CONSISTENT by Primal Potential

Let's talk about your goals. How's it going? Or, maybe, WTF happened? Is there a gap between what you said you were going to do and what you've actually been doing? Are you finding that you make excuses & exceptions on the regular? You're not alone. But let's not let the year slip away feeling like we could have done more or tried harder. Let's assess the situation and get real about how we can get the results we want. That's what today is all about. http://primalpotential.com/138-wtf-happened/ In today's episode we're talking about how to break out of the cycle of setting intentions and not doing the work. Unfortunately, we take the approach of "same pond, same frog" and end up wondering, "WTF happened?" The intentions were there, the motivation was there when we set the intentions, but same pond, same frog, nothing new to see here. The notion of "same pond, same frog" basically means that we don't change ourselves and we don't change our environment but try to change the outcome. It doesn't work. I want to teach you, in this episode, how to set yourself up for the situation of either: Same pond, new frog OR New pond, new frog You must change YOURSELF if you want to change your results. We cannot focus on the external only. When we focus on eating differently or exercising differently, those are external foci. Our external results are reflective of our internal results. Change must start inside. To be successful in achieving our goals, we must strengthen the following mental muscles: Motivation Consistency Self-discipline In this episode I detail these 5 keys to creating new results & becoming a new frog. Start small Keep your word Challenge yourself Be positive Seek feedback from failures

Let's try something new! I'm going to be kicking off a monthly series on the podcast - you can consider it the Primal Potential Book Club! We're starting with Always Hungry by Dr. David Ludwig. I read a ton. I've always got a couple of books going. Each month, maybe even a couple of times a month, I want to share with you the best books I've read, the most interesting things I've learned and how I've changed my fat loss approach (if at all) based on those books. Without question, one of the best books I've read recently is Always Hungry by Dr. David Ludwig. In today's episode I'm sharing the most powerful lessons in the book and my thoughts on his "Always Hungry Solution" that he argues (quite well) will conquer cravings, retrain your fat cells and help you lose weight permanently. http://primalpotential.com/137-always-hungry/ In today's episode I'm sharing what I feel are the most powerful & high-impact points made by Dr. Ludwig in his new book. I share my commentary and what changes I made based on this great read (as well as how my body responded). Definitely take a listen to the full episode but here are the highlights of what I share from the book. We don't get fat because we overeat. We overeat because we're getting fat.What? Huh? Of course we get fat because we overeat. No. We overeat, he argues, not because of the volume of food we eat but because of the type of food we eat.The type of food we eat creates a hormonal condition that makes us 2 things: hungry and fat.It makes our fat cells greedy. They suck up more than their fair share of the nutrients we eat. The body responds by triggering hunger & cravings. We eat more. We overeat because of the hormonal conditions created by the type of food we eat.Dr. Ludwig uses a couple of great examples to help explain this notion that we overeat because we're getting fat, not the other way around.Think of a teenage boy during puberty. Do we say he’s growing because he’s eating so much? No! We say he’s eating so much because he’s growing. The hormonal conditions in his body are increasing his appetite. His appetite isn’t creating the hormonal conditions that make him grow.The same is true in pregnancy. Do we say that a pregnant woman’s belly is growing because she is eating so much? No! She is eating so much because her baby is growing. The hormonal conditions in her body increases her appetite.This, he argues, (strongly, in my opinion) is what happens with obesity. Here’s what Dr. Ludwig explains in Always Hungry:The food choices we make when our diet is filled with processed foods, grains, wheats and oats send insulin production into overdrive. Insulin is a fuel delivery hormone (if you need an overview on insulin, check out this episode).This chronic, overstimulation of insulin essentially fertilizes your fat cells. Your fat cells become greedy because they are overstimulated. They suck up more than their fair share of the nutrients you consume.Well, what happens if the fat cells are taking more than their fair share of the nutrients you consume?The body misses out. The rest of your body doesn't get the fuel it needs, even if you're eating it! How does the body respond? Hunger & cravings to stimulate you to feed it and by lowering your metabolic rate to conserve fuel because it's not getting enough (even though it is).It’s not a matter of having too many calories in the in the body, it’s too few in the right place. We can reprogram our fat cells to release stored caloriesOur food choices are responsible for programming our fat cells to take up too much fuel. Therefore, by changing our food choices, we can reprogram our fat cells to release stored calories. We do this in two ways (that I go into in more detail in this episode). We do this by choosing foods that don't overstimulate insulin production/release and that control (and minimize) inflammation. Dieting is not the answer.Cutting back on calories will cause weight loss in the short term, but it programs your body to work against you. There's a better way. Dr. Ludwig uses the example of taking an ice bath in response to a fever. Yes, a fever is reflective of too much heat in the body so you could reason that sitting in an ice bath would bring your body temperature down. And it will, in the short term. However, the body will compensate by making you shiver and trigger vaso-constriction to conserve heat, so it's not a long term approach.We see this all the time with dieting. Sure, it might lead to short term weight loss but the body will fight against you by lowering metabolic rate, increasing hunger and triggering cravings.Dieting is a short term strategy that has been repeatedly proven to deliver, at best, short term results. We have to work with the body, not against it. It's not about calories.Even when you keep calories constant, you can significantly impact the number of calories you burn at rest by changing where your calories come from.In Always Hungry, Dr. Ludwig shares some of his clinical resea

