Well & Worthy Life | A Podcast for Midlife Women

Deanna is joined by her friend of 10 years, Kimberly Morgan, who was once a Pure Barre owner. Kimberly is a mom of two boys, ages 2 and 4, and she lives in Memphis, Tennessee. Having owned 3 Pure Barre locations for 8 years, Kimberly took a step back when her children were born.

Reflecting on being a business owner, she says being a stay-at-home mom is definitely more of a challenge. Kimberly works from home as a blogger and influencer, and she felt compelled to share products she loves to advocate for leading a healthy lifestyle.

In 2016, Kimberly started having some concerning health symptoms after having her first son. Back then, she would casually brush them off. After she had her second son, her symptoms continued to worsen and, despite being right-handed, she noticed she was constantly using her left hand for things. She spent 6 months trying to figure out what was wrong and after being told it was simply a pinched nerve, Kimberly still didn’t feel as though that was what was wrong.

After months of searching, Kimberly found an orthopedic doctor who sent her to the Mayo Clinic where Kimberly was then diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s disease. Now, Kimberly shares her story with others in hopes that it will help them in listening to their body and to ask for what they want in terms of medical tests and answers.

Taking care of your body is so important, even more so now for Kimberly as it will slow the progression of her disease. She explains how a keto diet is part of her decision to live a better, healthier life.

Kimberly on Instagram and Facebook or check out her website at www.ahealthydoseofstyle.com.

Join Deanna in this episode of Well & Worthy Life as she welcomes Lindsay Peirce, owner and partner of Pure Barre in Birmingham, Alabama. Today’s episode will cover life, women, and what’s in store for Lindsay’s future.

Deanna goes over her first impressions of Pure Barre and her thoughts on the exercise program. Lindsay was 24 years old when she first opened Pure Barre. She goes over how she got involved in opening a gym at such a young age and her intention on how to make women feel comfortable in a gym environment.

Lindsay talks about her business experience and how Deanna got involved in more ways than one. Deanna dives into her divorces and how they affected her, and Lindsay shares her experiences with divorce and navigating marriage at a young age.

This podcast started from a blog where Deanna wanted to share her personal experiences with others and now it has become a platform for people to learn and grow through other’s experiences and journeys. Navigating life throughout the years is difficult, so Deanna tells us about how she transitioned through her divorce and her children’s milestones at the same time.

Adding more to her plate has helped Lindsay to focus and make her more present. This allows her to ultimately help others. Later this month, Lindsay is launching a holistic health coaching business that focuses on how we are enough.

Check out Lindsay on Instagram.

Lindsay’s holistic health coaching website: www.enough-wellness.com

Learn more about Pure Barre here.

If you like this episode here are some others you may like:

What Is Holding You Back From Achieving Your Goals And Dreams

Knowing Your Worth

In today’s episode, Deanna shares a Facebook Live conversation she recently had with her two friends. Amy Ramsey, fellow health coach, and Petra Kolber, speaker and educator on positive psychology, are here to discuss shifting your mindset during these crazy times. Listen to this episode with an open heart and an open mind. In case you’re interested in watching the Facebook Live video, you can find it right here.

Retail therapy? Eating all day? These are some of Amy’s go-to fixes when she gets into a stressful mood during COVID-19. There are a lot of emotions in this uncertainty, and uncertainty seems to be the new normal around the world. The three talk about some alternative options you can choose that will help to support your health and wellness. These options will help you even once the pandemic has subsided.

Petra’s mantra is “pain is inevitable but suffering is optional.” Our brain is accustomed to dealing with peaks of stress and then recovering. Right now, our brain is stressing but not recovering due to constantly wondering what’s next. Petra is going to give you three ideas to reframe your negativity, called the negativity bias.

Deanna weighs in on how she focuses on positive things ahead and states whatever you put out into the world, you will receive back. We have all the power to choose our attitude. Amy emphasizes to focus on your small wins and focus on who you want to be with gratitude.

Regroup emotionally, spiritually, and physically, and move forward in a positive way.

Check out the Facebook Live video on Amy’s Facebook page here.

Petra’s website: www.petrakolber.com

Petra’s online courses and masterclasses: www.petrakolber.com/happy

Petra’s book “The Perfection Detox” on Amazon.

You can find Amy’s “Epic Morning Routine” here or check out her website at www.thefitsoul.com

Deanna is joined again today by Whitney Abraham, fellow FASTer Way to Fat Loss coach. The conversation in this episode is about coping with the pandemic, understanding and accepting the lack of control, and reinvention.

