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On my to-do list right now is to enjoy having my daughter home, work on my book, and keep biking. I have another bike event this weekend, so I’ve been preparing for that. I was nervous that being away for my daughter’s graduation and not riding would affect my abilities, but I was pleasantly surprised when I rode last week. I felt stronger, and recognized that the hills I struggled to get up not that long ago weren’t as hard as I remembered. Sometimes a little break can be beneficial.

That’s because you can’t always see your progress while you’re in the thick of things. 

I’m trying to help my son with his mindset when he’s not getting better as fast as he’d like to. I don’t blame him for being frustrated - it is frustrating when you aren’t getting the results as fast as you like, but I’ve learned that health is a lifelong journey. 

Don't Give Up Yet

Unfortunately, sometimes that journey looks a lot like climbing a mountain, the kind that makes your legs and lungs burn… and makes yo...

I’m getting ready to travel across the country to my daughter’s graduation and we’re really excited to celebrate with her. Of course she is excited too, but the last few weeks have also been full of anxiety, questioning, and self-doubt on her part. Like achieving any big goal, there’s the “what’s next?” part of it. While my daughter is so proud of herself, making the decision of what to do after college isn’t easy.  

It reminds me of the podcast/blog I did almost four years ago about demonstrating courage. In part of it, I shared the story of my daughter’s friend moving to London to go to college. It had been her goal all through high school, but when it came time to stay in a country far away from her friends and family, it was really, really hard. I’m now seeing that the resulting next “big step” of graduating from college can be just as scary!  

So what can we do when we’re faced with the happiness of achievement and the uncertainty of not having that next big goal?

Sometimes, th...

My husband just had a birthday and even though it wasn’t a big one, we did a lot of celebrating.  We celebrated with food, social time, and a little less sleep than usual.

I made four big, cheesy, mushroom lasagnas and somehow all that cooking didn’t tip him off that I was having a surprise party for him. He also didn’t notice the big, chocolate, gluten-free cake my son picked up from the bakery.

I don’t normally eat such rich foods, and I know that some people might even feel guilty about indulging so much. However, because I know of a special “rule” about life, I enjoyed myself fully - down to every last cheesy bite! 

The 80/20 Rule

It’s called the Pareto Principle (aka the 80/20 Rule) -- and it says that 80% of your results come from just 20% of your efforts. Here are some ways it appears in life:

• You wear 20% of your clothes 80% of the time. For me, it’s my sweatpants and sweatshirt. (I still haven’t come back all the way from Covid!)
• 80% of your screen time comes from 20% ...

I’m trying to reset my morning routine, which has been off-kilter since Covid. I was going to tell you about how moving your morning coffee around in your schedule can help you avoid energy crashers… but since I’m not willing to wait an hour for my own morning coffee, I’ll save that for later. Instead, I’ve got three simple tips that will take you just three minutes in the morning and will have you starting your day refreshed rather than rushed. 

☀️The 3-Minute Morning Reset ☀️

Tomorrow morning, instead of reaching for your phone or walking like a zombie to get your first coffee, try this instead. 

When you wake up tomorrow, try the following and see how you feel:

1️⃣ Breathe (60 seconds). Before reaching for your phone, take 5 deep belly breaths to signal to your brain that it’s time to wake up. This reduces stress and gives you some oxygen to boost your focus.

2️⃣ Move (60 seconds). Gently stretch, roll your shoulders, or do a few body weight movements (like air squats or arm ci...

Lately, it seems like my husband is always hungry and always eating! Based on what I learned from a book called “The Glucose Revolution”, I’m thinking it might be a blood sugar thing. Which means it could be a “carb thing”... Is he eating too many carbs? Not enough? It’s tough to know with all the wild advice out there. Here’s the truth. 

Carbohydrates & Your Energy Levels

First, carbs aren’t bad, they’re actually your body’s preferred energy source.That means when it comes to your energy levels, it all depends on how you use them.

If you’re not eating enough of the right carbohydrates, you might notice:

• Afternoon energy crashes
• Feeling exhausted after workouts (or during)
• Poor sleep quality
• Mood swings or brain fog

I see this all the time when my clients first come to me (and with my husband). They think they need to go low-carb to lose weight, but instead, they just end up feeling drained and struggling to get through the day. 

