Happy Monday! Friends, I may have struck a nerve when I posted that Cole Kazdin (a member of my Instagram and online cooking community) sent me her newest book, What’s Eating Us: Women, Food and the Epidemic of Body Anxiety. Her book documents the struggle that women of all ages have with disordered eating, body anxiety, and/or our preoccupation with food. I received A LOT of DM’s. If you are triggered by any discussion about disordered eating, you may want to skip today’s newsletter.
As a fellow menopause sister…I appreciate the entire article…I agree with it all, and am in a very similar camp as a to outlook and similar lifestyle as you. Thank you and I look forward to following some of the links you have shared. Keep up the good work and word.
Thank you for these words. After an unhealthy relationship with food in my teen and college years, I made a decision to try to focus on just being healthy and balanced. I became a Pilates instructor after discovering the joy of moving in a way that just made me feel good. I also try to be someone who doesn't need to constantly comment on food choices or calories or always talk about body image. I may struggle at times with all of those feelings, but I want to set a positive example for my daughter. I appreciate your willingness to share and address this subject. You are a beautiful example and an inspiration.
Hi Pamela! Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this subject and your suggestions. I am in my early 50s, post menopause (I used to call it the "m" word) and have had similar struggles. This January I made a commitment to myself to TRY a weightlifting plan for 12 weeks with the intention, really, of losing some weight, but something else happened. I really like it! My body has changed in 3 months. I'm comfortable, proud of the way I look and empowered by the way I feel and the strength I've gained. Here's what I've learned. Anybody can do it. I go to a gym that is mostly seniors in their 60s, 70s + and I see so many of the same faces everyday and that is inspiring. My first month was so hard, I kept thinking, when are these 12 weeks going to be over?! And now, it's becoming a lifestyle. I don't think of it in terms time, like being on a diet, I think of it as something I do. To feel good. I do follow a plan of tracking food (for now, I'm learning!), lifting at home or at the gym 3-4 times a week, and walking but I'm not perfect and have gone off plan more than a few times in the past 3 months, but I don't beat myself up AT ALL. I just get back to it. I've learned a lot from some of the gals on Instagram that are "real" weigh trainers and they pretty much all say the same thing. Stop dieting, underfeeding ourselves (that was a tough one). Do cardio, but prioritize strength training. Don't be afraid of carbs! And you don't have to kill yourself in the gym to see changes. Small steps. Some of the ladies I follow are: @strength_hut (Emma Stevens) -listen to her Sunday Q and A videos, very informative - @thegymnurse, @wondwellness, @thewonderwomenofficial. These ladies are hardcore, but you can learn a lot from them and I think they all have a healthy outlook on food as fuel and body image. Thank you for your newsletters and your cooking demos. I have both of your books and love your style -- food and personally :)
I love your message in this newsletter. As a 56 year old post menopausal woman who has always enjoyed food, cooking and engaging in exercise that brings joy I have resisted my husband's offer of lifting with him for over 20 years - until the pandemic. I have been lifting with him 2-3 times a week for a couple of years and have to say I STILL don't love the act of lifting, but I do love the strength I've gained. All this to say sometimes even a self motivated exerciser can use a partner to stay motivated!
I am thankful that I chose to read this today. While I have long been a subscriber of your weekly meal planners and have your cookbooks and love watching your cooking videos, this is the first Monday Musings that I have read. I'm ashamed to say I don't even know how long you have been publishing them on Substack. But your title "We Are Enough" caught my attention. I just want to say thank you for your words this morning. Although I don't have food struggles, your themes are applicable to life in general. They are just what a needed to begin the start of a new week. On a side note, I also enjoyed Lessons in Chemistry (my favorite book of 2022) and pickleball is simply amazing!
As a fellow menopause sister…I appreciate the entire article…I agree with it all, and am in a very similar camp as a to outlook and similar lifestyle as you. Thank you and I look forward to following some of the links you have shared. Keep up the good work and word.
Enjoy the day, Andrea Delman
Thank you for these words. After an unhealthy relationship with food in my teen and college years, I made a decision to try to focus on just being healthy and balanced. I became a Pilates instructor after discovering the joy of moving in a way that just made me feel good. I also try to be someone who doesn't need to constantly comment on food choices or calories or always talk about body image. I may struggle at times with all of those feelings, but I want to set a positive example for my daughter. I appreciate your willingness to share and address this subject. You are a beautiful example and an inspiration.
Hi Pamela! Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this subject and your suggestions. I am in my early 50s, post menopause (I used to call it the "m" word) and have had similar struggles. This January I made a commitment to myself to TRY a weightlifting plan for 12 weeks with the intention, really, of losing some weight, but something else happened. I really like it! My body has changed in 3 months. I'm comfortable, proud of the way I look and empowered by the way I feel and the strength I've gained. Here's what I've learned. Anybody can do it. I go to a gym that is mostly seniors in their 60s, 70s + and I see so many of the same faces everyday and that is inspiring. My first month was so hard, I kept thinking, when are these 12 weeks going to be over?! And now, it's becoming a lifestyle. I don't think of it in terms time, like being on a diet, I think of it as something I do. To feel good. I do follow a plan of tracking food (for now, I'm learning!), lifting at home or at the gym 3-4 times a week, and walking but I'm not perfect and have gone off plan more than a few times in the past 3 months, but I don't beat myself up AT ALL. I just get back to it. I've learned a lot from some of the gals on Instagram that are "real" weigh trainers and they pretty much all say the same thing. Stop dieting, underfeeding ourselves (that was a tough one). Do cardio, but prioritize strength training. Don't be afraid of carbs! And you don't have to kill yourself in the gym to see changes. Small steps. Some of the ladies I follow are: @strength_hut (Emma Stevens) -listen to her Sunday Q and A videos, very informative - @thegymnurse, @wondwellness, @thewonderwomenofficial. These ladies are hardcore, but you can learn a lot from them and I think they all have a healthy outlook on food as fuel and body image. Thank you for your newsletters and your cooking demos. I have both of your books and love your style -- food and personally :)
Excellent, thank you! Sharing with my daughters , 21 & 18.
Longtime fan of your cookbooks/recipes/Instagram 😍
I love your message in this newsletter. As a 56 year old post menopausal woman who has always enjoyed food, cooking and engaging in exercise that brings joy I have resisted my husband's offer of lifting with him for over 20 years - until the pandemic. I have been lifting with him 2-3 times a week for a couple of years and have to say I STILL don't love the act of lifting, but I do love the strength I've gained. All this to say sometimes even a self motivated exerciser can use a partner to stay motivated!
I am thankful that I chose to read this today. While I have long been a subscriber of your weekly meal planners and have your cookbooks and love watching your cooking videos, this is the first Monday Musings that I have read. I'm ashamed to say I don't even know how long you have been publishing them on Substack. But your title "We Are Enough" caught my attention. I just want to say thank you for your words this morning. Although I don't have food struggles, your themes are applicable to life in general. They are just what a needed to begin the start of a new week. On a side note, I also enjoyed Lessons in Chemistry (my favorite book of 2022) and pickleball is simply amazing!