I was sitting at a party and the tradwife trend came up. Immediate horror and disapproval erupted throughout the group – except for me. The only question that popped into my mind was, “Is it her choice?” What’s a tradwife?...
On the most idyllic day, I was also moving through a lot of stickiness. The storm before the calm, though weather-wise it was the calm before the storm, with Tuesday bringing buckets of rain. Always makes me laugh, because what...
As we move into the fresh space of 2024… It’s ok to be the “weird” one. The one who sees the world differently. The one who eats differently. The one who isn’t drinking. The one who wants a slow, quiet...
I was born onto a macrobiotic diet, which is a mostly vegan, traditional Japanese approach to food. When I was 4, we began branching out to include a wider range of foods, but as a kid, I was skeptical. Since...
When I was deeply struggling with food and body image in my teens, one of my biggest triggers was jealousy. It was one of the worst feelings. I wanted so badly to stop feeling jealous, but I felt stuck in...
Trying to grip onto a static way of eating, with rules and restrictions… … is what led to my eating disorder. Letting go and embracing intuitive eating was my path to healing, and my path to feeling better than ever...
I was standing in the wings, stage left, with a renowned functional medicine doctor and author, who we’ll call Dr. N. She was about to go on stage for IIN Live at Jazz at Lincoln Center, the conference I helped...
I feel at home in my heart. I feel at home in my breath. At times, I feel more at home when I don’t understand the language. When the culture is foreign. When I don’t know what I’m going to...
It’s my 5-year business anniversary. 5 years of working only for myself, on my own terms. 5 years of facing some of my greatest fears, and watching them dissolve (s-l-o-w-l-y lol) under my gaze. 5 years of trading my skills...
Giving yourself permission to rest as much as you need to often removes the desire for excessive sleep or “laziness.” Giving yourself permission to eat whatever you want, in any amount you want, often removes the desire to overeat or...
When I was 23, I wrote an article for Mind Body Green called How To Stop Binge Eating Late At Night. My first two clients found me through that article, and to this day, 10 years later, the topic of...
I woke up thinking about what a privilege it is to be alive at this time in history. We are really in the trenches, retooling society, ourselves. It’s magic and madness at once. Tragedy and triumph. It’s a lot… …...
Cultural influences can be really sneaky. Most of us are pretty immune to the whole lose X in X days thing, but that doesn’t mean restrictive and overwhelming voices don’t seep in. “Clean” eating. Avoiding carbs. Obsessive routines. Constant “cleansing.”...
When I first started intuitive eating, I don’t think I even called it that. I came to it very organically – I didn’t read the book until I had been coaching for years. Here’s how it unfolded… After struggling with...
As I’ve progressed through adulthood, I’ve had more and more of the experiences I’ve always longed for. Travel. Wildlife. Water sports. Food. Dance. There’s a common assumption that as you get older, life becomes repetitive, industrious, dull. There’s an idea...
Overthinking food is a hard limit for me. That doesn’t mean I don’t think about it deeply, especially if I’m having some symptoms, but no overthinking. Overthinking = Anxious, analytical, circular, perhaps critical. Deep thinking = Objective yet gentle, solution-oriented,...
Taking action to feel your best in your body, for yourself, is an act of sacred rebellion. Wellness culture is designed to keep you on a hamster wheel, spending more and more time, energy, and money on products and programs...
You are not a mess-up. A mock-up. A trial run. A rough draft. You were intentionally created. You are completely protected, and divinely guided. You are whole – already, always, and forever. Your role? To take care of your vessel....
What is toxic positivity? Masking your true feelings to appear happy and positive. Telling others how they should or shouldn’t feel or act. Immediately flipping “negative” feelings to the positive, rather than allowing yourself to feel them first. Toxic positivity...
When you feel like you’re doing nothing… When you’re judging yourself, feeling like you should be further along… … you might be gathering the energy and information you need to make your next steps far more effective and aligned than...
I’m not your average intuitive eating coach. I believe it’s ok to care what you look like. It’s ok to pause on certain foods – even if you’re not allergic – if you notice they’re not making you feel great…...
I don’t have an easy relationship with food and my body because I’m lucky. I don’t live on the beach in the South Caribbean because I’m lucky. I don’t work part-time, online, and earn more than some of my previous...
Rejecting popular wellness rules was key to healing my relationship with food and my body, after years of battling myself and breaking down my health. A lot of common health recommendations are the exact opposite of what’s worked for me...
We don’t have to constantly search, seek, struggle. Change, growth, and novelty are parts of life, until the end… … but we do not have to search for a final destination. A definitive resting place. Our bodies are the resting...
I used to struggle a lot with food and feeling good in my body when I traveled… Feeling like I had nothing to eat. Being overwhelmed by options, and what I “should” and “shouldn’t” eat. Having digestive issues, dizziness, and...
Desire doesn’t negate gratitude. We can be grateful for what we have, and want what we want. So often, we talk ourselves down from our desires in the name of “gratitude” — but it’s a mask for fear. That’s ok....
For some wild reason unknown to me, podcast interviews are my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE THING. I am an introvert, but for some reason, sitting down with someone in this capacity makes me feel SO alive and fired up. With that said,...
Have you ever been on a streak of feeling amazing, and then you literally *watch yourself* do something you KNOW will wipe you out, as if you’re out of body? It’s kind of wild, right?! Whether it’s eating something you...
The intuitive decision is not always the easy decision. In fact, it’s often the challenging decision. It’s the deep knowing that rests underneath surface level impulse, calm and unwavering in its truth. Free of ego. Full of a quiet love....
I recently posted a series of intuitive eating polls on my Instagram story, and the responses surprised me. Many of them reflected deep misunderstandings about what intuitive eating really is, so I want to clear the record. Let’s dive into...
Most of the wellness industry talks about WHAT you should eat – fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, healthy fats, slow carbs. Very few people talk about HOW to eat: The mechanics and emotions behind how you nourish yourself. Which is more...
I was always searching for the one. The one way of eating I could follow forever. The one exercise regimen that would “fix” everything. The one career that would be forever satisfying. What I found after years of searching is...
It’s so important to eat, even if you don’t have access to the perfect meal. How “far” do I take this? The best example I can think of is eating a spicy fried chicken sandwich and fries from McDonalds at...
A few months ago I got kind of tired of manifesting. Setting goals. Journaling. Morning practices… … and I started manifesting more than I ever have. 😂 The dreamiest clients, major business growth (2x), fun + intellectually-stimulating dates, sublime +...
Just because your body does not match the beauty standard… … does not mean you have to work on yourself or “watch what you eat.” It’s common to hear a thin person talking about how they don’t really pay attention...
I was on the phone with a friend a couple months ago and he was lamenting the fact that he lost a big work contract for the fall, leaving a “hole” in his income and schedule. My immediate thought was...
A previous client wrote in recently with a great question, and I want to share my response with you. I’d love to hear your experience with this in the comments below! Question: “When you realized – and I am imagining...
If you have a bigger body, most people assume you eat a lot. If you’re smaller, most people assume you eat light. Some people even assume that people with bigger bodies are out of control or gross… … while slimmer...
When I was struggling with disordered eating in my teens and early 20s, I could not stop picking at myself. When I would lose weight, or my skin would clear up, I would find something new to pick at. Something...
We have two choices when something tough happens: We can let it make us weaker or stronger. We can sink down or rise up. Settle for less, settle for victimhood… or step into who we truly are. I choose to...
The key to growth is remembering that there is nothing wrong with you. We cannot grow if we’re always wronging ourselves. When we’re wrong we want to self-sabotage, because we’re already wrong, so why not give up and “just enjoy...
I used to be so scared of my hunger. Especially if I was hungrier than usual one day. I would think it was SO strange, and I would try to figure out WHY. I would get extremely worried that I’d...
Take pleasure in all that you are and all that you do. You, the one who loves to wake up early, journal, and meditate. You, the one who loves to sleep until noon, go to brunch, then get back in...
I wish I could shout this from the highest mountain: Intuitive eating does not mean eating whatever you want, whenever you want, all the time. It does not mean abandoning nutrition and health, and it does not mean giving up...
Everyone has emotional ties with food: Your Mom’s pasta bolognese, Dad’s scrambled eggs, or Grandma’s cinnamon rolls. Food is not just fuel – food is culture, love, connection, and celebration. Preaching food as fuel is narrow-minded at best and ignorant...
My life was very different 7 years ago. I lived in a cozy little studio apartment in the East Village, and took the 6 train to work in the Flatiron District 5 days a week, hustling to grab a coffee...