I spent the last couple weeks going through my email to identify where MOST people are running into the most trouble reaching their goals. The two words that jumped out at me most often were "motivation" and consistency". I started thinking about the process of creating consistency and motivation and how I could really help you hone those skills. Ultimately, there's no food rules or goals that are valuable without recurring consistency & motivation. In today's episode I share 3 very specific strategies for creating consistency and motivation. One of them is related to what I'm calling a "Motivation Mixtape". http://primalpotential.com/136-creating-consistency-and-motivation/ This minisode is all about creating consistency & motivation. I start by sharing what is known as The Paradox of the Growing Heap or the Sorites Paradox. It goes like this: If ten coins are not enough to make a man rich, what if you add one coin? What if you add another? Finally, you will have to say that no one can be rich unless one coin can make him so. When it comes to fat loss, we see our choices as that one, insignificant coin. We justify excuses and exceptions by telling ourselves that this one small choice or action doesn't matter. It's just one cookie. It's just drink. It's just one day. But, if we shift our perspective to consider the growing heap, we understand that we have the opportunity to grow our heap or not. We have the opportunity to reinforce good habits or bad. In an of itself that one choice might not seem significant. But without that one choice, you can't accumulate the consistency you need for results. Here's the challenge I have for you: Get a large jar Every time you make a choice that moves you towards you goals, I want you to add one item to the jar. You can use a grain of rice, a dried bean or a coin. Every time you make a choice that moves you away from your goals, I want you to remove one item for your jar. Here's the theory behind that: we humans like to see immediate results. Unfortunately, with health & fat loss, we often have to generate consistency before we'll ever see results. If we don't see immediate return on our efforts, we'll often give up. Then we're sure to NEVER get there. This jar will be the visible, tangible representation of your efforts, or lack thereof.

It's been too long since I've done a Q&A episode! Let's fix that! I get a lot of emails from people who are struggling with lack of momentum and feeling unsure how to get "back on track" after a rough day, week or series of weeks. In today's listener Q&A podcast I'm going to share my thoughts on listener questions related to lack of momentum, feeling stuck in a rut and battling cravings. Don't forget: if you have questions or you need a bit of encouragement to get moving in the right direction - please don't hesitate to reach out for help! That's what I'm here for! http://primalpotential.com/135-lack-of-momentum/

Sometimes we get stuck in this trap of focusing more on consuming information than on implementing it. And often, we get a false sense of affirmation from all this learning, as if we've actually DONE something and we haven't. Information is awesome. Learning is wonderful. But there is no value in it without implementation. In today's episode I want to help you bridge this gap between learning and doing. Between knowing more and doing more. I want to help you overcome information overload so you can take what you know already and what you continue to learn and use it to improve your health, your physique, your finances or absolutely any area of your life. http://primalpotential.com/134-overcome-information-overload/

Let's talk about 5 common mistakes with carbs and cravings. I think we'd all agree that motivation & willpower can only go so far. If we're battling cravings, fat loss is a lot harder than it needs to be. I have ZERO doubt that cravings can be eliminated. And if you're striving for fat loss & health, they should be. In today's episode we're going to talk very specifically about 5 common mistakes & misunderstandings I see related to carbohydrates and cravings. I want you to understand that carbohydrates are not bad. They aren't. In fact, if you look at my average meal plate (or that of most of my clients) you'll find that the majority of my plate is carbohydrates. What?!?! Yes! Non-starchy vegetables! Vegetables are carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are not the enemy. They do not need to be eliminated for fat loss. It's not the carbohydrate that is the problem. It's lack of control of blood sugar & insulin that is the problem. When we don't control blood sugar, we set ourselves up for fat storage, low energy, cravings and hunger. http://primalpotential.com/133-common-mistakes-with-carbs-and-cravings/

I think that most of us, weight problem or no weight problem, are overfed and undernourished. We focus on foods that deliver an imbalance of energy & nutrition. We get plenty of energy in the form of calories but we starve our bodies of the nutrients they need for both proper & optimal function. Specifically, in this overfed and undernourished 2 part series, I want to talk about 5 nutrients I feel most of us aren't getting enough of. I'll dive into why they're important and how we can get more. Did you miss part 1? No worries - you can listen to it here. http://primalpotential.com/overfed-and-undernourished-part-2/

I think that most of us, weight problem or no weight problem, are overfed and undernourished. We focus on foods that deliver an imbalance of energy & nutrition. We get plenty of energy in the form of calories but we starve our bodies of the nutrients they need for both proper & optimal function. Specifically, in this overfed and undernourished 2 part series, I want to talk about 5 nutrients I feel most of us aren't getting enough of. I'll dive into why they're important and how we can get more. http://primalpotential.com/overfed-and-undernourished-part-1/ We have an unfortunate tendency to rely on processed foods that deliver energy without nutrition (or with little nutrition). This leads to "malnutrition of affluence" or a situation of being overfed and undernourished. We simply aren't giving our bodies the raw materials they need to function optimally. This leads to: Obesity Fatigue Inflammation Chronic disease Instead of looking at health & weight loss through the lens of restriction and deprivation, I'd encourage everyone to focus on equipping your body to function optimally so it creates a state of leanness, energy and vitality. When making food choices, ask yourself: Is this energy & nutrition or one without the other? In this series, I want to focus on 5 things I feel we need more of. In part one, I'll be focusing on essential fatty acids & vitamin D. In today's episode I'll focus on essential fatty acids and: What they are What they do The problems related to deficiency The problems with the Standard American Diet & essential fatty acids How to consume more The difference between omega 3s and omega 6s How to reduce omega 6s How to increase omega 3s Related to vitamin D, this episode addresses: What it is What it does The problems related to deficiency 3 ways to increase vitamin D Sunshine Food Supplementation In the next episode of this series we'll tackle Magnesium B Vitamins Probiotics

We need to have a little chat about starting strong versus staying strong. I've been getting a lot of emails lately from people saying that they need a fresh start, the new to begin again, they need a clean slate. Do you need to reset? Does that make sense? Or might that be the exact reason you're not seeing the progress you want? I actually think that the resets, fresh starts and do-overs are actually in the way of progress and today I want to tell you why. http://primalpotential.com/starting-strong-versus-staying-strong/

I was recently inspired by a Motley Fool article on successful investing that talked about the importance of mindset. I immediately knew that these principles were intimately related to success in all arenas of life, including weight loss. Today I'll share 7 ways to avoid failure based on success strategies that have the power to transform absolutely any area of your life. I've talked before about the link between financial transformations & physical transformation and today I'm going to take that a step further. Don't miss the full episode! http://primalpotential.com/7-ways-to-avoid-failure/

