Made For Living Well

The gut has become a hot topic for debate, especially when we talk about how to restore healthy gut flora. In this post I wanted you to know why I stopped taking a probiotic and how my gut health is better than ever. Yet, I know this is an area of contention for many with different ideas, views, and thoughts on how we can do this. This is also why we have the influx of probiotic and prebiotic rich foods and supplements on the market. Think kimchi, kombucha, resistant starch and yogurt for days. The question; are these foods and supplements doing any good? How do we fix our gut for good? On today's podcast, we uncover the world of probiotics and prebiotics. Why your probiotic may be a waste of money and natural ways to fix your GI system including the one product I stand behind that isn't a probiotic. Listen to the show to get the full breakdown of everything you need to know about probiotics, prebiotics, resistant starch and healing your gut forever. Learn more: https://simplerootswellness.com/050

Slowing down and success generally aren't found in the same sentence. The way of the world seems to be, do more - be more, work longer, work harder and just hustle. While I'm not saying that we shouldn't be doing any of those, I think we must also consider why slowing down could be your key to success. On todays podcast episode we uncover why nothing seems to be working, even though you are doing everything right. We also talk about what under-eating and over exercising are doing to our bodies. Finally, we uncover the simple solution, rest based living. Listen now to learn ten ways to practice rest based living and transform your body starting today. Learn more: https://simplerootswellness.com/049

Join Alexa as she takes you inside her morning routine and shares with you some of the things she's enjoying the most right now. Learn more: https://simplerootswellness.com/048

The question heard around the world, how do we balance hormones? Hormones have been the villain for years. Now more than ever, we have a hormonal epidemic on our hands. From irregular periods, PMS, early menopause, hot-flashes, low-libido, erectile dysfunction, depression, anxiety, PCOS, endometriosis, joint issues, and countless others, we have a real issue going on. While traditional medicine takes you on a very narrow journey of trying to mask all of these things with a simple daily pill or cream there are other ways that actually work to fix the root. In the end to create an even harmony of your body doing the job it was designed. Now I'm not saying that modern medicine isn't working, for some, it is working quite well. In other situations we need it. But outside of that, the solution has been only one your doctors can prescribe. But today we're going to learn about the treatment you don't have to sit around and wait for but things you can do today to find relief. On this podcast, we go in-depth to five natural ways to balance hormones starting today. Learn more: https://simplerootswellness.com/047

Feel like you're doing everything right and still not losing weight? Well, you're not alone. But that probably doesn't help, knowing you're drowning in this sea of negativity simply because you do everything right and still can't get your weight to budge. Today I want to uncover 3 reasons you're not losing weight even though you're doing everything right. On today's podcast, I also give you five things you could change in order to see the scale start to move, but more importantly than just pounds being lost a whole new weight being released from your mental state. Listen to the full explanation of why you're not losing weight and five realistic things to do about it. Learn more: https://simplerootswellness.com/046

Metabolism is the sum total of all chemical reactions that are going on in your body on any given day. It this the machine that runs homeostasis. There is a lot of chatter about metabolism including; metabolism slowing down with age and wrecking your life just to name a few. While we can talk about metabolism and weight {because everyone wants to know} we first need to acknowledge how to reset your metabolism. We need to understand how to get your metabolism unjammed and working smoothly. In this post, we're going to learn 4 ways to reset your metabolism. To learn the four ways as well as five metabolic killers and what you need to do today for your metabolism, then listen to this podcast I recorded with leading Metabolic Expert Dr. Jade Teta. Learn more: https://simplerootswellness.com/045

