Month: June 2018

Is Dry Needling Safe? What To Know About This New Trend

Post author By HealthyWay Staff Writer
Post date June 15, 2018

Dry needling: In a sense, the name says it all. Practitioners put dry needles—without medications or other additives—into their patients’ skin, targeting “trigger points” that are said to relieve pain and tension.
If that sounds a whole lot like acupuncture, you’re not entirely wrong. Although both techniques use needles, acupuncture is based on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), while dry needling is based in Western medicine. Dry needling is also closely related to myofascial release massage.

We decided to look into the science behind the practice of dry needling. If you’re thinking about trying a dry needle treatment, here’s what you need to know.

Dry Needling vs. Acupuncture: Is there really any difference?

On paper, dry needling and acupuncture look similar: An acupuncturist or physical therapist sticks needles in your body, removes them, and you (hopefully) walk away feeling better.
“Dry needling needles are the same as acupuncture needles,” says personal trainer Lauren Lobert, doctor of physical therapy and owner of APEX Physical Therapy. “They are very, very thin and flexible needles of different lengths, depending on the area [of the] needling and patient’s size.”
Lobert has been dry needling for about 18 months. For the most part, she says that her patients report positive experiences.
“I have heard a lot of different responses,” she says. “Most people say the majority of the needles don’t feel like anything! But, just like with a massage, if you are hitting areas that are tighter or more tender, then it will be more sore. Sometimes it is described as a pressure or feeling of fullness. Sometimes it just hurts. But, it’s typically just for a second and then it goes away.”

The basic idea behind dry needling is that the human body has a number of “trigger points,” spots with sensitive, knotted tissues that cause pain. By needling those areas, practitioners believe that they can relieve the myofascia—the dense tissue that covers the muscles—providing quick pain relief.
“Chinese medicine is both an art and science and there are over 361 points on the body, and rarely is there any side effect [with acupuncture] except a small bruise,” claims board-certified acupuncturist Elizabeth Trattner. “Needling techniques are different all over the body, especially the trunk, as needling the chest can cause a collapsed lung. This is never done in TCM, and it is the first thing we learn in our four-year journey to become a licensed doctor of TCM.”
That sounded pretty dramatic to us, so we researched it. According to a piece published in Acupuncture in Medicine, “pneumothorax complications” are rare but can occur in both dry needling and acupuncture. In any case, Trattner says that the national acupuncture community is “outraged” by the current dry needling trend.
“We have an obligation to educate the public that dry needling and acupuncture are two different things,” Trattner says. “One is legal, one is not. One is safe, the other, not.”
Dry needling is legal in many states, though, according to the American Physical Therapy Association, although the organization notes that the legality of the practice “continues to be a question posed to state regulatory boards, legislatures, and agencies.”
Trattner does raise an interesting point, however: Given that any type of therapy carries potential risks, are there enough benefits to justify dry needling treatments?

The Scientific Evidence for Dry Needling

There’s some evidence that both dry needling and acupuncture can provide benefits for certain chronic pain conditions according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.

With that said, there’s not necessarily evidence that either technique works better than a placebo. One systematic review from 2001 found that “when treating myofascial trigger point pain with trigger point injection, the nature of the injected substance makes no difference to the outcome, and … wet needling is not therapeutically superior to dry needling.”
That sounds like a big win for dry needling practitioners. However, the same review “did not find any rigorous evidence that needling therapies have an effect beyond placebo in myofascial trigger point pain.” There’s plenty of anecdotal evidence for dry needling—a quick Google search turns up hundreds of positive stories—but not much scientific evidence apart from a few limited studies. That could change over time, but some clinical physicians are skeptical.
“The only patients I’d recommend dry needling to are those susceptible to the placebo effect, because the idea that it does anything important is, as best I can tell from the literature, [untrue],” says Stuart Spitalnic, MD, clinical assistant professor of emergency medicine at Brown University.
We asked him whether he could think of any situation in which he’d recommend dry needling, even as a placebo.
“I would never recommend dry needling, nor [anything else on] a growing list of nonsense therapy that people continue to do—acupuncture, chiropractic, homeopathy, most herbals. Maybe chiropractic for low back pain only, though I believe you would be better off with a good massage,” he tells HealthyWay in an email.
“Now, when faced with a patient that is already participating in one of these therapies and believes they are receiving benefits from them, so long as it is not clearly dangerous, it is likely best for a clinician to either say nothing or be muted in their objections, unless specifically asked to pass judgement on a therapy. Then it would be wrong to lie.”
Spitalnic notes that the people who offer dry needling therapy often have good intentions.
“To be fair, most practitioners are not dishonest; they are true believers, well armed with anecdotes of those who have been helped by either the placebo effect or coincident with the start of therapy,” he writes. “[That’s] similar to the parent who believes their child’s cold was cured by antibiotics because, by the time they got around to seeing the doctor and getting the prescription, the kid was on the verge of improvement anyway.”
In his position, Spitalnic frequently analyzes scientific studies, and his position is clear: Without credible research, there’s no reason to start sticking yourself (or anyone else) with needles.
“I have reviewed many implausible therapies and, without fail, when they are backed at all, they are backed by incredibly biased, fatally flawed, and/or typically non-reproducible research. And, whenever tested rigorously, their effects vanish.”
We asked Lobert to weigh in on those concerns.
“I totally understand the skepticism of many people in regards to both dry needling and acupuncture,” she says. “It’s very common that people are skeptical about this treatment! …The bottom line is that dry needling, when performed by a trained professional, is extremely safe and well received by patients. If it is placebo that causes them to feel better, I’m okay with that. With soaring rates of opioid-related deaths and other side effects [of opiate use], I believe that trying alternative methods in order to decrease pain and regain function can be hugely beneficial.”
To be clear, Lobert does not believe that the results are all due to placebo. Her position is that pain management is a complex issue, and she believes that trigger-point therapies like dry point needling offer an excellent alternative to pharmaceutical treatments.

What are the risks of dry needling?

If you still want to try dry needling to experience the purported benefits for yourself, ensure that you are visiting a properly trained practitioner. Check to make sure that dry needling is legal in your state, and don’t expect your insurance to cover the practice (Blue Cross Blue Shield, for instance, typically considers dry needling to be “experimental” or “investigational,” and therefore exempt from coverage). Be aware of the limited risks of this type of procedure.
“There are safety considerations, such as if someone is on high doses of blood thinners, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do it,” says Lobert. “Immediately after surgery, it is not recommended. However, once the incisions are healed and doing well, [dry needling] is fine. If you have an active infection, you don’t want to be dry needling. And if you have an intense fear of needles, dry needling will probably not be a pleasant experience for you.”
While still extremely skeptical of dry needling therapies, Spitalnic says that they probably don’t pose much of a risk to patients.
“I’m sure the overall risks are low, though infection and inadvertent injury to a subcutaneous structure are possible,” Spitalnic says.
If you’ve got a significant chronic pain condition, you might want to see a physician before engaging in either dry needling or acupuncture. Otherwise, you’re probably good to go. Just make sure to temper your expectations.

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Wellbeing

Loneliness In The Modern Age: When Social Media Ruins Our Social Lives

Post author By Cindy Lamothe
Post date June 15, 2018

Back when Chad Zollinger was still in college, he remembers that the first and last thing he did each day was liking pictures and following people on Instagram. At the time, the 26-year-old spent countless hours chasing after fans for a successful comedy account he created. Yet despite attracting over 10,000 followers, he found himself lonelier than ever.

Zollinger recalled that whatever he achieved was never enough. “When I hit 100 followers, I needed to get to 1,000. When I hit 1,000, my next goal was 2,000, and so on.” But soon after reaching his goal of 10,000, he realized it was all pointless.
“I eventually ended up getting more excited about likes and follows than actual real-life interaction,” he tells HealthyWay. “It’s just so much more difficult to get up out of a seat and walk over to someone and have a great conversation—especially with strangers.”

While Instagram proved a valuable source for making friends, Zollinger found it wasn’t so great for building relationships. “It’s quick social intoxication,” says the Utah-based content marketing strategist. “Almost everything on social media is less meaningful and watered down. You get a like or a comment and you are satisfied for like two seconds.”
Zollinger’s experience rings especially true for those of us millennials who find ourselves glued to our devices. In many ways, his quest for followers reflects the current zeitgeist of our tech-savvy times: craving contact but not knowing how to meaningfully connect.

This could account for why our generation is at a greater risk for developing an array of mental health problems like anxiety or depression, according to a new study published in the journal Psychological Medicine.
[pullquote align=”center”]”When studies find that loneliness is higher in youth than in the elderly, it’s time for us to begin to talk about the side effects of our current culture.”
—Melissa Deuter, MD[/pullquote]
While past research has primarily focused on the 42.6 million lonely adults over age 45, this latest study shows that millennials are feeling more left out than previous generations—a fact that poses serious repercussions to our longevity. Forming close, caring bonds is crucial to our physical and psychological well-being—so much so that not having them can increase our risk of premature death by around 30 percent.
“When studies find that loneliness is higher in youth than in the elderly, it’s time for us to begin to talk about the side effects of our current culture,” says Melissa Deuter, MD, a San Antonio-based board-certified psychiatrist specializing in the care of teens and young adults. “And it’s no wonder. If you’ve watched a group of young people socialize in recent years, you’ll see they mostly stare at devices; they rarely engage with each other at all.”

Still, simply increasing face-to-face interaction isn’t the solution, although it’s certainly a good first step (especially considering the fact that people can still feel lonely even in the presence of others). So what exactly is happening?

Why are millennials lonely?

