About a 6 minute read

So yesterday was Thanksgiving in the US. I’m American, but I live in Italy now and it’s not a holiday here, so we don’t really celebrate it. We often have a turkey dinner on Saturday after, with friends when possible, but of course, it’s not quite the same. 

It’s unfortunate, because Thanksgiving is probably my favourite holiday. It’s right after the fall harvest, which means meals are made with food that’s comforting and warm as the temperatures drop. 

It’s a time to reflect, be with friends and family, and take a break from daily routines. There’s no pressure to buy gifts or do anything other than pitch in with the food. And time together in the kitchen is cozy and great for connecting at a deeper level. We enjoy traditional family recipes, watch endless hours of football, laugh more, and relax for just a little while. 

We spend the whole week (or longer) looking forward to being together with family and friends, sharing calls, cards, memes, and social posts about how grateful we are for all that we have. It's all about gratitude.

And then comes Black Friday. 

While I’ll never really understand the idea of lining up outside stores at dark o’clock to grab “doorbuster” deals and buy things we neither need nor want, I give more power to the people who enjoy doing that. I’m never against finding ways to save a bit of cash!

But it all feeds our habit of overconsumption, which in my humble opinion is one of the root causes of our ever-declining health. Somewhere along the way we’ve had it ingrained in our minds that more is always better, and that applies to so many different things!

• Our portion sizes have increased by 2 to 3 times since the 1980s

• We prioritize easy, packaged, and fast food so that we have time to cram more into our already full schedules (or veg out by binge-watching shows to “recover” from stress and overcommitment)

• We’ve “convenienced” ourselves into needing little to no movement during the day for activities we used to do manually

• We buy more “things,” thinking they’ll make us happy - to the point that we need to buy storage containers and even rent storage facilities to keep everything (and I’m willing to bet that most of us don’t know even half of what’s there!)

• We work more hours

• We multitask…

…You get the idea.

Do you know what we don’t do more of or “overconsume?”  

Taking care of ourselves.

Whether it’s because we’re so busy taking care of everyone and everything else we don’t think about it, or because we subconsciously don’t feel that we’re worth the same amount of time and effort we put into others (or both), it’s a serious issue.

If you're feeling like you've lost sight of who you are or are questioning whether "this" is all there is in your life, you're not alone.

That’s not a judgment, by the way. We’re all products of our society, and I still struggle with some of these things too!  But one thing I know for sure is unless you’re ready to take that important first step to looking after your health and well-being, your dream of having a body and a life you love living in will continue to elude you. 

You know, that life where you feel energetic, vibrant, and able to kick ass on a daily basis?!  

Seriously, close your eyes for a minute and imagine that you’re there. Wow, right?

As cliche as it is, when you have your health, you have everything. 

What if you could push past your self-doubt and actually achieve it? Are you waiting for the “right time?”  Maybe you’re worried that you have to give up everything you enjoy in order to do it. Or maybe it just feels too overwhelming because there is so much that needs to change before it can happen. Maybe you don’t trust yourself anymore because you’ve tried and failed so many times before.

Change is scary. And hard.

Want to know a secret? You can enjoy your favourite foods, not be beholden to some expensive miracle supplement that you have to take for the rest of your life, and incorporate movement that you actually enjoy into your daily life. 

When you learn how to do things in the right way FOR YOU, you can make progress toward being that energetic, vibrant, empowered, and ass-kicking person you know is inside you. 

So what does all of that have to do with bacon? 

I LOVE bacon. I use it in many different recipes, and we have it for our Sunday breakfast/brunch. Bacon just seems to make everything better, doesn't it?

Every diet I’ve ever done (and I’ve done many) forbids bacon, snack foods, chocolate, and all the comfort foods I grew up with. And I’ve learned that none of that was necessary in order to lose and maintain a healthy weight and body!  While I don’t advocate these foods making up the majority of your diet, you can still have them occasionally and be healthy.

Blah, blah, blah, moderation…I know, you’ve heard all that before. But it’s not really about moderation, it’s about making conscious choices with the foods we eat. I mean come on, I live in Italy - the land of Pancetta, Prosciutto, Parmigiano Reggiano, Prosecco, Pasta, Pizza…and let’s not forget GELATO (I’m kinda bummed there wasn’t another P-word there)!

I don’t want you to ever eliminate your favourite things from your life - it’s simply not necessary unless there’s a medical reason to do so. 

Does that give you hope?  

OK, one more story, and then I invite you to check out an important announcement below.