How can you effortlessly break a habit, rather than white knuckling your way out of it (which rarely works long-term)? One way is through emotional alchemy. Emotional alchemy is about embracing and transmuting your emotions, rather than running from or...
I’m not here to change myself, I’m here to celebrate myself… … and that in itself is the change. A lot of people want us to believe we need to change ourselves, because in doing so we fuel the economy....
Whenever I’m feeling pressure on the physical plane – to find a new apartment, make a career shift, resolve a relationship challenge… … I drop into pleasure and relaxation. I plug into nature and restoration: Beach days, long jungle bike...
Self-doubt can lead to overeating because it provides a momentary feeling of stability and satisfaction. When you doubt yourself, food is a sure thing. Always there… whereas a person or job can feel transitory. Food is neutral. It doesn’t talk...
When you try to override your intuition, your body talks back. The job with the amazing paycheck in the coolest city… … but it would mean sacrificing your time and location freedom, which are fundamental to you. The partner who...
One of my most consistent and valuable practices is questioning what I think I know as absolute. The foods I think work for my body 100% of the time. What I think I want. What I believe I want to...
How you feel affects how you show up. The type of people you attract into your life. Your soul work. Everything. Health is important. Wanting to love how you look and how you feel in your clothes is valid. I...
When I left New York 3.5 years ago, I set out to create an adventurous, exciting, inspiring, yet extraordinarily calm life. I want my adrenaline rushes to come from a Wednesday afternoon surfing waves that are a little too big...
HAPPY NEW YEAR, beautiful! I have an important message for you today… It’s safe to be exactly where you are. Sustainable change can only be created from a place of self-love: Accepting and celebrating yourself as you are today. Voicing...
I glanced down at my bright red nails as the light changed and I accelerated. He did a perfect job. I was on my way to lunch after getting my nails done, and I started thinking about how much I...
In my clients over the past 10 years, the most common symptom I hear is “stomach problems” aka digestive issues. It makes sense, because digestive issues are connected to everything from anxiety to confidence. Why? Because the majority of our...
On Monday I had coffee cake and potato chips for lunch. I used to get scared when I craved “weird” things at meal times. Today, I crave nutritious food most days, but when I crave something “weird” I don’t freak...
My healing process has blown my mind. I used to constantly think about my body and food, and I was always on or off a diet… even at my lowest weight, I rarely felt good enough. Today I eat what...
There have been a couple pivotal times in my life when my stubborn nature deeply served me: 1. Leaving my 9-5 and all part-time jobs to go full-time in my business and move from New York to Costa Rica.
...
Click to keep reading Angela’s testimonial. There is a synergy with each of my clients. A divinity. The coaching container is very intentional and highly specific. It’s not something you fall into. It’s something you choose. Something you step into...
Thanksgiving used to be the hardest holiday for me. I loved it and hated it. Loved being with family, loved eating, loved dancing. What I hated was the unbearable discomfort I’d feel after overeating. That feeling is precisely what led...
One of the most heartbreaking misconceptions I hear about intuitive eating is that it involves abandoning your health in favor of “food freedom” and body acceptance. That health, freedom, ease, beauty, and pleasure cannot coexist. My experience is the opposite...
I used to constantly be looking for something external to help me feel better in my body. A magic wand. I was always into self-reflection and personal development, but I didn’t think those would be the things that REALLY changed...
I LOOOVE my work. It is my heart. It is my soul… … and I LOVE having so much going on in my life that is not work. Travel. Studying foreign languages. Dance. Reading. Adventures. Play. Nature. Friends. Family. Spending...
Sharing something “low vibe” doesn’t bring others down – but stifling your truth can. I know because I used to do it, and I could feel the uneasiness in others. I was scared to share the heavier aspects of what...
Unpopular opinion: It’s not that important to eat tons of vegetables all the time. Not if you’re tight about it. Militant. Not if you feel shame when you eat real pasta instead of zucchini or f•cking cauliflower. Your freedom is...
A student of the Mechanics of Intuitive Eating master class emailed me to say she loved the class and got a lot out of it, but had a big question… How can I really be an intuitive eater when I...
Kat came to me for a single session, back when I offered them, took the tools and ran with it! Here’s a peek at her results: Hormone balance, clear skin, little to no bloating, feeling lighter, and having higher energy…...
When I came here in July, I knew I would be back soon. But I wasn’t sure why, after leaving New York City three years ago, when my body rejected the city I (still) love. I was exhausted, overwhelmed, and...
I rarely do audio and video content, but when I do, I have so much fun with it. Writing is like breathing to me, which is why you generally hear from me that way. BUT, I feel more audio and...
Have you ever turned a sad song off because you didn’t want to cry? Picked a different movie because the one your partner wanted to watch had a dark ending? Avoided a conversation because it could cause conflict? I used...
I have this excitement in my body, for the desires that are on their way to me. Sometimes so much so that I forget I don’t already have them, but it’s not sad when I remember… … because I’m in...
I studied abroad in Florence, Italy when I was 18. My best friend and I shared a 1-bedroom apartment with a balcony, and an incredible view of the Duomo. It was one of the most exciting times of my life....
I was really nervous to teach my first group glass back in February, like REALLY nervous. But I LOVED it. It felt so good to share the tools and processes I’ve developed over the past decade+ with private clients. SO,...
You don’t need discipline. Here’s the thing… Self-reverence, often confused with “discipline,” can feel really hard when you don’t have energy. Basic physical energy. That get-up-and-go feeling. When your adrenals are burned out. When you’re not getting enough of the...
One of my biggest breakthroughs has been completely overcoming overeating. Not because I wanted to change my body as a big priority, or even my digestion… but because overeating was taking me OUT. It was zapping my energy, my life...
A lot of women I speak to have trouble with either: 1. Never feeling quite satisfied after meals, always wanting a little something more. 2. Feeling uncomfortably full after meals, in a shame spiral on the couch. I was an...
Overeating used to be my default. It didn’t feel like a “real” issue, except for the deep discomfort I felt, especially around my middle. I thought I might never make peace with food. Today, I never overeat.
No exaggeration. I...
Nothing about my life is lost on me. The fact that my relationship with food is easy. That I love my body so deeply and on so many levels. That I have soul family in different parts of the world....
I used to feel guilty if I wound up feeling sick after a meal, like it was my fault. Like I should know exactly how every food will affect me, every time. When I released that responsibility – when I...
The meaning we assign something, and the energy we bring to it, is far more important than the thing itself. Because nothing exists without meaning and energy. The only reason the color of the ocean is called “blue” is because...
I had the most beautiful week in Mexico, eating all the best food and exploring the city on the back of a motorcycle. When I got to my Air BnB yesterday for a good night’s rest before traveling home to...
Healing your relationship with food and your body frees you up to create the life you want. My clients consistently grow in their careers, earn more money, attract incredible relationships, and deepen their current relationships. For example… One client is...
After the most intense week in my personal life, it was a beach day… and one of the most beautiful I’ve seen in my three years on the coast. My life is paradisiacal, yes. I have healed my relationship with...
We were laying in bed at his loft on the bowery, and I was looking around wondering why he had so many mirrors. Did he like watching himself have sex? Was he a narcissist? We’d been dating for a few...
I ran up to her, bubbling with excitement. She looked at me, frowned, said “Ummmm, no…” and turned around. This was something that would happen often during my first year of public school, at age 10. I’d been homeschooled up...
I used to almost ALWAYS feel uncomfortably full after meals – unless I was restricting or on a diet, in which case, I was just always hungry. 🙂 Today I never feel uncomfortable after meals – not even on Thanksgiving...
We can reach a certain distance and depth by shaming and judging ourselves, but it doesn’t touch what we can do through self-love, acceptance, and celebration. “The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then...
It can be such a f*cking tough pill to swallow – like those gnarly vitamins with no coating that get stuck in your throat – but, we’re always the ones holding ourselves back. Regardless of the pain, regardless of the...
Most of the time when we eat or drink, we’re adding macro and micro nutrients to our bodies. We’re building our energy, and supporting cellular turnover – regeneration. We’re building our immune systems, and every other system. Caffeine does the...
I looked down and noticed a few bites of oatmeal with peanut butter and jam on one plate, and a little cloud of scrambled eggs on the other. I was done. I started thinking about the connection between achievement and...
When I was a teenager, people used to tell me I looked like a model when I was at a low weight. Like Gisele Bündchen specifically. These comments planted a seed that I could and should always look like that, even if...
I’m always laughing at my quirky little intuitive eating behaviors, and amazed at how much my relationship with food and my food behavior have changed since I fully integrated intuitive eating. Today’s post might give you a laugh, and/or a...
