check in with" impacted the story I was telling myself about my own mental health in really positive ways.
tamihackbarth // What's been the hardest
part of learning to advocate for yourself?
It has been super hard for me
to let go of some of my work responsibilities. If you know anything about enneagram, I'm a 1 and I take my responsibilities very seriously and tend towards being perfectionist (I've been working on that for years). It has taken me years to give
myself permission to work out during work hours and to let go of some of my responsibilites. Aaron has encouraged me, Katie has encouraged me, but I had to finally encourage myself. Once I did I learned that the world didn't end if I wasn't sitting at my desk for an hour a day when I could be moving my body if that was the best time for that day. It has literally taken me years to get to this point. That gives me that much more flexibility for making it happen.
ajcphotos01
// What is motivating you to keep on keeping on. The challenges and
wins.
mbradtke // How do you keep motivated, especially with all the other things going on in your life?
Feeling good overall is definitely motivating me. I feel lighter, happier, and more mentally clear and calm (
some of that might absolutely be the Prozac - whatever it is, I'll take it). I really like this version of myself and I really want to take care of myself. I am a better mom, boss, partner, lover, friend, etc when I am taking care of myself.
Another thing that's motivating me is that I have so far to go in yoga. I don't see that as a negative at all - I'm super excited about learning more and growing into my own personal practice and simply being able to do more advanced poses (so not even close to being there yet). I love that I have that journey ahead of me. That one is both a challenge and a win for sure.
Another thing that's motivating me is being in my 40's. I'm tired of feeling tired and fatigued and I don't want that to be the story for the rest of my life. I have questions about whether my fatigue is related to Hashimotos or general life or diet. I'm also simply curious about how good I can actually feel.
lohersh // My struggle is that I have
adult ADHD so it is a constant daily battle to not just do "what I feel
like doing" and to stick to goals consistently. It's hard with food,
tiredness, time spent, self-discipline...honestly it's like Groundhog Day,
every day needing to wake up (after staying up too late yet again) and remind
myself what I really care about and what my goals are. I have a lot of
strategies that don't often work. Now I'm in the post-menopausal stage too
where hormones and metabolism aren't what they used to be. Any guidance here?
The struggle is real.
The struggle is totally real.
Absolutely. I would suggest starting with one piece of the puzzle. Pick one thing to focus on for the next month and just work on that vs. feeling like you have to change everything all at once. Just one thing. Start small. Choose one meal to focus on or one habit to tackle.
Remember, there is no rule that says we have to do everything at once - most often that's probably a recipe for failure.
One thing that really helped me in the beginning was simply stating that I love myself enough to take better care of myself and then making choices that are in alignment with those values. Saying no in order to rest. Doing the things I like to do vs. what everyone else might be doing. Putting myself first. This is hard - especially for Mom's - but it's also so, so important. We can all come up with a bunch of reasons for why we aren't taking care of ourselves - start by loving yourself enough to make one change.
stephavela
// I would like to know what your daily healthy minimums are? What is
the least you have to accomplish daily on your wellness journey to feel like
you are realizing your goals?
I thought about this one a little bit and decided that I tend to view things more from a weekly vs. a daily perspective for my "wins." I want to include movement (right now it's walking or
Barre3 or yoga) more days than not. By having a weekly view I'm able to have a little more space for flexibility. I'm also looking at things from the perspective that I "get" to do something awesome for myself today: I get to eat foods that fuel me, I get to move my body in a variety of ways that makes my mind + heart + spirit super happy, I get to take a bath, etc.
I think I'm most satisfied at the end of the if I've moved my body.
yolandalockharthowe // I'm interested in how this evolved into something you were willing
to share so much of (daily videos, non-private Instagram, etc). There can be a
lot of shame surrounding having an imperfect relationship with food, wellness,
and exercise. I'm interested in how you have navigated all those feels in order
to invite us along to share the journey.
I basically decided that I needed a different kind of accountability. I know, through my years of memory keeping and sharing my stories, that it's one of the best ways for me to make sense of my life (and I've always advocating sharing and celebrating the imperfect parts of our lives). Also, as the topic of wellness started becoming more important to me I simply wanted to be able to talk about it publicly but didn't want to post all the photos of my food on my main Instagram account. Having a separate account has been awesome not only because it has given me a home to tell those stories but also because I'm only following health, wellness, yoga, and inspirational people on that account and simply scrolling through the people I'm following can get me out of bed and out the door. The community (
#aewellnesstribe) has also been awesome in supporting and sharing.
Also, I love being imperfect and have already shared so many of my imperfect stories over the years. I want people to know they are not alone and I would love to empower women to stop the shame cycle related to our imperfections.
I simply got to a point where I needed/wanted to talk about it vs. keeping it to myself.
kelsterjean // Okay I have another question, or rather request. Can you share
some tips on working towards finding a healthy balance of it all? Like mental
happiness + exercising and moving + eating well. Just finding a balance you are
happy with.
Ah, balance. I have no idea. Ha.
Actually, what I've been working on is
being in the season I'm in vs. some unattainable idea of "balance" or wishing it all away for the next one. Acceptance of "what is" is huge for me. When I gracefully accept and give myself love for the season I'm in I'm better able to see it for what it is and make adjustments within it based on what parts feel like they are working or not working.
