Well & Worthy Life | A Podcast for Midlife Women

Meredith Mann is back on the Well & Worthy Life Podcast for the third time! She is full of wisdom and I always learn so much from our conversations. Today she's sharing about her new cookbook, Well Made, which is full of easy blood sugar balancing meals for a healthy life. Eating healthy doesn't have to be hard and Meredith created this cookbook to make that easier for you and I.

Meredith is a holistic nutrition and wellness consultant who helps women find food freedom. In this episode she explains why she decided to leave out the nutritional breakdown and instead focus on the nourishment breakdown of each recipe. In a previous episode with Meredith she shares why the all or nothing approach to dieting doesn't work.

If you get hangry, feel low in energy and find yourself waking up throughout the night it could be blood sugar spikes and crashes. Meredith explain what is happening in your body and why it's important to bring balance back through food. Check out a previous episode with Meredith where she talks further about the importance of blood sugar stabilization.

Meredith shares with us some of her daily go-to meals and how they help her feel balanced throughout the day. We also talk about the benefits of eating whole, organic carrots daily to remove extra estrogen. Here's the raw carrot salad recipe she mentioned in the episode. Give it a try and let us know what you think in the comments!

Her cookbook comes out this month so check out her website, The Peachie Spoon, to purchase it! It's an easy tool to have on your kitchen counter to bring some simplicity to our very busy lives! And if you aren't already, follower her on instagram at The Peachie Spoon for more balanced blood sugar recipes!

If you're looking for ways to lead a more healthy lifestyle you need to check out my balance program to look and feel your best!

Tanya Dalton is on the podcast with us today. She's a best selling author/speaker and she's talking about her new book, On Purpose: The Busy Woman's Guide to an Extraordinary Life of Meaning and Success. I've been reading through this book and absolutely loving it! Tanya offers so much wisdom and practical tools for how to live on purpose.

Living on purpose isn't about changing who you are but rather rising up and becoming the best version of yourself. It's looking beyond the horizon at who you want to be, what you desire in your life and the steps to take to get there. And guess what? You can learn how to live on purpose at any age! For all of you empty-nesters (or soon to be) who are wondering who you are outside of motherhood, this book is for you!

In this episode Tanya talks us through the concept of cathedral thinking and how to apply that to our own life and legacy. She also explains the power of smart goals, using I.M.P.A.C.T to guide your goal writing process. Be sure to take notes because these goal writing tips are extremely helpful for living with purpose.

Tanya is an inspiration and this conversation will light a fire in your belly for living your life on purpose. Enjoy the episode and be sure to check out her book here.

Spread the love and share this episode with someone who seeks to live life on purpose!

Looking for ways to lead a more healthy lifestyle? Check out my balance program to look and feel your best!

Hello friends! I cannot wait for you all to listen to this episode. It may be one of my absolute favorites! Life coach Sandra Daniele is on with Suzanne Smith having a live coaching session on setting boundaries with adult children.

Suzanne recently wrote a blog post on the topic and it really resonated with me. I had a feeling it would with many others as well so I reached out to have her on the podcast. Suzanne recommended we bring on a therapist to help navigate the topic and I thought that would be a great way to take this conversation further.

The lines can get blurry when it comes to setting boundaries with our adult children. It can be difficult to say no and we may feel obligated to continuously meet their needs at the expense of our own. Getting underneath the surface of our feelings and becoming aware of why we say yes when we want to say no can release resentment. As we step into our true self and lay out better boundaries, we show our adult children how to do the same.

In this conversation Sandra helps Suzanne do just that and you can hear the newfound freedom in Suzanne's voice!

I know this live coaching session on setting boundaries with adult children will have something in it for you too. Your story may look different than Suzanne's but listening to the process will give you something to take away too!

If you want to get in touch with Sandra on coaching services you can go to her website and follow her on instagram at Wish on Wildflowers for daily inspiration.

Here is Suzanne's blog post on the topic and be sure to follow her on Instagram at Crazy Blonde Life Blog

In case you missed my previous episode with Suzanne you can check it out here.

If you're looking for ways to lead a more healthy lifestyle you need to check out my balance program to look and feel your best!

As we continue with our October theme for Breast Cancer Awareness month, I wanted Bruce to share his story of starting a Breast Cancer Research Foundation. I don't typically have men on the show because I love talking to women about women's issues but Bruce Sokol is a very special guest. Bruce is my husband's uncle, who shares his own experience of breast cancer impacting the life of someone he loved.

In 2000, Bruce's wife, Didi, died of Breast Cancer.