It’s your birthright to feel good in your body. If you’re reading this from your iPhone, or MacBook, or a similar device, it’s very likely that… You have massive choice. Stress and suffering are optional – old programs that have...
As important as emotional processing is in connection to food, I do not want you to fall under the belief that you must be perfectly processed and aware at all times in order to avoid emotional eating, overeating, or eating...
Last night, inspiration struck me as it often does, around midnight. I’m a night owl. A creative. An artist. A writer. A coach. My life is my art. My medium is the present moment. So I’m doing a thing, but...
I saw them riding their Vespas across 9th street, and it reminded me of seeing the really popular girls in high school walk by. I shrank a little bit inside, feeling like I could never have that or be that....
When you’re practicing intuitive eating or thinking about starting, it’s normal to have a lot of questions… Can this actually work? Or will I just be floating in space, mouth open, eating pizza and ice cream with my jeans unbuttoned...
I’m not obsessed with anything. Not even intuitive eating. If I’m in a situation where I can’t get the food my body is asking for and I’m hungry, I’m absolutely going to eat. I enjoy what’s available as much as...
I didn’t want to be the one. I’d answer correctly in class, and fear that someone would call me a teacher’s pet again. A woman would compliment my body and I’d feel guilty, like maybe I had something she could...
Wheat has had a tumultuous 20+ years. We hate it. We love it. We write it off. We can’t stop eating it. It feels like wheat has some mystical grip on us, and finally, we let it go for good....
I was VERY nervous to teach my first master class… but it was one of those intuitive hits that came through me so powerfully it felt like fact. I felt deeply called to do it. Underneath my fear, I wanted...
I’ve heard people say that digestion begins with your eyes, when you look at your food. I’ve heard people say that digestion begins in your mouth, when you start chewing. Digestion actually begins in your mind, when you start thinking...
I am in awe of my clients. They are brilliant. They are winning in so many different ways. They are in it for the long game. They are committed to their growth. Two things I want to share today. 1....
Mariah Carey needs fried chicken and 12 vanilla protein drinks. Alicia Keys needs individual packets of Quaker Oats Instant Oatmeal and room temperature Evian water. Taylor Swift needs mac and cheese and 2 four-packs of Red Bull. … and these...
Intuitive eating is about listening to your body more than your brain. Your brain might say have a salad cause you had pizza yesterday, but that’s not actually what your body wants. Your brain might say have a burger so...
For me, today, overeating would literally feel like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole that’s made of steel. I compulsively ate and overate throughout my teens and early 20s… because I was constantly trying to restrict...
Food is the innocent bystander. The humble servant. No level of happiness, success, or money will cancel painful life experiences. Whether you’re depressed or in bliss, painful things can happen. Whether you’re in your dream role or on unemployment, painful...
I do not have it all figured out. I do not feel perfect 100% of the time. But there are some huge motherf*cking things I have conquered and healed. Restriction. Overeating. Binging. Purging. Self-judgment. Smallness. These are things I thought...
Pleasure is fundamental to health, which is fundamental to life. So why are we still so hesitant to talk about it? Why is it so rarely included in self-care conversations? Activating our full range of sensation and satisfaction affects everything...
The advice I got growing up – from friends, family, and strangers – was to eat very little. Less less less. Control control control. Tighten tighten tighten. People were shocked when they saw how much I ate at times. I...
This is a question I get a lot: How can you hear your intuition? Let your mind rest so your soul can speak. Soul. Intuition. Instinct. They’re deeply connected. We can’t hear them well when the mind is running. I...
There was this mind-blowing food study done on healthy soldiers who had never dieted, included in the OG Intuitive Eating book. Long story short: After beginning to restrict and control their food, the test group developed a preoccupation with food....
Have you ever been on a streak of feeling amazing, and then you literally *watch yourself* do something you know will wipe you out, as if you’re out of body? Whether it’s eating something you don’t even want, texting someone...
Owning and integrating my shadow – the aspects of myself I’ve historically judged, rejected, and tried to cover up – has been one of the biggest keys to healing my relationship with food and my body. Allowing ourselves to BE...
When I was struggling with food, I’d get really freaked out when I was much hungrier than usual one day. I was afraid I would gain weight. I would also get freaked out when I was less hungry some days,...
You can trust your hunger. And your fullness. And your cravings. It’s 100% normal to be super hungry some days and not so hungry other days. To crave meat some days and not others. To naturally want lots of vegetables...
Western culture teaches us to form attachments. To grip onto things. A specific university. A specific life path. A specific type of partner. And of course, a specific body type: Thin, fit, curvy “in the right places.” We get ideas...
One of the biggest challenges my clients face is bouncing back and forth between eating in alignment and then overeating to the point of numbing out and feeling sick. This is one of the biggest challenges I’ve overcome, personally. From...
Well hot damn. We’re here. We did that year. We made it. 2020 was my best and hardest year yet. Some of my greatest dreams and biggest nightmares came true. I feel stronger and more resilient than ever. I am...
Intuitive eating is not about changing, fixing, faking, forcing, or controlling. It’s about allowing. Allowing our bodies to move, eat, breathe, feel, and think in a way that serves us. In a way that makes our lives easier. A way...
In the sea of you-can-and-should-feel good all the time messaging, remember this. It’s ok to have bad days. More than ok. Normal. Necessary. It’s ok to feel whiny sometimes. You don’t have to be “blissed out” all the time. There’s...
Even after taking the massive risk of moving to Costa Rica from New York, leaving behind every external structure I knew as safe, there was still a lot I thought I might never be able to do. One of my...
I want you to remember that… Food is there to support you. It’s SAFE to feel really, really good. >> Tell yourself how safe it is to be stunning in every way. >> Journal on how safe it is and...
If you’re consumed by judgment or hatred for your current body, you’re not in the present moment. If you’re comparing yourself to other women, you’re not in the present moment. If you’re not in the present moment, it’s very difficult...
A client recently shared that she was starting to release weight and embody her “most radiant form.” She asked me if it was safe to love this, to love being smaller, in her case. Would she wind up self-sabotaging? Would...
You’ll let yourself feel as good as you believe you deserve to feel on a subconscious level. The media grabs us at a young age and starts bombarding us with messages that we’re not good enough, and we must control...
I used to think I would never get out of the cycle of restricting, overeating, and bulimic behavior. That food would always have power over me. That I’d always feel out of control and at war with my body. I’ve...
You cannot spend the rest of your life eating kale and grilled chicken while avoiding gluten and dairy. When you constantly try to control what you eat, you enter a danger zone, because you’re much more likely to want to...
The women’s magazines I used to read as a teenager had some twisted tips on self-love. They’d tell you to find a body part you love and emphasize it through your clothes, while hiding the areas you don’t like. You’d...
If you’re ready to reconnect with your natural energy source and get your metabolism back, ACTIVATE is open for enrollment. This is my private health coaching program where you… Break the diet cycle through intuitive eating. Develop unconditional self-love and...
We’re taught to demand everything of our bodies and give ourselves very little. Even if you had amazing hippy parents who taught you to listen to your body and honor your sleep cycles, most of us experienced some version of...
I got this reply from a reader the other day… “Lula thank you very much but I’m not overweight, I wish you success.” Of course, I made sure he knows where to unsubscribe (at the bottom of any email <3)....
I used to feel like food controlled me – like it literally had me in a vice grip. Now I know that food is my b*tch. Food exists to support me. I eat for nourishment and enjoyment. I don’t plan...
Overeating can be really triggering. That too-full feeling can make it seem like you’ll never be at peace with your body and food. Total shame spiral. These are the 7 steps I recommend taking after you’ve overeaten… Forgive yourself, and...
I am SO excited to announce that ACTIVATE is open for enrollment! This is my private health coaching program where you break the diet cycle, develop unconditional self-love, get your metabolism back, and feel really good in your body. If...
I’ve always really LIKED my body on a fundamental level, even when I felt like I didn’t look great… … and even in past moments of deep judgment of my stomach, arms, or round face – the three body parts...
Starting around age 10, I got the message, over and over, that my body was too sexual, and that sexuality was dangerous… 1. When my 5th grade principal called me into his office to tell me my shorts were too...
It’s safe to feel everything – and it’s so necessary. When we suppress emotions, we intensify and/or numb them. For example, by suppressing sadness we intensify it, and we numb happiness. We can’t selectively feel. When we ignore “negative” emotions,...
I used to feel a lot of resistance and shame around asking for help. Especially when it had to do with my body and health. I felt like I should always have the answers. In fact, my self-sufficiency has been...
