Happy & Healthy with Amy

Is your calendar filling up with holiday gatherings and shopping on top of your regular busy schedule? Worried about all the cookies and treats and the holiday weight gain season? In this episode, I talk about how to deal with the feelings of stress and overwhelm that lead to emotional eating and prevent us from taking action and those first steps in reaching our goals. Free Resources: Watch the M...

Do you find yourself eating after the kids have gone to bed?  Have the urge for a late night snack even though you're not hungry? In this episode, I talk about how to overcome these urges that undermine the rest of our weight loss efforts and exactly what to do to break the habit of late night snacking. Free Resources: Try the Tandem Balance Exercise to shift your focus. Join our private Face...

Are there people in your life that you find emotionally draining?  And you're in a situation, like the holidays, where you're not really able to simply avoid the person. In this episode, I explain exactly why we find these people so difficult to deal with, why we engage with them, and ways to handle these interactions that can both strengthen our empathy skills and our relationships. Fre...

Do you find yourself thinking, "I need to lose weight" or "I should really lose some weight" like a song on repeat?  Tired of having the same resolutions every January?  Let's change that. In this episode, learn why believing that you "need to" or "have to" lose weight undermines your weight loss efforts and is the #1 most common mistake people make.  M...

When it comes to weight loss, do you find yourself saying, "What haven't I tried?" Do you believe that permanent weight loss is actually impossible for you? If that sounds familiar, or if you’re completely new to weight loss, this is an episode you don't want to miss. In this episode, learn why believing that you’ve done everything to lose weight - and nothing works - is actual...

Do you yourself postponing the start of your weight loss efforts?  Perhaps Monday rolls around and you tell yourself, "I'll start next Monday instead."  This is a really popular procrastination story, and one that I’m exploring in the third of a 5-part series on the reasons why you think you can’t lose weight. In this episode, I’ll be sharing why this happens and how to overcome it...

Do you believe that losing weight means you can't eat what you really want?  This is a really common belief, and one that I’m challenging in the second of a 5-part series on the reasons why you think you can’t lose weight. In this episode, I’ll be sharing why we wound up believing this and how denying ourselves of foods we want actually gets in the way of our weight loss efforts. Free Resourc...

Do you believe that losing weight is something you should be able to do on your own? This is a really common thought mistake, and one that I’m challenging in this first of a 5-part series on the reasons why you think you can’t lose weight. As smart, capable, well-educated professionals, we tend to believe that because we already know what we're supposed to do to lose weight, we should be able...

How is your relationship with food?  Do certain foods trigger anxiety?  Is emotional eating one of your go-to coping mechanisms?  Do you feel guilty eating your favorite comfort foods?   In this episode, we talk about how to undo the damage to our relationship with food that has been caused by the diet and packaged foods industries. Free Resources: Join our private Facebook group, Moxie Club Meetu...

With so millions of dollars poured into marketing packaged foods and quick fix diets, it's no wonder we're confused about what good nutrition looks like. In this episode, we go back to the fundamentals:  why we eat, what to eat, when to eat and how much to eat. Free Resources: Download our free Download 30-Day Habit Tracker Join our private Facebook group, Moxie Club Meetup Subscribe to...

If you're in front of a computer screen for long periods of time or watching your kids texting and scrolling through social media for hours on end, you've probably noticed your posture has changed - maybe your shoulders are a bit rounded and your head sits a bit forward. Wondering what the long-term effects are on the quality of movement and life are, and how you can restore good posture...

When you see dramatic transformations, there's always a before and after, and the contrast provides clarity - something happened to alter the trajectory. In this episode, I talk about the domino effect - the change to one belief or behavior which creates a cascade or chain reaction, causing a shift in related behaviors. Free Resources: Download our free Download TLC Worksheet Join our private...

On our weight loss journey, we usually want people to notice and comment when we've lost a significant amount of weight.  But what if seeking validation and approval from others is getting in the way of your inner peace and joy? In this episode, I talk about why we seek approval from others, the major pitfalls of relying on external sources of validation, and how to stop this self-sabotaging...

When Cesar Millan rehabilitates dogs, he also spends time training the owners on handling the dogs with what he calls “calm-assertive energy.”  More often than not, the dog's misbehavior is a reaction to what the unskilled owner is or isn't doing so focusing on the dog would be akin to treating the symptoms, not the problem. When we look at extra weight as the problem and not the symptom...

When your primary source of stress is the daily grind, how are you managing it?  In this episode, I discuss the importance of autonomy, competence and connection to foster little "r" resilience. For more information on the upcoming workshop, Building Resilience, on September 1, 2021, go to moxie-club.com/harness Free Resources: Download our free Download TLC Worksheet Join our private Fa...

Lumping all stress in the "bad" for you bucket and something you should avoid is like saying all baby boomers are the same.  In fact, your experience with stress is similar to what research has shown for baby boomers and their attitudes about aging. How you think about stress has a real effect on your body.  In this episode, I discuss what happens when you think about the stress response...

Have you read the book, “Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers” by Robert Sapolsky? It’a all about what stress and specifically chronic stress does to the human body, and how it increases our chances of developing cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and even cancer. But not all stress is bad for you, and in this episode, I explain when stress is a good thing and how to take full advantage...

Returning guest, Molly Zive, LCSW, joins me for one of my favorite topics: Self-Love. When it comes to weight loss and specifically lasting weight loss, approaching the process from a place of self-love is essential. In this episode, Molly and I provide a working definition of self-love, what it looks like and how to become your own best friend. To connect with Molly or listen to her podcast, Ther...

When you've regained the weight you lost and feel like you have to start over, look for the lessons. In reality, you're getting a "do over" and the chance to apply what you've learned.  What will you do differently this time?  How about ditching the diets (and diet mentality) and approaching weight loss from a place of self-love? In the episode, I show you what this looks...

In response to a social media user who commented on her weight, Valerie Bertinelli recorded and posted an emotional video message on Instagram.  The topic: Body shaming and its effects. When we are criticized for our appearance and agree with the critic, it's likely our sense of self-worth is based on the way our body looks. If you believe you can only feel good about yourself when you have a...

When was the last time you walked into a room, looked around, and compared how you look to others? The comparison game is at the root of so many of our body image issues.  Do you catch yourself seeing someone who looks great… and feel less than? And then look for someone in worse shape to feel better about yourself?  It's vitally important to know that this thought process is based on shame,...

Thinking about trying yoga or Pilates?  Wondering what to look for and what to avoid if you're a beginner? In today's episode, AyLin Guvenc joins me for an in-depth conversation about what she's learned as a yoga and Pilates instructor through the years and specifically during the Covid-19 pandemic.  We also talk about how the term "mindful movement" means to her and the i...

How long does it take for a new driver to become unconsciously competent?  When the person has had so much practice with a skill that it has become “second nature?” In today's episode, I talk about the learning process from unconscious incompetence to conscious incompetence to conscious competence and finally, unconscious competence or mastery.  Find out what it takes for self-care habits to...

In today's episode, I talk about the many ways to measure progress in your weight loss journey that have nothing to do with the number on the scale and everything to do with a happy and healthy life. As Henry David Thoreau so wisely noted, "What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals." Free Resources: Download our free Download...

As the pandemic eases, the consequences of the stress and sheltering for the last 15 months are significant.  One of the most noteworthy is the loss of strength and cognitive decline for many older adults. In today's episode, I talk about the importance of strength training to empower healthy aging.  The benefits include gaining muscle mass and strength, as well as better mobility, mental sha...