Dairy is a highly debated topic, especially as it relates to weight loss within the Paleo, Primal and whole foods communities. Does dairy slow weight loss? Is it fat loss friendly? Does it increase blood sugar? Does it influence insulin, the master fat loss hormone? Some of the answers might surprise you and we're going to answer all your questions & then some in today's episode! In today's episode, I'll be going through the following 10 statements in more detail. Don't miss the full episode! The intended purpose of milk, from any mammal, is to deliver nutrients to and accelerate the growth of an infant Milk & most milk products contain sugar in the form of lactose. Though "sugar" might not be listed on the label, that does not mean there is not sugar within. The carbohydrates contained within come from this milk sugar. Any sugar reflected on the label is added sugar in addition to the lactose. Though dairy products (excluding those with added sugar) don't produce much of an increase in blood sugar, they do elicit an insulin response. Typically, glycemic index and insulin index are similarly impacted but this is not the case with dairy products. They have a unique insulin reaction that I explain in this episode. Individuals who are insulin resistant should consider limiting dairy for this reason. The hormones produced by the mammal which produced the milk are often still contained within the milk. If you drink the milk, you ingest said hormones. This is, of course, a dose-dependent relationship and the hormone content depends on many different factors including the quality of the product, the type of product and the hormone levels (natural & artificial) of the animal. Casein, the predominant protein in milk products, is a major allergen for many people. Not all animal milks are created equal. Goat's milk, for example, is higher in fat and lower in casein and lactose. Nut milk is not milk. While this seems obvious to many, it is not to all and is worth a discussion. Whether or not you can or should tolerate dairy products depends in large part on your individual gut health/permeability. Your bacterial balance (or imbalance) will have a lot to do with your body's response to dairy consumption. Lactose content, casein content and insulin impact depend on the type of dairy consumed. If you are concerned about calcium intake, consider these non-dairy options which are good sources of calcium: Canned salmon Sardines Kale Oranges Almonds Seaweed Sesame seeds http://primalpotential.com/does-dairy-slow-weight-loss/

Most of the people I talk to feel overwhelmed. They want to take control of their health & their habits but they're overwhelmed by life. They're taking care of family, working, maintaining their home. It's a lot. That's what this episode is for. I want to help you understand how to reduce stress and get more results by simplifying your environment, your mind & your life. I've created a free guide for you so you can take the concepts in this episode and implement them into your life. Visit the show notes page for this episode or go to PrimalPotential.com/simplify to get your free guide! But definitely make sure to listen to the entire episode! I know it will be incredibly helpful for those of you who feel stressed, overwhelmed & life you just don't have enough time or bandwidth to achieve your goals. http://primalpotential.com/how-to-reduce-stress-get-more-results-through-simplification/ How To Reduce Stress Identify what is important to you Eliminate the rest Simplification isn't just about your schedule or your thoughts. We can simplify many areas of our lives as we consider how to reduce stress & accelerate progress towards our goals. It's easier to keep up than it is to catch up - stay on top of recurring tasks if you can't eliminate or outsource them Understand & respect Parkinson's Law - tasks will expand to fill up the time you allot to them. This is where they phrase "If you wait until the last minute it only takes a minute" comes from. Assign a fixed amount of time to complete a task and then focus exclusively on that task for the pre-determined interval The simplification guide will help you simplify each of the following categories with dozens of suggestions for how to reduce stress by making changes in each of these areas Environment & Space Time Mind

Today's motivational minisode is not my own. This perfect minisode shares the perspective & beautiful thoughts of one of the women I'm lucky enough to work with. I think it's a wonderful thing when we can learn how people overcome their personal barriers and implement powerful behavior changes. She has done that, is doing that and today we're going to hear some of her thoughts. http://primalpotential.com/motivational-minisode-a-clients-perspective-on-achieving-your-goals/

To kick off the New Year, I am doing a series called Fat Loss Basics! In the first episode, we talked about calories & hormones and the requirements for fat loss. In the second, we covered everything you need to know about carbs & fat loss. Then we tackled protein & highlighted the ways that protein intake increases satiety & supports fat burning but also established how too much protein inhibits fat loss. In part 4 we looked at dietary fat & how eating more fat might help accelerate fat burning! In part 5, I talked about what makes fitness efficient & effective for fat loss (and what doesn't). To get caught up, check out part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4 and part 5. In today's episode I'm answering your questions on all 5 parts of this fat loss basics series. Fat Loss Basics Part 6 - Your Questions Answered Here are the questions I'm answering in this episode: I'm so frustrated. I'm eating right, I'm working out and I'm not losing a pound. Can you help? Can you tell me what to do next? I love intermittent fasting. When I break my fast, I do so with protein or fat. That means I'm still in fat burning mode, right? I have lemon juice & ginger first thing in the morning. Does that take me out of fat burning mode? Does stevia raise blood sugar? I love to eat popcorn. I looked at the label & it says there are no sugar but there are carbs. Does this mean it doesn't raise my blood sugar? What do you think of protein shakes? Is dairy protein or fat? I see that you workout on most days. Don't you need to let your muscles rest & recover? I am one of those people who gains weight when I lift weights. You say that weight lifting doesn't make muscles grow. So then why do I gain weight? http://primalpotential.com/ep-126-fat-loss-basics-part-6-your-questions

To kick off the New Year, I am doing a series called Fat Loss Basics! In the first episode, we talked about calories & hormones and the requirements for fat loss. In the second, we covered everything you need to know about carbs & fat loss. Then we tackled protein & highlighted the ways that protein intake increases satiety & supports fat burning but also established how too much protein inhibits fat loss. In part 4 we looked at dietary fat & how eating more fat might help accelerate fat burning! To get caught up, check out part 1, part 2, part 3 and part 4. In today's episode we're diving into exercise & fitness for fat loss: Should you be working out?Can you burn fat without working out?What types of workouts make you eat more?What are the best types of workouts for fat loss?How much & how often should I workout?Should I lift weights?How does leisure walking support fat loss? http://primalpotential.com/fat-loss-basics-part-5-exercise-movement