When I was restricting my food I would avoid cravings for hours, days, and sometimes weeks. I would tighten, physically and emotionally. Try to resist. Distract myself. Look at pictures of painfully thin women on the internet. Find substitutions, like...
We’re taught that self-control and punishment lead to behavioral change. Yet so many people who grew up with strict backgrounds end up rebelling, whether through drugs, alcohol, sex, or complacency. In the same way, if your parents were strict about...
I struggle with lunch sometimes. I’ll have a really good breakfast and then get deep into work mode and not really want to pause for lunch. I always have snacks on me – celery, dark chocolate, seaweed, potato chips –...
My mom always told me to listen to my body. She’d sometimes let me eat brownies for dinner, if that’s what my body was really, really asking for. I sometimes lied just to get the brownies and skip dinner. I...
A woman messaged me a couple weeks ago asking… How do I know which foods are right for my body? I’ve spoken with her a couple times, once over the phone and many times online, and she appears to be…...
A new reader recently emailed me this, lightly edited and condensed… “My biggest thing is just eating when I don’t really want to. Could be boredom, could be stress, could be I just like the taste of food. I just...
I used to reject myself when I was thin AND when I was bigger. The majority of my teenage and early 20s struggle was feeling too big, but I had a phase of feeling too thin. I’d look in the...
I love food. I love cooking. I love dining out. And I’m kind of a lush. I also love feeling really good in my body. Like really really good. So we eat all the things. And we listen very closely....
And if you feel you have extra weight, how it’s serving you… … and how to let it go, if that’s what you want. I want to preface this by saying no body shape or size is better or healthier,...
Whether breakfast is the most important meal of the day depends on your body type and metabolism. For a lot of women struggling with emotional eating and chronic dieting, breakfast is incredibly important for emotional and physical reasons. Here’s why…...
Five years ago 😱 I wrote a free guide for my community, my 5-Step System To Ditch Bloating Without Giving Up Your Favorite Foods. Now I’m so excited to share the new, updated 2020 version with you! Just click here...
When I was in high school and college, my goal was to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts and get a 9-5 job making 50k. That’s it. I just wanted to be stable and secure. Nothing wild. Today, I live...
Hello my dear friend, I’m sending you so much love and sunshine from Costa Rica, wherever you’re at today – physically, mentally, and emotionally. No response is bad or wrong. We are all in our own experience with the current...
A brand new podcast interview with Jared Levenson of Eating Enlightenment is out! I’m so excited to share this with you. We talk about… – my early history with food and my body – whether it’s ok to want to...
Food is your executive assistant. Your greatest support. Your consensual b*tch — who you adore and deeply respect. But you’re the boss. You are not a victim of food. Food cannot trick you or sabotage you. But it can feel...
Think back to the last three meals you ate. Did they delight and satisfy your taste buds and senses? We humans need alllll the flavors and textures. Otherwise we feel bored and deprived, which can lead to overeating and binge-eating....
I woke up to a thread of texts from one of my ACTIVATE coaching clients. She was sharing a couple big wins – feeling grounded and peaceful in her body – and a tricky situation that came up with her...
I’m SO excited to share everything I throw in my bag for a workday here in Caribbean Costa Rica! As a total voyeur I looove these types of things, and I hope you do too. Keep reading to check out...
A few thoughts that popped into my head during yoga class yesterday, coming from someone who used to have the bitchiest self-thoughts, and frequently restrict to less than 1200 calories/day, and then binge and purge… “Awww my feet are SO...
I am GIDDY excited to start working with the women who are saying YES to ACTIVATE. Doors close on Friday, and then we dive into the journey! This program is for you if you’ve tried every eating approach and self-love...
When you make peace with your body now, your nervous system calms down. If you want to shift how you feel or look, it’s much easier to take intuitive action from that relaxed state. As promised, here are 3 actionable...
When I was in the restrict-binge-purge cycle (late teens – early 20s), I was depriving myself of nutrients I needed. And when I did allow myself to eat a good, full meal, I would often get rid of it ASAP....
Do you ever feel like no one really wants to hear about your wellness goals? As humans we often bond over suffering and pain. We commiserate together. And when you have a health-related goal it can trigger people, and make...
If you struggle with the fear of gaining weight, tomorrow or in 10 years, I’m SO excited to share this brand new Bellaplume feature with you! The things we’re afraid of hold power over us. New age manifestation rhetoric says...
Happy New Year! I hope your year is off to a FABULOUS start. I’m getting super, super excited to head back to Costa Rica in a few days. 😍 The past two months in New York have been incredible in...
Getting triggered during the holidays does not make you inadequate, unworthy, or less evolved than you thought you were. Being with your family can be the most wonderful and challenging thing in the world. That doesn’t make your family as...
Feeling stuck on what to make for dinner tonight? I made these chickpea kale tacos with spicy yogurt and smoked scamorza cheese the other night, and they were sooo good. Below are the instructions – these are fast and easy,...
WOW this is an email clip from an ACTIVATE health coaching client who’s only on *DAY TWO* of her custom food-based reset… “I’m feeling really good. I started the official reset yesterday, but adhered to the guidelines starting on Sunday,...
We have to stop mentally “cancelling” days as bad or worthless because we ate the wrong thing, drank too much coffee, or ordered that 3rd glass of wine and regretted it. Stay with yourself. Be as present as you can....
Last night I ate… … a whole pizza (not vegan, gluten-free, or dairy-free), and then a medium ice cream cone (also filled with dairy and gluten) with chocolate and coffee gelato as I biked along the ocean at sunset. Not...
I’m ashamed that the original deadline for this round of ACTIVATE was last week, and I’ve barely shared about it over the past two weeks. I’m sorry. Why does it matter, and why am I apologizing to you? You joined...
Lauren texted me that she had just been to the doctor and he said she’d lost 10 pounds. When she came to me one of her goals was weight loss. BUT instead of automatically celebrating, I said “Ooooh. How do...
10 years ago I was studying abroad in Florence, Italy, and loving life… only thing that wasn’t going so well: I was bulimic. From the outside I looked young, happy, and thin. All that was true, but I was struggling...
It’s easy to forget how much food affects EVERYTHING: Your mood, outlook, energy, relationships, work, digestion, body, focus… EVERYTHING. It’s easy to get jaded, say f*ck it, and give up on feeling great, because it just feels too complicated, and...
Japanese Steak & Rice Bowls with Soy Butter Serves 2 Ingredients 1 big grass-fed ribeye steak (the best) 2 cups cooked white rice (I usually prep a big batch at once) 1 small red onion 2 cloves garlic 1 big...
I go to this super sweet cafe here in Costa Rica at least once a week for breakfast. I love rolling out of bed, not meditating, and not doing kundalini or anything else first thing. If you’re a pretty regimented...
Honestly, I never thought I’d be writing this, but I can’t not share it with you. There’s a new “gluten” in town that could be very sneakily sabotaging your energy, mood, and gut health. And it’s in avocado, spinach, kombucha,...
Personally, I’m not a big fan of meal prep. I like to decide what I want at the last minute, go shopping for it, and make it fresh. My lifestyle affords me that luxury. I live in the Caribbean by...
Food exists to support you. Food is your servant. Your b*tch… who you love, of course. Food is in your life to fuel you and bring you pleasure. But for most people it’s waaaaay more complicated than that. How would...
It really pisses me off when I see health experts saying things like “You just need to eat less and exercise more to lose weight. It’s simple math. Burn more calories than you consume.” OMFG, this is so off target,...
What if food was no longer a source of stress, shame, and confusion? Up until 7 years ago, that’s exactly what it was for me… – I was constantly stressed about eating too much or too little, gaining weight, and...
One of my clients could not figure out why she was feeling so lazy and tired, regardless of eating healthy and drinking coffee. In fact, she realized coffee was making her more tired. Like making-her-nearly-fall-asleep-at-the-wheel tired. Adrenal fatigue robs you...
When I was working full-time in an office, I loved my work. It was 95% creative (copywriting and nutrition curriculum development) and I always got great feedback and frequent promotions. BUT, the environment was literally making me feel like I...
Do you ever notice that a lot of people who are naturally fit, thin, whatever you want to call it… seem to eat whatever they want and not get preoccupied with food? How does that work? First of all, I...
One of my heroes, Marie Forleo, always says that you’re stealing from others if you have something valuable to share and you don’t market it. This totally used to be me. I have a proven system for mastering intuitive eating,...
Matcha can be GROSS when it’s done wrong, but I like to drink it instead of coffee sometimes. It’s got to taste good though. Duh. That’s why I’m sharing my easy 3-step ball jar matcha latte recipe today. There’s two...