Many people have lost their jobs due to COVID-19. Whitney suggests taking this time to find out what lights your fire and refocusing on it. You need to diversify your income stream, so take this opportunity to plan the next move that is right for you. Now is the time to look at what pivots you can make to your business, whether it’s streamlining your revenue or making the move online.

With lockdown comes stress. Whitney tells us about the struggle she has faced having her children at home 24 hours a day while still trying to maintain her business. For her, it has come down to prioritization to make things work; eliminating what is inconsequential and really focusing on the essential. Both Whitney and Deanna agree it is important to know and understand your core values and to align with them.

The two go on to discuss the problem with people-pleasing. It is a common trait in women, taught by societal expectations, but Whitney and Deanna want you to step back and focus on yourself. Take the time to practice self-care and learn to reposition your mindset to the positive.

Whitney finishes the episode by discussing the importance of bringing authenticity and truth to what you do. Build your community by focusing on who you want to attract and do it by being yourself. Be brave enough to bet on you.

Episode 31 with Whitney: https://www.wellandworthylife.com/how-to-create-confidence/

Whitney’s website: https://www.whitneyabraham.com/

Whitney on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whitneyabraham/

Deanna is joined in this episode by her friend Jen, also known as Sober Sis on social media. Jen has previously joined Deanna on Well & Worthy Life and they talked about going alcohol-free. This time around, Deanna and Jen discuss Deanna’s experience going through one of Jen’s programs, the 21-Day Reset. We hear about the health benefits that this program can have on your mind, body, and life.

When you have your first experience of drinking alcohol, not too many people love the taste and that’s why there are so many additions such as mixers, sweeteners, and sugars. Gradually, it becomes an acquired taste. Jen’s goal is to simply educate people to become more mindful of their choice whether or not to drink through learning the effects of alcohol both short and long term on the body.

If you’re on a diet or a workout system, some people count alcohol as their “treat”, not knowing that it takes anywhere from 7-10 days to get the alcohol and the effects out of your system. Alcohol actually stops the process of fat burning (that is, your metabolism).

A big way you can change your outlook on alcohol if you’re looking to do so is by shifting your mindset. Knowing that you can make the decision to drink or not to drink is a strong power. If you look at it mindfully, what benefits does alcohol serve for you? Are there other ways you can control any urges for alcohol?

If you’re looking for a change, Jen’s 21-Day Reset program is a great place to start.

Jen on Facebook and Instagram:

https://www.facebook.com/sobermindedsister

https://www.instagram.com/sobersis/?hl=en

You can check out Jen’s Free Guide to Skipping the Wine here.

21-Day Reset Program

Carol Bevil, a close friend of Deanna’s, joins today’s episode to discuss knowing where your worth comes from and how to embrace your womanhood through religion, wellness, and self-reliance.

Carol is a personal trainer as well as a nutrition and cycling coach who has been in the wellness field for over thirty years. She is also a wife and mother of four. Deanna talks to Carol about her newly released twenty-one-day devotional “I Am His,” aimed to help women find their sources of strength, beauty, and truth.

Carol accepted Jesus at forty-years-old.  This was a big inspiration for why Carol felt compelled to write this book. She explains how earlier on in her life, she was raised in the Jewish religion but felt called and pulled towards Christianity.

Praying is difficult to make a consistent habit of, especially in the current times. Carol delves into how she started developing an effective routine to incorporate it into her daily life and how she made it a priority.

Carol and Deanna discuss their favorite verses, devotionals, and scenarios in which they have used and applied in real life. Women of all backgrounds will find “I Am His” can be a daily encouragement to help you to feel at peace with your life and allow you to fully embrace yourself as a woman in the eyes of God. It will allow you to step into your true potential.

Carol on Instagram and Facebook:

@fuelbodyfeedsoul

www.facebook.com/fuelbodyfeedsoul

Carol’s 12-month Lifestyle Program: www.commonsensetransformation.com

You can purchase Carol’s book here on Amazon.

In this episode of Well and Worthy Life, Alison Lewis, one of Deanna’s friends, joins to discuss their mutual love of healthy living. They get into how they first met playing tennis (but both haven’t played in years) and have some casual girl talk.

Alison is from Birmingham, Alabama, and tells us how she went from working as an editor at the highly sought after “Southern Living” magazine to raising 3 children who are all 22 months apart. After that, she has gone on to create and develop her very own travel magazine. Alison then dives into how she released her own cookbooks and what they showcase.

On her blog which she started in 2008, Alison regularly shares her favorite recipes. She recalls the first time that one of her posts blew up and the sense of accomplishment she felt. Alison explains her inspiration behind writing one of her books: 200 Best Smoothie Bowl Recipes.