To kick off the New Year, I am doing a series called Fat Loss Basics! In the first episode, we talked about calories & hormones and the requirements for fat loss. In the second, we covered everything you need to know about carbs & fat loss. Then we tackled protein & highlighted the ways that protein intake increases satiety & supports fat burning but also established how too much protein inhibits fat loss. In this episode, we're diving into dietary fat & how eating more fat might help accelerate fat burning! To get caught up, check out part 1, part 2 and part 3. In today's episode we're taking a look at how & why dietary fat supports fat loss: Does fat make you fat? Why should you eat more fat? What happens when you go on a low fat diet? How does fat intake trigger your body to burn more fat? What are some fats to focus on? How much fat is too much fat? http://primalpotential.com/fat-loss-basics-part-4-dietary-fat/

To kick off the New Year, I am doing a series called Fat Loss Basics! In the first episode, we talked about calories & hormones and the requirements for fat loss. In the second, we covered everything you need to know about carbs & fat loss. To get caught up, check out part 1 and part 2. In today's episode we're taking a deep dive into protein for fat loss including: How does protein support fat loss? How does protein make me feel fuller for longer? How does protein impact my hormones? How can protein improve my metabolic rate & body composition? What are the biggest mistakes people make with protein? Are beans protein? How do you know if you're eating too much protein? What foods are proteins? I love sharing this kind of information with you & I'd love to stay more connected & keep you informed, encouraged & motivated through my VIP email list. http://primalpotential.com/protein-for-fat-loss/

To kick off the New Year, I am doing a series called Fat Loss Basics! In the first episode, we talked about calories & hormones and the requirements for fat loss. In today's episode we're taking a deep dive into carbohydrates including: What are they? How do different types of carbs impact fat loss? How do carbs impact metabolism? What are the best carb strategies for fat loss? http://primalpotential.com/fat-loss-basics-carbohydrates/ Resources Fat Loss Food Guide Hormones & Fat Loss E-Book The Golden Rules of Carbs & Fat Loss Why Calorie Counting is Misleading Carb Timing Carb Tolerance Ketosis Insulin

To kick off the New Year, I am doing a series called Fat Loss Basics! This is the first episode of the series and I'll be covering all the basic information about calories, hormones, fat loss foods & fitness. Today we will establish when calories matter and why a calorie deficit is not sufficient for fat loss. In this first episode of the Fat Loss Basics series, we go into detail on a few fat loss truths. Definitely listen to the entire episode to understand them in their entirety and be sure to listen to the whole series as it becomes available! A calorie deficit is required for fat loss A calorie deficit does not ensure fat loss Fat burning is turned on & off by your hormones The two primary hormones in control of fat loss are glucagon & insulin We can control both insulin & glucagon with our food choices Insulin is an important & necessary storage hormone. Insulin is responsible for delivery fuel to our cells & ushering excess fuel to storage sites within the body (this can be muscle storage or fat storage). Without insulin, our cells would starve & we would die. The presence of insulin informs the body that there there is ample fuel in the body and therefore fat burning is not required. Glucagon works opposite of insulin. Glucagon responds when there is no fuel available from food. The presence of glucagon allows fat to be released from storage and burned to provide energy to the body. A calorie deficit alone is not enough to instruct glucagon to do it's job. You need a calorie deficit & control of insulin/glucagon. Here are a few ways you can control insulin & glucagon to maximize your fat burning potential: Follow the Golden Rules of carbs & fat loss Avoid overfeeding Minimize stress Avoid chronic cardiovascular/endurance exercise http://primalpotential.com/ep-121-fat-loss-basics/

I decided to take a fun, new approach to my next live webinar to ensure that I am giving you guys EXACTLY what you need, not just what I think you might need. Everyone who registered for the webinar was given a survey to establish what they feel are their biggest barriers to weight loss. In today's episode, not only do I invite you to take the survey & register for the live webinar, I share the most common answers I've received and weigh in on these challenges. I will absolutely tackle these issues & challenges on the webinar as well as in upcoming podcasts, emails, blogs & courses. I'm so thankful to those of you who took the time to take the survey and share your challenges with me! In the survey, I ask 3 questions: What is the primary reason you give up or give in when attempting to lose weight? What is your most significant barrier to changing your eating habits? What is the one thing you'd most like to learn on the webinar? Nearly 60% of people said that they primary reason they give up on their weight loss attempts is TEMPTATION. In moments of temptation, they surrender. This is what I call "The Gap" & I'll be spending a lot of time on the webinar talking about the gap & how to avoid it. "The Gap" is the space between our intentions & our actions. We fall in the gap when we give in to temptation. But how do we stop? How do we stay strong and true to our goals in those moments? I'll show you. Almost 70% of people answered that their most significant barrier to changing their eating habits is emotional eating. Boom. Yes. I so get that. That is EXACTLY WHY I am hosting this webinar on New Year, New Approach. We can have all the meal plans & food lists in the world, but that's not the issue. The issue is not WHAT to eat but rather WHY we eat. This will be tackled on the webinar & of course in the return of the Breaking Barriers course. Lastly, the two most common things people said they wanted to learn on the webinar were how to stop emotional eating & self sabotage. Well, my friends, you've come to the right place. I've got you. Now, about 20% of people want nuts & bolts about what to eat, when, how much, etc. I've got you, too! Next week I'll have a detailed episode on the nuts & bolts of fat loss for nutrition as well as the nuts & bolts of hormones, mindset & fitness. Do not miss that. In the meantime, check out the resources section right below for a handful of previous episodes & other tools on those topics. http://primalpotential.com/biggest-barriers-to-weight-loss/

'Tis the season for setting goals, right? Unfortunately, most people will go about their New Year goals the same way they always have. Chances are, they'll get the same results. They'll capitalize on the motivation that comes with the fresh start of a new year but that motivation will wane, they will get distracted and they'll give in to temptation and opportunity. I don't want that for you. I think we all realize that most people don't reach their New Years goals. Let's break that trend this year. This episode is a goal setting workshop. It's not a lecture. It's an activity to go through together to ensure that you set an important goal and crush it. Goal Setting Workshop There are some pretty common mistakes people make when it comes to their goals. They set too many They aren't specific They don't re-visit the goals often enough, if ever Their time horizon is too long They don't address the obstacles that could hold them back I want to help you take a different, effective approach this year. I've created a goal setting & tracking worksheet to help you crush your 2016 goals in every arena of life. In this episode, I'll walk you through the worksheets and help you set a goal and begin to make progress. Together, we will identify: The specific goal you want to achieve The timeframe in which you will achieve it Why this goal matters & what you stand to gain What happens if you fail to achieve the goal The barriers between you and achievement The strategies you'll need to implement to achieve your goal How to stay focused every single day How to ensure you make continuous progress http://primalpotential.com/goal-setting-workshop/