With social media and a mere tap of our finger, we’re privy to everything we never knew we always wanted: lavish vacations, far-fetched marriage proposals, that new Japanese restaurant (that we probably can’t afford). It’s right there within our grasp—or so our fear of missing out would have us believe.
[pullquote align=”center”]”When we view someone else’s post who seems to have it ‘all together,’ we may draw comparisons between their life and ours,”
—Julie Williamson, licensed professional counselor[/pullquote]
Here’s the thing: Spending all our waking hours aimlessly scrolling through what seems like a plethora of missed opportunities activates a limiting “jealousy” mindset.
Continuously staring into the highlight reel of other people’s lives makes us feel wishful at best and incompetent at worst. If only, we think to ourselves—if only I started running each morning, if only I worked harder at my job, if only I were worthy—effectively reducing our self-value to a 5.5-inch screen.

“When we view someone else’s post who seems to have it ‘all together,’ we may draw comparisons between their life and ours,” says Julie Williamson, a licensed professional counselor based in St. Louis. And this, consequently, makes us feel separate and different from that person. “If we are feeling that way with every post we look at, feelings of isolation and loneliness can set in.”
What can be done, you might ask? Unless we’re willing to ditch our phones and cut out technology altogether (which let’s face it, isn’t realistic), Williamson recommends we learn better approaches for using social media with moderation—which brings us to our next point:

Put boundaries around your social media use.

If, like most, you find yourself caught in the mousetrap of let’s see who’s better than me, Williamson, a millennial herself, has outlined some immediate ways to avoid the comparison game.

Remove the apps from your mobile devices. As the cliché goes, “out of sight, out of mind.” To be clear, you’re not closing up shop—you can still access your accounts on your browser if need be, but removing the apps from your phone can significantly reduce the time spent aimlessly scrolling.
Remove alerts and email notifications (when someone has liked or commented on your posts). Williamson says these alerts can distract you when you’re in the middle of a task and leave you unable to think about anything other than checking your profiles.
Establish social media times. Decide when you will check your social media accounts and when you will not. Sure, there’s a little willpower to it, but here are a few tips: If you’re at work, for example, wait until your lunch break to check your profiles. Or maybe set a time once in the morning and once in the afternoon.
Designating other activities during that time. Since we tend toward checking our accounts when we’re bored or procrastinating, Williamson recommends designating other activities like taking a brisk walk or stopping at a co-worker’s desk.

Just as we’d swap out junk food for nutritious snacks, we should always opt for in-person connection before scrolling. Think of it the same way you would when embarking on any new lifestyle change: Every small action counts and can ultimately help stave off unhealthy habits.

Take steps toward IRL socializing.

Stagnation breeds loneliness: More so than just limiting social media use, we should keep our focus on making real-world connections, says Crystal Lee, PsyD, a Los Angeles-based licensed psychologist who works primarily with emerging adults. “The best way to combat feelings of missing out is to create a rich social and leisure life for yourself.” In other words, leave the house! Catch some rays!

Look at the people around you, says Williamson, “Consider if there’s someone you connect with or think you could potentially connect with, and take a small step to get to know them better.” If, for instance, there’s someone at work you think you’d mesh well with, ask them to join you for lunch. Or maybe you met someone in your kickboxing class at the gym—see if they want to grab a post-workout smoothie.
[pullquote align=”center”]”Making friends is very similar to dating; sometimes you go through a few duds before you find someone you actually click with.”
—Crystal Lee, PsyD[/pullquote]
Lee advises, however, that if you’re really struggling, it’s important to make intentional decisions and create habits to get out and be among people. “You can’t go to a couple of events and expect those people to be your new BFFs,” she says. Fostering true, authentic friendships takes time.

“So if it takes you literally putting in your calendar that you’re going to reach out to someone every month, then do it,” she says. Most importantly, we should remember to stay intentional and consistent with our efforts.
Instead of just passively scrolling through our feed, Lee urges us to join some local social media groups and start building a community from there. “As you get to know people online, make the transition to a real life hang out.” And try not to get discouraged if it takes you awhile to find your people. “Making friends is very similar to dating; sometimes you go through a few duds before you find someone you actually click with.”

Similarly, Williamson recommends Meetup groups as a great way to find people in your area with similar interests. If you strike up a conversation with someone in a group, see if you feel comfortable enough to ask them to get together IRL, she says. Of course, it’s important we always exercise caution and safety with anyone we meet online.

When It Comes to Friends: Quality Over Quantity

Long-term loneliness is on the rise because people aren’t really together when they are together, says Deuter. Many of us millennials are guilty of checking our phones rather than having a lengthy conversation over dinner. But equally important to the amount of attention we’re paying others, is choosing quality over quantity when it comes to whom we spend our time with. While it’s true that we have hundreds of friends and acquaintances on social media, is it really possible to plan a coffee date with every one of them?

Not likely, says Williamson—instead, we should try to set realistic expectations. If we feel like we’re not seeing enough of our old friends, we should consider the time we have available in the next month for socializing, and then select a comparable amount of friends we could see during those times.
“Choose those friends that are closest or that you miss seeing the most,” Williamson adds, “then try reaching out to each of them to schedule a time to hang out.”

And while we try to parse out which friendships are deemed “quality,” it’s important we take into account some questions about these relationships: What is it about the friendship that is most important to us? Are there other friends who seem to invest more of their time and energy into maintaining the relationship? According to Williamson, the latter are the friendships we may want to pursue.
The goal is to have a few close friends where there is real emotional intimacy, says Lee, not just a bunch of random people you can hang out with on occasion. Ultimately, fostering these deep connections is what eradicates our feelings of disconnect.

Create meaning, not a persona.

It’s no secret that we post our best or ideal selves on social media. But this ultimately gives the impression to others that we are perfectly content and happy with our lives, says Williamson, which may or may not be the case.

According to Amy McManus, a licensed therapist in Los Angeles who works with millennials struggling with anxiety and relationship issues, “Not only do millennials feel lonely, they feel unique in their loneliness.” If everyone else is having so much fun, then not only are we lonely, we’re a failure for feeling this way.
However, McManus is quick to point out that these lofty accounts are often facades for underlying feelings of insecurity. “The people who have the best Instagrams are often the most lonely of all—looking for activities that photograph well instead of activities that are meaningful and reflect solid values.” As Lee puts it, “If you feel secure in your own life, you’re less likely to get those gnawing feelings that you’re missing out on something.”

For Zollinger, tying his value to the number of followers he could reach only perpetuated his feelings of disconnect. He says that all of this changed soon after college when he began working as an editor for a company’s blog. Whereas before, he saw Instagram as an easy way of receiving instant approval, his job taught him that valuable things are never attained without hard work. Receiving training and being able to connect with co-workers caused his preconceptions of worth to shift.
Between Zollinger’s job and faith-based activities, he was able to gain meaning from a life outside of the screen, and to eventually see social media as a temporary value-reward system, rather than a reflection of his own self-worth.
Now, when he uses his account, it’s just to send funny memes to friends. “It’s still fun in some ways—you can send me fail videos and I will probably laugh every time.”

Tags social

Wellbeing

America Is Far From The Happiest Place On Earth, And Here's Why

Post author By Nina Bahadur
Post date June 15, 2018

Every year since 2012, the United Nations has released a World Happiness Index report. The recently released 2018 report ranks 156 countries by their happiness levels—and in those rankings, the U.S. came in at 18.

Here’s how the report works: Researchers gather data from at least 3,000 people in each participating country. Participants are asked to imagine that they are on an imaginary life ladder that has 10 rungs. The top rung (10) represents maximum happiness; the bottom rung (0) is where things are as bad as they possibly could be. Participants are asked to rate what rung they are on in six different categories: Income (GDP per capita), healthy life expectancy, social support, freedom, trust (absence of corruption), and generosity.
On the 2018 report, Americans’ average rung number was 6.886. In comparison, the top five countries scored over 7.4, and the bottom five countries scored under 3.3. The no. 1 happiest country was Finland, followed by Norway, Denmark, Iceland, and Switzerland.

In many of the categories studied, the U.S. is doing great. However, there are two major areas where the U.S. could improve: extending healthy life expectancy and building stronger social support.

Do Americans have a healthy life expectancy?

One potential reason people in America aren’t as happy as people in other countries is that Americans may be struggling with their health. Jeffrey Sachs, a co-editor of the World Happiness Report and a professor of Health Policy and Management at Columbia University, suggested in a press release that the ranking was “in part because of the ongoing epidemics of obesity, substance abuse, and untreated depression.”

Life expectancy for Americans is actually declining. The average American will live around 80 years, compared to 82.6 in Switzerland, 83.1 in Iceland, and 82.1 in Sweden. (The country with the highest life expectancy in the world is Monaco, with 89.4 years). So what’s behind that decline, anyway?

Widespread obesity is affecting Americans’ health.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, over a third of Americans are categorized as obese—36.5 percent, to be precise. Research from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development suggests that America has the highest obesity rates in the world. WHO data suggests that only 23 percent of adults in Finland are obese, 21.5 percent in Norway, and 18.2 percent in Denmark.

As the National Institutes of Health website explains, obesity is linked to a number of health problems including high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, fatty [linkbuilder id=”6542″ text=”liver disease”], kidney disease, some types of cancer, and problems in pregnancy including an increased risk for a c-section delivery.

Childhood obesity is also widespread, and obese children are likely to become obese adults. The University of California San Diego Health website explains that “obese children and adolescents have a greater risk of social and psychological problems, such as discrimination and poor self-esteem, which can continue into adulthood.”

And the opioid epidemic is affecting individuals and families across the country.

Sadly, many Americans struggle with addiction and substance abuse. In recent years, addiction to opioids has surged—the National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates that over 115 people in the United States pass away every day due to opioid overdoses. In 2016 alone, 11.5 million people misused prescription opioids, and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) declared the epidemic a national crisis in 2017.

