Summer vacation during COVID 19 is definitely tough. I had a week off from work last week and totally felt the pressure to make memories, plan fun times for my children, make headway in my side hustle, exercise, get in nature. I felt like I accomplished a lot and even got to relax a little. My highlights were: working on my book, starting my Friends LEGO set, going to 3 beaches, baking, home canning, visiting a wonderful gluten/dairy/nut free bakery, getting dairy free ice cream, working on my side hustle, going to parks, buying a trailer for future camping and having an outdoor fire (with marshmallows, yum!). Check out my podcast where I talk about all that I got up to – Learning to Slay the Beasts Podcast on Apple, Google, Podbean. What have you gotten up to on your staycation?
Tag: podcasts
Mid Year Journal Prompts
Given that we are half way through 2020, which has been derailed incredibly by COVID-19, it is a great time to check in on your goals and what you might want to tweak. What still feels relevant to you? Do you need to readjust your timeframe?
I keep two different journals. One is a Start Today Journal as per the Hollis Company. The second is a scrappy journal where I track my exercise, food choices, random thoughts, creative ideas and even complain sometimes!
In Episode 22 of the Learning to Slay the Beasts Podcast, I provide a few journal exercises that I have undertaken recently:
– Adjusting my goals for 2020 in my Start Today journal;
– Writing a letter of what I would like to let go of;
– Writing a letter to myself from my fear (check out Episode 151 of the Rise Podcast with my fav Elizabeth Gilbert to hear more on this!).
Check out Episode 8 of the podcast for my Rise x Toronto experience.
As always, this podcast is based on experiences and should not be construed as medical or professional advice. Please speak with a medical professional.
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Follow me on IG: @saraladygluten and visit the Learning to Slay the Beasts Podcast.
Gluten Free 4 Kids
My most recent episode of the Learning to Slay the Beasts Podcast focused on my account of transitioning my son to gluten free eating. I worked with a health professional in making the decision, but unfortunately, they weren’t able to be by my side to implement it everyday and many of the recipes they gave were aimed at the taste buds of adults.
Some things that worked well for me:
– focussing on foods he already loved that are naturally gluten free;
– buying a bento box for lunches (moves away from the classic sandwich with the weird small bread!);
– finding fast food (pizza, Subway) and treats (Kinnikinnick and Enjoy Life) that are gluten free;
– baking, cooking, experimenting;
– taking on the new diet when the parent has time to give, not when you are already maxed out!;
– being a gluten free role model for your child.
Let me know what worked for you below and listen to Episode 20 of the Learning to Slay the Beasts Podcast!
Talking Body Image In the Time Of Coronavirus
Since my move to stop wearing make up to owning my body in a bikini on my winter vacation and even writing a short story on my battle with obesity, body image has been on my mind a lot.
But then the coronavirus hit and it made me question the relevance of wondering and pondering body image. It made me think everything was minor.
Pre-virus, I listened to Episode 82 of the Rise Together podcast where Rachel Hollis interviews her friend Amy Porterfield about her struggles with her weight. They talk about Amy attending Weight Watchers at age 8 and her constant quest to meet a ‘goal weight’. They talk about Amy overcompensating with her perfect hair and high heels to be a woman in spite of her weight. They talk about Amy always questing to be ‘small’.
It all hit hard for me. From the Weight Watchers experience to the quest to be ‘small’. It’s all my story as well. I attended Weight Watchers at age 13 and have always muted myself to appear ‘quiet’ and ‘small’ which I see as more feminine.
I had two significant weight loss journeys, one in high school where I lost about 80 lbs but never hit my goal weight. Another after my daughter was born where I lost 75 lbs. Though the second time I hit my size and weight goal, I never felt the surge in self esteem and still continued to fight my demons of ‘not enough’. I still struggled with my body image and truly being myself and taking up the space that I deserved.
My goal now is a strong mom bod. Allowing myself the imperfections that motherhood brings but being strong enough to play sports with my kids and inspire activity in them and others. My goal is to eat healthfully, not be constantly dieting. My goal is to raise a daughter without body image issues.
