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As the New Year approaches, we expect to see many of our community members wanting to reach big goals, set new intentions, and embrace positive changes. Unfortunately, many will attempt to make too drastic of changes too soon, which we know can lead to burnout, frustration when such goals are not reached, and even contradict the path toward health and wellness.

Though we could warn against the next fad diet, extreme weight loss trend, or intense exercise regimen, we thought we would rather like to inform you of positive life enhancements that you may enjoy stepping into this year. We do not wish to condone those who want to make drastic changes to their diet or lifestyle, but we do encourage checking in with the mindset and motivation around the desire to make these changes. Sometimes drastic changes in lifestyle habits can be quite detrimental. For example, if you have never weight lifted a day in your life, following a competitor's workout regimen right off the cuff may not...

Healthy fats are essential for maintaining good health and promoting optimal functioning of the body. However, the types and quantity of oils and fats that should make our way into our diet has become quite a controversial topic. Some have been told to avoid all fats in order to reduce cholesterol levels, while others swear by a high-fat, ketogenic diet in order to maintain their health. In order to determine how to make use of fats in our diet, we must understand which fats to avoid and why.

The majority of the oils we find in packaged or processed foods are inflammatory oils that are guaranteed to contribute to metabolic issues when consumed often. These include canola, safflower, peanut, corn, soybean, sunflower, cottonseed, and palm oil. Vegetable oils and those mentioned will oxidize when heated, causing inflammation to the body. They also contain trans fats and increase triglycerides in the body, which is linked to cardiovascular disease, obesity, and metabolic...

The holidays often bring about so much joy and excitement for many as they are able to spend time with loved ones, possibly travel, and gather together with delicious food! However, with so many events and circumstances to attend to, the holidays may also bring about a sense of overwhelm, with less time to rest and recharge. For others, certain holiday seasons could bring about feelings of sadness, loneliness, grief, anxiety, or overwhelm. It can often bring peace to let go of expectations and refrain from pushing ourselves to be or feel a certain way, allowing ourselves to engage in activities in whatever capacity we wish. No matter what season you are experiencing in life, we wish that our community members would embrace peace and enjoyment, whatever that may look like, in situations that may not meet our expectations.

Therefore, we encourage giving ourselves permission to feel what we are feeling, rather than placing unrealistic expectations on ourselves and others. Not...

Most people who are serious about weight loss, and improving their metabolic and cardiovascular health will eventually try following a specific diet with the intention of improving their health. However, as soon as they begin their quest to discover the "best diet," they are left even more confused. If you google search a diet for weight loss, you will find so much conflicting advice. Some will push a vegan diet, claiming that animal products will cause obesity and cholesterol issues. Others will inform you that all carbohydrates are the enemy, and you should definitely try a high-fat ketogenic approach. And then there are those who eat whatever they wish and swear by intermittent fasting. The list of fad diets and trends seems never-ending - Atkins, carnivore, pescetarian, Whole30, Paleo, vegetarian. People often feel more confused about food than any other health-related topic because of all of the conflicting guidance. Where do we even start? And how do we reach our health goals...