If we're honest with ourselves goal setting, resolution making and planning are often times just great thoughts. In my own life I've experienced this on one too many occasions. Spending hours planning but never following through with the plan. Or better yet, setting unrealistic expectations (a.k.a. goals) that will never have a possibility of getting met. Last year was a great example. I was going to conquer the world. Okay, maybe not the world, but I had set some pretty high goals that weren't necessarily unrealistic. I had ultimately set an expectation that this was going to be my year. I even bought a shirt that said those exact words, this was my year (because that makes if official). Yet not two weeks into the new year my life began to crumble around me. It happened slowly at first but quickly started compounding until I found myself nearly breathless and hopeless in a heap on my bathroom floor sobbing. From there I spent one too many months in this heap of hopelessness questioning my purpose. Wondering how and if I would ever move beyond this point and seeking but never managing to find joy. I was broken, shaken and beat down. I've recorded a podcast (along with my friend and mentor Mikaela Kate) to help you walk through this journey. To get your life back even when nothing seems to go as planned. It starts with emotion, with knowing and feeling where you've come from and creating a vision and an emotion for where you want to go. This is how you meet your dreams. This is how you find success. It's not through good intentions. It's through purposely living. Doing everything with a purpose. Listen to the podcast and get my own story, my redemption story, and the initial steps you can also take to get your life back. Learn more: https://simplerootswellness.com/044

There is a new era of health upon us and it is looking up. We've been plagued the last few years by disease and a decreasing length of life. But we have had enough. The health trends for 2017 predict that there is a new wave of hunger on the horizon and it doesn't involve cravings but rather true health and self awareness. The tide is turning and gone are the days of restriction, starvation and rules. I can't be more excited for what's ahead. You can find all of the health trends for 2017 here. Learn more: https://simplerootswellness.com/043

Who knew that writing, yes the physical act of taking pen to paper could affect your health in such profound ways. If you're questioning what I'm even saying, then you'll want to listen to this episode and learn why our paperless society could be making you sick and fat. It's simple changes like going back to paper, at least some of the time, that could make all of the difference. Learn more: https://simplerootswellness.com/042

So many of us are really good at dieting. Yet, we know that long-term statistically all diets fail. But why? Maybe there is an aspect that you are really good at dieting but really bad at living life. Living life is the critical element that we can't forget. In this episode, we'll dive into weight, emotional eating, dieting and the perfect way we should be eating. Learn more: https://simplerootswellness.com/041

It's the lightened up episode where Alexa fills you in on all of her favorite things that keep her healthy and loving life. She even shares a bit of her own health journey and what she is doing to overcome that and what she's looking forward to this Christmas season. Learn more: https://simplerootswellness.com/040

Listen to the story, the heart and the passion behind creating a physical, printed project. It's the full story from the heart, the passion, the vision and how it all came together in perfect timing. The Nourished Planner has a lot to offer and I know you'll learn so much from listening to the full story with co-founder Heidi Larson. Learn more: https://simplerootswellness.com/039

I don't know anyone who doesn't want to stay healthy this holiday season, yet at the expense of what? Restriction, deprivation, and starvation. The three words no one wants to talk about when all of the Holiday gatherings tend to involve food. Here is a list of 5 realistic tips to stay healthy through the holidays while still enjoying delicious food with good company. Learn more: https://simplerootswellness.com/038

Candida is becoming a common phrase in today's society. Yet there is great controversy on the actual recommendations for curing candida. Here we get to the bottom and learn what candida really is, what's more common and how to treat it in a matter of weeks. Learn more: https://simplerootswellness.com/037

There is only one commodity we can't get more of, that is time. So instead of fretting about how much or how little time you have, lets just start embracing time and truly live life by learning how to get more done in less time. Learn more: https://simplerootswellness.com/036

We like to believe that only diet and exercise matter. And the more we do and the little we eat the thinner we get. Fortunately, there's a better way to lose weight but it means working with your own specific genome and creating an environment for rest. Find out if your bedroom could be making you sick and what sleep has to do with weight anyways with leading sleep expert, Dr. Michael Breus. Learn more: https://simplerootswellness.com/035

If we are honest with ourselves, life rarely goes as planned. For good or bad there is a lot of broken expectations. But our actions through these broken expectations determine our joy. This show is all about learning to love the life you didn't choose. Of finding joy through it all. Learn more: https://simplerootswellness.com/034

