Energy

Coffee Alternatives: Why You Might Want to Try Them and What to Try!

I don’t drink coffee. And not because I don’t like it. I LOVE it. And not because it isn’t healthy, it is. The sad state of affairs is that when I drink coffee I get reflux and nausea. Every. Single. Time. But more than that. For me, it also leads to anxiety. This is something I see commonly with my patients and clients. Yes, even with…

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Staying Productive When All You Want to Do is Curl Up on the Couch

Readers had questions. I have answers! After my last post on the winter blues, I heard from many readers that they don’t exactly have winter blues, but they do notice that at this time of year that staying productive and motivated is much more difficult. Some people mentioned also that with everything going on in the world (think politics, health crises, lack of good health…

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What’s the Deal with Winter Blues? 3 Solutions.

The lack of sunshine and shorter days take a toll on so many of us.   My patients in the dark of winter suffer more with depression, they are more tired, their PMS is worse. In addition, I see more issues with sleep, with unwanted weight gain, with stress. And as you know if you’ve been reading my emails or work, I hold that increased stress…

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Your Values, Your Healthcare – A Story

[this is an excerpt on values from my book Overcoming Overwhelm if you would like a full chapter (for free!)  just click here.] About 15 years ago, a woman named Susan came to see me for high cholesterol, pre-diabetes, and high blood pressure, a cluster of symptoms we call metabolic syndrome. She was 53 years old and found herself more than 40 pounds heavier than…

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Overcoming Overwhelm: You Can’t Fail at Self Care

[this is an excerpt on true self care from my book Overcoming Overwhelm if you would like a full chapter (for free! just click here.] There will always be times when you get off track—times you accidentally oversleep and don’t get to the gym, times you forget to plan for dinner and end up going out, or times you lose it and eat a bowl…

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My Favorite Macro Balanced Smoothie

  A smoothie is an easy way to get a little bit of extra protein in your day, And adding it in around your workout can help with muscle gains! Until recently I really tried to get that protein within 20 minutes after a weightlifting workout. We’re beginning to find that it’s ok before as well!  And anything that makes it more convenient to get…

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Ask Dr. Samantha: Food Tracking Edition

One of the most common things I investigate is how my patients and clients are fueling their bodies. After all, what we eat literally becomes who we are. Sometimes my they come to me saying they want to make dietary changes. And sometimes they come to me saying they are already eating very well, thank you and that they don’t need to address this. But, thanks to 20 years…

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Why Mood is Affected by Less Sunlight & What to do About it

Even though spring is on the way, we are still dealing with our shorter, darker winter days. More darkness. Less sunlight.  Although I don’t mind winter, the turning inward, the quiet, the darkness, around this time every year my body and mood start responding to the long winter. Even if my introvert self likes the season, my body is ready for the sun. Ready to…

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Adrenal Fatigue: Is it a thing?

About adrenal fatigue:  We have known for many years that the chronic production of adrenaline can lead to long-term problems including premature aging, attention issues, fatigue, anxiety, and depression. The chronic production of cortisol can cause immune dysregulation, weight gain—particularly around your belly, digestive symptoms, depression, headaches, and reproductive issues. Over time there is a risk that your body will lose the ability to respond…

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Overcoming Overwhelm: How to Identify your Core/True North Values: an Exercise

This exercise is a great start for understanding what is most important to you. Think values and ideals you would want to line up with your choices on a daily basis. If you’re trying to have less stress, if you want to be less overwhelmed, lining your choices up with your values is a big piece of making that happen. Of course here and there…

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