Podcast

How Telling Yourself “I Deserve…” is Causing You to Gain Weight

SHOW NOTES: Episode 39

“I deserve some ______________”

How do you feel in the blank?

Ice cream, donuts, chocolate cake, a bag of chips, a big bowl of pasta?

When do you tell yourself this?

After a long day at work?  After you put the kids to bed?  After dealing with “those people” at church, the grocery store, the ballpark, etc?

Well… this way of thinking is causing you to gain weight, my friend.

And it’s time to stop the excuses and start losing the weight you say you want to want to lose and finally feel good in your skin!

Instead, let’s talk about what you really DO deserve! (And it isn’t to continue feeling the way you do right now)

Check out today’s episode.

Thank you for tuning in! I’d love to chat more about this and any other nutrition questions you have over on Instagram (@rachelmeigsking)!

In this episode, we cover:

  • The “I Deserve This” mentality 
  • Emotional eating
  • How to give yourself what you truly deserve and lose weight once and for all

LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN TODAY’S EPISODE:

  • Interested in joining A Body of Grace 12 week program? Book a call here
  • Follow A Body of Grace on Instagram: @abodyofgrace
  • Connect with me on Instagram: @rachelmeigsking
  • Want your official Caffeine, Protein, & Jesus merchandise? Shop here and use the code “BODYOFGRACE” at checkout.
  • Subscribe to Amanda’s YouTube channel
  • Want healthy lifestyle tips and encouragement? Join me over in my free Facebook community: Encouraging Christian Weight Loss

MORE ABOUT FEED YOURSELF: HEALTHY HABITS FOR THE MIND, BODY, & SOUL PODCAST:

Feed Yourself: Healthy Habits for the Mind, Body, & Soul is all about learning the key components of overall health based on Biblical principles. When most people think about getting in shape and becoming “healthy”, they immediately think about their physical health: losing weight, making exercise a priority, possessing flexibility and endurance, and remaining disease free. But Scripture makes it clear that physical wellness is not the only area that impacts health. In order to be TRULY healthy, we have to focus on four areas: spiritual health, emotional health, mental health, and physical health. 

This podcast dives deep into the tools and head knowledge you will need in order to create lasting results, but it also looks at the element that truly ties it all together – the heart knowledge that incorporates faith in God in this area of our lives and how to apply it when things get tough (and they will!).

I wanted to create a space to let you know you are never alone on this journey. Through years of experience in doing everything the WRONG way, I am here to share my journey of getting healthy from the inside out – ditching the restriction and diet culture and truly learning to treat my body as the temple God intended it to be. 

Grab a cup of coffee and join me as I discuss healthy habits to incorporate in your daily life to propel you forward and FEED YOURSELF on your journey to health in all areas: mind, body, and soul!

Podcast

The Stages of Weight Loss {What Diet Experts Don’t Tell You}

SHOW NOTES: Episode 38

It’s time to tackle the myth that weight loss is linear.  

When you start losing weight, it actually doesn’t go down at a nice steady pace. Weight loss is a rollercoaster. The better prepared you are for the ride, the more you will enjoy it and stick with it.

On today’s show, Amanda Kaldor and I break down the stages of weight loss, including the ones where most women quit and why those stages are actually the WORST times to do so.

Check out today’s episode.

Thank you for tuning in! I’d love to chat more about this and any other nutrition questions you have over on Instagram (@rachelmeigsking)!

In this episode, we cover:

  • The stages of weight loss
  • Weight loss is not linear
  • Why you shouldn’t give up during a weight loss “plateau”

LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN TODAY’S EPISODE:

  • Interested in joining A Body of Grace 12 week program? Book a call here
  • Follow A Body of Grace on Instagram: @abodyofgrace
  • Connect with me on Instagram: @rachelmeigsking
  • Want your official Caffeine, Protein, & Jesus merchandise? Shop here and use the code “BODYOFGRACE” at checkout.
  • Subscribe to Amanda’s YouTube channel
  • Want healthy lifestyle tips and encouragement? Join me over in my free Facebook community: Encouraging Christian Weight Loss

MORE ABOUT FEED YOURSELF: HEALTHY HABITS FOR THE MIND, BODY, & SOUL PODCAST:

Feed Yourself: Healthy Habits for the Mind, Body, & Soul is all about learning the key components of overall health based on Biblical principles. When most people think about getting in shape and becoming “healthy”, they immediately think about their physical health: losing weight, making exercise a priority, possessing flexibility and endurance, and remaining disease free. But Scripture makes it clear that physical wellness is not the only area that impacts health. In order to be TRULY healthy, we have to focus on four areas: spiritual health, emotional health, mental health, and physical health. 

