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

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!   We are already 3 days into 2020...and I don't know about you, but I love the idea of a new year representing a new start; a new beginning to an entire 12-month calendar ahead of us.   And I'm not just talking about traditional 'resolutions' here.  It's safe to say I'm not a fan of most of the public's reported New Years' resolutions, because a majority of them are infused with diet culture and the belief that we're not already good enough.   Newsflash:  we are ALREADY, INHERENTLY, GOOD ENOUGH.     The New Year does NOT have to include a "new you."  While some may resonate with that lingo, for me I'd rather focus on continuing to learn, grow, and bringing out my best self (which is always present internally - I just have to work to bring those qualities and traits into my main focus)!       Growing up, I don'...

It's mid-December, so that means we are well into the holiday season by now.  Both Halloween and Thanksgiving have come and gone; now the countdown to Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa (and don't forget New Year's) begins.   Unless you've found the secret to avoid all the diet messaging out there, chances are you've actually been inundated with "holiday dieting tips" instead. Back when I worked in a grocery store setting, the fall and winter months were actually a slow time of year [company wide] for dietitians - the assumed rationale by management being "Well, who wants to be HEALTHY over the holidays anyways!?"  As naïve as this sentence sounds (and very one dimensional of what a nutrition expert actually does), it was the narrative we were told.  So instead, we filled our days with food demos, store tours, or holiday-themed cooking classes.  On the off-chance a customer act...

After coming off the 'high' of my first therapy appointment in almost two years, I figured it was time for yet another {short and sweet} post.  So if you're reading this, you also need to hear this: SELF-CARE IS NOT SELFISH! I know I've written about this topic in other posts, but I truly believe in this statement (though easier said than done). It may sound ridiculous, but even during my therapy appointment, the entire time my brain was spewing off self-criticisms like "You don't need this! You're not 'sick enough' or 'worthy enough' to receive therapy."  My negative self talk was literally trying to tell me I needed to earn  therapy...how ridiculous is that!? But after an hour of both tears and feeling refreshed (those of you who go to therapy will understand the irony), I decided to spend the rest of my PTO day doing exactly what I want.  I'm scheduled to attend a yoga class for this afternoon, I'm going to...

"Stop being a worrywart!" "Nothing's wrong with you!" "You're such a hypochondriac!" "Why are you so scared of everything?!" "Abbie's so sensitive!" "You're so weird!" I heard all of these statements (in addition to many, many others) most of my childhood.  What I didn't know then - and only learned much later - was that I've been suffering with undiagnosed anxiety my entire life.  But growing up in an Irish-Catholic family, I learned pretty early on that we don't talk about our feelings - instead, we push them down, and forget they ever existed. So it's not surprising that I didn't have the vocabulary to completely explain what was going on in my growing, anxious-wired brain.  It wasn't until 6th grade, when I was forced to receive therapy for my eating disorder, that I started taking anti-depressants - and yet it still didn't click until my adult life that my...

Vulnerability is scary as hell.  And yet, I think one of the most vulnerable ways a person can be with someone else is to share a piece of their art or creativity.  I know once I share these poems, I may cringe with regret, or believe these aren't perfect enough from the many I have in my journal.  But at the end of the day, these poems are a part of me and are expressing more than probably even I'll ever know. It's been so good to get back to writing, and hope you enjoy :) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Anxiety Is like a heavy void, That nothing can satisfy. It feels as if the  whole earth Is weighing deep at my core; And I am barely breathing.   I gasp, but I cannot get air. I reach, but No one catches me. I scream, but I go unheard. I try to live, but I am not living.   "Anxiety is..." -------------------...

I discussed this topic with clients in Body Image group last week, and I was met with A LOT of resistance.  Not because they didn't like the question per say, but because it brings up a lot of emotional 'baggage' that many clients in residential eating disorder treatment are just not ready to process. But I gotta say, I find this question fascinating!  I originally connected this idea after reading the chapter "It's Not About the Food" from the book 8 Keys to Recovery from an Eating Disorder (written by Carolyn Costin and Gwen Schubert Grabb).  After asking the reader ' How is your relationship with food?' the next paragraph followed: "Your approach to both food and relationships will have similarities because of your temperament and who you are.  Think for a minute about how you are with food.  Are you cautious?  Are you bold?  Do you try to be in control?  Do you fear you will never get enough?  Now a...

Well....it really has been awhile since my last blog post!  So today, I figured I should commemorate another year around the sun with even just a small piece of writing, since I feel I've neglected the blog for some time. If you haven't guessed, yesterday was my big 2-9 birthday!  I remember growing up always looking forward to turning 28, as this would be my golden birthday (August 28th).  Now that I've surpassed that age, it makes me somewhat humble, nostalgic (and if I'm being 100% honest) a little bit nervous for growing older. But I can't complain about yesterday, because it was lovely.  I spent the majority of the day doing what I love - fighting off diet culture and being present for my clients.  (What also helped was picking out some delectable donuts to share with my fellow coworkers).  They were hot, fresh & made to order...but best of all they were DELICIOUS.  Definitely going to give Duck Do...