You can do this. You do not need another food list or meal plan. You need to understand and implement strategies to stop emotional eating, self-sabotage and over-indulgence. I used to be a serious emotional eater. And binge eater. And any-reason-at-all eater. I am not anymore. It's not about willpower. It's about strategy & practice. Let's PLEASE stop focusing exclusively on food & exercise and start addressing the real issues! How To Stop Emotional Eating First you really want to understand the behavior. If I were to ask you why you do it, "I don't know" isn't an option. "I don't know" just means, "I haven't paid enough attention yet to understand it well enough". Start to pay attention. I want you to be able to answer the following questions: What am I doing? (Related to emotional eating, overeating, binge eating, etc) Why do I do it? Where & when does it happen most often? What does it do for me? Is it working? Is it true? Is it worth it? Really invest in answering those questions. If you feel like you're stuck, keep asking the question "why?" and you'll be surprised by what you uncover. Then, there are some practical strategies you can implement (one at a time) to help you stop emotional eating. I describe & explain the strategies in detail in this episode so make sure to take a listen to the full episode! Pre-define your daily or weekly indulgences. This will force you to pause, consider your options and select things that are truly worth it. The number of indulgences depends on your baseline (I give concrete examples in the episode). Mandatory questions. You don't have to answer them all, but pick the ones that resonate with you and answer them on paper prior to emotionally eating or over-indulging. 3 series: How do I want to feel in 30 minutes? How will eating this make me feel? Given those answers, is this indulgence worth it? Is this choice reflective of the type of person I want to be? If it's not, is it worth it? If I make this choice every day for the next year, where will I be then? Mandatory pause. You can have it be a micro pause or a long pause, but consider the following before you indulge or make any decision: Wait 30 seconds Journal for 60 seconds Take a walk Get in a workout Practice self-discipline in other areas not related to food. Build your self-confidence and influence your food choices without every focusing on food. Some examples of things you might work on include: Making your bed every day Not hitting snooze Walking more often Cleaning the kitchen every day Maintaining a budget Flossing your teeth Make sure to check out the full episode for detailed suggestions on how to implement these strategies to help you stop emotional eating, binge eating or over-indulging.

I want 2016 to be different for you. I don't want you to struggle in the same 'ol ways, being obsessed with weight loss, frustrated, stopping & starting, trying & failing. I want you to be free from food obsession. I am admittedly a little tough in this episode. I'm ok with that. I'm ok with that because I believe this is the key for how to make 2016 amazing in every way. I want you to use this short episode as a daily mantra to make this the LAST year you struggle. The last year you feel obsessed with food. The last year you stress about and wish for weight loss. I want this to be the end of wishing but not doing. I want this to be the end of inconsistency. I want this to be the end of your "all or nothing" approach. Give your full attention to this episode so you can get really clear on how to make 2016 amazing in every way. How To Make 2016 Amazing Pick ONE thing. One habit you know that if established will help you reach your goals. I give plenty of examples in the episode. Do it every day. Do not wait for motivation. Do it anyway. What would happen if you applied your "food approach" to other areas of your life? What if you didn't take care of your kids until you felt motivated? Until there wasn't a better option? Until you were no longer tempted by things like sleeping in or going out with friends? What if you only showed up to work when you felt like it? What if you only went to meetings when there wasn't something better you could do? It's just one thing. Ritualize & habitualize it. If you wait until you feel like it, you'll be wishing for the same changes 5 years from now. You won't feel like it. Do it anyway. http://primalpotential.com/how-to-make-2016-amazing/

In today's episode I'm answering your questions about food rewards, earned indulgences and cheat meals. I'll be sharing my perspective on whether or not you should use food as a reward and how to balance strategic indulgences that reflect a healthy relationship with food versus talking yourself into being inconsistent. Where is that line and how do you find it? Food Rewards, Earned Indulgences & Cheat Meals The first thing I recommend you do is evaluate whether or not these strategies (food rewards, earned indulgences and/or cheat meals) are working for you: Is there a whole bunch of negative emotional wrapped up in it? Are you limiting your results or slowing your progress? Are they a slippery slope? Does a treat turn into overkill or a binge? From there, let's look at the idea of "earning" an indulgence. In the episode, we go into a whole lot more detail, but I want you to think about the following: Would an alcoholic celebrate sobriety with a shot of tequila? Alright, you're not an alcoholic. But would you celebrate your child's great grades by suggesting he give himself a break from the next test? Or take a week off of school? http://primalpotential.com/food-rewards/

Eating healthy on a budget is absolutely possible. In fact, what I want to demonstrate in today's episode is that you can actually save a lot of money by eating clean, eating for fat loss and focusing on whole foods. Can it be more expensive to eat healthy? Yes. Can it be more expensive to not eat healthy? Yes. You can do it either way. The choice is yours. But eating healthy on a budget is 100% possible. Eating Healthy On A Budget I've talked before about details like how to save money on proteins and when it's important to buy organic and what items you can save money on by going conventional. You can check out that episode here. In today's episode, however, we're talking about the specifics about how you can eat very inexpensively while focusing on fat loss friendly & whole foods. I have 6 specific recipes you can make for less than 1.99! But before that, let's establish some basics. Complex recipes are going to cost far more than simple meals Eating for fat loss does not have to include exotic recipes, a million spices or special cooking oils Identify your favorite fat loss foods & keep it simple It kinda goes without saying that you're going to spend far more if you shop at luxury grocers like Whole Foods. While that is lovely, it is not necessary You don't have to opt for the most expensive fruits and veggies. Berries cost more than apples, most of the time. Brussels sprouts cost more than cabbage. Choose wisely and emphasize inexpensive staples. Bacon & Egg Sweet Potato Cups: $1.04 per person Salmon Cakes & Mashed Cauliflower: $1.87 per person Bacon, Egg & Veggie Breakfast Bowl: $1.93 per person Spaghetti Squash with Ground Turkey: $1.77 per person Quarter Pound Turkey Burger with Bacon & Avocado: $1.31 per person BONUS (This one is just over $2.00)Baked Marinara Chicken Thighs with Brussels Sprouts: $2.12 per person http://primalpotential.com/eating-healthy-on-a-budget/

