No matter what study you read on body image, the results are disturbing. One says that more than 90 percent of women are unhappy with their bodies. Another says that 46 percent of 9-11 year-old girls are “sometimes” or “very often” on diets, and 82 percent of their families are ‘”sometimes” or “very often” on diets. And it's not just an issue for women. It's reported that more than a third of all men are unhappy with their bodies and 20 percent say they would consider plastic surgery. 

But why? Why are we so unhappy with ourselves? Where did we learn what our bodies "should" look like? And what would it take for us to be "happy?" To help us answer these questions, we turn to Certified Health and Wellness Coach Shelby O'Keefe in this episode.  

Special Guest: Shelby O'Keefe
Shelby is a National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC) and an ADAPT Certified Functional Health Coach (A-CFHC). In addition, she is a 200 Registered Yoga Instructor with an emphasis in Trauma Sensitive Yoga. Her expertise is in positive psychology, body and mind connection and empathetic communication. 
Learn more about Shelby at https://shelbyokeefehc.com/about/ or enroll in her upcoming Body Acceptance Project, go to https://marriageandfamilycenter.com/groups/the-body-acceptance-project-group/?fbclid=IwAR1qDpFY6NX3zPFGg1z5jCiFouZW7ZpJfBg1_mbNZRWbwAtH_UytNa8Gok0

Food. It’s everywhere! From Thanksgiving to Christmas and even into the New Year, food is at the center of all our celebrations.

But for many of us, it’s also the source of fear and guilt. We worry about over indulging and dread the emotions that come with it.

So what if this year could be different? What if we could enjoy food and listen to our bodies when they tell us they are hungry and when they are full?

In this episode, registered dietitian Isabelle Bouchard tells us how to make this holiday dream come true.

Special Guest:
Isabelle Bouchard, Bamboo Nutrition
https://www.bamboonutritionrd.com/

In this episode, we are celebrating Robin's 50th birthday! We reflect on life's major milestones and how we can learn from them at any age. 

“People overestimate what they can accomplish in a month but underestimate what they can accomplish in a year.” Lexi Johnson of Lexi J Wellness

Wellness is a complex state of being that combines our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health.  Getting well is a challenge. Staying well is a lifestyle- one that includes a healthy amount of exercise and good nutrition.

But how much exercise is healthy? And how many calories do I need to burn to “feel” healthy? Or is there more to wellness than simple calorie eating and burning?

Join us for this interview with Wellness Coach Lexi Johnson to get the answers to these and other questions, as we search for the “perfect” balance with food and exercise.

Special Guest: Lexi Johnson of Lexi J Wellness  -> https://www.lexijwellness.com/

Lexi's Mission: To create a community of uplifting, driven women with the common goal of self-improvement. We foster a bond of accountability while celebrating each others’ successes along the way. Lexi J Wellness exercises have no physical prerequisite and can be performed at any fitness level with the usage of modifications provided by Lexi. By approaching workout regimens with our physiology in mind, we will understand and anticipate what our bodies demand from us.

Watch Lexi's story read the letter she wrote to her dad: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CWCCyuVAw_f/?utm_medium=copy_link

Psychologists tell us that unrealistic expectations form the core of perfectionism. As perfectionists, we expect ourselves to be perfect and are disappointed when we can't meet our unobtainable standards. 

But our unrealistic expectations don't end there. They likely extend to most areas of our lives- including those around us. Whether it's our ideas about the perfect partner, the perfect date or the perfect family gathering - our quest for perfection might just be doing us more harm than good. 

Join us for this eye-opening episode, as we hope to leave you resetting your expectations - making you and those around you happier in the process.

Many of us who struggle with perfectionism often find ourselves thinking about how we're not enough. Not smart enough. Not successful enough. Not attractive enough. Not good enough to be loved and fully known. 

Where do these thoughts come from? Why do they have so much power over us? And perhaps most importantly, is it possible to overcome them?

As we tackle this tough topic in this episode, we'll discuss two main reasons why we feel like we're never enough and offer some practical tips for moving forward knowing we are ENOUGH.

SHOW NOTES:

To listen to the podcast Robin guest hosted on Ten Minute Bible Talks: https://tenminutebibletalks.captivate.fm/episode/349b

To learn more about why we don't ever feel like we're enough:
https://www.harleytherapy.co.uk/counselling/feeling-not-good-enough.htm

Interested in Compassion Focused Therapy:
https://psychwire.com/ask/topics/t552om/ask-paul-gilbert-about-compassion-focused-therapy-cft-
https://www.harleytherapy.co.uk/counselling/compassion-focused-therapy.htm

With the turn of the calendar to November, so comes the holiday season and all the hustle and bustle- and added stress- that comes with it. 

So what is it about the holidays that make them so stressful? Whose expectations are we trying to meet? And how do simplify the holidays without disappointing someone?

In this episode, we tackle these questions and offer some practical and timely insight to help us keep the peace - both internally and with those around us. 

“There is always a seed of opportunity planted in the field of despair.”
-John Wampler, The Problem With Perfect

Lizzy Wampler was just 9 years old when she and her parents learned that the aches in her legs were not growing pains. Instead, they were something much worse. Lizzy had osteosarcoma, an aggressive cancerous tumor in her bone, that would take her life just 15 months later.

 Now nearly four years later, Lizzy’s parents, Jennifer and John Wampler, honor Lizzy’s life by finding the joy in the gift of today and encouraging others to do the same.

 But how? How did these broken-hearted parents overcome the loss of their baby girl? What did they learn about God and their faith in the process? And what advice would they give to those of us who think we could never survive such suffering?

 In this special episode of The Problem With Perfect, John Wampler shares his family’s story of how his daughter’s life and death transformed all those who knew her – and how her memory lives on in their passion for others and through Lizzy’s foundation.

 For anyone who thinks God has given them more than they can handle, please give this a listen and share it with those who need to find hope for tomorrow.

Special Guest: John Wampler

We've never been more accessible and our lives have never been more on display.  Undeniably, technology has transformed our interactions and shaped the way we communicate. 

As a result, in some ways, we've never been more connected. Yet in other ways, we've never felt more insecure and disconnected - forever worried about showing others who we really are instead of who we want others to think we are. 

At the heart of the worry is our fear that if people knew us they wouldn’t like us. And this fear doesn’t just impact our virtual interactions; it shapes what we do and do not allow people to see of us in our everyday lives. It keeps us from genuine vulnerability and transparent dialogue, leaving us isolated from others.

In this episode, we tackle what true transparency looks like, try to understand the why behind it, and suggest some tips for living a more transparent (and satisfying) life by being real with ourselves and others.