Alison and Deanna discuss some of the best travel destinations they have been to and how their travel plans have been derailed because of COVID-19. We also hear about some scenes Deanna has experienced which make it seem like the pandemic is not even occurring.

Just recently Alison has begun ramping up her blog activity, so she provides us with a rundown of what to expect and comments on some recent recipes she has posted. She talks about the social media burnout that she has experienced before and then discusses Deanna’s FASTer Way to Fat Loss coaching.

Alison’s blog: http://ingredientsinc.net/

Alison on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alisonlewis/

The bread that Alison loves: Dave's Killer Bread

In today’s brief episode, Deanna is talking about how many of us have gotten off track during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the beginning of quarantine, Deanna was eating right and getting her workouts in. During the past week, she admits that she got off track; she neither felt nor looked her best. She started thinking about what she needed to do to get back on track, so she’s sharing her findings with us today.

The first thing Deanna does to get back on track is to decide that enough is enough. She tells us about the short-sighted decisions she makes sometimes that she pays for later – including examples from this pandemic when she ate sugar.

After making the decision, it’s important to come up with a plan of action. Coming up with one doesn’t have to involve major decisions. It can be something small and simple that you can feel successful at. We hear about Deanna celebrating her own small victory in avoiding sweet indulgences.

Deanna gets into the importance of women to eat whole foods. We need proper nutrition to support our hormones, but it can be so easy to grab a quick option. We have to do a little bit of meal prep so that we don’t fall into the gran-and-go trap.

A lot of us have gotten off track during COVID-19. However, we just need to decide that we are going to get back on track, put that into action, and then do it. Consistency compounds; it just takes time. It’s a process, but you can do it.

Register for Deanna’s next FASTer Way to Fat Loss program: https://www.wellandworthylife.com/faster-way-to-fat-loss/

Deanna’s website: https://www.wellandworthylife.com/

In today’s episode, Deanna is joined by Jenn, AKA Sober Sis. The conversation is about how to recognize an unhealthy relationship with alcohol and how to work towards changing your mindset and lifestyle.

Jenn is a recent empty nester, with 2 mid-twenties children. Jenn and Deanna discuss the excitement and opportunity they both feel being empty nesters. Jenn talks about how she feels the path she is on now is truly what God intended for her, even if it wasn’t what she expected.

Jenn then tells us how she spent her late 20’s building her family. She found herself as a working mom in her early 30’s utilizing the social happy hour more and more. Although she thought of herself as a healthy, mindful person by day she would undo all her good work come 5 pm. She talks about how she ultimately felt misaligned and in conflict with herself.

Jenn and Deanna then discuss how they have both quit alcohol for short periods before and Jenn talks about how having the wrong approach and mindset to quitting drinking can lead to failure. Deanna lets us know about how drinking affected her in ways she hadn’t realized until her husband brought it up.

Jenn talks about how the stigma of sobriety often puts pressure on women to drink socially and the way in which alcohol consumption can affect us both physically and mentally. Jenn and Deanna discuss the importance of understanding the root cause of your relationship with alcohol before you can quit successfully.

Jenn finishes the episode by explaining how her 21-day challenge works and the importance of the community she has built. If you take it one day at a time and focus on progress over perfection, you too can succeed.

Jenn on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sobersis/

Jenn’s free guide: https://www.sobersis.com/free-guide27260540

Signup for the 21-day reset: https://21day.sobersis.com/21daychallenge

Deanna is back with Amy Ramsey, fellow health coach and creator of The Fit Soul. Last week the two discussed identity-based habits, recommended some great books on forming habits, and shared how to create habits based on who you want to become. This week, Deanna and Amy cover finding your bad habits trigger, the four steps to break a habit, as well as more tips for creating positive habits in your life.

When trying to break a bad habit, the first step you have to take is to investigate what triggers it. Deanna and Amy discuss a bad habit they share and break it down together. This can be applied to any bad habit: excessive phone use, overeating, or anything else you are struggling with; recognize and acknowledge what is causing you to engage in the behavior. 

Amy explains the four steps to breaking a bad habit: make the bad habit invisible, unattractive, difficult, and unsatisfying. She gives an example of struggling to spend less time on social media and suggests taking apps off your phone, making it difficult to get to them. Finding someone to hold you accountable for your actions is important no matter which habit you are trying to break. 

Deanna and Amy bring the conversation back to the positive, sharing more tips on forming good habits. Amy suggests habit stacking, as well as ritualizing your habits so they become part of your routine. If you feel overwhelmed, take it down a step. Deanna and Amy believe the small changes are the most important. 

Connect with Amy: https://www.thefitsoul.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefitsoulbyamyramsey

Books mentioned:

Atomic Habits by James Clear

The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod