Grace & Grit Podcast: Helping Women Everywhere Live Happier, Healthier And More Fit Lives

I am super excited to have with me today, Veronica Valli to talk about something our culture has really normalized to the point that it is nearly impossible to escape, which is, the consumption of ALCOHOL. Alcohol is everywhere! => When you go out to eat, it is very common to be asked if you want a cocktail. => The media inundates us with ads promoting alcohol. => Nearly every social occasion you are invited to will present you with an opportunity to drink. => Most people associate downtime, fun and relaxing with alcohol. We are living in an age where we have made the consumption of alcohol SO normal, that many people struggle to drink less because they literally think their life will be less enjoyable without it. And the craziest thing of all is that it is costing people a lot to drink. => It is costing people their ability to face difficult emotions head-on. => It is costing people their ability to be authentic and real. => For many, it is costing them self-respect, because alcohol is preventing them from i

Dr. Sarah Sarkis is a psychologist, writer, and performance consultant with a private practice in Honolulu, Hawaii. Her integrated approach is big on science, low on bullshit, empowering her clients to achieve long term change and growth through an eclectic blend of psychology, neurobiology, and functional medicine. In this interview, we touch on so many points relevant to modern-day mental health, including: *The importance of being emotional flexibility *Learning how to embrace ambiguity *Where to start improving your mental health *The role self-awareness plays in mental health *How to find a great therapist *The danger of avoiding difficult emotions …and so much more. Listen in and share your thoughts! You can listen here: https://graceandgrit.com/podcast-169/ **** Are you loving the Grace and Grit Podcast?  Help us keep the mic on! Become a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/graceandgrit Leave a Review: http://bit.ly/GGPReview Looking for more Grace and Grit? Visit https://graceandgrit.com/

In this second episode of the “Modern Day Mental Health Theme”, I introduce 3 simple steps to to help you immediately improve your mental state. Clear physical and lifestyle clutter Pause to notice & name your what you are feeling and why you are feeling it. Choose to feel with intention. These are strategies I have used for years to help my clients unpack their stress and more consistently honor the needs of their mind, body, and soul. Have a listen. If you reap value from it, please consider sharing it with another woman who could benefit from listening. You can listen here: https://graceandgrit.com/podcast-168/ **** Are you loving the Grace and Grit Podcast?  Help us keep the mic on! Become a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/graceandgrit Leave a Review: http://bit.ly/GGPReview Looking for more Grace and Grit? Visit https://graceandgrit.com/  

While we are facing a tremendous amount of physical health challenges in our culture today, mental health is the most pressing issue of our time. Our ability to prevent, heal and manage modern-day health challenges is heavily influenced by the state of a person’s mind. If you are serious about cultivating deep health for yourself, you would benefit tremendously by focusing as much attention on your mental health as you do your physical health. Perhaps, even more so. In this episode of the Grace & Grit podcast, I introduce why I chose this theme and what you CAN do to positively influence the state of your mental health via your lifestyle choices. You can listen here: https://graceandgrit.com/podcast-167/ And, if you missed last month’s Roadmap, Finding Freedom Through Discipline, be sure to grab that here: https://graceandgrit.com/disciplineroadmap **** Are you loving the Grace and Grit Podcast?  Help us keep the mic on! Become a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/graceandgrit Leave a Review: http://bit.ly/G

Progress is not linear. (Read that again!) You will make mistakes. You will revert to behaviors that don’t serve you from time to time. You will “test the waters” to the point of unraveling some of your good work. In other words, you will find yourself “misaligned” along the path to change. It happens. It is part of the process. Being misaligned is where we learn and are presented with the opportunity to REALIGN. With practice, realigning yourself gets quicker and more graceful. Yes, really. Listen in to today’s episode to get some tips and tricks for how to bring yourself back into alignment along your health journey, when life throws you a curveball (and there will be many, because…well…LIFE:) You can listen here: https://graceandgrit.com/podcast-166/ And, grab this month’s FREE roadmap. It highlights the main points in each episode and captures your biggest takeaways. Download yours here: https://graceandgrit.com/disciplineroadmap **** Are you loving the Grace and Grit Podcast?  Help us keep the mic on!

