Rest Days

It’s time for the Super Bowl. Who are we rooting for? Usher, baby. When Usher plays the halftime show, we’re all winners. So, instead of Super Bowl talk, we’re talking soups and bowls. Does soup count as a meal? What’s our favorite bowl meals? We get into nutrition and simple food hacks to keep you nourished all winter long.  Give this one a listen for lots of giggles and what we believe to b...

Do people actually change, or do they just become more of who they really are? To be honest, we aren’t sure and we aren’t answering that big question today. We do want you to take a moment in your day to acknowledge what you’ve learned about yourself lately. Even better, what do you LIKE about yourself? We walk through some of our favorite topics, like food, movement, routine, and style, and discu...

Did you think Mardi Gras was just one day, too? Well, you’re not totally wrong. Mardi Gras is Fat Tuesday, but when you live in New Orleans, Carnival Season is weeks long. This episode is the result of a phone call in which Lauren asked Maria, “Wait… is my friend a Mummer?” The rest is for you to find out. As you may know, Maria is based in New Orleans and has adopted Carnival Season with great en...

Be honest: are you having a happy new year? We’re back for Season 5, and that’s enough. Being back, being here, and keeping on with our lives is the win for us! In this episode, we first get into the details of what exactly happened in Season 4: our shortest season of all time. Mostly, this episode explores what we encourage you to unlearn about the New Year: expectations to be a different person,...

Welcome back to Rest Days! This is our second installment of Gadgets and Gizmos a’plenty and we definitely have who’s its and what’s its galore. There will DEFINITELY be thingamabobs. Is it an episode of entirely clickbait items? Maybe. We hope this episode brings some comical relief to the onslaught of devices and products we will be marketed throughout the holiday season. Some of them are luxury...

Today, we’re interviewing two guests: our own Hormone Monsters. Navigating a menstrual cycle - be it regular AF or simply untrackable - can feel like filing taxes depending on the time of the month. As two people with some pretty frustrating Hormone Monster moments, we’re taking time to discuss PMS, PMDD, and what sets them apart. In this episode, we discuss the differences between PMS and PMDD, w...

If there’s a topic that gets fitness fans talking, it’s that bench that never got a good wipe down by its last user. There are just some gym behaviors related to etiquette and boundaries that, well, have us thinking… maybe you should leave. There are also elements of etiquette that make gyms and studios special places. We’re covering the good, bad, and the sweaty on this episode of Rest Days. From...

On this special episode of Rest Days, Lauren interviews a vampire (Maria), who has spent six months in anticipatory grief and recently returned from a month away from home to support her family. These experiences can turn our lives, routines, and habits upside down. How do you eat, sleep, move, and work when we feel like a total vampire? While we are no experts on getting through the suck, we do h...

We’re bringing back HAGS, short for “have a great summer,” in this episode dedicated to summer shifts in routine and habits. The truth is… we aren’t all having a great summer. The earth is hotter than ever [literally though], the air quality is variable at best, and the social and emotional conditions are rough. This is a season and an era for extra intentionality and compassion for our bodies. Tu...

Or the alternative title "I have no problem being on my phone for hours and hours"The internet is gonna internet, y’all. We’re talking about what’s been trending on the internet lately, specifically health and fitness topics that are giving clickbait. Yes, you know what we’re talking about – mustard on everything, nootropics, 12/30/30, and more. As usual, we give our honest takes and provide nuanc...

We’re living in a clickbait world, baby. And this right here is our Click Baits of Yesteryear episode. We’ve all fallen into the trap of thinking a product, program, food, or protocol would ‘fix our entire lives.’ And… we can pretty much all agree that most of those silver bullet solutions left us wanting more [or less… looking at you, Quest Bars].Have a listen to our first episode of Season 4! Fi...

We’re talking bodies - again! We know we left you in a bit of a thought swamp in Body Goals, Part 1. This time around, we take a look at body goals from another angle. What if our body goals felt good? Inspired us? Reminded us of how strong and capable we are? In this ep, we discuss when the transition from negative-feeling body goals to positive ones occurred… with an unfortunate, mutual discover...

Body goals: we’ve had them. We might still have them! How those goals feel is what matters most. In Part 1 of our Body Goals episode series, we are getting into the not-so-great side of body goals. Some of our old body goals may feel as painful as a lukewarm, concentrated shot of apple cider vinegar. We’re here to walk through the swamp with you. Click Bait features a couple cringeworthy throwback...

