Holiday Hacks I Swear By (Midlife Edition)

The holidays have a way of sneaking up fast, don’t they? Between travel, gatherings, and one too many peppermint mochas, it’s easy to slip into “survival mode.” But here’s the truth: feeling good this season doesn’t require perfection, it just takes a plan that works for real life.

These are a few of my go-to holiday hacks that help me (and my clients) stay energized, enjoy the season, and feel good without restriction or burnout.

1 | Anchor Your Morning
How you start your day matters, especially when you know the next few weeks are about to be a blur. Starting with a protein-rich breakfast and a few minutes of movement helps regulate blood sugar, stabilize energy, and set the tone for better choices all day. Think eggs and veggies or a quick smoothie before the chaos begins. Your body will thank you.

2 | Pre-Decide Your Plate
Holiday meals can feel like an open invitation to “start over Monday.” Instead of winging it, decide ahead of time how you want to feel after the meal. Then build your plate intentionally: protein first, veggies second, and a side or treat that you’ll enjoy guilt-free. The science is simple -> prioritizing protein helps slow digestion and keeps your blood sugar steady, meaning fewer crashes and more calm after dinner.

3 | Hydrate Before You Celebrate
Dehydration is sneaky. It can look like fatigue, cravings, or even bloating...all things we blame on food. Before a party or big meal, drink a large glass of water with electrolytes if you have them. Proper hydration supports digestion and helps your body process both food and stress better.

4 | Default to a Walk
You don’t need a full workout routine to keep your body moving this season. A 10-minute walk after meals or first thing in the morning can help regulate blood sugar and calm the nervous system. It’s one of my favorite simple stress hacks - bonus points if you bring the dog or catch up with a friend.

The Bottom Line
When life gets busy, your body doesn’t need punishment, it needs rhythm. Once you learn how to fuel your body, move with purpose, and recover well, it becomes much easier to enjoy the season without feeling like you’re “starting over” in January. These are the exact strategies we practice inside the New Client Program, where we combine smart workouts, balanced nutrition, and real-life mindset tools to help you feel strong and in control no matter what the season brings.

Learn more here.

What “Feeling Off” Really Means and How to Fix It

Every so often, I hear the same phrase from women who’ve been “doing all the things”: “I just feel off.” They can’t always pinpoint why, but their body is sending clear signals that it needs a reset.

Here are five of the most common signs and a little of the science behind them.

1 | You wake up tired even after a full night’s sleep.
Quality sleep isn’t just about hours; it’s about hormone balance. When cortisol (your stress hormone) and melatonin (your sleep hormone) lose their rhythm, your body never fully powers down at night or powers up in the morning. Once you learn how to fuel your body and support your natural circadian rhythm through balanced nutrition, hydration, and recovery, mornings start to feel easier and more energized instead of foggy and sluggish.

2 | Afternoon cravings hit hard every single day.
This is often your blood sugar talking. When meals are carb-heavy or low in protein, blood sugar rises and crashes, triggering cravings. Once you understand how to build balanced meals with the right mix of protein, fiber, and healthy fats, your blood sugar levels even out and those 3 p.m. sugar hunts fade away.

3 | Workouts feel like punishment, not progress.
If every workout feels harder than it should, it’s not motivation you’re missing—it’s recovery and proper fueling. When you learn how to train strategically and eat to support your energy, your workouts become effective again instead of draining. That’s where smart strength training and recovery days make all the difference.

4 | You feel puffy or bloated more often than not.
Bloating, water retention, and inflammation can all point to stress or sluggish digestion. Once you learn how to eat whole foods that support gut health and hydration, and how to manage daily stress through movement and rest, that “puffy” feeling starts to settle down.

5 | You’ve lost consistency and can’t get back on track.
Sometimes it’s not about discipline, it’s about depletion. When hormones, sleep, and energy are off, willpower fades. Once you learn how to simplify your nutrition, workouts, and recovery, you can rebuild consistency that actually feels sustainable.