This podcast dives deep into the tools and head knowledge you will need in order to create lasting results, but it also looks at the element that truly ties it all together – the heart knowledge that incorporates faith in God in this area of our lives and how to apply it when things get tough (and they will!).

I wanted to create a space to let you know you are never alone on this journey. Through years of experience in doing everything the WRONG way, I am here to share my journey of getting healthy from the inside out – ditching the restriction and diet culture and truly learning to treat my body as the temple God intended it to be. 

Grab a cup of coffee and join me as I discuss healthy habits to incorporate in your daily life to propel you forward and FEED YOURSELF on your journey to health in all areas: mind, body, and soul!

Podcast

A Body of Grace

SHOW NOTES: Episode 37

On today’s episode, I am officially announcing something exciting that has been going on behind the scenes! 

My good friend and business partner, Amanda, and I have created a brand new program called A Body of Grace. It’s been a wild ride, but so fun, and we are truly more excited than ever to work with our clients and watch their transformations unfold. This program is a 12 week program, and it is designed for women over the age of 35 that want to lose weight and feel confident inside and out without extreme measures. 

In this 12 week transformative program, you get the tools you need to reset your body back to God’s design for your life and feel great once again.

So is this program right for you and how to join? 

Check out today’s episode.

Thank you for tuning in! I’d love to chat more about this and any other nutrition questions you have over on Instagram (@rachelmeigsking)!

In this episode, we cover:

  • Losing weight without extreme measures
  • Pushing through discomfort to find true transformation
  • A Body of Grace

LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN TODAY’S EPISODE:

  • Interested in joining A Body of Grace 12 week program? Book a call here
  • Follow A Body of Grace on Instagram: @abodyofgrace
  • Connect with me on Instagram: @rachelmeigsking
  • Want your official Caffeine, Protein, & Jesus merchandise? Shop here and use the code “BODYOFGRACE” at checkout.
  • Want healthy lifestyle tips and encouragement? Join me over in my free Facebook community: Encouraging Christian Weight Loss

MORE ABOUT FEED YOURSELF: HEALTHY HABITS FOR THE MIND, BODY, & SOUL PODCAST:

Feed Yourself: Healthy Habits for the Mind, Body, & Soul is all about learning the key components of overall health based on Biblical principles. When most people think about getting in shape and becoming “healthy”, they immediately think about their physical health: losing weight, making exercise a priority, possessing flexibility and endurance, and remaining disease free. But Scripture makes it clear that physical wellness is not the only area that impacts health. In order to be TRULY healthy, we have to focus on four areas: spiritual health, emotional health, mental health, and physical health. 

This podcast dives deep into the tools and head knowledge you will need in order to create lasting results, but it also looks at the element that truly ties it all together – the heart knowledge that incorporates faith in God in this area of our lives and how to apply it when things get tough (and they will!).

I wanted to create a space to let you know you are never alone on this journey. Through years of experience in doing everything the WRONG way, I am here to share my journey of getting healthy from the inside out – ditching the restriction and diet culture and truly learning to treat my body as the temple God intended it to be. 

Grab a cup of coffee and join me as I discuss healthy habits to incorporate in your daily life to propel you forward and FEED YOURSELF on your journey to health in all areas: mind, body, and soul!

Podcast

How Do You Take Thoughts Captive?

SHOW NOTES: Episode 36

How do you take thoughts captive and what does this even mean? 

Taking your thoughts captive means you choose what you allow to take up residence in your mind. It means aligning the desires of your heart with what God desires for you and then believing what God desires for you. There’s a huge difference in having that head knowledge and truly believing what you know to be true. 

It is not God’s desire for you to condemn yourself, constantly criticize yourself, and speak negatively toward yourself. Our thoughts have such a massive impact on our lives that it’s important to be able to discern between what God says and what the enemy is trying to lead us to believe. 

So how do we do this?

It’s all in today’s episode. 

Thank you for tuning in! I’d love to chat more about this topic and other nutrition questions you have over on Instagram (@rachelmeigsking)!

