What I'm Tuning Into [Favorite Podcasts]

I’m a podcast junkie. 

I listen to them while I cook, clean, walk, drive and ride the bus. They make washing dishes, folding laundry and sitting in traffic so much more enjoyable.

I love how podcasts enrich my life. They fill my mind with new ideas and different perspectives, inspire me to take a different path, help me better understand myself, make me laugh, cry and ponder, and nourish my soul.

I listen to a variety of podcasts from Fresh Air and Freakonomics to Dear Sugar. Here are a few of my favs in the realms of health and well-being that you may enjoy as well:

Psychology of Eating
Breakthrough coaching sessions with Marc David, one of my teachers and the founder of the Institute for the Psychology of Eating. Covers topics from cravings and emotional eating to chronic dieting and body image.

Tara Brach
Weekly dharma talks and guided meditations by Tara Brach, a well-known, warm, wise and witty meditation teacher, author and psychologist.

The Splendid Table
An enlightening and entertaining show on all things food, from culture and politics to history and cooking tips. I also enjoy The Sporkful, America’s Test Kitchen Radio and Bon Appetit Foodcast.

Happier with Gretchen Rubin
Tips on how to make and break habits, and live an overall happier life, from New York Times best-selling author Gretchen Rubin and her sidekick sister. 

On Being
Krista Tippett asks big questions on the meaning of life in her provocative conversations with a range of thought leaders from artists, authors and activists to philosophers, researchers and scientists.

10% Happier
Newsman and author Dan Harris talks with smart people about mindfulness and meditation for fidgety skeptics.

Perhaps one or some of these podcasts will resonate with you, too, and provide some good company on your next summer road trip.

Happy Listening!

She Can Eat Whatever She Wants; I Gain Weight Just Looking at Cake

Do you often find yourself sinking into compare-and-despair mode?

In the realm of food and body, it sounds something like this:

• It’s so unfair that she can eat whatever she wants and not gain a pound. I gain weight just looking at cake.
• I’ll never look that good in a swimsuit; her stomach is way flatter than mine.
• Why can’t I have as much willpower as she does when it comes to sugar?
• Everyone in my yoga class is so fit and toned; I’m embarrassed of my flabby body.
• It’s so easy for him to lose weight. Why does it have to be so hard for me?

While it’s human nature to compare yourself to other people, the comparison game usually backfires. When your comparison puts you on the losing end, it often leads to feelings of inadequacy, insecurity, isolation, jealousy, desperation, despair and depression.

Quite simply, comparison is the death of joy.

Comparing yourself to others is a disempowering, futile act that results in unnecessary stress, struggle and suffering. However, rather than judge yourself for falling into the comparison trap (you are human, after all!), you can stop yourself from continually going down this path of self-attack.

Here’s one of my top strategies for ending compare and despair:

Start a gratitude journal.

Every day, write down a handful of things you’re grateful for—big and small. Be sure to include things you appreciate about your body.

For example, recent body-related entries in my gratitude journal included:

• My heart for beating all on its own.
• My eyes for allowing me to witness the magnificent sunrise.
• My strong legs for taking me on a gorgeous coastal hike.
• My arms for enabling me to hug my loved ones.
• My tongue for tasting the delicious dinner I made tonight.

By taking time to reflect on and appreciate all that’s good in your life—including what you cherish about your body—you’ll boost your positivity, improve your body image, elevate your overall well-being, and be much less inclined to compare yourself to others.

This certainly has been the case for me, and for my clients. But don’t just take my word for it—try it out for a few months and see for yourself.

Vegan? Paleo? Raw? Which Way is the Right Way?

Years ago, after hearing a leader in the raw food movement speak with such passion and conviction regarding the power of a raw food diet, I was ready to give it a whirl. Until my acupuncturist told me raw foods were not good for my constitution and a girl at my gym shared how her hair started falling out when she became a raw foodist. I decided this path might not be for me, and was actually relieved, as one of my all-time favorite dishes is a hot bowl of homemade soup.

Then I learned about the blood type diet. I was intrigued until I discovered that my O blood type meant I would function best on a meat-centric diet. I stopped eating meat when I was 17 for a variety of reasons and really didn't want to return to my meat-eating ways.

Some years later, after reading a book on the dangers of gluten, I was convinced if I ate one more kernel of wheat, it would kill me. So I started playing around with a gluten-free diet.

I've listened to various experts talk about dairy over the years, and as a result, I’ve gone from skim milk to whole milk to raw milk to coconut milk.

I could go on and on regarding my history of bouncing around from one idea to the next, but I think you get the point.

Confused? Join the Club.
It’s easy to become confused and overwhelmed by the constant influx of new information and varying opinions on nutrition, diets, health and wellness. Much of it is quite compelling, extremely convincing, very tempting and maddeningly contradictory.

Vegan? Paleo? Low carb? Low fat? Gluten? Whole wheat?

Three square meals a day? Or, fast two days a week?

What’s a person to do?

This is what I do, and what I tell my clients:

Your body is utterly unique.

So are your nutritional needs and food preferences. A way of eating that works for someone else may not work for you. There is no one-size-fits-all approach.

Experiment with an open mind to discover what works best for YOUR body—not your boyfriend’s, best friend’s or favorite celebrity’s body.

Tune into the messages your body is sending you. It will tell you if dairy gives you gas, if diet soda gives you a migraine, or if coffee gives you acid reflux. It will show you if it thrives on a vegetarian diet or one with animal protein—or if it feels best somewhere in between.

In order to hear the wisdom of your body, you must slow down. You must be willing to pay attention and make connections, then honor what your body is telling you.

Remaining flexible is also key. Your body and nutritional needs are constantly changing. What worked for you three years ago, may not work for you today.

Connecting the Dots
Figuring all of this out can feel like a daunting task, especially if you’re not used to listening to and trusting your body.

If you want support, give me a shout. I can help you connect the dots and determine what way of eating works best for YOU.

I promise you, the freedom, empowerment and ease that come from crafting your own personal diet are so worth it.