There are 4 primary practices that I teach all of my clients to ensure that they make progress towards their goals. Self-Awareness Organization Follow Through Realignment These 4 practices can be applied to any area of your life to supercharge it. If you are looking for ways to supercharge your life in any way, do not miss this episode! You can listen here: https://graceandgrit.com/podcast-165/ And, grab this month’s FREE roadmap. It highlights the main points in each episode and captures your biggest takeaways. Download yours here: https://graceandgrit.com/disciplineroadmap **** Are you loving the Grace and Grit Podcast?  Help us keep the mic on! Become a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/graceandgrit Leave a Review: http://bit.ly/GGPReview Looking for more Grace and Grit? Visit https://graceandgrit.com/

Last week on the podcast we talked about the difference between using discipline as punishment vs an act of love. And this week, I am teaching you 5 ways to apply more self-discipline in your life in a way that feels simple, kind and even joy-filled. If you struggle to show up for yourself consistently, and you know that developing more self-discipline would help you do just that… do not miss this episode. You can listen here: https://graceandgrit.com/podcast-164/ Are you loving the Grace and Grit Podcast?  Help us keep the mic on! Become a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/graceandgrit Leave a Review: http://bit.ly/GGPReview Looking for more Grace and Grit? Visit https://graceandgrit.com/

In my opinion, there are two ways you can think about discipline, and how you choose to think about it has everything to do with your ability to use it to move your life to higher ground. What do you make discipline mean?   What could you make it mean? Do you want it to be a form of punishment or a form of devotion? Do you want it to mean restriction or freedom? Do you consider it a "have to" or a "get to"? Do you apply it to your life because you "should" or because you "want to"? You get to choose!  And your choice in how you perceive it and use it matters.  A lot actually. Listen to this episode if you would like to mend your relationship with discipline. You can listen here:  https://graceandgrit.com/podcast-163/ Are you loving the Grace and Grit Podcast? Help us keep the mic on! Become a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/graceandgrit Leave a Review: http://bit.ly/GGPReview Looking for more Grace and Grit? Visit https://graceandgrit.com/

This week’s episode on the Grace & Grit Podcast is the final installment of the Self-Leadership (and why it matters to your health) theme, and I am talking about the two final pillars: self-compassion & self-discipline (aka Grace & Grit). We need BOTH grace (self-compassion) and grit (self-discipline) to live a healthy, joyous life. The hard part is embracing the quality that doesn’t come as natural to you and not misuse the one that does. As a health coach, I have seen women manipulate self-love into rationalizing why they shouldn’t have to apply the self-discipline that will help them get happier or healthier. And I have witnessed women use self-discipline to the point of self-destruction because they clearly lack love for themselves. I am a champion for residing in the space between self-love and self-discipline, which is why I named my company Grace & Grit. One without the other will cage what is possible for your life. Listen in to this episode to hear more about my thoughts on this and l

We have covered a lot of ground on the Grace & Grit Podcast this month in regards to Self-Leadership and why it matters to your health. In the first two episodes (159 & 161) I talked about the importance of developing self-respect, and why self-awareness is so essential to self-development. You may have self-respect, you may have self-awareness, you may have a game plan for developing the parts of yourself that need developing, but if you can’t manage your time, your energy, or your mindset – you will struggle unnecessarily to make progress along your journey. This episode is all about helping you to take back control of your time, energy and mindset so you can create the level of success you truly crave with your health, and ultimately, your life. Have a listen. Share your thoughts. And if you love it, please consider sharing it with a woman you believe could benefit from listening too! https://graceandgrit.com/podcast-161/   **** Are you loving the Grace and Grit Podcast?  Help us keep the mic on!