Mental health issues are also quite common.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) estimates that one in five Americans will experience mental illness in any given year. One in 25 adults will experience a serious mental illness that “substantially interferes with or limits one or more major life activities.”

Mental health conditions are particularly high among people living homeless and incarcerated individuals. What’s more? Serious mental illness costs the U.S. $193.2 billion in lost earnings every single year.

And many Americans struggle to access—and pay for—adequate healthcare.

Many people are unable to pay out-of-pocket to see a doctor, and at least 28.2 million people in the U.S. do not have health insurance. A substantial number of families struggle to pay medical bills, the National Health Interview Survey reports. And a study from 2009 found that among Americans declaring bankruptcy, medical debt played a huge role in their financial issues.

Ultimately, health problems can and do affect happiness.

“There are many underlying medical conditions that can affect happiness, and I have seen this with my own patients,” says family physician Jennifer Caudle, DO. “For example, chronic disease such as diabetes, arthritis, and COPD can affect someone’s outlook on life, and thus happiness.”

“Another example is that sudden changes in our lives—such as the [loss] of a family member, loss of a job, or stress in a relationship can affect happiness as well. I also believe that how we interact with others (online vs. in person, for example) can affect our happiness. Finally, it’s important to consider mental health diagnoses, such as depression and anxiety, as these may play a role as well.”

Another area where America could improve? Social support.

Back in 2015, the American Psychological Association (APA) surveyed people around the U.S. about their feelings on social support—meaning whether they believe they are cared for and have people they could turn to for assistance.

“Many Americans don’t feel they have access to this valuable resource,” the APA website states. “When asked if there is someone they can ask for emotional support, such as talking over problems or helping make difficult decisions, 70 percent said yes. However, more than half (55 percent) also said they could have used at least a little more emotional support.”

Many Americans have a strong, supportive community through their neighborhood, school, profession, religious institution, or hobbies, and feel that they are adequately supported and cared for. Others are not so fortunate. What’s more, the U.S. does not have the widespread structural support for families that other, higher-ranked countries in the World Happiness Index offer.

Compared to the countries in the top 5, America’s family leave policies leave a lot to be desired.

Parents who are welcoming a new addition to the family often have to work around limited or non-existent parental leave policies at their jobs. While many two-parent families would ideally like to have both parents at home during the transition period when a newborn or adopted child comes into their lives, that’s not always possible. That means that responsibilities might fall more on one parent, and parents may be required to go back to work far sooner than they would like to after a child’s arrival.

“Parental leave is horrible for moms and even worse for dads,” says Jenni Skyler, a licensed therapist from The Intimacy Institute.

Under the Family and Medical Leave Act, some companies are required to offer new parents up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to care for a new child. But there is no legal requirement for companies to provide paid leave. In fact, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, America is the only developed country in the world where employers aren’t required to offer paid leave to new moms.

This can put additional financial and emotional stress on families at times when they need extra support. For some people, it’s simply not feasible to take much unpaid time off work.

Skyler also says that limited vacation time can put stress on families (there’s no legal minimum paid vacation in the U.S., meaning employers decide how much paid and unpaid time off to grant their employees). “When you are able to spend quality time, certainly with your spouse and your family, that’s an investment in your relationship towards happiness,” Skyler notes.

Happiness is difficult to quantify, but it sounds like there are a few things we could learn from the countries ranked higher than the U.S. in the World Happiness Index.

This ranking is only one way of measuring quality of life, and many things are left out of it. And, of course, the results are an average—there are people in the U.S. who are much happier, and much unhappier, than that final ranking. That said, given how strong the American economy is, the fact that it ranks 18th in the listing does come as a surprise.

The number one happiest country, Finland, offers free education, generous parental leave and vacation policies, and publicly-funded universal healthcare. From Finland and other higher-ranked countries, perhaps there are some things America could learn.

How can we improve the health of America’s population and increase life expectancy? How can we ensure that families and individuals receive the support they need to adequately care for themselves and their loved ones? The solutions likely involve the government, social institutions, and the population working together to create a healthier, happier country.

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Healthy Her Way Lifestyle

Life Coach × Yoga Teacher Keri Kugler

Post author By Lindsey Fiala
Post date June 15, 2018

Her calm yet strong demeanor is contagious as she guides you through meditation and yoga flows. Her voice: soothing. Her eyes: knowledgeable. Her spirit: inviting. She is a living, breathing product of the Universe she so authentically believes in.
With self-awareness and love as her core values, Keri Kugler is a mindful woman with a strong spirit. But she hasn’t always been this grounded.
Keri’s yoga practice began as an outlet for stress (which is something we can all relate to), and she has since become a passionate, dedicated yogi. With over 500 hours of practice under her belt, she is now registered yoga teacher whose practice is informed in yoga therapy, psychology, and neuroscience. Keri credits yoga with saving her life, and now she is sharing her passion and knowledge with people in St. Louis, Missouri, and beyond.
Even though she is a self-proclaimed introvert, Keri’s belief in making connections with ourselves and others has ultimately guided her into a life of sharing these beliefs with others. Keri believes that everyone has something special inside of them waiting to be discovered and helps her clients ignite the fire within them through yoga, meditation, and life coaching. “I believe that by tapping into that part [of] ourselves, we can awaken the beautiful life that we are meant to live.”
Regardless of what life throws her way, through the good and the bad, Keri continues to heal and use her personal experiences to become an even better teacher and coach.
For everyone who hasn’t been touched personally by her coaching or yoga teachings, Keri connects wholeheartedly with her followers on the ’gram and Facebook. Her posts are filled with inspiration, advice, and everything to do with yoga, meditation, self-love, and life coaching. Oh, and don’t forget her sweet husband, two dogs, and, of course, her plant babes.
From moving quotes to stunning photos of her practice, Keri keeps her followers up to date with her life and journey to find happiness within. “I want to offer people a new way to look at things, new perspectives, and new habits. I am committed to keeping things real, to honoring other people’s way of doing things, and to serving my community.”
Keep shining your inner light, Keri, as we know you will touch many lives for the better.

A Day in the Life

What does your daily routine look like?

Every day is a little different for me. The days I get to spend all of my time working on my business are the days where I am 100 percent in my flow! My mornings are so precious. The way I wake up and start my day impacts how I show up, so I make sure I’m being intentional with every decision I make.
My morning starts with sweet snuggles from my pups and a cuddle session with my husband. Getting in this dose of feel-good connection with my family right away sets my vibe on high. I connect to my physical body with some light stretching and warm lemon water sipping while my coffee brews. I spend about 30 to 45 minutes meditating and journaling. I like to clear my head and connect to my breath before I dive into my work for the day. Notice I have yet to pick up my phone! #stopthescroll!
I start my work by looking at my priority list and tackling the biggest things first. This automatically sets my productivity mode into overdrive. The rest of my morning is spent writing content and talking one-on-one to my incredible clients. I make it a priority to take a break so I can refresh my mind, body, and spirit in the middle of my day. This will usually be done with a yoga class that gets me out of my office and connecting with my people. I spend my afternoon catching up on emails and prepping for evening calls with my clients. I end every work day by looking at one thing that worked really well and one thing that didn’t work so well. I’m always looking at ways to improve on myself and within my business. These mindful little check-ins are extremely beneficial to that growth.
My evenings are for spending time with my family. I love pouring myself a glass of wine, pumping the tunes, and cooking a tasty meal for me and my husband. I spend the last 30 minutes of my day giving back to myself. I journal, clear out anything left over from the day, and jot down a few of the bigger things I need to tackle tomorrow. Before climbing into bed I will connect with my breath and that magical little practice of gratitude one last time.

What are your favorite ways to practice self-care?

I think self-care is the number one most important thing we can do. It allows us to connect with ourselves on a deep level while helping us to serve others in such a beautiful way. My self-care go-tos are yoga, meditation, massage, sensory deprivation, quality time with my family and my pups, and—last but not least—a glass of rosé!

How do you stay inspired?

I find so much inspiration in seeing the success of other people. When I look at women who are committed to serving and who are out there doing their thing in the world, it lights me the hell up! It shows me that we all have the power to create something big with our life’s work.

Disclaimer: Just so you know, if you order an item through one of our posts, we may get a small share of the sale.

Loving Lately…

What are the best products you’ve discovered recently?

I like to consider myself a minimalist when it comes to commercial products, but I recently discovered two that I really love: Organifi’s Green Juice gives me my daily dose of greens without the added time or cleanup of making my own juice at home. Lancôme Skin Feels Good Tinted Moisturizer is a lightweight, wear-all-day moisturizer that has hyaluronic acid to lock-in moisture and plump, moringa seed extract to revitalize and protect against free radicals, as well as SPF 23 protection. I don’t like to wear a lot of makeup so this product is perfect for giving my skin a healthy, natural glow.

What are your favorite apps?

The Podcast app for inspiration; Instagram to share and connect with my online community; iTunes for music; Albert for saving some extra cash and keeping an eye on my spending; Calm for midday pick-me-ups.

Whose Instagram is on your radar?

My coach, Amy Mackenzie and, as always, Danielle LaPorte.

What’s your go-to healthy snack?

Anything with peanut butter! I don’t eat meat, so I have to find ways to get my protein in throughout the day. An apple dipped in peanut butter (I love Earth Balance’s creamy peanut butter with flaxseed!) and a protein.

What are you reading, watching, or listening to?

I’m currently reading Secrets of the Millionaire Mind by T. Harv Eker and listening to The Angie Lee Show podcast.

Keri IRL

What woman in history would you love to take to brunch?