Do you find yourself slipping into self-doubt and angst even though you know everything you should be doing? When that happens to me I know I need to be guided and held, and I get my butt to a class....
In my super early 20s I was dating a guy I thought I was going to marry. He was hilarious, successful, incredibly loving, adoring, generous… I could go on. I remember the day I met his best female friend, a...
I was sitting at one of my favorite restaurants in the West Village this morning eating breakfast – mushroom scramble, crispy potatoes with horseradish cream, rye toast, and a way-too-big side of bacon. Just how I like my bacon. Crispy, and...
HAPPY NEW YEAR! <3 I hope it’s off to a beautiful start. I’m the type of person who will try anything once, except… … another diet. Tried all of them. Failed. Even “clean eating” becomes problematic, because that implies that...
I don’t eat pancakes and quesadillas and muffins everyday. Sometimes my lunch plate looks like this. It’s about the ebb and flow, and developing complete trust in your body so you never have to agonize over your food choices, or...
I spent a lot of time in the bathroom after Thanksgiving dinner in 2006. That marked the beginning of my eating disorder: restricting my intake to 1000-1200 calories a day, binging, and purging to varying degrees of intensity over the...
Confession: I’ve always loved those little blurbs in magazines that tell you what the celebrities are eating or what their daily routines are. Today I’m sharing five things I’m loving lately – because they’re just awesome and/or they’re making me...
I woke up in screaming pain. There were faint little drops of blood on my pillow. I texted the only 24-hour, English-speaking taxi driver I knew in my little Caribbean beach town, asking if the hospital was open (?!) I’m...
Have you ever been fired? If so today’s post will make you feel a whole lot better about it. I’m sharing what I learned from getting fired, and why it ended up being a GREAT thing. Plus you might be...
I LOVE being able to make a delicious, nourishing meal in 15-20 minutes. As a creative I often need quick energy and focus so I can stay in my flow. Did you know it usually takes 20 minutes to refocus...
I was sitting at the bar at my favorite local Italian restaurant in Puerto Viejo, sipping a Negroni out of a large wine glass with two orange slices in it, three olives on a giant skewer, and a big straw....
99% of inspirational quotes on Instagram piss me off. Two reasons… 1. There’s too many of them. 2. Most of them infer that you need to fix something to feel good. Wanting to make a change – whether it’s clearing...
Three weeks ago I made my biggest adult life transition to date: I left my apartment in Brooklyn to spend a month with my family upstate, and I quit my part-time restaurant job to go full time with the business...
A couple weeks ago I was feeling sick and needed to be with fam, so I went to my brother’s (just a few miles away) and we had a sleepover. The next morning I was a little anxious about getting...
I was sitting cross-legged on the beach, where the ocean meets the sand and then recedes. I was topless, covered in black sand, with my belly completely relaxed. Even at my absolute thinnest, when I was eating disordered, I would...
This thing used to happen to me where I’d feel super bloated a couple hours after a meal, but still hungry. It was this weird combo of feeling like my stomach was blown up but I wasn’t satiated. Have you...
SO many of you have told me that bloat is your #1 issue. A lot of you have said you don’t even want or “need” to lose weight per say, you just want to get rid of bloating for good....
Picture this: You finally start following a hardcore Paleo diet, going to yoga twice a week, and doing HIIT three times a week. You’re meditating every morning, and taking mini digital detoxes on Sundays – you know all about EMFs...
As a kid I would come home from school and hear from my mom how her cancer patients were in remission after working with her for six months (literally), or how her latest cooking client had lost 15 pounds and...
Let’s talk about how to make baked eggs! I recently posted a pretty photo of my baked eggs on Instagram and my friend Bree commented that she didn’t know you could bake eggs! I love baked eggs so much that I...
I got wiped out by the flu a couple weeks ago. It happens to the healthiest of us. I was frustrated, and felt silly to be stuck in bed when I’m normally such an active person. The silver lining? I...
Stop judging it. Yourself. The thought. The thing. Breathe. It’s all normal. You’re not alone. If you’re having a feeling, there are thousands of people having that exact same feeling at that exact same time. Stop judging it. How? Put...
HAPPY NEW YEAR! What are you most excited about this year? For me, I’m bouncing up and down with excitement to fully integrate Reiki into my integrative health practice. When I first heard about Reiki, I was skeptical. It seemed...
I love Thanksgiving – it’s one of my favorite times to gather with family and eat alllllll the delicious food and remember how grateful I am for my life. Food wise, Thanksgiving can be tricky for a lot of people....
When I woke up on a recent morning – Wednesday, October 18th, to be exact (I LOVE tracking things, total nerd) – I found myself wanting to reach straight for my phone to check out Instagram and see if I’d gotten any texts...
I’m insanely excited to announce that next Thursday, November 2nd I’m giving in-person Reiki sessions in NYC! Reiki is the one practice that always gets rid of any stress I have, helps me maintain my weight, and keeps my digestive...
I. MISS. YOU. This summer has been filled with so much goodness, and I want to give you a big update. Grab a coffee, tea or cocktail and come sit with me. Much to share. I also want to ask...
Three weeks ago I introduced the Fear of Feeling Good (link in the PS if you’re wondering what that means), and since then, every Tuesday I’ve been dropping a bite-sized action step into your inbox to help you heal any...
For the past two weeks we’ve been discussing the Fear of Feeling Good and what you can do to heal the underlying psychology that’s keeping you from having the body and life you want – finally losing the weight, getting gorgeous...
Last week I introduced the concept of Fear of Feeling Good, and today I’m sharing the first tangible action step you can take to get over this underlying fear and finally lose extra weight, get clear, glowing skin, and fix...
Have you ever sat down to do something that’s really important and found yourself browsing shoes online, mechanically organizing your Google Drive, or cleaning your bedroom meticulously – even though it’s not even messy? When we plan to… Nail a...
In high school and college my skin was super reactive. After eating dairy – and sometimes for what seemed like no reason at all – I would get cystic breakouts that were PAINFUL. I would cake makeup on thinking no...
I had a BIG realization last week when I ran out of vinegar and realized that poaching eggs could be even simpler than I thought. Game-changer. I wanted to share my new, easier-than-ever technique with you today so you can...
This is gonna be quick and dirty. This isn’t a shiny Instagram moment or a golden opportunity for me to show off my recipe development skills or restaurant prowess. Don’t worry, they’re still intact, I’m just feeling the quick AND...
Hey what’s up hello?! I’ve been listening to Trap Queen by Fetty Wap a lot this week. Don’t judge. I’ve also been thinking about EVIDENCE, and how important it is to pay attention to the hard evidence in your life. What...
I did NOT expect to write here over the holiday break. Then I found myself in awe of how far I’ve come with something that should be so simple and enjoyable: Christmas dinner. I knew I needed to share what that means...
Oh my goodness it’s been a WHILE since we’ve connected, and it feels so so good to just be sitting on my cozy bed writing to you. 🙂 I hope you had a wonderful holiday with your friends, fam, or...
No matter how great our lives are, there are days we feel straight up lost and just want to curl up in the bath like the girl in this awesome photo by Magdalena Wosinska. I recently had a day like...
Since healing from my eating disorder, gaining weight, and losing weight, the thing I’m most proud of is not that I’m perfectly intuitive and aligned in my food and life choices 100% of the time (cause, well, I’m not)… The...
Deciding WHAT to eat used to be a PAINFUL process for me. There were so many different voices in my head: What I instinctively wanted, what the latest Glamour article told me I should be eating, what my Instagram idol...
Pancakes used to be one of those foods that gave me tunnel vision. Once a plate of them was in front of me, I would devour the whole thing without thinking twice. They’ve always been a super novel, fun, emotional...
I HATE when clichés are true. Sometimes it makes me twitch. But there’s one big one I can’t argue… Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Yep. It’s true. Why? – Wakes up our metabolism and sets us...
In 6th grade science class I would constantly raise my hand and answer questions correctly. Mr. O’Malley loved it. One of my classmates, Gina*, hated it. And she talked. Whispers spread about me being a teacher’s pet and sucking up....
OMG, one of my favorite meals EVER is shrimp tacos and passion fruit margaritas, specifically in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica. But not just any shrimp tacos. Perfectly tender, slightly crispy seared shrimp with a crunchy, pickled slaw and creamy aioli....
From the time I was a little girl until a few years ago, I always changed the radio station when a song came on that made me feel sad. I didn’t want to feel nostalgic or upset so I would...
I used to be TERRIFIED of high-calorie, high-fat foods, especially carbs and cheese. I thought I had to give them up forever to maintain my weight. It SUCKED, and seeing photos of melty, gooey deliciousness usually made me wanna cry....