This month on the podcast we are talking about what means to be self-directed along your health journey and the 6 pillars that make-up powerful self-leadership. Last week we did a deep dive into the most foundational pillar, which is self-respect and on this episode, I talk about self-awareness and self-development. Plus I dish out some tips for improving both of these areas with more ease and grace. I also interview a client of mine at the end of this episode who shares her insight on what it is like to work with me. :) Click the link to have a listen. Share your thoughts and send this to a woman who may benefit from hearing it! https://graceandgrit.com/podcast-160/ **** Are you loving the Grace and Grit Podcast? Help us keep the mic on! Become a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/graceandgrit Leave a Review: http://bit.ly/GGPReview Looking for more Grace and Grit? Visit https://graceandgrit.com/

Some health coaches heavily focus on nutrition, others on fitness, and others on mindfulness. While the work that I do as a coach addresses all of these things in depth, the thing I am MOST passionate about teaching clients is self-leadership, because, without it, nothing else will stick for very long. In this episode of the Grace & Grit Podcast, I introduce what I believe to be the 6 pillars of powerful self-leadership, how self-leadership impacts your ability to take care of yourself and I do a deep dive into the most essential of these pillars: self-respect. This is perhaps, one of my favorite topics to date on the podcast because it is the bedrock of the work that I do as a coach. Over the course of the next month, I will be addressing all 6 pillars of self-leadership and how these pillars directly influence your health story. Click the link to have a listen. Share your thoughts. And if you love it, please consider sharing it with a woman you believe could benefit from listening too! https://graceandg

Everywhere you turn it seems there is a new diet or exercise program being marketed to you, but how often do you see the wellness industry pushing the importance of sleep? Sleep is the linchpin to your health, according to Matthew Walker Ph.D., who wrote the awesome book, Why We Sleep. Matthew Walker is Professor of Neuroscience and Psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, and Founder and Director of the Center for Human Sleep Science. He is has been deep in the study of sleep for more than 20 years and his book is both illuminating and horrifying. I strongly encourage every human who values their health to read this book and in this episode of the Grace & Grit Podcast, I highlight some of the biggest takeaways from Walker’s book and dish out a few of my own tips for better sleep hygiene. Have a listen and share your thoughts! https://graceandgrit.com/podcast-158/   **** Are you loving the Grace and Grit Podcast?  Help us keep the mic on! Become a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/graceandgri

It is fundamentally impossible to create a state of deep health without adequate recovery and I will forever be reminding my listeners, my clients and my community that the answers to improving health are often not found in doing more but doing less. In a culture that glorifies hustle, it can be really difficult to slow down and grant yourself adequate permission to rest and recover, which can dramatically affect your hormonal system. When hormones are disrupted everything feels challenging and no one understands this better than women entering perimenopause and menopause. In this episode of the Grace and Grit Podcast, I have invited my friend, Kiran Ram, to the show to help women better understand how lifestyle choices can help to restore hormonal balance. Have a listen and share your thoughts! https://graceandgrit.com/podcast-157/ **** Are you loving the Grace and Grit Podcast?  Help us keep the mic on! Become a Patron >> https://www.patreon.com/graceandgrit Leave a Review >> http://bit.ly/GGPReview Looking

Have you ever heard of Breast Implant Illness? If not, you are not alone. I had not heard of it either until few friends of mine publically announced their intention to have “explant” surgery after they started to suffer from inexplicable health challenges over the past few years. One such friend is Michelle Rycroft, a dedicated health coach and personal trainer who I have had the pleasure of knowing for several years. When Michelle started to share her challenges with what she believes to be breast implant illness, I was intrigued about the illness and started to do some of my own research. I came across hundreds of stories just like Michelle’s and I strongly feel that this is a topic that women need to be better informed about, especially in light of the FDA stepping forward last month to notify the public that “individuals with breast implants have a risk of developing breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma, or BIA-ALCL, a type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (cancer of the immune system).” Bre