Rosa Parks. What a powerhouse this woman was. She stood firmly in what she believed and stayed grounded in what she knew to be her truth. She was committed to taking zero amount of s***, and look at what came of it. Girl, get it. #LIFEGOALS

What superpower would you like to have?

Healing

Would you rather explore space or the ocean? Why?

Space. Duh. It’s where everything started. I look to the moon, the planets, and the Universe as my guide in life—of course I want to explore it!

What is your bucket list travel destination?

Mysore, India

For more good vibes, be sure to follow Keri on Instagram and check out her website.

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Healthy Pregnancy Motherhood

Rainbow Babies: Navigating Pregnancy After Loss

Post author By Abigail Rasminsky
Post date June 15, 2018

When she was seven weeks pregnant, Uma (who’s asked that we use a pseudonym) started spotting. She was prescribed bed rest, but the spotting soon became real bleeding. It felt like she was having menstrual cramps, but she soon miscarried in the middle of the night, over the toilet. “I remember trying desperately to keep it in,” she says.
The first doctor she saw after the loss was “unspeakably cruel.” He refused to confirm that she’d miscarried, insisting she go to another facility although he clearly had the equipment to examine her. “It was winter, with lots of snow on the ground,” she says, “and I remember walking past heaps of it on the pavement and crying.”
When she returned two weeks later for a follow-up, she lost it on the tram going to work. “My colleague held me for a long time at the tram stop without asking me what had happened. And then I went to a shopping mall stairwell and cried for another couple of hours. It did make me realize one thing, though: I actually really wanted a baby.”
Two months later, she got pregnant with her son—her so-called rainbow baby—who is now 8.
For some, however, a subsequent pregnancy doesn’t come so quickly (or at all): Keely Mitchell lost a pregnancy at eight weeks and another two years later at between six and eight weeks. “When I discovered I was pregnant, everything in my world stopped and shifted. Suddenly I was planning for a whole new future,” she says. “Once I learned I had miscarried, it was all over. In a moment, my future just went back to where it had been. It was a strange and complicated mental shift. I felt lost.”
Although she didn’t really grieve for the first loss, the second hit her hard. “We had been hoping to get pregnant again for two years, so I was excited and ready. I felt attached to this potential child, and I was devastated to lose them. The physical pain and visual proof of all the blood were so upsetting. And I knew I wanted to try again, but I was scared of losing another pregnancy. I just couldn’t fathom how much more of this grief I could take.”
Five months later, however, she got pregnant with a girl, who is now 3.

What’s a rainbow baby?

“Rainbow baby” is a relatively new term coined for a baby born soon after a pregnancy loss: either a miscarriage or stillbirth. The term comes from the nature of rainbows—that they appear after a scary, dark storm and bring renewal and beauty back to the world. Without erasing the tumult that has come before, they bring new life and light to the world.
Many women have found great comfort in the term—it feels truly miraculous.
Although pregnancy loss is all too common—10 to 25 percent of clinically recognized pregnancies result in a loss—not every mom loves the term “rainbow baby.”
“I associate rainbows with unicorns and light and fluffy things,” says Uma. “And what’s come before isn’t light and fluffy.” Mitchell agrees: “It feels too saccharine for me.”

What’s it like to be pregnant after a loss?

“During the second pregnancy, we were on tenterhooks,” says Uma. She had the same bleeding at eight weeks, but this time she went to a gynecologist who prescribed progesterone suppositories (progesterone supplements have been shown to decrease miscarriages).
Although this pregnancy did not end in loss, it was not without struggle. “I did feel the loss of innocence. When I got the Down syndrome test back, it was quite a high percentage, and the doctor said I could do an amnio, but we didn’t because of the chance of miscarriage.” (Her son was not born with Down syndrome.)
She also learned that you can hold two difficult truths at the same time: “That you lost something that would’ve turned into a person of endless possibilities and imaginings (for me, I think about if it was a girl). And that if that she had been allowed to develop fully, that your present child—with the real possibilities and imaginings—wouldn’t exist. Both hold equal weight.”
For her part, Mitchell says, “I was not able to feel much emotionally about my third pregnancy until I had made it through the first trimester. I was reluctant to get attached or have any hopes or dreams about the future until I felt I was through that window of likely miscarriage. I really didn’t get excited or think of the fetus as my child until I had my 20-week anatomy scan and saw my beautiful daughter moving on the ultrasound screen. When I saw her spine, I suddenly saw her future.”
But you may not see that future until you are holding the baby in your arms, and that’s okay, too. “You may need to protect yourself emotionally,” says Mitchell. “If you can help it, don’t worry constantly about miscarriage again, though. I know that’s difficult, but it doesn’t really help. It can be tempting to read into things that are the same or different from the lost pregnancy—like you don’t feel morning sickness this time—but since every pregnancy can be so different, these things mean very little, and it is not terribly helpful for your state of mind.”
Many women feel like they don’t have a right to be sad about a loss at six or eight weeks, but it’s important to grieve the loss, no matter how early it came. “It’s also okay to still grieve the loss even as you have your new child in your arms,” says Mitchell. “It can be a very confusing feeling to feel grief and excitement simultaneously.”
She adds, however, that it’s okay to not grieve those past losses and just be excited about this new pregnancy. “If you are struggling with your feelings,” she says, “find someone you can talk to.”

How can I help a friend who is dealing with loss?

The most important thing you can do for a friend who is dealing with loss—and possibly a subsequent pregnancy or “rainbow baby”—is to follow her lead. She might want to talk and talk and talk. If so, let her. (Read: Do not advise or tell her how she should feel. Simply listen.) “I felt much closer to women I’d known for ages but never known they’d had miscarriages,” says Uma. “When I opened up to them, they opened up to me.”
Or she may not want to talk at all. “A woman who is pregnant after a loss might not want to hear your excitement because she isn’t excited yet, and it makes her nervous about the pregnancy,” Mitchell says. She may not want to talk about the pregnancy at all. In fact, I had a friend who suffered a miscarriage and then a late-term loss whose subsequent pregnancy went completely unmentioned until she was almost 30 weeks along (and unmistakably pregnant).
On the other hand, a friend might need your vocal support and excitement. “Ask her, if you need to!” advises Mitchell. “If the pregnant person in your life has a partner, they might have completely different feelings about the past loss and current pregnancy. Ask them what they need, too.”

What do I do if I want to keep my pregnancy after loss a secret?

Many women save sharing news of a pregnancy until the end of the first trimester, when the risk of loss is lower. You may be someone who needs more support—telling your mother, sister, and friends as soon as you pee on a stick—but you may also want to keep the news between you and your partner for as long as you possibly can. That doesn’t mean you need to be alone in your worry and excitement. “An anonymous online pregnancy forum can be really helpful,” says Mitchell. “I found a lot of support in those groups, people I could talk to about how I was feeling or what I was worried about, or even just read their stories and not feel alone.”
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Conscious Beauty Lifestyle

What Natural Beauty Means To 9 Different Women

Post author By Joni Sweet
Post date June 15, 2018

Take a look at anything related to “natural beauty”—the ads, magazines, websites, and billboards. They all seem to look a little monochrome, no? All the women seem to have the same skin tone (fair), the same shape (slim), the same hair (long, tousled). It’s like there’s one sole definition of beauty—one that leaves a whole lot of women out of the picture.
Not to mention the fact that the beauty industry has gotten us all a little too focused on what’s on the outside. It’s all about fixing our perceived flaws (too wrinkly, too dark, too whatever) with products that they sell (how convenient). What about a more holistic view of natural beauty? One that cares just as much about our compassion as it does our concealer?
It’s time for a new face of natural beauty—one that celebrates the vast diversity of people on the planet, encourages women to unabashedly own their style (whether that’s a cat eye and red lip or just a smile), respects our values, and honors the fact that some days we just don’t feel like putting in the effort (and that’s okay).
Redefining natural beauty won’t happen overnight, but it starts with listening to the voices of all women and amplifying the ideas of people who aren’t typically invited to the conversation.
Here’s what nine strong, opinionated women shared when we asked what natural beauty means to them—the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Natural beauty gets creative.

“Natural beauty is an interesting phrase when a major part of your body is literally artificial. My left leg is amputated above the knee, and so I wear a prosthetic leg to move around the world. For years, I had a ‘cosmesis’ (the cosmetic cover that goes over a prosthetic limb) that was meant to emulate a ‘real’ leg. It was a piece of soft foam carved to the same shape as my right leg. I wore thigh high nylons over it to match my skin tone, but of course, my skin tone doesn’t have a matte finish or a consistent combination of color—it’s human and can be scratched, scarred, bruised, hairy, sunburned…so it always looked fake.
“I decided that since it looked like a fake leg, I might as well get creative with it. I picked out a floral linen upholstery fabric that I adored and had it laminated to the fiberglass shell. The result: A stunning accessory that looks like a hand-painted work of art and is part of my body. And while there’s nothing ‘natural’ about it, it’s an integral part of my mobility, my identity, and simply part of what makes me whole.”
Christa Couture, 39
Toronto, Canada

Natural beauty surprises you.

“When I think of embracing natural beauty, I immediately think of wearing my natural hair. Throughout elementary school and middle school, my mom blow dried and straightened my hair for me every single day. I didn’t even know that I had curly hair until I was in ninth grade and I let my hair air-dry one day. Even after I discovered my curls, I still felt the need to straighten my hair to feel ‘presentable.’ Four years later, my curly hair has become one of my favorite features about myself because it’s something that I didn’t know I had growing up. I think any characteristic that accentuates someone’s diversity is a marker of natural beauty.”
Nisha Sweet, 17
Ithaca, New York

A post shared by Nisha K Sweet (@nisha.sweet) on May 5, 2018 at 2:12pm PDT

Natural beauty promotes self-love.