I worked in retail for a number of years, and while I love Christmas, I used to dread the Christmas season because of the way so many people behaved. I’ll never forget my last Christmas in retail. It was Christmas Eve, 1986. It had been a chaotic week with special offers, pre-holiday returns, a packed store that needed constant tidying, long lines at the registers, being short-staffed, and some rather testy shoppers.

It was almost 6 pm and the store was closing. I was SO ready to put my feet up and relax for a few hours! Even though we had announced that the store was closing, there were two women near a clothing rack who didn’t seem to want to leave. Their voices were getting louder. I was the Assistant Store Manager, so I walked over to see how I could help them.

To say they were “arguing” over a blouse would be an understatement.  

I asked how I could help, and they started name-calling and swearing, and then the pushing and shoving began. I suggested that we needed to find a way to resolve the situation and I wanted to help them do exactly that. Then one of them took a swing at the other…and hit me.

We all stood there in stunned silence for what seemed like a long time, and then the apologies began. I suggested that the blouse was no longer available for sale and they might consider taking their other purchases to the register since the store was closing. 

It wasn’t my intention to shame or belittle anyone, but while they were both obviously still seething, they also were very embarrassed about the way they had behaved. No actual physical harm was done, but to this day I remember that moment vividly, and any time I find myself talking about “needing” something, it helps me take a step back and put things into perspective. 

There’s a big difference between “Want” and “Need,” and it’s a place we all could use a bit more clarity.

Do we need more stuff? It’s highly unlikely. 

Do we need our health and well-being? Absolutely.

If any of the following sounds like you, PLEASE get in touch, and let’s have a conversation!

• You’re struggling to find your way back to feeling like yourself again

• You keep asking yourself why it feels so hard to lose weight or get fit

• You’re dreading starting over again with weight loss resolutions in the new year

• You’re worried about the effects of aging and wonder if that vibrant, healthy life just isn’t meant for you

• You know what to do but can’t seem to do it, at least not consistently

• Things that used to work for you just don’t seem to be working anymore

• You just want to fit back into your clothes again

• You want to have enough energy to do things you actually enjoy

You absolutely can build a body you love living in, and the lifestyle to maintain it.

Does it take work? Yep.

Is it complicated? Nope.

Sometimes, though, you need a little help to figure out what will work for you rather than trying yet another One-Size-Fits-All program, or feeling overwhelmed continuing to try on your own. That’s where Health Coaching comes in.

Your health and well-being are not only your highest priority, they’re also your highest responsibility!

How can you give your best to others when there’s nothing left to give?

And WHY don’t you think you’re worthy and deserving of the same time and energy you give to everyone and everything else?

I’ve got your back.

We interrupt this blog for an important announcement:

While I’m not a big fan of Black Friday, Cyber Monday, overspending, and overconsumption, this year I’m offering a very special Black Friday deal.  BECAUSE YOUR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING MATTER.

I’ll be launching my signature 90-day Transformation Program called BEGIN on January 23, 2023, and I’d love for you to be part of it. As you’re thinking about what you want your next year to look like, imagine how it would feel to:

• Lose up to 1 to 2 clothing sizes

• Fit into your clothes again

• Feel better

• Look better

• Feel stronger

• Feel empowered to take care of your own needs

• Have more energy to take care of others in your life

• Rediscover your own Badassery

I realize that the program is still 2 months away, so this is why NOW is the perfect time to invest in your health:

When you enroll in BEGIN today, you’ll receive unlimited 1:1 coaching

through the holidays, right up until the program starts!

(That’s worth over $1,200 right there, my friends!)

If you would like to navigate the holidays with a plan and start the new year feeling ahead of the game, then this is an opportunity you don’t want to miss!

• You’ll be able to schedule 1:1 coaching sessions when you need them

• You can message your coach (aka me!) anytime through a dedicated app

• We’ll put a plan together to help you through the most challenging holiday events

• You’ll be able to enjoy food, family, festivities, and fun without feeling deprived

• You’ll start the new year feeling empowered

AND you’ll start the BEGIN Transformation Program on January 23, 2023 with a community of incredible women

SPACES ARE LIMITED, SO DON’T HESITATE - REGISTER NOW!

THIS OFFER EXPIRES AT MIDNIGHT est ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2023.

If you’re interested in the program, click HERE for details.

By the way, if you happen to miss this Black Friday Special Offer, don’t worry - regular registration will open again in January, and you can still get all the amazing benefits of BEGIN.

Either way, I hope to see you there!