In this episode, I interview a very dear friend of mine, Joana Meneses, who has built an amazing retreat business in her homeland of Portugal (in the Azores Islands, to be more specific). I went to visit her last year for some much-needed restoration myself and, not only was I restored, I was deeply touched and inspired by the place and the people that she introduced me to. Since the entire month on the Grace & Grit podcast is dedicated to the theme RESTORE, I thought it would be a great opportunity to host this incredible friend of mine so you can hear from her first hand how she was able to combine her love of movement with her native country, to create a restoration opportunity like no other. I hope you enjoy this interview as much as I enjoyed doing it:) Click here to learn more and LISTEN NOW! >>Are you loving the Grace & Grit Podcast? Help us keep the mic on! Then head over to iTunes and leave a review so the Grace and Grit message can spread to more women who need to hear it. Looking for more

Negotiating recovery is a very real habit that many women have adopted in their life that has some pretty steep consequences. Protecting time in your schedule to allow your mind, body, and soul to recover should not be “optional”, you should treat it as “mandatory” if you want to feel strong, resilient and proactive. In this episode of the Grace & Grit Podcast, I share some of my thoughts on why making time to restore your mind, body, and soul is so important, why we struggle to make time for it and simple measures we can take to add it back into our lives. If you struggle to grant yourself permission to rest and restore or know a woman who does, have a listen and share your thoughts. >>Are you loving the Grace & Grit Podcast? Help us keep the mic on! Then head over to iTunes and leave a review so the Grace and Grit message can spread to more women who need to hear it. Looking for more Grace & Grit? Visit GraceandGrit.com

If you are creating any kind of meaningful change in your life, you will most certainly be confronted with resistance…many, many times. And when feel resistance, you can hand over the car keys, which will get you nowhere (because resistance wants you to stay exactly where you are). Or… You can use the fact that you are in the arena with resistance as an opportunity to flex your resilience muscle, which allows you to move forward with the change that you were so intent on making. In this episode of the Grace & Grit Podcast, I talk about the difference between resistance and resilience and why you would benefit greatly from developing the latter. Click here to learn more and LISTEN NOW! >>Are you loving the Grace & Grit Podcast? Help us keep the mic on! Then head over to iTunes and leave a review so the Grace and Grit message can spread to more women who need to hear it. Looking for more Grace & Grit? Visit GraceandGrit.com

I am so honored to have Steph Gaudreau back on the Grace & Grit Podcast to expand the conversation around “Embracing Resistance”, which is the theme on the podcast this month. I have watched Steph’s business and message spread like wildfire over the past few years, and I know that the growth she has experienced has not come without a fair share of challenges. In this episode, Steph graciously shares what it took for her to move through resistance along the path to growth, how she gave herself permission to evolve, even when it felt there was a lot at stake, and how she gracefully handles resistance when it shows up in her own health journey. Lots of good stuff here! Click here to have a listen and share your thoughts. >>Are you loving the Grace & Grit Podcast? Help us keep the mic on! Then head over to iTunes and leave a review so the Grace and Grit message can spread to more women who need to hear it. Looking for more Grace & Grit? Visit GraceandGrit.com

Resistance is how we fortify our muscle, our bone, and even our brain tissue. Learning how to embrace resistance is also how we learn to expand our lives. Resistance, both emotional and physical, can literally forge us into more capable and resilient human beings IF we are willing to lean into it rather than making a habit of retreating from it. In this episode, I have the honor of interviewing strength coach and fellow podcaster Nikki Naab-Levy and we discuss all things “resistance”, including: How she shows up for herself despite resistance being present. How resistance training improved her life. How to approach resistance training safely. How to trust your body again after you have been injured. And so much more! Click here to learn more and LISTEN NOW! >>Are you loving the Grace & Grit Podcast? Help us keep the mic on! Then head over to iTunes and leave a review so the Grace and Grit message can spread to more women who need to hear it. Looking for more Grace & Grit? Visit GraceandGrit.com