“Natural beauty means unconditional self-love and acceptance. Black female beauty is often denigrated, overlooked, and stereotyped. We come in all shades of black and brown, all of which are naturally beautiful. Black women are left out of the mainstream beauty industry and it’s a shame. What about our gorgeous full lips, high cheekbones, big eyes, our hourglass shapes, and sexy bodies? I embrace my natural beauty through positive self-talk and extreme self-love for what is reflected back in the mirror. I take a lot of selfies and remind myself each day that black is beautiful and I’m amazing.”
Lucie Lindner, 51
Stockholm, Sweden

Natural beauty puts you in control.

“When I was diagnosed with Graves’ disease 13 years ago, I lost a lot of weight really unevenly. I also dealt with eating disorders, so I really struggled with my appearance in general. College was particularly hard—I’d see my friends getting ready, going out. How beautiful they looked made me feel both appreciative and envious. Here they were having this amazing college experience, and I didn’t feel well enough to get to class or even out of bed.
“It’s weird to be sick but not look sick. Over the past year, I’ve gained weight from having a desk job. I look like this normal, fit, healthy, happy person, but my chronic illness makes everything 50 percent harder. But I’ve learned that natural beauty means that my chronic illness isn’t controlling me, and that carries over into how much effort I put in as I get ready in the morning. Wearing a nice shirt or my favorite dress requires a level of energy that I don’t have some days. But being able to look fluid when I dance is important to me. I try to be fully present when I’m practicing or performing, going full force without worrying about wearing myself out or hurting myself, and it feels awesome.”
Jessica Cameron, 29
Boston, Massachusetts

Natural beauty needs context.

“When I moved from Iran to the U.S., I learned that culture plays a strong role in our appearance. In Iran, I was basically considered a blonde. I’m not blonde, but my hair and skin were lighter than the average there. My girlfriends spent a lot of time waxing their facial hair, but I left mine alone.
“That changed when I moved to the U.S. and I quickly learned it was no longer acceptable to leave my facial hair alone, and I did not have the lightest skin in the room. A lot of what I learned about beauty here was loaded with racial conflict (a history that we don’t really have in Iran). People look down at non-white girls, and while my lighter skin afforded me some privileges, people can tell I’m not Caucasian and I’m not American.
“All of that gave me an identity crisis. I had to rethink what I considered natural beauty and how I dress myself, how I do my hair and my makeup. I now get rid of my facial hair. And while I had to wear a hijab on a daily basis in Iran, I’ve changed my relationship with it here. I mostly wear it as a fashion statement or a way to cover up a bad hair day or even a political statement sometimes (like the day Trump was elected). As soon as I put a scarf on my head, people start treating me differently, turning their heads as I walk down the street. It identifies women as Muslim and leaves them more vulnerable to attacks, but I wear it in solidarity sometimes. There’s a delicacy in this choice.
“If I moved back to Iran, I would stop waxing my facial hair, and I would have to wear the hijab when I go out. Natural beauty means being able to accept myself fully and all of the variations that come with that, depending on culture and place. I want to feel beautiful when I have facial hair and when I don’t. We can’t live without context. There’s something really beautiful in having strength in those choices we make.”
Homa Sarabi-Daunais, 26
Boston, Massachusetts

Natural beauty knows no harm.

“Natural beauty means working with what I have, not trying to be or look any other way, but rather highlighting what makes me, me—flaws and all. No contouring away this pointy nose or Spanx-ing myself into a stomachache (though I’m not opposed to filling in my brows). Natural beauty just means being authentic, and that also includes supporting brands that align with personal values, which for me means buying products and items that cause no harm to animals. Cosmetic testing on animals and using animal-derived ingredients is unnecessary and unethical. I would feel ugly wearing cruel makeup or fashion. Facing the world each day with cruelty-free cosmetics on my face and vegan clothing on my back helps me feel naturally beautiful.”
Jessica Scott-Reid, 34
Montreal, Canada

Natural beauty means following mom’s advice.

“My mother defined natural beauty for me at a young age. I grew up believing she was the most naturally beautiful woman in the world. She never did anything fancy—no heavy makeup or wigs, just slapped on some lipstick and said to me, ‘When you’re as naturally beautiful as me, it doesn’t take you long to get dressed.’ It was just about making sure you took care of your hair, had clear skin, and ultimately looked like yourself. What else did you need?
“I’ve carried those lessons throughout my life. There’s a lot of pressure out there to look like other people, like celebrities, and buying stuff to fix your imperfections. But I’ve never felt that pressure, since I thought being a natural beauty was the norm from a young age. And it’s more than how you look—it’s also how you behave. I have no problem getting older because I have a young, kind spirit that shines through. I get up in the morning, make sure my hair and skin look clean and clear, and I put on some lipstick—just like my mom.”
Robyn Mancell, 59
Rancho Cucamonga, California

With natural beauty, less is more.

“We take our natural beauty for granted when we’re young. As we get older, we realize the value of being healthy and being naturally beautiful from the inside out. Natural beauty comes from the soul, and it’s something you feel within, not just on the surface, not just skin deep, but much deeper than that. We don’t need to have a ton of things on our faces to cover us up. What we need to have is our beauty shine through, and that only happens if you have a young spirit, a healthy outlook, and a positive persona. You have to take care of yourself, consistently, and work to be happy, feel good, have a childlike attitude, and a peaceful soul.”
Irene Michaels, 72
Chicago, Illinois

Natural beauty balances strength and vulnerability.

“I grew up as a feminine tomboy with an athletic style. I was constantly told I should try modeling because I was so tall. The glamour of that world appealed to me, but when people in the industry looked at me, they told me I could only be a plus-size model, and it crushed my self-image. I threw myself into the world of sports and eventually tried fitness modeling years later, but my body still wasn’t right. This time, they told me my muscles were too big—that girls don’t want to see that. It hurt, but I didn’t let it crush me, and I kept pushing my body. Three years later, everyone saw me in a Vogue magazine piece on self-defense workouts. They thought I was unstoppable.
“People, especially my fitness clients, see me as a superwoman. That feels good, but I remind them how much I’ve cried, how many times I’ve fallen—people need to see that I’m human. Natural beauty finds balance between being strong and vulnerable. I dye my hair purple to match my strong personality, and I work out in booty shorts not to be sexy, but to show the people I’m training that I’m comfortable in my own skin. What’s beautiful is not your appearance, but being able to persevere through adversity with strength and humanity. I’m grateful to be a leader who can show people another side of natural beauty: the side that embraces physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual strength to conquer anything.”
Courtney Roselle, 29
Jersey City, New Jersey

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Favorite Finds Nosh

The Health-Conscious Kitchen: The Tools You Need for Making Healthier Meals

Post author By Megan Senseney
Post date June 14, 2018

It’s no secret that eating healthier isn’t always an easy task. Not only do you have to squash cravings, plan out meals, and make more mindful trips to the grocery store, but you also have to take the time to get in the kitchen and cook. If it sounds daunting, we don’t blame you, but we’re here to say it doesn’t have to be as big of a challenge as you think. Take all of the stress out of preparing meals with these products designed with healthy eating in mind.

Spiralizer

Veggie noodles have become super popular over the past year or so, and you can buy them in most grocery stores pre-cut and ready to cook. However, why pay extra money when you can easily get the same product at home with your own spiralizer? This option comes with different blades to make shapes like ribbons, or even just shorter noodles. Just slide in the blade for whichever shape you’d like, hook your veggie onto the handle, and give it a spin for fresh veggie noodles in minutes.

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Instant Pot

Planning ahead is one of the biggest keys when it comes to prioritizing healthy eating, and cooking in bulk is one of the best ways to ensure that you always have a healthy option available. Using a slow cooker is a great way to make a lot of food at once, but the only downside is that you really do have to plan ahead to make a meal—until the Instant Pot, that is. The Instant Pot is a slow cooker and pressure cooker in one, so it’s perfect to use on days when you want something to do the cooking for you, but didn’t plan ahead.

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Juicer

You probably have a store that sells fresh juice near you, but when even the smallest bottle is over $5, it’s an easy treat to pass on. Instead of thinking of fresh juice as an occasional treat, why not make it an everyday part of your health routine with a juicer? Simple to clean and use, this Breville juicer is super powerful and will get every last drop of juice out of your fruits and veggies so nothing goes to waste.

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Veggie Peeler

One of most painstaking parts of preparing fresh fruits and vegetables is peeling them. Whether it’s potatoes, apples, carrots, or kiwi, peeling is a time consuming task, and one that can be dangerous if you don’t have the right tools. This set of peelers will not only help you easily remove the peels from your favorite fruits and veggies, but can also help you cut them, too. Make your own matchstick carrots for salads with the julienne peeler, or create zucchini ribbons by running the regular peeler lengthwise down your zucchini.

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Steaming Basket

You may find yourself turning to frozen vegetables in steamer bags to get a veggie on the table quickly, but steaming your own can be just as easy. Just put an inch or so of water in a pot, get it boiling, then put your steamer basket full of veggies in and let them cook until they’re just soft enough to poke with a fork. Not only is steaming veggies easy to do, but you can create your own favorite combinations to make getting those nutrients in a little easier.

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Green Pan

Most people have a habit of tossing a little oil or butter into a pan before cooking. While a small amount of healthy fats isn’t bad, it’s something we can easily overdo. If your goal is to use less fat while cooking, a Green Pan can help you out. The pan is coated with non-stick ceramic, a non-toxic alternative to the traditional non-stick coatings found on cookware. Anything you put in is pretty much guaranteed to come out without sticking, so you can cut down on your fat intake without changing up your cooking method. Plus, it’s dishwasher safe.