It's hard to believe that it is almost the 1 year anniversary of the Primal Potential podcast. Know what the most popular episode was? Q&A 6: How to Make Breakfast A Fat Burning Meal. Given that, I thought it would be fun to do a follow-up episode answering the most common questions about breakfast and sharing some of my favorite fat loss breakfast recipes and meal ideas. Fat Loss Breakfast - Your Questions & Answers This episode goes into detailed answers, meal ideas and recipes so you can create a fat loss breakfast every day! How come some of the thinnest people I know eat carbs for breakfast? How can they do that and be lean if carbs in the morning turns off fat burning? What do you think about having fruit in the morning if your goal is fat loss? Do I have to eat breakfast? I'm not hungry in the morning. I hate eggs. How can I create a fat loss breakfast without eating eggs? What is bulletproof coffee? How does it help fat loss? No matter what I eat for breakfast, I'm hungry within a couple hours. How can I make breakfast fill me up for longer? The idea of vegetables at breakfast turns my stomach. How can I incorporate vegetables at breakfast in a way I'll enjoy? What do you think about juicing? Is juice a good fat loss breakfast? What do you think about intermittent fasting? Is that healthy? Helpful? Dangerous? What breakfast ideas do you have? Especially for meals on the go. http://primalpotential.com/fat-loss-breakfast/

Self-sabotage poses a huge threat to your goals and your health. Beyond that, it's incredibly frustrating. The key to overcoming it is to understand the ways we talk ourselves into sabotage. Most people are so frustrated that they continuously set goals then get in their own way. In many cases, they don't even understand how or why it's happening. How can you want something so bad yet continue to sabotage? Why are you getting in the way of something you want so badly? I've found that there are 5 common arguments we use to talk ourselves into sabotage. In today's episode, I'll go through the ways we talk ourselves into sabotage and give you a worksheet and checklist to identify how to change the behavior. Definitely listen to the full episode for an explanation of how we use these senseless (false) arguments and how to stop. I'll start tomorrow This one thing doesn't make a difference It's not working anyway I can make up for it later I've been so good (so I've earned it) In the episode we talk about why these arguments are not only counterproductive but also completely untrue. I introduce a detailed strategy on how stop letting these lies sneak up on you and throw you off track. We don't use these arguments because they are real or true. We use them because they give us what we want: permission to be be indulgent. The most effective way to remove the power of these lies we tell ourselves is to identify: what they are when we use them that they are completely untrue and counterproductive positive affirmations with which to replace them http://primalpotential.com/5-ways-we-talk-ourselves-into-sabotage/

Tony Robbins is one of the world's greatest teachers. He's a motivational speaker, yes, but he's far more than that. He's a coach. He helps people find their own power. He guides people out of their self-imposed darkness and helps them reach their highest potential. Obviously, I'm a fan. I've read his books, taken his courses and attended his seminars. In today's episode I'm going to share with you what Tony Robbins taught me about weight loss. In fairness, I wasn't exposed to Tony's teachings until well into my weight loss journey but I am certain I wouldn't be who I am today without the things I've learned from his books, programs and seminars. What Tony Robbins Taught Me About Weight Loss I need a positive, productive focus & an effective strategy Specific Compelling Within my control Being overweight was giving me something. I was getting something out of it. Overeating and sabotaging my success was providing me something I kept seeking. I'd need to identify the need it was filling in my life and find a more constructive way to fill that need. I can't find happiness within my comfort zone. It's a lie. It's a trap I was caught in. I was using food as an escape. Running never leads to resolution. All of my decisions were primed by my state. I can control my state at any time with things like: My breathing My outfit My posture My facial expressions My words I am in control of my emotions. Not taking control of my emotions will prevent me from ever taking control of my food choices & my body. To get on the FREE Primal Potential VIP email list for recipes, tips, motivation, workouts & more, text the word PRIMAL to the number 44-222 (or, if you aren't in the US, go to PrimalPotential.com) http://primalpotential.com/what-tony-robbins-taught-me-about-weight-loss/

Are protein bars healthy? What are the best protein bars for weight loss? In today's episode we're talking about things to consider before choosing a protein bar and figuring out whether or not they work for YOU. Many people make big mistakes with protein bars. They think they're making a healthy choice but either they're choosing a super unhealthy bar or they're not realizing that even a "healthy" bar just doesn't work for them! Protein Bars for Weight Loss - A Buyers Guide Before we dive into the good/bad/ugly of protein bars for weight loss, here are the issues I have with them in general: Using them as a snack but creating more of a meal when a meal isn’t needed Eating them when you aren’t hungry because you feel like it’s a "healthy" choice. (Healthy choice or not healthy choice isn’t the problem if you aren’t hungry!) Choosing bars that are glorified candy bars – junk ingredients, junk protein, lots of artificial ingredeints and often a TON of sugar Eating bars even when they are triggering cravings First, let's establish WHY you eat them and IF they work for you (or not). Take a few minute to answer the following questions: Am I using bars as a meal or a snack? Am I eating bars when I'm truly hungry or are they a distraction? When are you eating bars? (pre workout, post workout, breakfast) Do they satisfy your hunger? With 1 serving? (for many many people, they are a trigger) Do they increase or decrease your cravings? What is it you like about them: Convenience Taste/flavor/sweet Texture In this episode we'll talk about the factors you need to look at when choosing a bar, especially when your goal is weight loss. In addition to the above considerations, we'll talk about: Protein Calories Servings Sugar Fiber Artificial ingredients Unstable fats http://primalpotential.com/protein-bars-for-weight-loss/