It's the lightened up episode where Alexa fills you in on all of her favorite things that keep her healthy and loving life. She even shares a bit of her own health journey and what she is doing to overcome that. Learn more: https://simplerootswellness.com/033

There are so many shiny gimmicks and tricks to get you to lose weight these days. But do any of them work and how good are they for your health? Follow along as I fill you in on the five ways your diet is ruining your life and the first step in getting it back. Learn more: https://simplerootswellness.com/032

What if what we knew about water and hydration were false? What if those 'water rules' were actually doing more harm than good. You may be surprised to learn that pure H2O is not a hydrating beverage and in excess can actually cause harm to your GI tract and hormonal flow. It could be the cause of the plateau you may find yourself in. In this episode we'll uncover the truth about hydration and how to do it right. Learn more: https://simplerootswellness.com/031

Just like our personality, we are all different types of sleepers. We have different chronotypes. But what if just knowing what chronotype you are and living based off of your inherent needs changed everything in your life. What if when you sleep to make you more productive, successful, a better spouse, parent, child, student, and worker? What if it were really as easy as determining your sleep needs and knowing when you work best? Check this podcast out to learn from the leading natural sleep expert Dr. Michael Breus. Learn more: https://simplerootswellness.com/030

There is a lot of controversy when it comes to how many meals a day we should eat verses snacks creating excess confusion. In this episode we'll take a deep yet simplistic look at when and how often we should eat to answer the question is snacking healthy. Learn more: https://simplerootswellness.com/029

From acne to headaches, cramps, missed periods and even serious conditions like PCOS we're often told just take birth control. Hormonal contraceptives have become the norm, the standard in masking symptoms, helping you to feel as normal (or masculine) as possible. Yet, there is something missing, more we need to know to make the most informed choices possible. Check out this episode on hormonal contraceptives, vasectomies, natural family planning, regulating hormones naturally and so much more. Learn more: https://simplerootswellness.com/028

There is a big disconnect in the world when it comes to food and agriculture. In fact, some don't even know how or where their food is grown. And that is no different when we look at meat. We hear about grass-fed meats but don't really understand the difference. This episode uncovers the science and respect for agriculture when we specifically look at animal production. Learn more: https://simplerootswellness.com/027

Life is hectic and overwhelming. Most days you wonder how you could possibly make time for cooking, yet you still want health. In this show we'll dive into my secrets on what to cook when you don't feel like cooking anything. You'll also get top five go-to meal ideas. Its time to simplify meal planning. Learn more: https://simplerootswellness.com/026

We're often looking for the perfect way to lose weight and gain health. A pill, a diet, a set of rules yet those things are only fleeting. Instead we miss the only way to achieve these things and that is through you. Fully knowing and understanding you and why you want it. It's about taking ownership and that is exactly what you'll find in this episode. Learn more: https://simplerootswellness.com/025

The mentality of health is tricky. Its easy to focus on nutrition and exercise alone but what if we're missing the real answer in doing this? In working so hard for things that are secondary to the truth that will set your health free? It's the foundation of health and that is your mentality. The choices you make and what labels you place on yourself. This episode is on the one thing you must stop doing for your health. Learn more: https://simplerootswellness.com/024

Alexa's husband Payton and sister Whitney tell all the secrets about Alexa and her true health antics. You'll learn what a nutritionist really eats and how she deals with her un-cooperative family. This is Alexa exposed. Learn more: https://simplerootswellness.com/023