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Immersion Blender

One of the best benefits of cooking more meals at home? Knowing exactly what goes into the food that you’re making. However, there are still lots of things that we tend to buy pre-made at the grocery store, like canned soups, jarred sauces, and bottled dressings. You may think executing these types of recipes is reserved for more advanced cooks, but with an immersion blender they’re simple enough to make yourself. Blend your soups and sauces right in the pan, or make your own dressing or homemade mayonnaise in the included measuring cup.

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Air Fryer

Most of us have never thought of fried food as healthy, but the invention of the air fryer has really changed the game. The device circulates hot air in a special way that gives your food a fried texture without actually dunking it in oil—which means no oily smell, no oily mess, and no grease-laden food. You can even bake or roast your food in the air fryer, so it’s the perfect multifunctional countertop appliance for preparing a meal without turning on the oven.

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Bluapple

If you’re used to buying canned or frozen veggies and fruits, keeping the fresh stuff around can be somewhat difficult. Even if you do stock up on beautiful produce, you might not be used to reaching for it when you need a snack or side. Before you know it, half your fruits and veggies have gone bad before you got the chance to eat or cook with them. Enter the Bluapple device, which can extend the shelf life of your fresh produce by absorbing any ethylene gas it produces as it sits, preventing your produce from going bad so quickly. Each Bluapple lasts for about three months before the absorbent packet inside should be changed, and the starter kit will give you everything you need to keep your produce fresher for about a year.

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Color-Coded Cutting Boards

Cooking your own food tends to mean more prep work for you, and that means lots of slicing and dicing as you go. However, making healthier food isn’t just about doing the prep work yourself, but also making sure that you’re preparing your food safely. This cutting board set is color coded based on food group, so you’ll never cross-contaminate raw meat, poultry, or fish with your other ingredients, which ensures that your food is prepped properly. The cutting boards are also anti-microbial, so they’re easy to clean and sanitize when all the prep work is done.

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More Than Mom Motherhood

The Maternity Leave Advice All Moms Need To Hear

Post author By Abigail Rasminsky
Post date June 14, 2018

I remember the first morning I was left alone with my 3-week-old daughter. My husband took off for work, and after weeks of support from my parents and sister, I was completely on my own.
My first question was: Will I eat today? Followed closely by: Will I ever get to put the baby down? Will I ever shower? Do the laundry? Shop for groceries? Leave the house? What will I do with all the hours? And, of course: Will I ever sleep? It all just seemed…insurmountable.
Maternity leave can be a beautiful and daunting time. For most American moms it is alarmingly short, if you even get to take it. After all, the U.S. is one of the only countries in the world that doesn’t have a national paid leave law.
But assuming you do get to take maternity leave, by the time you’ve finally started to get the hang of it—and are maybe sleeping for more than an hour at a time—you’re headed back to work, often with very conflicting feelings.
So how can you make the most of it?

Why take maternity leave?

There is a myth that mothering and breastfeeding are “natural.” For some women this is true; they slide into it with total ease. But for a lot of new moms, it’s a struggle. It takes practice and time—just like any new job!—but we feel like we should know what we’re doing from Day One.
Maternity leave gives you the time to bond with your baby and to learn how to mother. (This is, of course, a lifelong job, but you get a crash course those first few months.) It’s an opportunity to get to know your particular munchkin—what helps her sleep, what helps him burp, what she likes and dislikes. It also gives you a chance to focus your entire mental and emotional energy on this baby—not to be pulled in multiple directions. (There will be plenty of that in the future.)
First-time moms often have all sorts of other ambitions for that time: I’ll cook! And bake! And finish my book! And redecorate our living room! The truth is that a new baby is all-consuming, even though it often feels like you’re doing…nothing.
“Maternity leave is not a vacation,” says Sonya Rasminsky, MD, a psychiatrist in Orange County, California, who specializes in women’s mental health. It can be grueling, exhausting, and disorienting.
“I never thought it would be a vacation—but my husband did!” says Eve Udesky, a social worker in New York City and mother to 9-week-old Nathan. “However hard you imagine it’s going to be—it’s harder. As much as people talk about things much more because of online forums and social media, there were things I was shocked to learn that my mom friends hadn’t talked about.”
There’s primarily the issue of your own physical recovery to contend with. “Usually after such a traumatic physical event you’d be lying around and people would be taking care of you!” Udesky says. “But you’re taking care of someone else!”
Udesky lives in a New York City walkup, so she couldn’t even think about getting the stroller up and down the stairs in the first 6 weeks. “It was winter and I had all these fantasies about us going outside. I’ll just bundle him up and get going! It was a miracle if we made it out of the house!”
Maternity leave can feel like time out of time—not just because you’re just as likely to be up at 3 a.m. as you are at 3 p.m.—but because whatever schedule you were on gets blown out of the water. Your job? To roll with it.

What does a “successful” maternity leave look like?

Like all things motherhood related, what your maternity leave looks like will vary and will depend largely on your circumstances.
Kathy, an American living in Vienna, Austria (who asked that we not use her full name), has taken three two-year maternity leaves in the last decade. (Perks of living in Europe!) This meant that she would have the luxury of time to figure things out before returning to work, but she emphasizes that the key to a positive experience is the same regardless of how much time you have at home: “Get support or childcare in place to take breaks away from the baby; establish a routine that includes exercise and connection to other moms in a similar situation.”
First and foremost, however, is the most important component of a successful maternity leave: establishing a good feeding routine. This will make everything else easier, as you can start planning your days around when your baby is (likely) to eat. If you are nursing, make sure you hire a lactation consultant if you’re finding it challenging; there is no shame in asking for help.
For everything else maternity leave–related, we spoke to moms who have been and are currently in that postpartum period.

How to Do Maternity Leave: Tips From Moms Who’ve Been There

This, too, shall pass.

Both the bad and the good—really. Ever heard the expression “the days are long but the years are short”? Nothing quite sums up motherhood as well as that. The days can feel endless—boring and lonely and challenging all at once—but they won’t always. And those wonderful moments when the baby first laughs or smiles? You’ll probably long for them when she’s off at preschool.

Sleep when the baby sleeps.

Okay, some mothers find this to be the most annoying piece of advice: “Sure,” they say, “I’ll just lie down in the middle of the grocery store when the baby falls asleep in the stroller.” Fair enough! But if your baby does sleep in his/her crib or on you—sleep! You never know when you will have another chance. Everything else can wait.

Lower your standards so you can accomplish (and celebrate) small goals.

“Things have to slow way down with kids, and that means lower standards, tardiness, and expecting and welcoming the chaos,” Kathy says. “Otherwise that goal of getting everyone out becomes untenable.”

Get out every day.

Even if it’s just a short walk to get yourself a coffee. This might not seem feasible in the first few weeks of maternity leave, but once you’ve started to heal, it’s really important to get some air, move your body, and reconnect with the world around you. “I just had to change my mindset and say, ‘Just do it,’” says Udesky. “I couldn’t wait for the moment to be right. You just have to go. If he’s crying, you can go home. If he needs to feed, you can go home.” Strap that baby in or push her in the stroller. The more often you do it, the easier it will get.

Make plans.

It can be hard—the baby isn’t always on your schedule, but that doesn’t mean you should be a prisoner in your own home for your entire maternity leave. Make a date to have a cup of tea. Go to the park and sit on a bench. “I treated myself to mommy–baby yoga classes,” says Udesky. “It gave me someplace I had to be—and be with other moms.”

Join a moms group.

We know, we know—not all moms groups are great. But! They can help you meet that one friend who makes everything a little easier.

Don’t sweat the small stuff.

When I was on maternity leave and bemoaning the state of my apartment (in short, it was a wreck), my sister said, “If there isn’t underwear on the floor, you’re doing fine.” There often was underwear on the floor, actually, but you get the idea. One day it’ll be really easy to pick up the underwear (and everything else) again. Right now is not that time, and that’s okay.

Set up a meal train ahead of time.

Are you part of any community—a synagogue or church, a preschool, a club—that can help you in the early weeks of maternity leave? Those groups often have meal trains ready to go. If not, ask some friends if they’d be so kind as to make or buy some dinners for you. Alternately—if you’re up for it—before you go into labor, make loads of soup you can freeze.

Seek out support.

We’ve all heard the proverb “It takes a village to raise a child.” Women used to have loads more support: sisters, aunts, mothers, grandmothers. We aren’t meant to be so isolated, but many of us are. Do all you can to avoid being alone during maternity leave.
Can a family member come over a few times a week? Can you afford to hire a postpartum doula or a babysitter? Can your partner amend his/her schedule for the first few weeks/months? Can you get help with nursing from a lactation consultant?
“I have a hard time asking for help, even from my husband,” says Udesky. “But finally he said to me, ‘You have to feel okay waking me up at night!’ I thought that I’d just power through.” She found that having him take the baby out of the house occasionally so she could nap was very helpful. “Accepting help from people can be really hard, but you have to do it.”

Seek out help.

Baby blues are normal—in fact, most women experience them to some degree or another. But if you’re feeling so sad or anxious that you’re unable to function, seek out professional help. Postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety are real, and you don’t deserve to suffer with them. Your first line of defense should be your OB-GYN or primary care doc who can help you find a psychiatrist.

How can I take care of myself while also taking care of a newborn?

“Put your phone down,” says Kathy. “Connect with your baby during caregiving routines instead of rushing them. Get away from the baby at least once every few days, even if it’s to the grocery store. For me, the act of cooking was really relaxing because it was a task that had a definitive outcome, whereas baby caretaking felt endless. If my husband was home I insisted he take over so I could cook.”

How can I transition back to work?