In today's minisode you're getting a dose of motivation & a pinch in the pants! We're diving into the motivation you need to power your day and get out of the rut of inaction. The reality is this: inaction is harder than action. It really is. Inaction is harder because inaction comes with too much thinking, stressing, planning, hoping & regretting. Action requires less work, less attention, less focus and less mental mud treading. Don't miss this super-short motivational episode! http://primalpotential.com/minisode-inaction-is-harder/

In today's episode I'll be sharing my top 3 tips for staying focused so you can accelerate your progress towards your goals.Where focus goes, energy flows. To achieve your goals, you've got to stay focused. But it's not quite that simple. We need to train ourselves to bring our attention to things that serve us & help us reach our goals and then we need to consistently bring our attention there. But how?! You need to be consistent to reach your goals. In order to achieve consistency, you must harness the power of focus. In today's episode I'll be sharing my top 3 tips for staying focused so you can accelerate your progress towards your goals. http://primalpotential.com/top-3-tips-for-staying-focused/

Can we have a little fun today? I want to talk about fun, healthy holiday gift ideas. I'll admit right off the bat that I'm a super practical person. I have enough sweaters, candles and knick knacks. Give me something I can use! I'm always looking at what might increase my focus, motivation & desire to get healthy, stay organized, build my business or live my best life. Some people feel really motivated by new workout clothes, others by organization & simplification, others by new kitchen appliances. Know what will help you get excited to improve your health and invest in THAT this year. Coffee Death Wish Coffee Kicking Horse Coffee Grady's Cold Brew Glass straws (for weirdos like me) Immersion Blender I'm a huge fan of the immersion blender for things like bulletproof coffee, chocolate avocado mousse and mashed cauliflower. Plus, it's super portable & convenient for travel! OXO Salad Chopper I use my OXO salad chopper almost every day. I use it most often for salads. For example, if I have hardboiled eggs in my salad, using the salad chopper lets the yolks become a creamy element for the salad. Same thing with avocado or guacamole. It blends the flavors and reduces the need for dressings. I also use it for my fave breakfast dish: shredded cabbage with eggs, bacon & avocado. I love volume but I had things that are super dry. Kettlebells or Jump Ropes Books 5 Minute Journal by Alex Ikonn and UJ Ramdas The Obstacle Is The Way by Ryan Holiday Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand The Motivation Manifesto by Brendon Burchard The ONE Thing by Gary Keller Mastery by Robert Greene http://primalpotential.com/5-healthy-holiday-gift-ideas/

Today's show goes into 4 of 12 fat loss best practices contained within my 2015 Fat Loss Best Practices Blueprint. You can get the blueprint (normally $97) for FREE until the end of 2015. The strategies within the blueprint include 4 critical categories: diet, lifestyle, mindset & fitness. Today's episode details once strategy from each of the 4 categories. I've outlined 12 high-impact fat loss best practices in this guide that you can get for free until January 1st, 2016. Here are 4 of the strategies I go into in detail in today's episode. Listen to the full episode to get all the details! Carb backloadingEating carbs at nightWhy morning is the worst time for carbs when your goal is fat lossKeeps you in fat burning modeMinimizes time in storage modeDecreases hunger & cravingsIncreases energy SleepQuality & quantityHow we impair sleep via diet & lifestyleThe impact of sleep deprivation on insulinThe impact of sleep deprivation on hunger & cravingsDiet, lifestyle & fitness changes that will improve sleep & accelerate fat loss AffirmationsWhy they matterHow we get it wrongHow to make them work for youMy first affirmations SprintingHow to sprint regardless of your fitness levelWhat sprinting really meansTypes of sprintsWhy sprinting is the investing of exercise http://primalpotential.com/4-fat-loss-best-practices

Yay! Another Random Show where I'm answering your questions! Today we've got some great ones including how to deal with holiday stress, how to know if your hormones are balanced, objections to tracking and common big rocks to help you find yours! If you have a question or topic you'd like me to tackle on the podcast, please let me know! http://primalpotential.com/how-to-deal-with-holiday-stress/

This one is kind of a no brainer, huh? A list of 8 foods that help you burn fat and how they help! Well, in fairness, some of these are ingredients, but still. And they all have something in common: they work to improve the body's responsiveness to insulin. In today's episode we'll talk about how these foods & ingredients help with fat loss, where you can get them and why these mechanisms are so powerful. Plus, I'm also going to give you access to a totally free 28-pg guide to the most effective fat loss strategies! It's usually $97 but between now (December 3rd 2015) and December 31st, you can get it totally free! Ok, in fairness, some of these are "ingredients", but in today's episode we talk in detail about what they are, how they help and how you can incorporate them into your diet! CinnamonChromiumOmega 3 Fatty AcidsSeleniumGlutamineZincVitamin D3Alpha Lipoic Acid http://primalpotential.com/8-foods-that-help-you-burn-fat/

Let's make the most of the rest of 2015, okay? I am certain that if you follow a few of these strategies, you can drop 1 size in 30 days. That's not crazy diet talk. It's just possible. The problem isn't that we don't know what will lead to fat loss, it's that we struggle to consistently implement it. Oftentimes we do too much. We create these busy, detailed plans and then we get lost in the details. Today I simplify it for you! 10 Strategies to Drop 1 Size (before 2016) Get out of your head Prepare for the morning Identify your obstacles Track. What you measure improves. Let go of indulgences that aren't worth it Eat when you're hungry Go to bed earlier Make fat, protein and non-starchy veggies your staples Face the music and get accountable Get a coach http://primalpotential.com/drop-1-size/

I say all the time that motivation isn't something that strikes the fortunate. Not at all, in fact. Motivation is something you have to CHOOSE to create EVERY day! Of course, as soon as I say that, the first and most obvious question is "how??" In today's episode we're tackling just that - how to create motivation. I am going to share 11 powerful motivators from my favorite book, Ryan Holiday's The Obstacle Is The Way. http://primalpotential.com/how-to-create-motivation/

Are protein shakes healthy? Can they help with fat loss? What is the best type of protein? What are the differences between whey, casein, soy and gelatin? Which is best? Should I buy isolate or concentrate? How important is grass fed? What about hormone free? Whoa. So much to consider, right? In today's episode we'll be tackling all these questions and more! http://primalpotential.com/are-protein-shakes-healthy-4-things-to-know-before-you-buy