I can remember walking to the swimming pool on a sunny May day in 7th grade. In lines, hanging out with friends who would have been the popular crowd. Although I always teetered on the edge of that. Mostly hanging in there because we had been friends before we defined popular by looks. So as you can guess I wasn't the prettiest of my friends nor was I a stand out in really anything I did. I was just mediocre. But I was content and happy with who I was. I definitely followed a crowd more than I should have, as my personality is really to go against the grain. But owning that came later in life. So there I was, walking with the "in-crowd," trying to fit in when out of nowhere I had my first realization that I was more mediocre than I had thought. I can hear it just like it happened today, Thunder thighs, Alexa has thunder thighs. Heart stops. What? Am I hearing this, thunder thighs, thunder thighs, thunder thighs? Over and over and over, I couldn't' stop hearing it. At that moment, the first moment I began getting defined by looks. Heart-wrenching and heartbreaking is what it is. For the hold that had on me for longer than it should. I never verbalized it, for the shame of that, but obviously, it never left. Those words clung to me and began the spiral of lies that I wasn't enough. Fortunately, something bigger was planned for my life and somewhere along the way I mustered the strength to move beyond that, yet it still defines a part of my journey. Yet it wasn't until I was able to accept that, to deal with the hurt and fully move beyond that that I was truly able to blossom into a greater value and respect for myself, regardless of how large my thighs were. Yes, getting dressed on a warm summer day I still consider hiding my thighs in black leggings or jeans, dreading shorts will cause other people to judge the very thing that began my spiral of self-defeating lies. But now I know better, I know I'm worthy of more, that even in my darkest days my thighs don't define me, I'm not controlled by a number and instead, I choose to respect and value even when it's hard. But getting here is all about the journey. Of knowing, accepting and moving on for the past and choosing something better. Of letting go of what and how everyone else has defined you and fully living for who you are. And today on the show there is a very wise friend and mentor who is full of wisdom, a past and someone who will ignite your future. It's bright I can tell you that so now will you choose to use your force, the wellness force inside of you to live for something bigger? Learn more: https://simplerootswellness.com/022

Raising healthy eaters is a battle. But do we make it more of one than it needs to be? What if raising healthy eaters meant letting go, becoming a good negotiator and really fostering their own eating cues and patterns? It's not as rigid or strict as we've made it out to be. In fact, feeding your kids can be a pleasant experience. Learn how and exactly what in this episode. Learn more: https://simplerootswellness.com/021

In today's show you will learn: What intuitive eating means How our food preferences develop Why removing emotion from a child's eating is key Why you shouldn't expect your kids to eat anything that you won't The importance of using experiences as a reward instead of food Why you should never force your kid to eat when they don't want to What our role as parents is and how we can shape our children's intuitive eating principles Why my husband still won't eat his peas How to get your kids to think about the food choices they are making How we've taught our oldest daughter to connect the food she eats to how she feels Learn more: https://simplerootswellness.com/020

Expectations have a way of wreaking havoc on life. It can really suck the joy out of all things. I say this knowing full well what living in a life full of expectations can do. The problem was for the longest time I never realized that expectations were the root of a lot of arguments, anger, and let-downs. I truly believed that expectations were, well expected in this life. I mean it's kind of ingrained in us from the time we were little ones. There's no escaping it, from expecting our children to behave well, to expect to get paid on time, to expecting everything in your day to go perfectly planned or how about expecting to lose weight on your next "diet". And the list continues. But what happens when reality strikes, your kids fall apart, your paycheck comes in a few days late or you get stuck in traffic only to be late for your 8:00 am meeting? You become reactive. In my case, reactive means angry, distraught and anxious about the realities that have actually happened that seem to be far from what I expected. Maybe it's the fantasy land we create or believe others are living simply because of the perfection of social media. Maybe it is just a human tendency to want to be right. I'm not really sure where the urge to create unending expectations comes in but the reality, they're sabotaging our chances of actually getting what we've set out to get, of meeting our goals. So before you get into today's episode on preventing expectations and all of the reasons you should change it up and forget them I want to ask you, are your expectations met? What happens when they aren't? How does it make you feel and why do you even make them? Just a little light thinking for you ;) Learn more: https://simplerootswellness.com/019

This episode is very near and dear to my heart. It's my personal story of hitting my lowest of lows and through that learning, growing and transforming myself and Simple Roots with a new direction. I'll take you on a journey of finding myself and fully believing in something bigger than me and my recommended steps for you to write your own story. Learn more: https://simplerootswellness.com/018

You asked and I delivered. In this bonus episode I will give you advice, tips, tricks and hacks on how to get the most vibrant and youthful skin. From why birth control pills work, the alternatives, balancing hormones for clear skin, my favorite beauty products and more.