“What do you think about fitness trackers?’ is a question we get a lot. The TL;DL? We love our trackers. However, it wasn’t always that way. In this episode, we explore what it can look and feel like to have a fitness tracker as a supportive tool. And also, we share our experiences and insights about fitness trackers becoming more of a rule than a tool. Tune in to our conversation about how we get...

This is the poop episode. The episode where we talk about poop. Buckle up the bidet and have a sitz with us. In this week’s episode, we chat through what it means to be regular with a poop routine [and how that can mean something different for all of us!]. From our professional perspectives, we also identify the ways in which movement and nutrition can play a part — for better or for worse — in ou...

Have you been spring cleaning? So have we! When we talk spring cleaning, we mean something fairly nuanced. We’re cleaning out more than closets! In an unlikely turn of events, our Click Bait turns a little bit into a Ricki Lake mediation episode… meets a heavily influenced beverage commercial. You’ll love it. This week on Rest Days, we’re diving into the many ways you can enter the spring season....

Ooooh, why you so obsessed with me? Boy, I wanna know. Well, here’s the thing: we DO know. We have been obsessed with a lot of not great fitness, nutrition, and wellness habits. A lot of the “why” has to do with feeling in charge of your health and your life. And also, we can’t disregard the impact of societal pressures, fatphobia, and diet culture. On this episode, we share our insights on stayin...

Season 3 is here, and so is the pollen. Welcome to Itchy Girl Season! This episode is our spring variation of ‘Crock Pot Season,’ and we’re sharing the specific ways we make space for shifts, adaptations, and grace in our spring routines. Amidst our face scratching and sneezing, we talk through general routine, movement, food habits, energy and sleep, skincare, and clothing. Learn to work within t...

Stress is a part of life. When does the thing we’re accustomed to become the thing we’re relying on to get anything done? The stress of needing to meet a deadline or eat before you get too hangry or drink water before your body turns into a raisin – yep, we know those stressors and more. MAJOR CW for talk about Gwyneth Paltrow + other diet culture thingsDiet and wellness cultures are their own str...

This week on Rest Days we are in excitingly good company. Our second ever guest is the one and only Lauren Bell, aka Nutrition Lo on social media. Her knowledge and insights will get you thinking, unpacking, and reimagining your understanding of nutrition from a public health lens. In this episode, we discuss public health nutrition, food access in the US and particularly in Louisiana, and ways we...

We’ve all been there: the bad body image day. Maybe it’s a whole day or just a moment within one. Regardless of the duration, these times are tough to navigate. While we don’t consider ourselves the experts, we do know the power of community in sharing what has helped us on our journeys! Tune in for our discussion on common body image triggers, conversations with others who don’t quite get it, and...

How many times have you wondered to yourself, is [insert trend/advice here] even TRUE? Welcome to your intro course, Diet and Fitness Lore 101 with adjunct faculty Lauren and Maria. This episode is short, sweet, and to the point. Lauren and Maria debunk 2 foundational myths from their respective fields, and yes, you can receive a certificate of completion for your learning time. The curriculum for...

Two roads diverged into yellow wood… and we took the Gremlin Girl off-road trail instead. When confronted with the [potentially arduous] task of self-care in 2023, we’re getting real and talking realistic. No, not the 5-9 That Girl Routine; this week on Rest Days, Lauren and Maria talk through their own definitions of self-care from a realistic angle, as well as their favorite health-promoting sel...

There’s nothing confidential when it comes to our kitchens. This week, we’re talking about our recent go-to choices for meals, snacks, and hydration. Why? Because a life without dieting means a life full of choices! We’re here with you in your decision fatigue and your 4pm lunches. This episode is not prescriptive or directive in ANY capacity. Rather, this is an intentional share about the ways we...

This is the very first episode of Rest Days featuring… a GUEST! Your trusty Rest Days duo shares the mic with the incomparable, wildly energetic Nikki Pebbles. Read more about Nikki below! In this episode, we ask Nikki about how we can set goals and create routines without feeling the dreaded structure and pass/fail system we learned from dieting. She delivers! Nikki also teaches us about neutral...