For the next two weeks, my guests are going to be talking about physical health, nutrition, and their journeys with health transformations (really incredible transformations), weight, and body image. 

I thought around the holidays is a great time to have those conversations because I know how hard it is from Halloween through New Years with all the rich food, sweets, and homemade food. 

And especially if you’ve already been struggling to establish healthy habits or lose weight it can be a really difficult thing to navigate.

What you put in your body affects not only the way you feel in terms of the energy you have but also how you feel about yourself, your emotions, and your body image. 

Have you ever felt guilty for eating a piece of cake or felt proud of yourself for eating vegetables you normally wouldn’t eat?

You and I are complex beings and our health is not isolated to one part of our body. It’s all connected.

And speaking of being complex, can we talk about finishing out 2020 for a minute?

This year has done a number on all of us mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually.

I’m going to take a moment and reflect on where I’m at right now.

The things and people I’m grateful for.

I’m going to think about where I want to get to.

This year has allowed me to be more open to the possibility of new things and not trying to fit things in a neat box.

In fact, I’m going to expect things to be different and look different than what I thought they might be, from here on out.

And I’m going to acknowledge what this year has taught me.

There are lots of lessons in challenges and in hardships.

Some people choose to see the lessons. Some people choose to see only what’s been hard or unfair or how they didn’t get what they want.

I’ve talked to SO many moms on the podcast who’ve overcome incredible challenges, even before Covid came along.

Just from the most recent seasons of the podcast:

Ashley Bugge in episode 68

Larken Lech in episode 26

Kristina Dulaney in episode 45

Kristin Dillensnyder in episode 44

Go back and take a listen to any of those episodes and you’ll be inspired to pick up, regroup, and push forward with hope and resilience into 2021, no matter what it brings.

I know it’s hard and things probably aren’t looking the way you thought they would when you envisioned December 2020 at the beginning of the year.

I talk about:

• The 7 lessons I’ve taken from my experience this year:

1. The only thing you can control is how you react
2. You can have multiple and opposite emotions at the same time and that’s okay. For example: Being sad and grateful, disappointed and relieved, happy and sad, etc.

3. God is always in control and always fulfills his promises. He’s always working even when we don’t see it.

4. Focus on what’s important to YOU. Everyone will do things differently so you need to stay focused on doing what’s important to you, why it’s important, and standing by that.

5. There’s always another way to do something.

6. Don’t take for granted the luxuries and privileges you have – use them to help others who aren’t as fortunate

7. Taking care of your mental and physical health is non-negotiable.

Links & Resources

5 Simple Ways to Bust Holiday Stress Free Guide

More about the Gotcha Mama Podcast:

The Gotcha Mama Podcast is where we share honest stories of the joys and struggles of mom-life with young kids.

Each week host Amanda Bennett interviews a mom about topics ranging from awkwardly making mom friends, to chasing BIG dreams and finding purpose, to managing crippling anxiety and depression. You’ll hear stories from moms like you with the purpose to inspire, encourage, and entertain you.

We understand that motherhood can be lonely and make you doubt yourself. The Gotcha Mama Podcast exists to let you know that you are not alone as a busy mom of young kiddos, no matter what you’re dealing with.

The show is all about tearing down our insecurities as moms by honestly sharing our stories and a little of what we’ve learned along the way.

We believe it’s a whole lot better riding the rollercoaster of motherhood together!

Please subscribe on Apple Podcasts. Also, please take a second and leave your honest rating and review on Apple Podcasts.  Ratings and reviews are important and greatly appreciated!  And I do personally read each and every one of them.

You can also listen on Stitcher, Spotify, or Google Podcasts.