Our mouth is one of the most overlooked and under-appreciated systems of the body. But if we dig further we can see just how vital the mouth is. If you thought dentistry was just about cleanings and fillings you're going to want to tune in. Learn more: https://simplerootswellness.com/017

One transformation story of a self-sabotaging young girl turned fitness model who experienced rejection over 40 times before realizing what it takes to succeed in life. It's an episode to showcase that if you struggle with shame and lack of confidence, you are not alone. That even cover models have been through it, experience it and yet no matter who you are there are simple ways to overcome this. Find out more in this deep and meaningful episode with Lori Harder. Learn more: https://simplerootswellness.com/016

Here's what you'll learn in episode #015 of Simple Roots Radio: The role of the skin to our body. The gut-brain-skin axis. How much our skin absorbs. How our hormones affect our skin. How to eat to regulate our hormones and even out our skin. The skin as a detoxification pathway. The skin microbiome and its benefit. The impact that cosmetics and other beauty products are having on our hormones. How to tell the difference between safe and unsafe beauty products. The action you can take today for healthier skin tomorrow. Learn more: https://simplerootswellness.com/015

There are those times in your life where you feel like your reality just gets slapped across your face. Mostly because I like to keep myself too busy to notice the obvious, especially when the obvious is hard. Alli's book was handed to me in one of those moments. One of those seasons where I was drowning in everything from the endless amount of e-mails in my inbox, to school snacks that I kept forgetting, mounds of laundry (we're talking like an entire pack-n-play full (which makes a rather nice clothes basket) and twenty different projects I said yes to, eighteen of which I was regretting. Fortunately, it wasn't an angry moment when my sister handed me this book and declared the entire family was going to read it. I actually looked at the title and started salvaging because I knew my life was mass chaos. No beautiful mess here, just grimy, icky, horrible mess. As I dug into the book, I couldn't put it down. It was as if she was speaking to me word by word, page by page. I needed it, I soaked it in and I wished for more when it was over so I just read it again. My life was far beyond busy and I had reached every end of overcapacity. I realized I was a hypocrite a liar and that was just getting through the shell. Here I was someone promoting and posting to the world advice that I wished I could take but knew I didn't have the means to. I mean the laundry never ends, looking for work never ends, the to-do list is never, ever gone. I surely couldn't break free of busyness but I wanted everyone else to because I knew the damage. But I hit the pit. What seemed like a bottomless pit of shame, guilt and still a never-ending to-do list was pretty rocky. I got bruised and battered on the way down but looking back it was exactly the jolt I needed to get my head back above water and breathe. What started out as gasping for air has now just turned into a lot of daily deep breaths. And while I'd like to tell you I've broken free, I haven't yet. I'm still plagued with fear, worry, and anxiety about what is next, about letting go and ultimately missing out. Yet the other side of me recognizes and realizes and sees that in breaking busy I'm actually more free to be me. The journey never ends I'm sure but I'm hoping today's show will be the boost of encouragement you need to get rid of the things that hold you back and truly become the person you know you can be. Today's episode will rock your socks off! Learn more: https://simplerootswellness.com/014

Today we're fortunate to have one of my dearest friends on the show. My go-to for support, encouragement, and ramblings all things health and mom to six. Yes, six under the age of seven. I'd say that a child's eating patterns and habits are more than just a scientific talk but one of real and raw life and there's no better person than a mom who's birthed six different children, with different eating habits, patterns, and palates. Learn more: https://simplerootswellness.com/013

Being a mom isn't a glamorous job. While TV commercials and movies can make motherhood sappy, a fairytale and a dream, the reality it is far from it. While I can't explain the love you have for your child, through the good and the really, really bad, the truth being a mom has got to be the hardest job in all the world. It is the prefect storm of greatest thing in the world, yet biggest challenge. I hope that this special short episode brings you great joy as we head in to Mother's day this year. Moms, you are ENOUGH!