I got stuck in a TERRIBLE rainstorm yesterday and got absolutely drenched. About 3 minutes after I stepped outside my Brooklyn apartment to grab groceries, a few raindrops started coming down. Within minutes, it was pouring outside. When I finally...
Last week I got a facial at a new spot upstate, and my face looks like a BATTLEFIELD. I kid you not. I walked into the spa without a single visible spot on my face, and walked out with swelling, nail...
Cleansing Green Soup Ingredients Serves 4-5 1 head cauliflower 1 bunch green asparagus 2 cups baby spinach 1 medium-large white onion 2 cups water 1 cup Greek yogurt (I like Fage) Sourdough, gluten-free, or other toast of your preference Juice of...
I am sooo excited to share my big Huffington Post debut with you! I’ve been wanting to contribute there for a while, and today it’s a reality. Click here, or the photo below to check it out, and please comment...
Do you feel like you’ve lost your spark? Your fire? That thing that used to make you wanna spring out of bed at 6am and hit SoulCycle, bang out brilliant work on your laptop all day, then make an organic,...
Did you know I used to have a deep, intimate relationship with Nutella? And peanut butter. And bread. And brownies. And really ANYTHING I could get my hands on late at night. I was so physically and mentally starved after...
The first time I decided my body was really not OK was when I stepped on the scale before my sister’s wedding in Tulum and saw the number 128. I was 17 and this seemed huge. Before this, I wasn’t...
When I was 17 I put myself on a 1200-1400 calorie per day diet. That’s like, three bites of food. No, I’m kidding, but it’s very very little. I would measure teaspoons of oil and dressing, and measure out half...
I felt crappy and exhausted last Tuesday morning, and it quickly became a cold and fever on Wednesday. I bounced back really quickly, and today I want to share exactly what I ate and what supplements I took to get there....
Every day I hear at least a handful of women talking about their new diet, whether it’s on the 6 train heading to work, at my local downtown NYC coffee shop, or at yoga. It makes me cringe because diets...
I’m bursting to tell you about all the debauchery I got into in Miami over the weekend…not. 🙂 It looked more like this… Yoga Read by the pool Swim at the beach Room service Contemplate life in silence Repeat …all...
This makes me laugh – one of my first ever recipe posts: Simple Kale Superfood Soup. 🙂 Have you seen it? Yes, that’s an iPhone photo, but I still make it all the time and get notes from readers who love it. Today,...
I used to worry I was wasting my time by engaging in “pointless” conversations and activities. I would skip after-work drinks to read a self-help book, write, workout, or clean. Always working on something. When I did find myself in everyday conversations at...
From 2007-2009 I was active in the LiveJournal eating disorder community. I’d log in and post pictures whining about how fat I felt, share my puny daily food intake – 1200 calories or less – and exchange tips and tools...
During my first big internship at Teen Vogue in college, I noticed I felt drained and tired after spending a few hours on the computer, and totally wiped out after a full day. Even after getting a good sleep, eating...
As a person with a full schedule it can feel really hard sometimes to cook my own meals. At the busiest of times, I find myself slipping into the habit of ordering even BREAKFAST via Seamless multiple times a week....
Question for ya: How many times a day do you want to eat something delicious but guilt kicks in and you reluctantly choose something more virtuous? Making decisions around what to eat used to be agonizing for me. There were...
I made cookies last weekend, and they turned out REALLY good. They feature coconut flakes, oats, maple syrup, coconut oil, almond butter, and chocolate chips. I’m calling them Sweet Six Cookies cause the combo is insanely good. They’re also super easy...
If you know me at all, you probably know that I’m FIERCELY anti-diet. I love food. I love wine. I love dessert. And everything in between. Plus, diets make you overweight and unhappy (more on that in another post). I...
I found this crazy note while I was reading in bed at my parents over the holidays, looking for some chapstick in my nightstand. It’s a detailed list of foods I was allowing myself to eat at age 17. Can you...
I HATE the term “guilty pleasures.” Almost as much as I hate the word “yummy” (don’t ask). It’s one of my biggest pet peeves. People seem to love asking me what my “guilty pleasures” are, talking about their “guilty pleasures,”...
I hope you had a wonderful holiday if you’re in the U.S. and celebrate Thanksgiving! For me, this year was MUCH different than usual. For the first time I felt completely at peace in my body, calm, and sexy. And...
I love bridging the gap between spirituality and practical nutrition, so today I’m giving you my two personal secret nutrition weapons to balance overeating and feel great no matter what I eat. Because it’s not all about meditation, and it’s not all...
I still get overwhelmed with satisfaction and joy when I get Facebook messages, comments and emails from people saying a blog post entirely changed the way they look at food. I also love love love getting questions from you. I...
I was sitting in the lifeguard chair, scanning the water and daydreaming about pizza, or anything that wasn’t pre-portioned turkey rollups, spinach salad, and exactly one tablespoon of olive oil and vinegar dressing. I was 17 and thought that perfectly...
I can’t not share this with you today, because it’s been coming up for almost ALL my clients: The pressure cooker effect. It’s like everyone’s screaming for guidance on this, because we’re all stressed in some way. F*ck, laying around...
I became quite the campfire chef on a trip to the Catskills with my boyfriend back in September. I made a pretty incredible fish-in-parchment type thing with red snapper, Meyer lemon, basil, great olive oil, and pink salt, and I’m...
Horrific news broke recently: Cheese is as addictive as cocaine. Or so a new study says. First it was sugar. What’s next? A 12-step program to get off kale? A little patch to slap on your arm that stops the...
I was going to make classic risotto with the works, but I got home from the grocery store yesterday, positive that I already had risotto rice, and I totally didn’t. I only had brown basmati rice. SO, I ended up...
I woke up filled with anxiety, my heart pounding, mouth dry, wondering if I was late. I rolled over and grabbed my phone to see what time it was, and my heart started beating out of my chest; it was...
When I sit down to a meal, I have five goals: 1. Sensory pleasure and satisfaction. 2. Satiation – aka, it’s gotta fill me up. 3. Blood sugar stabilization. No crazy spikes and dips. Protein + fat + complex carbs,...
Last week my best friend Heather texted me that her man was sick and asked for recommendations. I sent back a group of mile-long texts with specific DO’s and DONT’s and immediately realized I should share this stuff with you....
Today I have a super simple, delicious, flu-fighting recipe for you. It’s almost TOO simple, so I was hesitant to share it, but a lot of you have told me you love easy recipes, and this tastes so good that...
I have something pretty embarrassing to share today, but let me give you some background info first: From the time I was 14-22, I felt like I was spinning my wheels, trying every diet, losing and gaining weight yet never...
Ever been to a barbeque where the vegetables sit there to wilt while everyone scarfs down burgers and “artisanal” hot dogs? Hey, artisanal means healthy, right?! Burgers (my preference) and hot dogs are awesome, but vegetables have the potential to...
I was shocked when I found out that coffee is one of the highest mold crops, and your everyday cup is filled with mycotoxins (mold) that seriously impact your health. Gross, right? But it’s true. Apparently, 91.7% of all coffee...
I made this miso-glazed salmon a couple weeks ago when I was visiting my parents, and there was drooling involved. And a lot of silence. You know food is good when people stop talking. I paired it with coconut black rice...
The worst diet advice I ever got was to eat a small salad before meals to fill up and eat less calories. Even worse? I used to give that advice to other people too, like my high school waitressing friends (I’ve...
I worked at a fancy Greek restaurant in college and would always grab rogue Greek-style fries from the kitchen. They were the best thing ever. Thick-cut fries tossed with grated Greek cheese – feta or kefalograviera – salt, pepper, and...
In yoga class last week we had just finished a really tough abs sequence (I was feeling the BURN) and the instructor finally told us to hug our knees into our chest, giving us a little break. What she said...
I had a really painful tooth infection last week and it was near-impossible to eat anything except smoothies and soup. I got so bored I almost tried baby food. On my third day of drinking smoothies for two meals a...
When I was interning and writing for fashion magazines, I realized I was contributing to the ball of anxiety that 99% percent of people feel to constantly improve and be perfect. Anxiety, fear, and shame compromise your immune system and...
I used to believe something super crazy: That you have to count every calorie and exercise religiously to have the body and life you want. Yeah, I feel kind of silly now that I know that’s scientifically false, but isn’t...
I worked at a Greek restaurant for three years in college, and my manager would routinely make me cry, BUT, I learned how to make an awesome Greek salad. And Felix would even let me chop the cucumbers sometimes. So...