What's been working for me in this season (
let's say the summer season of the last few months) is making time for moving my body + being flexible with when that happens (and then actually walking out the door through the process of giving myself permission to do it), filling my fridge with lots of vegetables and actually eating them, and really approaching all of it from the place of self-love. Some seasons are going to allow me to focus on all that stuff at the same time and other seasons are going to require me to adjust in order to make room for the other stuff of life (like way more kids activities when they go back to school which will create a completely different schedule and I will need to transition again). My hope is that the foundation I've laid this summer will be a solid jumping off point for me as we move into the fall.
Remember, balance isn't a solid state - it's actually fluid. It requires adjusting one end to level out another end - meaning it's almost always in flux and moving.
kpeveryday
// Two questions- what non-scale victories are you noticing? Has your
wellness routine improved other parts of your life bedside your mental/physical
being?
I am
really happy right now and that is one of the best victories for me personally. I honestly can not remember a time in many, many years where I've felt like this. I feel stronger and know that I am getting stronger simply by monitoring myself in the classes. I can hold a plank longer. I can make it through most of a Barre3 class with much less rest compared to when I started a few months ago.
Has my wellness routine improved other parts of my life? I'm not sure. My stress level feels manageable (ask me this one again in a few months and we'll see how I'm doing at that point) and I feel like I know what I need to do generally to stay on track. Those are definitely positives.
misererenobis
// I've never done yoga - why is it hard; how is it a workout; why do
you sweat? Isn't it just stretching?
Yoga is so, so much more than
just stretching. It’s a workout because you are working on a variety of things:
strength, balance, flexibility, breathing and mental fitness. The poses are
physically demanding as is the mental willpower to keep breathing and stay in
the poses (the intensity varies from class to class and style of yoga). Aaron thinks it’s the mental part of it that actually makes it hard.
The studio I go to (
Hard Core Yoga) offers a variety of classes from
restorative (slower paced, more stretching based) to Level One to Level Two to
Power Flow (quicker movements back to back into a “flow” vs. holding the poses
longer). There’s a wide range of abilities and body types and ages all
practicing together. I love it because it totally grounds me in my body - so much goodness comes from just connecting with our own bodies in this way.
phug1
// Tips to get to bed early so I can get up and out early! I'm such a
night owl as it's the only ME time! I'm a high school teacher and start early
and after school, prep, planning, copies etc, get kids from daycare, kids
sports. I have kids in soccer every night sept-march and to meal plan, dinner,
marking etc., I just don't have time after work to get it in. I know us working
moms are all stretched beyond and I think AM is only time to fit it in. I try
to power walk around turf while kids practice but just not the same. How to
turn my sleep click around and motivate in rainy fall mornings here in
Vancouver BC!
You are in a very busy season.
I sometimes have a hard time with an "all or nothing" mentality - I have a picture in my head of what exercise should look like which then results in me doing nothing because I can't make time for what that looks like in my head. If you are a night owl, what about taking 30 mins at night to move your body? Make that "me" time and really make it "you" time. Break it down into smaller chunks of time that add up over the course of the day.
Also, maybe consider what little changes you could make? Maybe it's more food-related right now vs. exercise. Or maybe it's doing 15 mins of yoga before you get in bed. Or maybe it's meditating for 10 mins in the morning.
There might be some ideas for you here:
17 Tips from Fit Moms on Finding Time for Exercise
wholesomefamilykitchen// When you head out for an early-morning workout, do you eat
breakfast first, or some sort of snack, or do you wait until after? When I head
out for my morning walks (2-3 miles), I've been experimenting with either
eating a small snack, or eating nothing; but I always have my full breakfast
after my walk. I have been struggling to lose weight & I don't need the
extra calories, but I don't know if it's better to work out/walk on an empty
stomach or not. Just curious if you fuel up before your morning workout &
how it has worked for you. Trying to figure out my routine....
For those early morning classes (5:45am and 6am) I generally have 1/2 cup of coffee and maybe a banana (depending on how hungry I feel and how early I got up). Then when I get home I have a #fabfour smoothie. Here are some suggestions:
Eating Before A Morning Workout
shannonkruger // Your workouts are all gentle in nature (walking, barre and
yoga.) Is that related to your Hashimoto or ??? I'm having to adopt a more
gentle approach and some days feel it's not enough in this extreme world.
This is definitely a conscious choice on my part but I think it's more that I
like doing all three of those things. Yoga and Barre3 can both be super challenging. It really depends on the classes you are going to and how hard you are working and your personal goals. I'm also all for throwing out the version of what we think we "should" be doing in terms of taking care of ourselves (based on what other people have said or stories you've been telling yourself about what constitutes a "good" workout) and doing what works best for each individual person. Everyone is going to have different experiences with different types of exercise.
But yes, I'm down with more "gentle" mind-body styles of movement because that's what's feeling really good for my body, mind and spirit right now. It might look different next month or next year and I'm okay with that too. As we move into the winter things will likely adjust for me and I might add swimming (indoors) and or something else. My main goal is to not get bored and to keep doing something vs. falling back into my old habits of being too tired to do anything at all.
Part Two coming tomorrow.