There is a legit problem that keeps many people from reaching their fat loss and fitness goals. Actually, there are two major problems: Making excusesLying about our options to make ourselves feel better.I know, that sounds strong. But we're so used to telling ourselves that we're "doing our best" and we don't ever really stop to consider whether or not that's even true. 99% of the time it is not true. Not even close to true. If you want to make progress, if you want to break out of the cycle of self-sabotage, if you want to bridge the gap between knowing what you need to do and actually doing it, you've got to stop making excuses. In today's episode we're going to talk about specific strategies to help you break out of this cycle of unconscious self-sabotage so you can stop making excuses & start getting results. http://primalpotential.com/minisode-how-to-stop-making-excuses/

There is a frightening amount of misinformation about fiber, constipation and general health. Much of what we've been told about fiber has come from processed food marketing efforts and irresponsible (misleading) science. In today's episode I am going to bust many of these myths and share 7 facts about fiber, most of which will probably surprise you. Here's a little hint: increasing fiber is likely to make constipation even worse! I am completely determined to bust these myths that hold us back from our goals even when we have the best intentions! If you want more of this kind of info (including my free carb strategies for fat loss cheat sheet), let's connect ASAP! Click here to hear more of my tips & suggestions! I want to help you accelerate your results NOW. http://primalpotential.com/fiber-and-constipation

In today's Q&A podcast we're talking about how to get out of a mental funk & what to do on days where you wake up feeling unmotivated, frustrated or just down. Plus, we answer questions about tracking, what it really means (and doesn't mean) for foods to love you back, which sweeteners are most fat loss friendly & a good bit more! http://primalpotential.com/how-to-get-out-of-a-mental-funk/

This is probably the single most tactical episode of the Primal Potential podcast to date. If you encounter a recurring problem at work or at home, you know the steps to fix it, right? Typically, you document them. When the problem arises, you follow the steps. If your hot water stops working, you don't freak out about never having hot water again and not knowing what to do. You know the steps. Check the pilot light, etc. But we tend to lack that strategic thinking when it comes to food and fat loss. In today's episode, I will help you create your own Standard Operating Procedure for how to bounce back after a rough day, weekend or month. http://primalpotential.com/minisode-how-to-bounce-back/

The other day I posted a quiz to determine whether or not you are carb sensitive. Get this: more than 85% of you indicated that you're struggling with carb cravings! Whoa. It does not have to be that way. Seriously. Cravings are not a required part of normal life. There are specific strategies you can implement to reduce, if not completely eliminate, cravings for sweets. In today's episode, I'm going to explain why you experience them to begin with and 8 ways to eliminate cravings for good. Not only that, I'm going to give you access to a worksheet you can use to understand your own cravings to accelerate your progress in banishing them. Let's dive in. http://primalpotential.com/8-ways-to-eliminate-cravings/

Today we're going to look at alkaline diets and the theories behind them. We'll establish what is true, what is not true and how these concepts should influence the choices you make. We'll take a closer look at what foods leave behind acidic biproducts and those that do not. Should you emphasize more alkaline foods? Should you avoid acidic foods? We'll cover it all. http://primalpotential.com/alkaline-diets/

Did you know that more than half of annual weight gain is put on during the holiday season? And most individuals don't take it off after the holidays are over? This makes holiday success strategies absolutely critical! Do not have this holiday season be like all the ones past! There's a better approach! Many people write off the entire holiday season and feel like progress isn't possible with the frequency of treats, parties and special occasions. I have to disagree. In today's episode I'm going to discuss 6 holiday success strategies that will allow you to enjoy the things you love and still feel great at the end of each day and at the end of the year. I'll also share 2 of my own holiday recipes as well as a collection from others! http://primalpotential.com/6-holiday-success-strategies/

Woah! I am FIRED UP in this episode!!!!! I want to pop in for a very short episode that I hope you will find highly motivational. Maybe this is one you save and listen to each day to help you re-focus and stay true to your goals. STAND UP AND FIGHT! http://primalpotential.com/minisode-stand-up-and-fight/

We all understand that stress can work against us. We know that making good food choices can be harder when we're under stress. But we might not think about these 3 things that stop weight loss and are lesser-talked about causes of stress. See, we think of stress as mental and emotional. But there are 3 very specific things that might be stopping your weight loss by causing stress you don't even feel! We'll talk in detail about these three things and then go into 6 strategies you can implement TODAY to get back on track and start seeing the results you want. http://primalpotential.com/3-things-that-stop-weight-loss/

I love answering your questions! Today we're tackling a bunch of them including my thoughts on how to manage hunger and cravings, how to get back on track after a binge, hormone free yogurt and other dairy products, whether or not breakfast is important for fat loss and more! If you have questions, please send them to me! I will answering you publicly or privately! Seriously. There is no need to feel stuck or uncertain. I want to help. Let's kill two birds with one stone, yeah? (That's such a violent phrase, huh? Haha). Anyways, hop on the free VIP email list and respond to the email that contains your fat loss strategies cheat sheet and let me know how I can help YOU. Seriously. I want to help YOU. So let's do that now, ok? http://primalpotential.com/how-to-manage-hunger-and-cravings/

If you are thinking, "I don't have time for a morning routine" then you are precisely the person who needs to listen to this episode on creating a morning routine. Before you poo-poo the idea, ask yourself this: "Who am I to suggest they aren't valuable when pretty much all of the most successful people in the world have deliberate morning routines? Might I have something to gain from being open-minded about this?" In today's episode we'll be talking about what you stand to gain from a morning routine, how to get started, the essential elements and much more. Plus, if you want to see MY morning routine and my personaly daily affirmations, text the world MORNING to the number 44-222. http://primalpotential.com/creating-a-morning-routine/

Recently, the World Health Organization decreed that bacon & processed meats contain carcinogens and classified both in the same risk category as tobacco and asbestos. Of course, this has raised a lot of questions and triggered alarm in bacon lovers across the world. But is it true? Does bacon cause cancer? There's a lot more to this story and I want to take the time today to go through some of the fine points and establish the bottom line. http://primalpotential.com/does-bacon-cause-cancer/