Bruce turned his anger and fear into something bigger; seeking a cure not only for his wife but for the many women who receive this diagnosis by starting a foundation. He also wrote a book about the experience, Breast Cancer - A Husband's Story, which I recommend to any man going through a similar journey.

Bruce embarked on the journey to start foundation to raise money specifically for research. Today, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama has raised over 11 million. What I absolutely love is that for every dollar received, ninety cents goes directly to breast cancer research.

When so many others told Bruce his idea to start this foundation could never work, he pressed on with his vision to raise money and find help find a cure. If you want to donate to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama you can give here. Your giving has a direct impact on the research

If you enjoyed this episode, share it on social media or rate us to help more people find it. And if you missed last week's episode with Tammy Pugh, nurse practitioner at a high risk breast cancer clinic, give it a listen.

p.s. If you're looking for ways to lead a more healthy lifestyle try out my balance program to look and feel your best!

October is Breast Cancer awareness month. Today I'm honored to have Tammy Pugh, a nurse practitioner in Mobile, Alabama, on the show. Tammy runs a high risk breast cancer clinic. When she took over the clinic she found that 90% of the patients were women at high risk.

Tammy breaks down the factors that put a woman at high risk of developing breast cancer. She speaks to the value of early detection for long-term survival as well as ways to minimize the risk.

A few of those high risk factors for are:

• Having dense breasts
• Someone without children
• A strong family history of breast cancer

If you're in the Mobile and surrounding area and you're wondering if you're at high risk, reach out to Tammy. If you need support finding a high-risk breast cancer clinic in your area, contact one of us. We can help you get connected to people in your area that can help as well.

Give this episode a listen or read the transcript below and learn the importance of regular self breast checks and exactly what to look and feel for when doing them. Tammy is an expert in the breast cancer risk and awareness field and shares valuable information with you so you can be your own advocate in this area.

p.s. Stay on top of your own health journey with these 3 Pillars for healthy living and if you're looking for ways to lead a more healthy lifestyle try out my balance program to look and feel your best!

Send Tammy an email

Follow Tammy on Instagram

We're joined by returning guest Shannon Mann. Shannon was recently diagnosed with breast cancer, so she is back to talk about what her breast cancer journey has been like so far and what she's focusing on moving forward. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so it's important to share information and support early detection.

Shannon begins by discussing when she was diagnosed, what prompted her to get checked for breast cancer, and what she's focused on right now for her health. She's been doing a lot of digging and research so she can continue to support her health in a way that aligns with her values.

At the time of recording, Shannon is a week and a half out from her last chemotherapy treatment. She's trying to find balance and focus on eating nutrient-dense foods. So many doctors, nurses, and other health professionals she's met on this journey so far have been vegetarian, so this has piqued her interest.

Shannon reveals what her chemotherapy treatments look like and how many she has left. Once chemotherapy is over, she will have to make a decision regarding a possible lumpectomy or mastectomy. Overall, she feels most comfortable letting her body do the work and minimize the amount of pills required to support her own health.

Shannon emphasizes how important it is to be an advocate for your health. If you can't stand up for yourself, she recommends bringing someone to your health appointments who will be in your corner. It's also important to remember that while western medicine can be helpful, it doesn't paint the full picture of health. A healthy lifestyle and mindset are important to wellness too.

Learn more about Shannon on her blog Oysters to Pearls.

Follow more of Shannon's breast cancer journey in her Instagram highlights.

Today we're welcoming return guest Bridget Kilpatrick. She is talking about learning how to find contentment in life. She brings a wealth of knowledge each time as a national board-certified health and wellness coach. Recently, Bridget has been noticing discontentment in her clients. She will share her own ways of dealing with the feeling of discontentment and what you can do to avoid it.

Sometimes we get stuck into an "if this, then that" mentality, and it can leave us in a funk. Plus, as women, we are always comparing ourselves, and there can be a lot of pressure on us to keep up. This pressure might come from inside us or the people around us, but it can also be from society itself.

Not long ago, Bridget read about the top five regrets people have when they're dying, and each related to discontentment in some way. There are no guarantees tomorrow, so the secret is to live in the now and find joy in each and every day. This doesn't mean that there won't be ups and downs, but it's important to focus more on the ups than the downs.

Some tips we hear are about looking inward, whereas other tips are more dependent on making changes outward. One thing that can really change how you feel about your day is how you structure your morning. Bridget recommends establishing a healthy routine and mindset right from the beginning of the day.

Discontentment isn't easy to deal with, but it is possible to crowd out the negative with the positive. Live in the now, be realistic, and have expectations that meet your goals. Most importantly, live the life that feels good to you, not what society pressures you to be.