In this episode, we cover:

  • What it means to take thoughts captive
  • How to take thoughts captive

LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN TODAY’S EPISODE:

  • Interested in hearing more speakers from the Questions Believers Ask Workshop? You can find the event replay here
  • Connect with me on Instagram: @rachelmeigsking
  • Are you looking to improve your relationship with food and end the yo-yo, constant dieting and make the changes you need while being able to fully live your life? Let’s talk more! Submit this form and let’s chat!
  • Want healthy lifestyle tips and encouragement? Join me over in my free Facebook community: Encouraging Christian Weight Loss

MORE ABOUT FEED YOURSELF: HEALTHY HABITS FOR THE MIND, BODY, & SOUL PODCAST:

Feed Yourself: Healthy Habits for the Mind, Body, & Soul is all about learning the key components of overall health based on Biblical principles. When most people think about getting in shape and becoming “healthy”, they immediately think about their physical health: losing weight, making exercise a priority, possessing flexibility and endurance, and remaining disease free. But Scripture makes it clear that physical wellness is not the only area that impacts health. In order to be TRULY healthy, we have to focus on four areas: spiritual health, emotional health, mental health, and physical health. 

This podcast dives deep into the tools and head knowledge you will need in order to create lasting results, but it also looks at the element that truly ties it all together – the heart knowledge that incorporates faith in God in this area of our lives and how to apply it when things get tough (and they will!).

I wanted to create a space to let you know you are never alone on this journey. Through years of experience in doing everything the WRONG way, I am here to share my journey of getting healthy from the inside out – ditching the restriction and diet culture and truly learning to treat my body as the temple God intended it to be. 

Grab a cup of coffee and join me as I discuss healthy habits to incorporate in your daily life to propel you forward and FEED YOURSELF on your journey to health in all areas: mind, body, and soul!

Podcast

Carb Cycling: Is This Weight Loss Strategy for YOU?

SHOW NOTES: Episode 35

The term “carb cycling” has been trending for several years now, and yet there is still so much confusion surrounding what it actually is and how to do it correctly. Carb cycling may seem fancy, but it is a pretty simple concept: you eat more carbohydrates on some days and fewer carbohydrates on other days. 

As with any nutrition strategy, carb cycling is not “magic.” It’s a tool in the toolbox of techniques that can be used to achieve a desired result. 

The big questions everybody wants to know: will carb cycling work for me and how on earth do you implement carb cycling?

I answer all of these and more in today’s episode. 

Thank you for tuning in! I’d love to chat more about this topic and other nutrition questions you have over on Instagram (@rachelmeigsking)!

In this episode, we cover:

  • What carb cycling is and what it is not
  • How to implement carb cycling
  • How to know if carb cycling is right for you

LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN TODAY’S EPISODE:

MORE ABOUT FEED YOURSELF: HEALTHY HABITS FOR THE MIND, BODY, & SOUL PODCAST:

Feed Yourself: Healthy Habits for the Mind, Body, & Soul is all about learning the key components of overall health based on Biblical principles. When most people think about getting in shape and becoming “healthy”, they immediately think about their physical health: losing weight, making exercise a priority, possessing flexibility and endurance, and remaining disease free. But Scripture makes it clear that physical wellness is not the only area that impacts health. In order to be TRULY healthy, we have to focus on four areas: spiritual health, emotional health, mental health, and physical health. 

This podcast dives deep into the tools and head knowledge you will need in order to create lasting results, but it also looks at the element that truly ties it all together – the heart knowledge that incorporates faith in God in this area of our lives and how to apply it when things get tough (and they will!).

I wanted to create a space to let you know you are never alone on this journey. Through years of experience in doing everything the WRONG way, I am here to share my journey of getting healthy from the inside out – ditching the restriction and diet culture and truly learning to treat my body as the temple God intended it to be. 

Grab a cup of coffee and join me as I discuss healthy habits to incorporate in your daily life to propel you forward and FEED YOURSELF on your journey to health in all areas: mind, body, and soul!

Podcast

Debunking Common Weight Loss Myths

SHOW NOTES: Episode 30

If you have known me for a while, you have probably heard me share about how my husband and I love to watch crime shows, particularly Criminal Minds (we’ve been watching the series since the world shut down in 2020 – life with a toddler, right?!). There is something so fascinating about watching them debunk certain theories and get down to the real truth of the matter. So I thought it would be fun to do that on the show – debunk some common weight loss myths and share the facts with you instead. 

There is SO MUCH misinformation floating around on the internet, and much of it has been proven that it doesn’t work or has yet to be proven at all, so it’s really understandable why you may get overwhelmed, frustrated, and ready to call it quits before you even get started. 

Let’s take a few of these common myths and debunk them: once and for all.