Question for you: What’s your energy like during the day? Do you jump out of bed with no alarm feeling totally energetic, creative and focused? Does it last well into the evening? OR, do you start off (naturally) high-as-a-kite and then quickly spiral into...
Do you have days where you feel kind of crappy, and guilty about feeling bad on top of it? Most people I talk to are almost obsessed with ALWAYS feeling happy, healthy, and positive, to the point where they fake...
I used to feel like I couldn’t speak or move in certain situations. It started in high school chemistry class, sitting there sweating, afraid to raise my hand or even reach into my backpack for a pen. My body felt...
For 90% of people, sensuality is the missing piece of the health puzzle. Engaging your senses is the simplest way to have more energy, lose weight and improve your focus. When you smell, taste, hear, feel and see fully, you...
Sex! Orgasms! Feelings! They’re the missing keys to health. There, I said it. Now that I’ve gotten it off my chest, we can dive in. Feel uncomfortable already? It’s ok, I do too. It’s not easy to talk about sex,...
Do you know you need to be eating lots of greens, but easily get bored of steamed kale and wilted spinach? A delicious plate of something you actually want to eat is just a few key ingredients away. You’re an...
Happy, happy Independence Day! Even if you’re not in the U.S., this is the perfect day to celebrate and honor your freedom to live an incredible, healthy, abundant life. I have three fun presents for you today, so make sure you...
I have a new kinda-by-accident secret tool that’s totally awesome for weight loss and maintenance, digestive health, healing and preventing acne and other skin blemishes and so much more. I’m overwhelmed by how many awesome healing benefits this stuff that...
Do you ever feel like you should be working harder? OR are you constantly plagued with guilt for not taking care of yourself as well as you could be? Is it hard to remember the last time you got a...
I vividly remember being on vacation in Malibu with my family and breaking up a kid’s protein bar (Cliff ZBar) into four pieces to eat throughout the entire day. That’s it. No other food. I was about the size of...
When I first moved to the East Village six years ago I used to toss and turn and have crazy night tremors about someone barging into my apartment and kidnapping me. We’ve all been there, right? Right? (nervous glance) I...
Do you wake up most mornings feeling exhausted, like you never actually slept in the first place? If you’re racking your brain to figure out why you’re so drained all the time, I have a simple reason – and solution...
Does traveling usually make you anxious? With a little reframing and planning, it can be a source of relaxation, self-care and pleasure. I recently spent 24 hours in transit to and from Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica, and I felt like I had...
I’m getting on a plane to Costa Rica in a few minutes, but I wanted to share something with you before I go. What if I told you that getting wild (as in, jungle-caveman wild) was the key to whole...
You’re hit with a whole lot of health and wellness advice every day, and it can get really confusing. Like, overwhelming. Even if you don’t sign up for it, just walking down the street or talking to a friend can lead you...
I’ve been noticing lately that something feels off with me. Know what I mean? When you feel like you’re doing everything right but you just aren’t feeling fantastic? I have an endless toolbox of tips and tricks for feeling amazing – having...
Most people I know are making a big mistake when it comes to breakfast. Miami-style with in-season yellow tomatoes. Especially as the weather gets warmer, it’s easy to grab a quick smoothie, açaí bowl or juice and get on with your...
I used to reluctantly order brown rice with all my sushi at my favorite neighborhood Japanese restaurant, and nag my ex-boyfriend to do the same when we were sharing (which was always). Why pressure myself to go brown when I...
Confession: Sometimes I have truffle popcorn for dinner while watching Sex and the City, instead of sitting down with a nice candle and having a real dinner. Why? Because sometimes it’s really important – and crucial for your health –...
Most salads suck. I used to force down big spinach salads every day for lunch when I was interning at international magazines, and wonder why I felt bloated and tired all day. I finally came to the realization that the...
Hi friends! Have you ever tried Bulletproof Coffee? I swear by it, and first wrote about it here. Photo courtesy of Medical Daily I’m excited to share that I’m a featured expert in an awesome, super comprehensive article on bulletproof...
Dairy-Free Thyme Hollandaise Serves 2 Ingredients 2 large egg yolks 1/2 cup melted vegan butter, such as Earth Balance 1 teaspoon lemon juice 1-2 teaspoons minced thyme Fine Himalayan salt, to taste Fine white pepper, to taste Method Melt vegan...
Last week I teased you with crispy crepe-like toasted coconut perfection pancakes, and today I have the recipe for you. I ate these guys too fast to snap a photo, but I’ll be updating this page with a snapshot soon...
Today I have a simple and delicious breakfast or brunch to keep you warm on cold winter mornings. Enjoy! Sweet Potato Latkes with Soft Eggs Serves 2 Ingredients 2 medium sweet potatoes 1 small yellow onion 1/4 cup gluten-free all-purpose...
Today I have something really quick and effective for you – the simplest, most impactful tool you can use to stop mental chatter cold. You know what I’m talking about – that negative little voice in your head that tells...
Everyone’s talking about acidity these days, but what does it really mean? And it sounds terrible, so how can we get it out of our bodies? When your body is acidic, it simply means that your pH is too low....
Superfood Swaps: Healthy Alternatives that Won’t Break the Bank Photo: Active Times Do you ever feel like eating healthy is SO expensive? It’s my firm belief that health is an investment and if you don’t make it a priority now,...
So, it happened. You were feeling amazing – energized, healthy, and naturally making the right choices for your body without thinking about it too much. And then BAM – a coworker brings in the best brownies ever and you eat...
Winter is a super magical time – snowflakes, Christmas time, fancy store windows and delicious, warming meals. Regardless of all this beauty, it can also be a difficult time for a lot of people. Cold temperatures and busy schedules can...
This is the time of year gyms are brimming with people who are finally committing to a serious workout routine and juice bars are jam-packed with eager customers waiting to start their cleanses, sipping on samples of super green blends....
I never get sick, so when I woke up almost a week and a half ago with a low-grade fever, congestion and body aches, I knew something was up. Then I started hearing from practically everyone I ran into that they were...
I ran into a colleague in the elevator yesterday and asked her what she was up to for the holidays. She said she was super excited to relax with her family, but I could feel that there was something uneasy...
It’s my belief that any dessert eaten at the right time and in the right way is perfectly healthy, but there’s one holiday treat that boasts legit health benefits – any day, any time. It’s energizing, satisfying, and leaves you...
I LOVE to cook, and there are some nights when I don’t want to go anywhere near my kitchen. Fine dining is pretty simple when it comes to getting a quality meal – and I love it – but the...
Once in a while when I sit down for my daily meditation, I feel this twinge of anxiety. Suddenly I’m racing the clock and 20 minutes seems so intimidating. I have to gently remind myself that it’s not a contest, and...
A lot of friends and clients are already starting to feel super tense about the upcoming holidays. Emails and text messages about eating tips and tactics are flying into my inbox, and although there are great food and movement tools...
“What’s that stuff you’re drinking?” She asked, “Oh, it’s bone broth,” I said quickly, as if it was second nature to everybody. Although this primal drink has become second nature to me, I still totally get the “weirdness” of it, and...
I spent two years weighing myself multiple times a day, judging myself and adjusting my behavior based on the number each time. It did not bring eternal health and happiness to me. Shockingly. I never liked math much, so I...
As a little girl, I was addicted to being upside down. I was always hanging off the couch or bed, and went on to do gymnastics for many years, then yoga. I’ve always known that there was something very healing...
Thyroid disorders are rampant, and super annoying. Almost all of my clients are dealing with some type of thyroid disorder, whether it’s underactive or overactive. Hypothyroidism (underactive) is a condition where the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough hormones to properly...
I’ve been consistently drinking butter (yes, literally, Mom) for the past month or so. Now, you might be wondering why you’re reading this, and why you look to me for health advice. It sounds ludicrous to consume large amounts of...
Ever notice those people who seem to eat whatever they freakin’ want without gaining a pound or thinking for one minute? What do you notice about those people? How do they look while they’re eating? Happy, sad, silly, mad? The...
In my business and writing coaching, a natural extension of my health coaching practice, my clients often get really tripped up on the word success. They think they have to meet certain outside criteria to be successful, rather than choosing...
Have you ever woke up bright-eyed at 7am only to find yourself falling back to sleep at 9am after breakfast? Do you crave sugar and/or caffeine around 11am and 4pm every day? You might be eating the wrong breakfast. Breakfast...
Since sharing The Real Reason You Should Cut Sugar, I’ve gotten a lot of desperate emails and phone calls asking HOW? Sugar is scientifically proven to be more addictive than cocaine, so it’s no wonder that so many of my...
