Feel like there are things you should be doing for weight loss (like drinking enough water), but you’re just not motivated? This week on the Get Your GOAL podcast, we’re diving into the struggle of consistency and I’m sharing my personal experience with staying hydrated. So grab your water bottle and let’s reframe your mindset to break free from the burdensome “shoulds!”

It's happened to all of us at some point. You start off all gung-ho about drinking the recommended amount of water every day, only to fall off the wagon and berate yourself for not doing what you "should" be doing. Sound familiar? But here's the thing I've learned: all this "shoulding" doesn't do you any good. It just drags you down and makes you feel burdened. And what's worse is that it often leads to avoiding doing the very thing you're "shoulding" yourself to do!

So, what's the solution? Instead of telling yourself, "I *should* be drinking my water," ask yourself, "Why do I *want* to drink water?" It seems like such a small difference, but trust me, focusing on the reasons you want to do something makes it easier to take action. Rather than feeling burdened, you’ll discover a sense of curiosity and excitement about drinking water. 

And here's the real secret: It's finding your own motivation, your own reasons for wanting to drink water that’ll get you to actually drink. Maybe it's because you want to feel energized, or because it supports your weight loss goal, or simply because it makes you feel good. Whatever it is, make it personal and meaningful to you. Stop "shoulding" on yourself and start creating the results you really want.

Cheers to a fabulous, hydrated life, my friend!

How much sleep do you *really* need for weight loss? And what if you’re awake in the night with racing thoughts? In this week’s episode of the Get Your GOAL podcast, I’ve got the scoop on all things SLEEP and how it impacts your weight loss journey. So grab a cup of tea, sit back, and enjoy!

In today's episode, I've got something really special planned for us. I've been going through the archives and found some old Q&A episodes that I just had to bring back. Answering your questions is my absolute favorite part of my job, so get ready for a fun and informative show.

But before we dive into the Q&A session, I wanted to share some exciting news. I'll be hosting an all-new, live Q&A session in November, exclusively for those on my email list. If you're not on it yet, head over to https://getyourgoal.com/list/ and sign up.

Now, let's talk about sleep. I received a few questions about how much sleep is recommended for weight loss, and it's such an interesting topic. Personally, I've noticed that my sleep needs have changed over the years. I used to be able to function on less sleep when I was younger, but now, I really struggle with anything less than 8 hours. 

However, the amount of sleep you need is personal and can vary from person to person. It's not just about the number of hours in bed, but also the quality of sleep you're getting.

If you're someone who struggles with insomnia or racing thoughts at night, like my friend Heather, it might be helpful to plan for more time in bed to ensure you get enough sleep. Also, journaling before sleep can be a game-changer for calming your mind. I personally like to write down my thoughts and remind myself that they're just thoughts, not facts. It really helps me be more of a compassionate observer of my own mind.

Stay tuned for more exciting content and don't forget to join my email list for the exclusive live Q&A session in November. Until next time, happy sleeping!

Everywhere you turn, somebody is telling you to cut carbs to lose weight. But is that actually the most effective way? Does it really work? In this week’s episode of the Get Your GOAL podcast, I’m spilling the tea about cutting carbs, and showing you exactly what works for weight loss.

*Can* you cut carbs to lose weight over 50? Sure (sort of). But *should* you? Well, that’s a whole ‘nuther question with a (probably) different answer!

We’re diving deep into the mindset of eating for weight loss in this episode, and exploring the topic of low carb diets in a way you’ve never heard. Plus, I’m sharing a simple strategy to find your unique answer to this weight loss conundrum.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: 
- Why cutting carbs doesn’t guarantee weight loss
- The foolproof formula for losing weight over 50
- How to tell the difference between what you should do and what you want to do

If you’re ready to break free from the rules and restrictions of outdated weight loss regimes, this episode of the Get Your GOAL podcast is for you!

Let’s celebrate SIX YEARS of the Get Your GOAL (formerly Fitness Matters and formerly formerly Let’s RUN) podcast with a list of six things I’ve learned about weight loss.

I’ve been a fitness professional for almost a dozen years now, so you might think I already had it all figured out when I started this podcast on October 3, 2017.

Nope.

Back then, I was just a young 47-year old who had barely entered perimenopause and was still running ultramarathons for fun. My, how the years (and helping thousands of women over 50 lose weight!) have changed my weight loss philosophy.

SIX THINGS I'VE LEARNED ABOUT WEIGHT LOSS: 
- Exercise doesn’t make you lose weight
- Your body has a lot of information, but you might not be listening
- You can eat what you want without feeling guilty
- It takes as long as it takes
- Un-remembering old mottos is tough
- Your body only goes where your mind goes first

Join me for a fun look back at six years of podcasting, and a practical look forward to YOUR weight loss journey!

You know you need to be consistent with your weight loss habits, but it feels so HARD. How can you get consistent, and exactly how consistent do you really need to be? In this episode of the Get Your GOAL podcast, we’re diving deep into the topic of consistency so YOU can lose all the weight you want and keep it off forever.

In The 5-0 Method, I explain the five daily tasks that create weight loss:
Managing your mind
Eating the right number of calories
Drinking the right amount of water
Getting adequate sleep
Exercising moderately

And my standard for each of these five tasks is that you hit all five of them with 100% consistency, every single day. Because the science is incredibly clear – weight loss is driven by 1.) believing that you can 2.) eating in a slight caloric deficit over time, and 3.) 4.) and 5.) supporting your metabolism while your body is doing the difficult job of converting fat into energy.