  1. All calories are equal: All calories are indeed units of energy. That’s what a calorie is. BUT this does not mean that all calorie sources have equal effects on your weight and weight loss. For example, calories from protein are different from calories from carbs or fats. 
  2. Supplements will help you lose weight: The weight loss industry is completely saturated with juices cleanses, magic diet pills, fat burner pills, weight loss wraps, detoxes, and the list goes on and on and on. There are a few vitamins I do recommend to my clients, but as far as actual weight loss supplements go, very rarely will you find one that is truly effective. 
  3. Carbs cause weight gain: Most of the food that God gave us that grows in a garden, on a tree, etc (beans, potatoes, fruit, grains, vegetables) are classified as carbohydrates. These types of carbs given to us by God are incredibly healthy and shouldn’t be taken out of our diets. God gave them to us for a reason.
  4. Fat makes you fat: As with anything, eating fat in the proper portion is good for you: it’s essential actually for optimal brain and heart health. Your body needs fat.
  5. Eat less, move more: You can only keep this up so long – it eventually gets too restrictive to maintain. It works initially, but soon your body’s metabolic rate will slow down and your weight will begin to increase.

These are the BIG ones I see when I talk to clients and potential clients.  Weight loss doesn’t have to be as complicated as it’s made out to be – it can actually be really simple. If you’d like to have a conversation about how to make it simple for YOU, fill out the application on my site and let’s have a conversation! Most of all, I want you to be well equipped on your health journey and know WHY you do the things you do.

I hope you enjoyed this episode! If so, please leave me a rating or review and connect with me on Instagram: @rachelmeigsking

In this episode, I cover:

  • Common weight loss myths
  • Weight loss facts to implement to see results

LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN TODAY’S EPISODE:

  • Interested in joining Feel Wonderful In Your Skin? Schedule a call here
  • Carbs do not cause weight gain and fat does not make you fat! Listen to my previous episodes covering these topics for more details! 
  • Connect with me on Instagram: @rachelmeigsking
  • Are you looking to improve your relationship with food and end the yo-yo, constant dieting, and make the changes you need while being able to fully live your life? Let’s talk more! Submit this form and let’s chat!
  • Want healthy lifestyle tips and encouragement? Join me over in my free Facebook community: Heart, Soul, Mind, & Body Wellness

MORE ABOUT FEED YOURSELF: HEALTHY HABITS FOR THE MIND, BODY, & SOUL PODCAST:

Feed Yourself: Healthy Habits for the Mind, Body, & Soul is all about learning the key components of overall health based on Biblical principles. When most people think about getting in shape and becoming “healthy”, they immediately think about their physical health: losing weight, making exercise a priority, possessing flexibility and endurance, and remaining disease free. But Scripture makes it clear that physical wellness is not the only area that impacts health. In order to be TRULY healthy, we have to focus on four areas: spiritual health, emotional health, mental health, and physical health. 

This podcast dives deep into the tools and head knowledge you will need in order to create lasting results, but it also looks at the element that truly ties it all together – the heart knowledge that incorporates faith in God in this area of our lives and how to apply it when things get tough (and they will!).

I wanted to create a space to let you know you are never alone on this journey. Through years of experience in doing everything the WRONG way, I am here to share my journey of getting healthy from the inside out – ditching the restriction and diet culture and truly learning to treat my body as the temple God intended it to be. 

Grab a cup of coffee and join me as I discuss healthy habits to incorporate in your daily life to propel you forward and FEED YOURSELF on your journey to health in all areas: mind, body, and soul!

Exercise · Fat Loss · Fitness · Goals · Health · Hormones · Lose Weight · Metabolism · Muscle Gain · Weight Loss · Workout

Morning vs Evening Workouts

Morning vs evening workouts. This topic is one that has been debated for ages, and yet we still don’t have a definitive answer. Some people love morning workouts. For those people, working out is part of their morning routine. I am one of those people. For me, it’s coffee and Jesus time (reading my Bible and prayer time), and then a workout. Other people cannot possibly fathom waking up any earlier than necessary – especially to workout. These people love using their end of day workouts to destress and decompress from the day’s events. 

So does it really even make a difference at what time of day you choose to workout? Yes and no. Clear as mud, right? 

Ultimately, the answer to this question is this…the best time to exercise is whenever the best time is for YOU to do it consistently. Do you love getting your workout in before the day gets started so you have your evenings free? Great! Stick with morning workouts. Are evenings the only time you have to squeeze in a workout or it just doesn’t happen? Perfect! Workout in the evening. When you sit down and look at the facts, people who make fitness a priority and workout consistently see more weight loss and better results over time. Studies have shown that your body adapts to your routine, meaning that if you condition your body to workout in the mornings, you will get better results during morning workouts, and vice versa. 