One of the first questions I ask my clients is, “What’s your blood type?” Most of them look at me perplexed, confused, or simply nonplussed, and only about 25% know the answer. “What does blood type have to do with...
When you pick at a scab or cut it gets worse. It heals naturally when you leave it alone – maybe gently clean it. When you pick at a deep, under-the-skin blemish, it spreads, gets bigger, agitated. If left alone...
People go to great lengths to make sure they’re cleansed, detoxed and running smoothly – juice cleanses, lemon juice fasts, raw food and so much more. It gets really complicated and really expensive, fast. There’s a much simpler way to...
I spent almost a full year planning out, portioning and packaging each and every one of my meals and snacks to fit into a 1200 calorie daily “budget.” If you’re not familiar with the old calorie system, this is about...
I absolutely love everything bagels. Especially toasted with lox, tomato, onion and tofu cream cheese. There’s nothing better. The challenge with bagels for me is that they have a higher gluten content than regular bread, and they equal about five...
When I’m speaking to women and men who are really wanting to feel good in their bodies and lighten up, most of them think they need to strip away all the “bad stuff” and cleanse until they’re spic ‘n span....
The average coffee drinker consumes over three cups a day, and spends over $160 per year on the stuff. How many of those cups do you think the consumer actually enjoys? Rather than a beautiful, nurturing ritual, coffee has become...
Digestion is the number one body system I work with clients on. Whether they come to me with skin issues, low energy, chronic fatigue or brain fog, it’s at least somewhat, if not completely related to digestion 100% of the...
1. Set an intention for the week. How do you want to feel, act, be? 2. Take a few hours each Sunday, or whichever day punctuates your week, to prep some healthy and delicious food.
Make a batch of plain...
My mom is a total sun worshiper, but it was really hard for me to get down with intense heat when I was little. I would get hot and fussy after 10 minutes on the beach or deck and go...
Most people I know pop antibiotics without batting an eyelash when infections arise. Most people I know also report digestive upset, chronic fatigue, and skin issues, especially around the jawline and chin, an area that reflects the state of the...
Have you ever come up for air during a conversation and realized that all you talk about is work or self-improvement? In one of my favorite films, Fight Club, Tyler Durden says, “Self-improvement is masturbation. Now self-destruction is the answer.”Although...
Most diets have specific rules about when you should eat and what you should eat. I have clients who agonize and obsess over not eating after 6pm, others who are fiercely devoted to skipping breakfast, and many who work right...
As a little girl, I used to drink rice milk and eat brownies in place of meals whenever I could talk my parents into it. Yes, I was very persuasive, and they trusted my instincts a lot – bless them....
Friday night, I was cooking shrimp tacos over a two-top burner wearing a headlight, miner-style. It had gotten dark out while we were in the tent, but we were too hungry to give up on dinner altogether. I would normally...
In my world of health and wellness, I see a lot of people scrutinizing every morsel that crosses their lips, and analyzing everyone else’s plate too. I also see a lot of people that are still unhappy with their bodies,...
Do you ever feel full – maybe even bloated – yet totally unsatisfied after a meal? Are you anxious and on-edge, or buzzing and scattered? Having trouble focusing at work and reaching for more chocolate and coffee after lunch? ...
I recently asked a guy to cook me dinner. Does that sound weird or scary to you? Most people I’ve mentioned it to give me some variety of “shocked” face. Originally, I had invited him over for dinner. When the...
I worked with a woman for three years who would only allow herself pancakes once a year. A year. Not a week, not a month, not every six months, a year. At the time, I was shocked, impressed and perplexed...
Florence, Italy is my happy place. Yes, it’s inherently beautiful, but the people there put a premium on living beautiful lives in beautiful environments. Environments are created by objects, people, emotions, and so much more. When people are living from...
Most people wake up every morning, go to the bathroom, drink water, eat breakfast, go to work, eat lunch, work some more, come home, eat dinner, watch TV and go to bed. Some sprinkle exercise in there, others meditation, or...
Most people I run into believe they have to eat gross food to lose weight or feel good about their bodies. They think they have to rewire their brains to crave plain steamed kale and broccoli, and train their taste...
When I wake up in the morning, one of the things I look forward to most is beautifully prepared and seasoned food, intuitively chosen to serve my body best. When going into detox periods, my clients’ #1 concern is missing...
A well-placed dessert can totally make your day. A poorly-chosen or mindless dessert can ruin your day. You know what I’m talking about – one moment you’re sitting at your desk, and the next you’re zombie-walking into some random bakery...
So, it technically became spring in New York City on March 20th, right? There were a few fleeting days where I felt that splash of sunshine as I walked through Soho to barre class, but when this past Monday hit...
Salt is scary for a lot of people. The majority vote is that it makes you puffy, bloated and dehydrated. There is some truth to this: If you eat excessive amounts of salt, it’s likely that you won’t feel – or look...
In the wintertime, we definitely need heartier foods – like braised short ribs – to make up for all the extra energy we expend to keep our bodies warm. Our winter jackets can only do so much – homeostasis is key in...
If you’ve ever been called a granola kid or a hippie, you’re probably familiar with the good old trail mix snack. It’s often a standby for childhood hikes, forced museum expeditions, and other prolonged periods away from solid food.Personally, most...
Canapé is one of the most pretentious words I’ve ever heard. Nevertheless, the “small, prepared and usually decorative food, held in the fingers and often eaten in one bite,” often translates to an explosion of delicate yet concentrated flavor in...
Soup is comfort food. But what if you just want a little slice of comfort with something a little more racy? Something super crispy, almost fried, but accepted in all 9,000 dietary camps on a Monday night?I don’t have such...
I polished off the container as I reached the front of the security line at JFK. I usually opt for candlelight, even with breakfast, and more space between bites and courses, but this was an exception. I couldn’t let the...
I recently got a panicked email from a friend who had derailed from her seven day New Year’s juice cleanse. On day four, she caved and ate an entire huge bar of chocolate at her desk – then a brownie...
The first time I tasted braised short ribs was at the restaurant I worked at in college. I was completely floored by their tender, incredibly rich texture and addictive flavor. Alongside porcini mushroom mashed potatoes, they were like stepping into...
Rejuvenation is about stepping outside your daily routine to renew your mind and body. If you wake up every morning, drink hot water with lemon, meditate and eat leafy green vegetables all day, you might need some truffle fries and...
As a little girl I refused to eat lamb. Sheep were way too cute, and I couldn’t bear to imagine them dying for my sake. I also hated the rich, slightly gamey flavor. My mom would try to cajole me...
The holidays can create a lot of nervous, tense, excited energy. There’s tons of action going on: cooking, imbibing freely, wrapping paper flying, giving and receiving, loving and maybe fighting. After the holidays, a lot of us get a “hangover.”...
The holidays can be a loaded time: food is everywhere, emotions are flying and we often feel totally out of control. Many of us even “give up” and just expect to gain 15 pounds and feel terrible throughout the holiday...
My biggest revelations and transformations always come in moments of total surrender. Whether I’ve just finished a long run and am feeling completely exhausted and sweaty, or I’m curled up in bed after a long day of work, pivotal ideas...
A year ago I was laying on my yoga mat in savasana, soaking wet in a combination of sweat and rain. It had started pouring on my walk to the studio, and I was stuck without an umbrella. As calm...
This food confession comes from one of my Mind Body Green readers, Paige: Food Confession: For the past three years my diet consists mostly of clean, organic meats, vegetables, some fruit, and healthy fat. I avoid processed food, sugar, dairy,...
Lasagna was always one of those exotic, far-away foods for me, since I grew up dairy-free and later went gluten-free too. I though I might never experience that rich, creamy satisfaction that only a layered casserole of meat, cheese, and...
As someone who doesn’t always do great with dairy, cream sauces are often off the table. The truth is that they’re quite easy to make dairy-free – from coconut milk to root vegetables, there are lots of ingredients that can...
Granola is one of those simple pleasures that can make your day. Waking up and having a delicious, nutrient-packed breakfast ready to go will make you want to spring out of bed and take the day on headfirst, whether you’re...
Brunch is a big deal in New York. The truth is, you don’t have to get too fancy to turn out a delicious meal your guests will love. Yes, you can sauté some shallots, kale, and parboiled sweet potato in...
Blondies are one of the most underrated desserts. Their chewy, gooey, brown sugar goodness deserves way more credit than it receives. Essentially, they’re a chocolate chip cookie on steroids. Add peanut butter to the mix, and you have the ultimate...
There’s nothing quite like diving into a big bowl of nurturing, satisfying soup. Bonus points if the recipe is easy and healthy. Depending on the season, soup can be served hot or cold, and in turn have warming or cooling...