Each year, I review the Environmental Working Group’s Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce, because it helps me make wiser choices at the grocery store. While fruits and vegetables are essential for good health, not all produce carries the same level of pesticide exposure, and this is vital for us to understand.
You’re still dragging, even though technically you slept. Your stomach won’t settle, although you ate. Your chest feels tight, though you can breathe just fine. Your mind is foggy, except for the flood of memories—little flashes of hospital rooms, unanswered calls, holidays that don’t look the same. You’re not exactly sad—but something’s definitely wrong. You’re not “being dramatic.” This is grief in the body.
When we think about making changes for a healthier lifestyle, most of us probably consider diet and exercise. That was my focus for most of my adult life. I was all about burning calories and increasing muscle strength. Total transparency? My only concern was maintaining my weight—or losing weight. I grew up with an unhealthy body image (as many women do), and I had tunnel vision.
If you are a survivor of trauma or abuse, you may feel overwhelmed by your experiences. You may also be unsure of how to effectively cope with the intense anxiety, depression, or anger that intrudes into your heart and mind. Fortunately, there are many ways that you can learn to manage your emotions and develop healthy coping skills. These self-care strategies can help you feel more in control of your life. As you learn to process some of your intense emotions, you can begin to build your self-confidence and move beyond the trauma.
If sugar cravings keep pulling you back in—even after you’ve sworn them off—you’re not alone.
Many women try to quit sugar with good intentions, firm resolve, and a genuine desire for better
health. They clean out the pantry, follow a low-sugar or low-carb diet, and feel hopeful… until
the cravings return. Energy dips. Old habits resurface. And frustration sets in.
The assumption is often the same: If I were stronger, this wouldn’t keep happening.
But sugar cravings are not a character flaw. And they’re not a willpower problem. They’re a
signal—one that points to a deeper physiological and habitual pattern that keeps many women
stuck.