The takeaway
Your body is smart. These signs aren’t random, they’re messages that it needs support, not restriction. Once you learn how to fuel your body the right way, balance your macros, and move with intention, everything starts to shift. Energy improves. Cravings calm. Sleep deepens. You stop feeling like you’re constantly fighting your body and start feeling in sync with it again.

If you’re nodding along to more than one of these, it’s probably time for my 21-Day Reset, starting soon. This three-week coaching experience will help you reconnect to your body, reestablish healthy rhythms, and rebuild energy with whole food nutrition, mindful movement, and stress-smart strategies that work for the Peri-to-Post Wellness season.

Learn more here.

A Boston Weekend to Celebrate Us

Every year for our anniversary, we try to do something new - a little road trip, a city to explore, or an experience we’ve never had before. This year we headed to one of our favorite places, Boston, and it turned out to be the perfect mix of history, food, and fun.

We took the bus from Portsmouth, which was the best decision ever. No traffic stress, no parking hunt, and it dropped us South Station, just a quick Uber ride to the hotel. Everything we wanted to do was walkable, and when our feet finally protested, we called an Uber.

We stayed in Back Bay at the Marriott Copley Square, and thanks to Chris being a “super-duper” member, we got a sweet anniversary upgrade to a suite with a view of the Charles River. 

We started the morning at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and it was even more incredible than I expected. Isabella designed everything herself...every room, every view, and even the fourth floor, which was her private home. When she passed away, she willed that the museum remain exactly as she arranged it and be open to the public, with no labels on the artwork so visitors could simply enjoy it instead of feeling like they were in a stuffy museum. The beautiful palazzo-style courtyard blooms with flowers that change seasonally, so we’ll definitely be back to see it again. We saw incredible pieces like Rembrandt’s Self-Portrait, Ralphael's Portrait of the Tommaso Inghirami, the Pope's Librarian, a stunning painting of Isabella herself, her private chapel still in use for Mass once a year on her birthday April 14, and intricate tapestries. It’s a museum  that completely pulls you in - part history, part art, part wonder.

That afternoon, we headed to Fenway Park for a behind-the-scenes tour. It's amazing how tightly tucked into the city grid this ballpark is. We learned about the Green Monster towering 37' over left field and sat in the exclusive seats on top of it. We sat in some of the original wooded seats in section 32, visited the rooftop garden, and gazed down at the famous red seat marking Ted Williams’ record-breaking home run. We even peeked into the press box and the private Rooters Club. Such a fun tour!

The next morning, we toured the Boston Public Library - the first public library in the U.S. From the marble staircase guarded by the lion sculptures, to the murals and quiet beauty of Bates Hall, it’s absolutely stunning. We spent time enjoying the courtyard before heading back out into the city. 

In between, we wandered around Copley Square, stopped at Trinity Church, and visited the Boston Marathon Memorial on Boylston Street. We also made our way over to the Christian Science Plaza and Reflecting Pool - peaceful, reflective, and so beautiful in person.

Boston’s food scene didn’t disappoint.

• Boston Burger Company (Boylston St) — amazing burgers and sweet potato fries, and I had a berry spritzer that came with Swedish fish at the bottom.

• LUCIE drink + dine (Huntington Ave) — delicious meatball appetizer and pizza, plus top-notch service. We learned it’s actually part of The Colonnade Hotel.

• Brownstone (Dartmouth St) — my favorite! Cider donut holes to start, sourdough French toast for me, corned beef hash for Chris. We sat by the open windows, the service was wonderful, and they even acknowledged our anniversary from our reservation note.

Everywhere we went, the service was incredible — from restaurant servers to Uber drivers to the taxi driver who took us back to South Station for our bus ride home. Boston has some of the friendliest people we’ve met.

We ended our trip just walking around Newbury Street, window shopping and making plans for what we’ll do next time. 