The mirror can be a frightening thing. It's unforgiving, never lies and speaks a lot of harm into many of our lives. And yet we look as if we are constantly drawn into looking at ourselves. With skeptical eyes and harsh judgements, we pick apart every flaw on our body wishing for something better. Yet, what is better? How is it defined? I think we all want something a little bit different but as standards show the lady on the cover of the next fitness magazine, well she will do. But have you wondered if you really ever did get to that point, then would you be happy? If we can get beyond the surface level of what our world is telling us will make us happy and truly understand what happiness is, is an image that? The very thing we need in order to be and live the life we want? Or is it fleeting, never enough? I think we all deep down know the truth. But hearing a story of one young beautiful soul who found herself wrapped up in her own cellulite or lack thereof and the need for image only to find something so much more. We all struggle with body image, but why? How can we learn to embrace it? You'll want to hear Maddy's story as we journey through her life from fitness model turned body loving advocate, bursting with passion to help you and love and embrace who you are regardless of what the mirror shows. Learn more: https://simplerootswellness.com/012

There are a lot of emotions attached to the scale or better yet the number that glares back at you when you step on the scale. Fear, anxiety, panic, dread, failure or on the other spectrum, excitement, success and joy. It's amazing that a cheap hunk of plastic from the store can attract so much emotion. In fact, it's one of the few overlooked things in our society that carries the weight of not just you but the emotional weight as well. So what happens when you look at the scale? Are you getting squirmish already? Maybe you don't even own a scale. I didn't have one for many years myself. I held my fist high in the pep rally to just toss the scale that happened a few years ago. To get rid of it, purge the very thing causing all of the pain. But I learned that this didn't help. It didn't help at all. You'll want to tune into this episode to find out why ditching the scale may not be the best answer and learn all the reasons you should actually make friends with it. Learn more: https://simplerootswellness.com/011

Life is about choices which boiled down even further can leave us feeling happy or angry and frustrated. But it's all a choice. Even in the midst of trials we still have the option to choose happiness. In this episode we are interviewing Trish Hughes from Eat Your Beets and she radiates happiness and will help us learn to live this out in our own life. Learn more: https://simplerootswellness.com/010

When we realize health is more than just a boxed plan we can understand that our own ability through strengths and weaknesses can make or break out health. It all boils down to self-awareness and having an understanding of what works for you. Learn more: https://simplerootswellness.com/009

It seems like such a weird question, but in todays episode I will talk about the importance of bowel movements and if it is actually okay to hold it in. It's a question that a lot of people have, but nobody talks about.

In this episode, we'll chat with Courtney Carver. Courtney is founder and author at Be More with Less. She is the creator of Project 333, a capsule wardrobe, which is a minimalist fashion project helping you to look and feel better with less. Her mission is to help you simplify your life and start to really live. She is completely amazing and has so much wisdom as she has completely transformed her life and helps the lives of thousands of others do the same thing. Courtney is one of those people who shines wisdom and I can't wait to see what she has to share with us today. Learn more: https://simplerootswellness.com/008

How do we burn fat? It's the age-old question that so many of us are still trying to answer. It's like the secret code that can't be cracked, until now. Yuri Elkaim has become known as the fat-burning expert and we'll uncover all of the fat-burning secrets in this episode. Learn more: https://simplerootswellness.com/007

We'll uncover the truth about the latest lemon water fad and if it has any basis to be a part of your morning routine.

There is one health strategy that everyone could be doing to enhance their health. The better news is that it doesn't take changing what you eat, just when. This episode gives you all the details on this life-changing secret. Learn more: https://simplerootswellness.com/006

In this bonus episode I talk about my motto for this year and why all of the little things we do add up to big things.