Hitting each of these tasks at 100% consistency *will* produce weight loss.

But the way you’ve probably tried to come at this is with willpower: you’ve simply demanded of yourself that you do these things. You’ve gritted your teeth, you’ve put your nose to the grindstone, you’ve clamped a lid on yourself, or restricted yourself.

What I want to offer you today is a way of thinking about, and achieving, 100% consistency that will guarantee not just your weight loss success, but your maintenance success, too.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN : 
- WHY building belief is so important on your weight loss journey
- The DIFFERENCE between belief and willpower, and
- Exactly HOW to build belief, step by step

If you’re having trouble losing weight, taking a look at how much you’re working out is one of the first places you can troubleshoot. Menopausal women have different exercise and recovery needs than younger women, and – believe it or not – too much exercise can actually lead to weight GAIN over 50. 

On this episode of the Get Your GOAL podcast, we’re exploring how much is too much.

Overexercise isn’t always the problem, but it’s a far more common issue than the internet would lead you to believe. And it’s particularly problematic for menopausal women, because we recover so differently than we used to.

We live in a society that values hard work, doing more, pushing yourself to extremes, and being the best. And I don’t argue with those values, exactly – but I do want you to understand the nuances of how to incorporate those ideals into your menopausal life. Especially as you’re losing weight.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: 
-How to know when you’re doing too much (including the signs and symptoms you’ve been ignoring)
-Why you find yourself continuing to do what you’ve always done (even when you’re not getting the results you want)
-The step-by-step process for finding your balance and losing weight with ease (instead of willpower)

If you’re ready to get to your goal weight without pushing yourself to extremes, this episode of the Get Your GOAL podcast is for you!

You’ve really got this calorie counting thing down pat when it comes to simple foods or eating in restaurants that list their calories. But what about when you cook at home? How do you figure out the calories in your favorite dishes when you’re just throwing things together? 

In this episode of the Get Your GOAL podcast, I’ll show you how to count the calories in your homemade meals with a simple, step-by-step process.

Imagine never being afraid of going out to eat, or going to a friend’s house, or going on vacation, ever again. Picture yourself confidently portioning out every meal, every time, to fit your calorie target without second-guessing yourself.

This can be you because it’s just a skill to count calories, which means that you can learn how.

Right now, your brain is making excuses to stop you from counting all of your calories (which is completely normal, and exactly how your brain is supposed to work). But when you execute this simple process, and practice it regularly, you’ll realize that there are NO calories that you can’t figure out. 

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: 
- HOW to calculate the calories for any recipe
- WHY it’s so hard to make yourself do this, and
- HOW to overcome your resistance

Of course you’re creating weight loss habits to lose weight, but did you know that some of the actions you’re taking will help with maintenance, too? In this episode of the Get Your GOAL podcast, I’m sharing the four best weight loss habits you can build today to make maintenance easy.

When it comes to weight loss habits, most of us focus on things like eating in a caloric deficit, or exercising regularly. But there are other habits you can create now that will pay off big maintenance dividends later.

Four Weight Loss Habits That Make Maintenance Easy:
- Planning your meals ahead of time
- Looking at the big picture of your weight
- Complimenting yourself
- Drawing from success in other areas of your life

Losing weight successfully requires you to pay attention and act with intention – and maintenance is more of the same. This episode of the Get Your GOAL podcast will show you the way!

Wanna start losing weight today? This episode of the Get Your GOAL podcast has my top three tips!

You’re ready to lose weight, so the first thing you do is a total pantry clean-out of all the junk food in the house. Then you set your alarm for an hour earlier than usual so you can get in a good, hard workout. You’re focused, you’re determined… and in two weeks, you’re right back where you started, eating dinner on the couch and complaining that your pants don’t fit.

Isn’t there a way to get off this feast or famine roller coaster and actually lose weight?

There is, and I’m going to share it with you today. I’ve got my top three tips to get started on sure-fire, sustainable weight loss. And even if these three tips don’t sound related, I promise, they are.

Here’s the overarching theme: work WITH your brain and your menopausal body, instead of against them.

HOW TO START LOSING WEIGHT TODAY: 
Tip #1: Focus On Belief
Tip #2: Prioritize Pleasure
Tip #3: Plan for Recovery

Weight loss over 50 can be simple and sustainable, and this episode of the Get Your GOAL podcast will show you how.

You’re on a weight loss journey, but what’s your destination? How do you choose your goal weight? This week’s episode of the Get Your GOAL podcast will help you read the map and get where you want to go.

You know you want to lose weight, and you’ve got some numbers rattling around in your mind about where the scale might end up, but you’ve also got some doubts. So you’re searching the internet and asking the experts, hoping that’ll clear things up for you.

Instead, it seems to be making your decision even harder! Should you look at BMI charts, or focus on your body fat? And can’t you be healthy at any size?

My friend, let’s clear up the confusion by understanding WHY this decision feels confusing in the first place, and then I’ll share my simple process for choosing the best goal weight for YOU.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: 
- Goal weight standards you probably want to consider
- Factors you definitely don’t need to worry about, and
- Where to find the ultimate authority for your choice