The most important thing is to go easy on yourself. This will be complex, and emotions will run high. For most American women, the transition comes too soon. “I’m so sad about transitioning back to work,” says Udesky, who will return to work when her baby is 12 weeks old. “I’m happy I do something I care about, but I feel like we’re just getting to the point where we’re enjoying each other, and I’m not panicked.”
“When I went back to work the first time and confided in my sister that I was stressed, she said, ‘Sometimes you’re just there to get your ticket punched.’ Some days that’s all the office will get from me,” says Kathy. “On others, I’m a warp-speed machine who can’t afford to waste time because I have to pick up the kids in the afternoon. Know that there will be side-eyes from some colleagues, but just move along.”

Final Thoughts on Maternity Leave

This may seem crazy, but the thing that helped me most in those early weeks of maternity leave—when I was crazy with sleep deprivation and feeling really incompetent—was one simple line uttered by my midwife: You can put the baby down.
I was telling her I didn’t know how I would ever eat again—let alone shower, brush my teeth, or (God forbid!) put on makeup—and she just looked at me ever so kindly and said, “It’s okay if she cries. You have to take care of yourself, too.”
Udesky concurs: “Give yourself a break. Whatever you’re doing is good enough—in fact, it’s much better than you think.”

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Well-Traveled

Wellness Retreats Are The Perfect Way To Travel Alone

Post author By Joni Sweet
Post date June 14, 2018

Solo travel empowers women to step out of their comfort zones and see the world on their own terms. There’s nothing quite like having everything you need right on your back with a drive to see, do, and experience complete freedom in a foreign destination. But the idea of traveling alone is so scary that many people write it off altogether. Truth be told, they’re missing out—but there is a happy medium between hitting the road completely on your own and taking an organized vacation.
It’s called a wellness retreat, and it might be the most addictive travel experience on the planet.
Imagine a mix of cultural immersion, healthy eats, adventurous activities, and therapeutic treatments—those are just some of the amazing things you can expect on a wellness retreat. These kinds of trips nourish your mind, body, and soul with a diverse, structured itinerary and plenty of time for inward reflection. You’ll feel completely at peace and connected with the destination. Plus, when you go on a wellness retreat, you’ll meet other boss babes as deeply interested in experiencing all of the amazing things the world has to offer—without neglecting their self-care along the way.
Ready to hop on a plane, you jetsetter, you? Fab. We’re here to tease your wanderlust with a roundup of the best wellness retreats for solo women travelers eager to explore the world, both externally and internally. These are the wellness retreats that will help you heal your mind and soul, step outside your comfort zone, make new friends, and ultimately reconnect with yourself. Here are the wellness retreats that should be on your bucket list.

Wellness Retreats for Healing and Empowerment

Wellness retreats aren’t just about relaxing at the spa. Sometimes, you need a little healing and empowerment in a special place. Here’s where to find it.

The DEN Wellness Retreats (various global destinations)

Popular Los Angeles meditation studio The DEN hosts wellness retreats that infuse travel with a heavy dose of meditation and alternative healing treatments. Each retreat takes place in an invigorating destination with a theme to inspire the itinerary.

The Peru wellness retreat, themed around mysticism and the spirit, will set your heart on fire with a week of growth and discovery in the Sacred Valley that includes yoga, dharma talks, group healing with a Peruvian shaman, and meditation on sacred ruins. You can add a few extra days to the trip to tour Machu Picchu and Cusco with your new friends.
The DEN also has wellness retreats coming up in the Himalayas, the Adirondacks, and a special New Year’s celebration in Nicaragua, themed around “reiki, magik, and manifestation.” No matter which one you choose, these wellness retreats are sure to fill you with a deep sense of gratitude, inner peace, and wonder.
Price: Starts at $1,000

Pura Vida Retreat & Spa (Alajuela, Costa Rica)

With a mission to empower women and make them feel alive, Pura Vida wellness retreats celebrate community building and get you moving in yoga classes hosted by experienced teachers from around the world.

While every wellness retreat offers plenty of time on the mat and accommodations in calming, eco-chic rooms that overlook the San Jose Valley, no two itineraries are exactly alike—some include tours of coffee fields, self-care sessions, salsa dancing, wildlife boat tours, zip-lining, and surprise excursions. The beautiful natural setting in the lush mountains will give you the restoration your mind and body crave.
Price: Starts at $1,290

AdventureWomen (various global destinations)

What could be more empowering than getting up close with Mongolian eagle hunters, horseback riding through Viking trails in Iceland, and getting caught up in the whirlwind of Morocco’s famous marketplaces? How about doing it with a group of spirited, adventurous women like yourself?
That’s just the start of what AdventureWomen wellness retreats offers attendees, more than 70 percent of whom are repeat customers. The all-female team behind the company has taken women on inspired trips around the world for almost 40 years. From wildlife and adventure sports to immersive experiences with local communities, these wellness retreats offer a little something for everyone who wants to have an adventure. Don’t forget to pack your sense of humor!
Price: Starts at $3,290

Wellness Retreats With Adventure and Fitness

If stepping out of your comfort zone and getting your heart rate up puts you in a state of bliss, you’ve come to the right place. These adventure and fitness wellness retreats will indulge your sense of adventure.

SwellWomen Surf & Yoga Retreats (various global destinations)

This boutique wellness retreat organizer takes women to the best surfing destinations in the world, from Sri Lanka and Indonesia to Costa Rica and El Salvador, for wellness retreats that are as much about hanging 10 as they are about hitting your mat.

If you’re looking to make some pals, SwellWomen wellness retreats are for you—the company focuses on building tight-knit communities among members who expand one anothers’ passions and feel empowered to pursue the unknown. Expect daily yoga and surf lessons with pros, photo shoots capturing you on your board (get ready for lots of Instagram love!), massages, life coaching sessions, and accommodations in luxurious villas and bungalows right on the sea.
Price: Starts at $2,795

REI Women’s Adventures (various global destinations)

Beloved outdoor gear store REI has been taking people on adrenaline-boosting retreats for more than 30 years. They push groups of like-minded ladies to their limits on a huge array of women’s-only adventure retreats (led by women guides), which include climbs up Mount Shasta, safaris in South Africa, hiking and camping in Utah’s Zion National Park, and backpacking along the Pacific Crest Trail.
While each itinerary of these adventure–wellness retreats is different, attendees can expect plenty of female bonding, outdoor vistas, and experiences like none other. And you can feel good knowing that these retreats have an emphasis on responsible travel that strives to do good for local communities.
Price: From $749

Pursuit Series From the Outbound (various U.S. destinations)

Want to relive those childhood memories of summers spent at camp? Check out Outbound’s Pursuit Series—a range of wellness retreats that described as “outdoor adventure camps for grown-ups.”
The quickie three-day retreats kick off with unwinding under the stars. Then, make the experience your own, packing your days with adventurous activities like rock climbing, kayaking, mountain biking, stand-up paddle-boarding, and so much more. You can refresh your Girl Scout skills in outdoor first-aid classes, basecamp cooking lessons, and backpacking instruction. You’ll bond with other campers around nightly socials, the fire pit, and (of course) s’mores. Don’t forget to do a little forest-bathing while you’re there!
Price: Starts at $225

Cheap Wellness Retreats

Think you can’t get out of town without spending a fortune? Think again—these affordable wellness retreats give you plenty of opportunities to bliss out without breaking the bank.

Discover Calabria Retreats (Calabria, Italy)

Unwind under the southern Italian sun on five-day yoga retreats set in the ancient seaside village of Scilla. Each morning of these wellness retreats kicks off with 90-minute yoga sessions on a terrace overlooking the picturesque Tyrrhenian Sea. Explore the area’s shops and restaurants, or chill out on the beach during your free afternoons. Then, join the others on your wellness retreat for evening yoga and meditation, followed by a four-course meal at a local restaurant.
Not down with downward dogging all week? Consider jumping on Discover Calabria’s women’s-only wellness retreat. Hosted at a historic farmhouse, the retreat includes organic meals, nature walks, meditation, visits to a medieval village, and a sacred circle ceremony that will stimulate “the divine feminine within.” Talk about transformative!
Price: Starts around $900 for yoga retreats

Museflower Retreat & Spa Thailand Getaway (Chiang Rai, Thailand)

At Chiang Rai’s Museflower Retreat & Spa, you can get pampered from head to toe—without doing serious damage to your wallet. Four-day packages include daily herbal steams, signature massages, body scrubs, foot massages, and Japanese-style energy balancing.

Museflower Retreat & Spa in Chiang Rai, Thailand, at night — Museflower Retreat & Spa

These all-inclusive wellness retreats will also nourish you with organic vegetarian food from the on-site organic garden—perfect fuel for activities like visiting the nearby elephant sanctuary, biking around local villages, sweating it out in yoga classes, or splashing around the Himalayan crystal saltwater pool. If that doesn’t sound like a rejuvenating experience, we’re not sure what does.
Price: Starts around $513

Mountains & Mystics of India Tour (India)

Few places carry the mystical energy found in India, and you can take it all in on Intrepid Travel’s wellness retreat–style tour of some of the country’s holiest destinations. The 13-day tour kicks off in the capital, New Delhi, where you’ll visit temples, sacred tombs, and one of the country’s largest mosques. Then you’ll go up to the mountains via the World Heritage–listed train to chill out in Shimla for a couple of days. Next up, check out Dharamsala, the Dalai Lama’s home, where robed Buddhist monks stroll to monasteries and prayer flags flutter in the breeze.

