Trust Me I'm a (mom)(yogi) RD

  This week while leading body image group for clients, I chose to cover the topic of the 7 chakras and how they relate to eating disorder recovery and our relationship to our bodies.  With the information so fresh in my mind, I thought what better time than now to finally finish off my Intro to Chakras posts!  Today I'll be talking BOTH the Third Eye Chakra ( Anja, related to Insight) and Crown Chakra ( Sahasrara, the Spirit).  These are respectively the 6th and 7th chakras.  As seen in the photo below, these final chakras are what bring all the others together utilizing mind, body & spirit.        Our third eye represents our ability to see who we really are - our divine - which can sometimes be clouded by our physical vision (our lens), our inner critic, or even our eating disorder voice.  Our crown chakra, on the other hand, represents our ability to be fully connected spiritually, to all within you and around you. Our insight...our spirit...these bring a

I recently finished the books  Daring Greatly by Brene Brown & Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis - both of which are fantastic reads and I'd highly recommend to anyone.  Not only are both inspiring, but they challenge the reader to take a leap of faith, believe in themselves, & (like the Nike slogan) JUST DO IT - whatever 'it' is for you, no questions asked.  While being vulnerable is scary as shit, it can also be pretty amazing. So that's what I'm doing - being vulnerable and doing what I've only JUST starting having the confidence to do...sharing some of my creative writing/poetry on this blog! This idea started a few few weeks ago when I shared a poem on my social media platforms that I wrote in 5th or 6th grade called "The Girl in the Mirror."  I wrote that piece during a time in my life when I was struggling with an eating disorder, and I can't even explain how therapeutic it was to share that writing with the world (or at le

My holiday weekend was a little bit different this year... With our families being 4+ hours away, and Dee having to work retail Thanksgiving day, Eli and I got to spend some much needed quality time together.  There was no turkey, no mashed potatoes, no stuffing, no pumpkin pie, no family gathering...just me and lil' man hanging out!  I took advantage of this self-care day - I caught up on some reading, watched movies, cooked a meal, knitted a hat (yep - this is something I NEVER thought I'd ever try), and of course played with a toddler.  Even though I was not surrounded by mine or Dee's extended family, I still know I have a lot to be grateful for.  I spent some part of Thanksgiving reading articles, blog posts & social media accounts on the unfiltered history behind this national holiday, and it truly put in perspective the hardships others (Native Americans, for example) had to suffer in order for my very presence to exist in this country.  I'm not proud

  The title of this post is an inside joke between previous coworkers of mine.  It was a slow day at work, and we were laughing at how all of us are bookworms, and that books tend to become destroyed after our use.  Throughout the conversation, one of us used the term "I murder books," and eventually the hashtag above was born...now on to the post... :)   I have always loved books.  Sounds extremely cliché, but it's true.  Ever since I can remember, some of my best memories involved going to the library, reading with my mom before bed, or trying to write my own poems and short stories.  Books have had a profound impact on my life - they allow me to escape, learn, relax, tap into my emotions, be inspired to write, and so much more.  I decided to capture a few of my all time faves & highlight them below (in order of when I first read/started reading them). Enjoy!   1. Peanuts comics by Charles Schulz At my grandma's house I'd read the comic strips

A letter to my body... Once a week, myself and an EDT (Eating Disorder Tech) lead a Body Image group for our residents.  We've covered a broad range of topics, including Health At Every Size (HAES), positive body resources, documentaries, yoga, and so much more.  This past week, my co-facilitator led a lesson on writing a letter to our body, and processing that experience.  I myself have done this exercise numerous times throughout my life, and each time it has allowed me to learn something new.  This week was no different, so I participated in the activity right alongside my clients.  Since this blog allows me to be creative and express myself fully, I figured what better place to present my own vulnerability than right here: Dear Body, Thank you for being the vessel to my soul.  I know I haven't always treated you fairly, or even with kindness...but your amazing-ness does not go unnoticed.  I am able to breathe without thinking; I can move, jump, laug

This post seemed extremely fitting, as I'm currently cooped up with what I like to call 'the-change-of-weather-viral- yuck."  You know, the typical   sneezing, stuffy, coughing, sore throat...and in typical Abbie fashion, no-voice sickness.  From what I'm hearing this strain of cold going around right now is downright awful, lasting up to weeks to run its course.  So yay me! :( I figured I'd put some of my current downtime to good use, providing my two-cents on self-care during sickness.  Wash your hands This should be a no-brainer.  It's the #1 way to take personal accountability to prevent getting sick, or spreading whatever you're infected with.  I get super OCD when I'm ill, probably over-washing/disinfecting.  I figure I'd rather be safe than sorry...so until someone tells me I'm killing whatever good bacteria is left on my skin, I'll keep this habit up. Sleep/Rest I need to take some of my own advice and  relax  more duri

In yoga, meditation, and Ayurvedic health, the 7 Chakras (or energy centers) in our body run from the base of the spine to the crown, or top, of the head.  It's been over a year since I first set a goal to write individual blogs posts introducing each one - so far I've covered: 1.  Muladara   "The Root" located at the base of the spine/tailbone;  2. Swadisthana "Sacral" near the pelvis/lower belly; 3. Manipura "Solar Plexus" near naval/ribs, and 4. Anahata "Heart" ...no location explanation needed. I encourage you to click the respective links above & read each previous post in order.  This will not only help you understand how they work together but also set a foundation before diving into the final three.  Next up is the 5th chakra, Vishuddha, also identified as the " Throat Chakra." This energy center is located near the neck, throat, ears, & mouth; and is represented by the color blue.  It serves a

Even though this post may get a few cackles from my Minnesota friends (I apparently bring up Iowa A LOT)....I decided to commemorate with a blog post reminiscing on the things I love AND miss about my home state.  Now While most people think Iowa looks like this.... ...I promise you there is much more to Iowa than initially meets the eye. 1. Sweet corn  I figured I couldn't go far into this list without mentioning Iowa's largest export, so why not start out strong!  Sure, you can purchase sweet corn in Minnesota, but in my personal opinion NOTHING compares to Iowa grown. When I was younger, summers meant we could purchase fresh ears of corn at farmer's markets or on the side of the road out of a someone's pick up truck.  My mom and grandparents would buy by the dozens and a few nights of the week we'd feast solely on corn on the cob...nothing else.   If I haven't convinced you yet that Iowa corn is 'best of the best' then you need visit Iowa

Ever since I made the decision to become a Dietitian, I always knew my goal would be to impact the lives of those with eating disorders.  I, myself, struggled with atypical anorexia in middle school, and am lucky to say I've been recovered for 15+ years.  However, since working at an eating disorder clinic since March of 2017 - and now in the residential setting - one thing has become quite clear:  there is MUCH to be done for the education (especially for RD's) working in the mental health field.  I was recently consulting with a colleague, and we both agreed that neither of us obtained what we'd consider sufficient mental health background prior to making our mark as ED dietitians. I mean, the terms "coping skills," "trauma" & "de-escalation techniques" are like second nature to me now, but these were for sure never covered in my Medical Nutrition Therapy courses! Whether you are a Dietitian working with eating disorders or not, I thi