How to Change Your Health in 21 Days

What if I told you it only takes 3 weeks to start feeling like yourself again?

Most women I work with come to me saying the same things:

• “I’ve tried everything but nothing works anymore.”

• “My energy is gone, and I can’t figure out why.”

• “The holidays throw me off every single year.”

I get it. Life is busy. Long programs feel overwhelming. And the thought of committing to one more thing can feel impossible.

But here’s the good news: 21 days is all it takes to start shifting your energy, hormones, and metabolism in the right direction.

Why 21 Days Works

✅ Short enough to stay consistent, even in a busy season.
✅ Long enough to see real changes in how you feel.
✅ The perfect “reset button” if you’ve been stuck, tired, or frustrated.

With the right strategy, you can:

• Eat in a way that works with your hormones (no starving or cutting out foods you love)

• Do short, effective workouts that build strength and burn fat

• Reset your metabolism so you feel energized instead of sluggish

Here’s the Teaser…

This fall, I’m offering something brand new: the FASTer Way 21-Day Reset. It’s designed exactly for women who want a simple, doable plan to feel their best—without waiting until January.

👉 We kick off October 13.

If you’ve been curious about coaching with me, this is your perfect entry point.

Our Newport Tradition: A Weekend with Family

Newport has been part of my husband’s story since he was a kid. His dad worked on the Naval Base there, and it’s where he first fell in love with the ocean and sailing. Years later, before we were even married, he took me to Newport for the first time. I understood instantly why he loved it so much. Now it’s our tradition - every summer we find a way to return, sometimes more than once.

This year we went after Labor Day, which locals call “Locals' Summer.” It’s when the tourists thin out and the town feels like itself again. Lines are shorter, traffic eases, and even big parties (like our group of six, including the kids and Frankie) can get tables without the usual wait.

Chris and I drove down Friday morning and stopped in Jamestown for brunch at JB’s on the Water, a place new to us. We sat outside in the warm sun, I ordered coconut shrimp with rice, and he had a sandwich. Jamestown is just across the bridge from Newport - quiet, peaceful, and a nice way to start the trip before diving into the busier pace of Aquidneck Island.

Once in Newport, we settled into what we always do: soaking it in. We scored Adirondack chairs on The Lawn at Cliff House. It's always a treat because of the iconic views and chill vibe. Frankie ran around exploring while we took turns chasing him. It felt like vacation mode officially started.

Meals were easy to plan this time (one of the perks of being there post-Labor Day). We spread out with plenty of elbow room at Bar & Board Bistro, no wait at Belle’s Café, and quick seating at Mother Pizzeria. For anyone planning a trip, you would definitely need to make reservations in July or August. 

We stopped at the little Hope Chapel on base, where Chris and I were married, which is always special. Then we did some shopping at the Exchange (new sneakers for both of us) and downtown, where I finally picked up a new Newport hat. One highlight was the colorful Umbrella Sky Project installation at Brick Market, worth a stroll and a photo. And of course, we couldn’t skip a Del’s lemonade and a stop at Kilwin’s for ice cream.

Some of the best moments, though, weren’t on any official itinerary. Just hanging out on Hammetts Wharf or Bowen's Wharf, chatting, watching the boats, and enjoying the view reminded me that it’s the simplest parts of a trip that often end up being the most memorable.

And because Newport always calls us back to the water, we booked a ride on the Rum Runner again. We first did it five years ago, and this time we chose the Lighthouse & Coastal Tour. It was just as magical. We cruised past Newport Harbor Light, Castle Hill Lighthouse, Castle Hill Inn, Rose Island, and more. The views, the breeze, the history...there’s no better way to see Newport than from the water.

By the time we wrapped up the weekend, it felt like we’d hit all the essentials: family time, good food, a little shopping, ocean breezes, and those Newport-only treats that keep us coming back year after year. Newport is always worth the trip, but in September, it feels a little extra special, like the town is letting you in on a secret once the crowds head home.