Learn more about Bridget Kilpatrick and how she is helping women become the best versions of themselves at ohealthfitness.com.

Susan joins us today to talk about cannabidiol, better known as CBD. She saw a need for high-quality CBD and CBD education in the health and wellness industry, so she started Huntsboro Hemp Company. Susan is also an IIN graduate who is passionate about supporting others in health. If you're curious about what CBD can do, this episode has tons in store for you including to use of CBD during menopause.

Susan begins by sharing more about her background and how she got into the CBD industry. She's been in health and wellness for over twenty years in various capacities. When CBD began to reemerge, she thought it was snake oil. Yet, her experience eventually revealed a different story, and what she learned that totally changed her mind.

There are so many benefits that CBD can provide for humans and the earth. There are also different types of CBD including full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and isolate-based products. Susan breaks down the differences between these three types and adds that knowing why you're choosing to use CBD can help you decide which one is right for you.

Susan believes you must be balanced to live an optimal life, and that CBD can help with that. For women going through menopause, it can help with related menopause symptoms by bringing your body back to a balanced state. It's a part of a healthy lifestyle and works best alongside a great diet and proper sleep during menopause.

When it comes to getting the full benefits of CBD, consistency is key. There are so many products out there, but with Huntsboro there is a difference. Susan sees the process all the way through, from the farmer to the processing facility and then onto the manufacturing and packaging phase. As a result, she can stand behind the quality of the product with confidence.

Huntsboro Hemp Company Website: https://huntsborohempco.com/

Use Code DEANNA15 for 15% off your order.

Huntsboro Hemp Company Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/huntsborohempco/

September is World Alzheimer's Month, so right now brain health is a subject that deserves special attention. There are things we can do to support brain health, and Edward Park from NeuroReserve is back in this episode to talk about them and the gut-brain connection.

The gut-brain connection is bi-directional. These parts of people's bodies are connected by both the enteric nervous system and vagus nerve, which make up the autonomic nervous system. Ed shares how this two-way connection plays a part in our digestion, behaviors, and emotions.

Another thing that can influence us bi-directionally is inflammation. It drives chronic diseases, including neurodegenerative ones. Ed explains why people's bodies are not equipped for low-grade chronic stress and inflammation that can come from these diseases. Diet is so important in fighting this type of inflammation because the food we eat has such a significant impact on the health of the gut barrier as well as the type of bacteria that thrives.

If we don't eat well, the bad bacteria multiplies. When this happens, we become more susceptible to inflammation. This inflammation, combined with thriving bad bacteria, can result in inflammation-driven diseases like IBS, ulcerative colitis, and Alzheimer's.

Leaning our diets towards healthy plants high in fiber and polyphenols, eating more fermented foods, and reducing our sugar intake can help support our bodies and our brains. Ed is passionate about getting ahead of these problems before they become a disease. It's not easy to change our diets. But with the right tools and support, you can start making healthy steps forward.

Listen to the first episode with Edward Park on How To Maintain a Healthy Brain.

NeuroReserve Website: Use Code DEANNA15 for 15% off

NeuroReserve Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neuroreserve/

We're talking about empty nesting alongside Kristi Huss in this episode. Kristi is an author, blogger, and mother of six girls. She recently wrote a book called "Empty Besting" which is about making the most out of the empty nest stage of life. Her last four children (quadruplets!) left the home last year, giving her a very unique perspective as an empty nester.

Kristi starts by sharing more about herself and her life. She's been married for 27 years, and she had all of her children in her 20s within five years. Despite being busy with six children, she always kept a toe in the working world. Needless to say, her life has been crazy, but she loves it.

In this next chapter of her life, Kristi thought she would instantly feel free and excited. What she found instead was a feeling of loss and sadness. She decided to reach out to other women who are experiencing joy at this phase in their life so she could pick their brain and discover how they accomplished that.

Kristi discusses how her role has shifted since her children left the home. She transitioned from micromanaging as a mother to being in more of a friend role. Or, as Kristi describes it, "a manager to a consultant." It was a subconscious transition that Kristi was able to fully enjoy by letting go.

We also hear about how being an empty nester has impacted her relationship with her husband. There have been ups and downs throughout their relationship, and they're excited to be in this phase of their life together. Kristi is looking forward to embracing being an empty bester with her empty besting partner.

Kristi's Website: https://kristihuss.com/

Kristi's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristihuss/

Read more stories about becoming an empty nester and making the most out of this stage of life on the Well & Worthy Life blog.