How to fix it: If you’re dragging, try addi...

Do you feel wound too tight all the time? I know I’ve been feeling a lot more anxious and unsettled lately. I can try blaming it on my son’s struggle with his health, on trying to help my daughter figure out what’s next in her life path, or especially on the craziness happening here in the US. The fact is, a lot of us are stuck in “go mode” all the time–even when we don’t want to be. 

When You’re Stressed 24/7

You don’t just wake up one day suddenly stressed. It’s something that usually builds up over time. As women, we can give a lot of ourselves without taking the much-needed recovery time our own bodies need. When your body is stressed day in and day out, it can affect your energy, metabolism, digestion, and even your weight. That’s because in times of high-stress, cortisol (your stress hormone) stays high, making you crave sugar, store more fat, and feel totally drained.

This is why real recovery matters. It’s not just about getting through the day–it’s about actually feeling go...

So many people tell me the same thing: “I’ve tried everything…and I’m still tired!” Does that sound familiar? The thing is, it's not just about sleep. Yes, sleep matters, but there are other “energy leaks” many people overlook. Let’s run through a quick checklist:

✅  You’re Running on “Wired but Tired” Mode.

If you feel mentally alert but physically drained, that’s a sign your nervous system may be out of sync – maybe too much caffeine, screen time or late-night work. I have an Oura ring that tracks my sleep, and when I’ve had late coffee, I definitely notice that even if I get a full night’s sleep, my deep sleep is usually affected.

👉Fix it:  Cut off caffeine by 2 pm (maybe even noon), limit screen exposure before bed, and get sunlight early in the day to help regulate your body’s natural rhythms.

✅ Your Nutrition Isn’t Supporting Your Energy Needs.

Most people think “clean eating” = more energy. But if you’re undereating, skipping key nutrients, or missing out on enough carbs, p...

My husband and I just celebrated our twenty-first wedding anniversary.  Yay, us! We usually go for a bike ride together because that’s how we met. We had a fun ride then ordered take-out sushi, which we enjoyed eating outside in the nice spring weather. Earlier in the week we also went cross-country skiing, so it's been like an anniversary week. It's been a nice break from the usual daily busyness.

Speaking of regular life, we've been trying new snacks at home. My son is trying to limit his sugar while exercising more as part of improving his gut health. He doesn’t want to rely on standard energy bars, because he thinks they have too much sugar and he doesn’t want to undo the work he’s done to improve.

(You may remember he’s been on quite the health journey, suffering from chronic fatigue and brain fog brought about by an imbalanced microbiome and mold toxicity. It’s one of the reasons I’m writing a book on gut health!) 

So today, I’m sharing a recipe for Quick Energy Bites! They’re...

Your gut is about so much more than just digesting food. And when things are unbalanced in there, your body has subtle ways of letting you know. Here are some signs your gut health needs support; and some simple ways to do just that!

Little Red Flags 

Have you ever felt like something’s off, but you can’t put your finger on it? Like your energy is dragging, your skin isn’t cooperating, or no matter what you do, you can’t seem to focus? It’s frustrating, especially when you’re doing all the “right” things to feel your best. Believe it or not, these issues might link back to your gut!

I’ve been doing a ton of research for my gut health book, and it’s amazing, even to me, that practically everything is being linked back to the gut. Your gut health influences everything– from how energized you feel to how quickly you bounce back after a tough workout or just a long day at work! And when your gut isn’t working at its best, it can show up in ways you might not expect.

For example, low en...

I’m almost fully “recovered” and back into routine after a few weeks filled with travel. I got to see my daughter on the east coast and then my husband’s family in Colombia. I was sick while there, and it’s taken me time to feel back in the groove. Unfortunately, my body is still feeling stiffer than I’d like. 

If your body often feels the same - stuck, stiff, or generally off - I have a simple solution for you. It’s my go-to when I need my body to move better again, and it will help get your body moving, improve your circulation, and boost your energy naturally. It’s a short yoga practice that you can do right at home. (And no jitters, like after your third cup of coffee!)

I filmed this video nearly seven years ago and I usually include it in my paid wellness programs; it’s that good! The whole routine is about twenty minutes, but feel free to pick and choose the exercises that you need most and can fit into the time you have. 

Click here for the Gentle Yoga practice and I’ll lead ...