I am focussing on good habits like eating whole foods, moving my body daily, being mentally strong and drinking lots of water. I am also not weighing myself and defining myself by my clothes size.
Why is this still relevant in the time of the coronavirus? Because more than ever women need to be strong, resilient, energetic and vibrant. That is pretty hard to do if you haven’t built muscle, strengthened your cardio and your mind! It is also hard to do if you are starving in order to fit into a certain pair of jeans.
When my priorities are challenged by working at home, losing opportunities, and homeschooling my kids, my weight and size feel less relevant, including the idea of a ‘goal weight’! It is time to focus on real priorities like eating well, moving our bodies, sleeping and loving each other.
A Baby Story
I love hearing birth stories! After listening to the recent birth story on the Ultimate Health Podcast, I reflected on the stories of the births of my two children and I thought I would share them with you! Listen to my Podcast ‘Learning to Slay the Beasts’ on Apple Podcasts, Google Play and Podbean to hear the full stories!
On the Podcast, I share two completely different birth stories. The story of my first born that was definitely clinical, long and drawn out. I just remember being in a dim, grey hospital room for a long time. And of course the ‘ring of fire’!
Then the story of my daughter that was as fast as a Domino’s pizza delivery, but with all the pain!
In the end, both babies were healthy and I couldn’t love them more! It just shows that the path never goes the way you expect, but the finish line can be magical.
I would love to hear your baby stories, please share them with me in the comments section!
The Four Tendencies
I have always felt that Gretchen Rubin has my career. I remember when I heard of and read the book, The Happiness Project, I was just becoming a more serious writer and considering it as a career. I thought to myself, darn, I could have done that! Like me, Rubin doesn’t write fiction, but researches and writes non-fiction stories. Truthfully, until I read her book I didn’t realize that was a genre.
Though I feel like I could have come up with and written The Happiness Project, I don’t feel that way about her most recent book, The Four Tendencies.
In The Four Tendencies, Rubin describes four key personality profiles based on how you meet both inner and outer expectations. She then moves onto how these profiles impact and drive habits, careers, relationships and really everything in your life!
The four tendencies are:
- Upholder (21%) – meets inner and outer expectations;
- Rebel (17%) – meets neither inner nor outer expectations;
- Obliger (41%) – meets outer expectations; and
- Questioner (24%) – meets inner expectations.
Though they do overlap with each other slightly, Rubin explains that the tendencies are hardwired, they don’t change with your upbringing, gender, age, birth order, where you work/live or who your friends are.
Knowing your own tendency can help you be successful and knowing the tendency of others can help persuade, encourage, avoid conflict with and understand them.
I am a classic Upholder. I like ‘to do’ lists, challenges and calendars. I take orders well, be it from a boss, a personal trainer or a doctor. I have often struggled with why some people get the same advice as me and don’t use it. This book has helped explain my personality so much to me, and why I react differently than my family, friends, and children. It has also explained why my husband, a Rebel, does not respond the same way to calendars and ‘to-do’ lists that I do!
Intrigued? Take the quiz!
Listen to my podcast review of the book (Learning to Slay the Beasts is available on Podbean, Google Play and Apple Podcasts).
Podcasts to get you through all that you do…
On my Podcast – Learning to Slay the Beasts – I recently shared all of my favourite podcasts! I love podcasts from those that tell stories, to those that motivate me and give me tips to live by!
I promised that I would share the names for those that I reviewed and my favourite episodes:
– Rise (EP. 72, 78);
– Rise Together (EP. 82, 56, 62);
– Start Today Morning Show;
– Ultimate Health Podcast (Jul.23, 2019, Jul.30, 2019, Nov.12, 2019);
– Ken Coleman Show (Nov.7,2019);
– Anxiety Coaches Podcast (EP. 562, 529);
– How I Built This (EP. Shopify).
The Learning to Slay the Beasts Podcast is available on Podbean, Apple Podcasts, Google Play.
Learning to slay the beasts... 