You’ll then make your way to Amritsar to learn about Sikhism and see the famous Golden Temple before finally chilling out on the holy Ganges River in Rishikesh, a town that’s often referred to as the “yoga capital of the world.” This is one wellness retreat that’s as much about immersing yourself in culture as it is about getting in touch with your spiritual side.
Price: Starts at $1,280

Luxe Wellness Retreats

Got some cash to burn? Lucky you—with healing ceremonies, one-on-one attention from shamans, and accommodations fit for your inner queen, these luxurious wellness retreats are worth the splurge.

Holistic Wellness Retreats at Fivelements (Hong Kong)

If Fivelements’ recently opened urban retreat center in Hong Kong is anything like its well-reputed property in Bali, you’re in for a treat. The three-night rejuvenation retreats include gourmet raw foods, a wellness consultation, two massages, aquatic body work, yoga and meditation, sacred arts classes (like tea ceremonies and Qigong), and beautifying spa treatments. (The superfood facial is a must!)

It sounds like a jam-packed schedule, but Fivelements leaves plenty of time for quiet reflection and exploration of its beautiful grounds. These integrative wellness retreats are perfect for solo travelers who want a peaceful getaway with opportunities to develop intimate connections with like-minded folks on a path to healing.
Price: Around $2,200

Marry Yourself at Rosewood Mayakoba (Playa del Carmen, Mexico)

Do you ever dream of destination weddings? Now you can have one—for yourself—at Rosewood Mayakoba. The serene property, nestled along the Caribbean coast, is launching a “Marry Oneself Journey,” a four-day wellness retreat dedicated to cultivating self-love and steeping guests in ancient Mayan traditions. You’ll reconnect with your soul on a series of guided experiences led by a local shaman, water therapy treatments, purifying body rituals, and relaxing spa treatments, along with daily lessons focused on the four major elements of the universe (earth, water, fire, and air).
On your last day, you’ll have your own sacred “wedding ceremony,” wherein you’ll commit to personal vows and a promise to pursue happiness—no white gown required. Our only question is where to have a honeymoon after a wedding this incredible!
Price: Starts at $1,293 per suite per night

Como Parrot Cay (Turks and Caicos)

Wellness retreats go luxe at Como, a private island resort with airy, colonial-inspired rooms, a stunning spa with Ayurvedic treatments, and restaurants with diverse cuisines. Respected yogi Elena Brower, author of Art of Attention and Practice You: A Journal, is hosting a “Well of Grace Workshop” at the resort that sounds absolutely divine.

The wellness retreat includes hours of daily yoga, meditation, and journaling. In between, check out Como’s other creative travel activities like snorkeling eco-tours, plantation trail walks, bike excursions, diving, and fly fishing—or use those options as the basis for your own personalized wellness retreat.
Price: Workshops start at $7,444
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Health x Body Wellbeing

I’ll Take The Doctor Without 2,300 Patients, Thanks

Post author By Anna Cherry
Post date June 13, 2018

It’s 5:03—early on a Saturday morning and I’d rather be asleep, or out dancing, but instead I’m swallowing a sharp piece of gravel. That’s what it feels like, at least. I open my laptop and shoot off a detailed message, now that anxious googling has turned me into a medical professional. The subtext is that I am going to die soon if someone doesn’t intervene. The reality is that I just need some throat spray, but I’m not ready to accept this.
“1. Do you think I should train tomorrow? If it’s just allergies I’m assuming it’d be fine, but I wouldn’t want to risk it if I could have, like, mono or something more serious,” I write, hoping he understands that my spleen will rupture if I try to squat 115 pounds seven hours from now, when I’m supposed to meet with my powerlifting coach. (I speak in numbered lists when I am at peak type-A analysis.)
“2. Is there anything I can do over the weekend to try and heal? I have gentian violet that I could try to paint on my tonsils?”
He responds at 5:27 a.m. “I think it’s likely fine to train tomorrow,” he writes. “I would not use gentian violet.”
I don’t want to trust him, but I have to, because he is my doctor, and more specifically, The Doc Who Lifts. Plus, I already skipped one training session this week, and as a novice lifter, I’m especially nervous about forming bad habits.
I’m able to chat with my doctor early on a Saturday morning because I’ve recently enrolled with SteadyMD, an online concierge doctor service designed to provide what its name says it will—a steady doctor. The platform pairs you with a primary care physician with expertise in your area of interest, allowing you, for a monthly fee, to receive tailored care whenever you need it.
Membership gives you consistent access to the same doctor through phone, text, and video chat. Together you’ll dive into your medical history and concerns, collaborating on a plan to optimize your health and, depending on your goals, athletic performance.
Your doctor will, according to the SteadyMD website, “really get to know you, like a doctor friend.”
Dr. Spencer is right, of course. I grind out five sets of five squats at 115 pounds, which is a personal record. Two days later, after a lot of painful swallows and gargling warm, salty water, the symptoms clear. My recovery is nothing short of miraculous (to me).

When a Video Chat Doctor’s Appointment Is the Best Doctor’s Appointment

I am carless, in a new city, with precious little free time during the week, and I spent all of yesterday in the L.A. airport because of a delayed flight that landed me in bed at 3 a.m. So a morning doctor’s appointment that requires only a private room, an internet connection, and my laptop is pretty much the only doctor’s appointment I can handle.
After breaking the ice with a few comments about the weather in our respective locations (he’s in D.C.; I’m in St. Louis), we get down to business. He asks me about allergies, family medical history, past surgeries, height, weight, and lifestyle.
Then, we move on to my current concerns. I’ve just relocated from New York City, where I spent much of my time working from my hoarder’s paradise apartment—literally, the women who rented the apartment out to me stored piles of their old items there—so I’m unsure of whether I have chronic sinusitis, allergies, or my body’s just been slowly poisoned over the past four years.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BYWjkk0hIIx/?taken-by=realannacherry
I read somewhere that fatigue can be an indicator of sinus infection. And while my energy levels seem higher in my new home, I still feel generally phlegmy, with an on-again, off-again whistling cough (possibly due to my “borderline” asthma), sinus pressure headaches, and occasional brain fog. Since I’ve only ever lived in my body, and I feel healthy and functional overall, it’s hard to know whether there’s room for improvement—but why not try?

Dr. Spencer decides to order me a series of lab tests, including a body composition scan that will provide insight on my progress building muscle. After our visit, the “front-desk” chat through the SteadyMD mobile app lets me see what Dr. Spencer tells the doctor’s assistant (“Hi Sarah I put in labs for Anna but she would like to find a lab nearby and also know if her insurance will cover the labs I put in”) and we’re done.
The whole thing takes about half an hour, which, according to recent Harvard research, is a quarter of the average total time spent on a doctor visit. It’s a welcome change from when my appointments—getting there, waiting, waiting some more, getting back—required sacrificing half of my workday, even though I wasn’t sick. (I’m at work, so the efficient visit makes sense, but initial SteadyMD assessments typically last a full 60 minutes.)

A True (Doctor) Friend

The one area of your doctor visit that you’d want to go more slowly—the part where you get one-on-one time with the person who’s supposed to be an expert on your health—is often when you’re hustled out of the office like you’re in some kind of drill, maybe after an impersonal interaction during which you wondered if they even remembered who you were. When you consider that the average number of patients in a doctor’s care is about 2,300, this makes sense. (That figure is according to a survey of a national random sample of 463 nonretainer physicians, with a 50 percent response rate, published in 2005.) It would also explain why the duration of a typical doctor visit is between 13 and 24 minutes, with some lasting shorter than nine.
After a spell of (perhaps literally) toxic working environments and relationships, I have dubbed this new life an era of radical self-care. It means being selective about how and with whom I spend my time. It should be a given that your doctor is at least one person you can rely on to take care of you, but with a ratio like 1:2,300, that certainly isn’t a guarantee.
An especially appealing aspect of having a concierge doctor is being one of a much smaller pool of patients. At $99 per month—roughly the cost of a weekday Starbucks habit or a single trip to urgent care—the SteadyMD service is a reasonable investment. You’re paying for the focused attention of someone who is contractually bound (and professionally equipped) to help you take better care of yourself.

My Prescription Will Go On

Surprisingly, uprooting your entire life can be time consuming. You have to look for apartments and move boxes and buy so many things at Ikea. You have to include yourself in every social event to make sure you’re really inhabiting your new city. And you have to wait for a fresh insurance card to come in the mail.
Inconveniently, your hormonal acne will not pause for any of this. So when a long holiday weekend rolls around and you’re suddenly out of the prescription that’s been keeping things under control, you will yell out, in slo-mo, “NoooooooooooooooOoooooooo.”
In the past, I relied on my dermatologist to call spironolactone in to the pharmacy. Once a certain number of refills had been called in, I couldn’t get a new one without scheduling another (time-consuming) appointment.
By now I’ve used up all my refill lives. And though I’ve been here a month and a half, I still haven’t found a new dermatologist. NoooooooooooooooOoooooooo.
Then I remember Dr. Spencer. SteadyMD membership includes unlimited messaging, which is how, on Memorial Day weekend, I’m able to open the chat and say that I’m visiting family in Arkansas, and can you please send a prescription for this acne pill to my local pharmacy before my face starts erupting in painful cysts?
Do you know what happens? He sends a prescription.
He. Sends. A. Prescription.
I’ve wasted time I will never get back arguing with insurance companies, having to fight for time from medical professionals. Can you understand how it feels to merely ask for what you need—and then be given what you need? It’s profound. It makes you want to cry into your hands.
My doctor friend, The Doc Who Lifts.
His mission—and the mission of the other doctors who lift, because, let me tell you, there are many doctors who lift on SteadyMD—is to revolutionize healthcare by providing patients with holistic, preventive advice from experts who will come to understand your individual needs over the long term. The change is simple but radical, and sometimes that’s exactly what you need.

Sponsored by SteadyMD

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