Now, with that being said, let’s discuss the benefits and disadvantages of both morning and evening workouts:

Let’s start with morning workouts:

  1. When you exercise on an empty stomach, or in a “fasted state,” you actually burn more fat then when you exercise after eating, or in a “fed state.” The reason for this is that your body has to use existing fat stores to fuel your workout, not the food you just consumed.
  2. Working out in the morning may help to improve your sleep cycle. I am not naturally a morning person. I used to be the person that slept until the absolute last minute and scrambled in the mornings to get out the door. But after several years of incorporating a morning routine (AND having a child that is an early riser), my body has shifted into a different pattern. Morning exercise can help shift your circadian rhythm so that you are more naturally tired in the evenings to fall asleep earlier and you are able to wake up earlier with more energy. Morning exercise also promotes deeper sleep. Sleep is SO important for overall health. Sleep also aids in muscle growth, so if you are getting deeper sleep, you may also see more strength gains as well. 
  3. Working out in the morning can help you establish a solid fitness regimen. It’s a fact that people who workout in the morning are more consistent simply because they knock it out at the beginning of the day before the days get away from them. There’s far less room for excuses this way. If you get your workout in first thing in the morning, before activities, work, kids, friends, and LIFE start to pull you in a million directions in the afternoon, you don’t have to worry about skipping the workout because it’s already done. 

Now let’s chat about the benefits to working out in the evening:

  1. It can help to relieve stress. Exercise is such a great stress reliever ANY time of day, but working out in the evenings can help alleviate the stress of the day and help blow off steam. 
  2. You also have hormones working in your favor. Your body produces more testosterone (men and women alike) in the afternoon, and testosterone is importantly for muscle building. So if you are looking to build muscle and gain strength, evening workouts may be more beneficial for you.
  3. Research has shown that most people physically function better later in the day. Endurance, strength, and flexibility improve as the day goes on, so your physical performance may improve as a result. Also, evening workouts use less oxygen, which can make workouts more effective and can help with endurance and performance. So if you are a serious competitor training for a specific goal or competition, evening workouts may be the way to go. 

The bottom line is that the TIME of day you choose to work out doesn’t matter as much as actually making sure you get it done. Choose a time that works best for you and your particular habits and lifestyle, and then stay consistent with it. Studies have shown that people who work out consistently at the same time every day have better results, no matter the time they choose.

If you choose morning workouts, just be sure to take time to warm up properly to wake up muscles that may be cold and tighter from being inactive from sleep. If you choose evening workouts, make sure you put it on your calendar and make it a priority so you control your day and not let the day end up getting away from you. No matter the time of day, set yourself up for success with a plan in place so excuses no longer win…and I guarantee you’ll see results. 

Which team are you? Share with me in a comment – are you team morning or evening workout?

Fat Loss · Health · Macronutrients · Metabolism · Nutrition · Uncategorized · Weight Loss

Why Fat Doesn’t Make You Fat

“Eating fat makes you fat.” That has been the school of thinking for most Americans for nearly two decades. 

This is a theory and a myth that is making our nation very sick and overweight.

As a kid growing up in the ‘90’s, I remember my parents buying “low fat” products. This craze took off like a rocket. Even though this myth has been dispelled now, so many of us are still fearful of eating fat.

This mindset, however, will get you nowhere with your weight loss goals. 

Incorporating the right kinds of fat into your diet will ACTUALLY help you lose weight and hit your goals. The body requires fat to function properly. Healthy fats provide anti-inflammatory benefits and improve insulin sensitivity. They help our bodies in a multitude of ways including optimal brain function and heart health. 

Our food choices affect everything. They control everything. Hormones, gut health, metabolism, heart health, brain health. All of these are affected by our food choices. 

Take sugar, for example. When you eat sugar, your brain gets a surge of dopamine, the feel good chemical. So when you eat sugar, your brain likes it! Then, when that sugar wears off, your brain is looking for the next hit. You continue to go through this sugar craving cycle. Your brain wants your body to feel good and safe and sugar will make that happen, even though it’s temporary. 

You can see how our addiction to sugar has contributed to our overweight and “low fat” addicted society. “Low fat” does not mean low sugar and oftentimes, if the fat is taken out of something, it’s replaced with sugar. 

Not all fats are created equal, however. I always advise my nutrition clients to avoid trans fat and saturated fats when possible. Keep it simple by prioritizing God-given foods and avoid man-made foods. 

The one thing I want to leave you with is this – You are in control of the weight you gain or lose by the quality and type of food you eat. Focus on healthy foods and the rest will fall into place. 

If you know your mindset around “low fat” foods is keeping you stuck, I’d love to invite you to apply for a laser-coaching call with me to help! We will dig deep on a one-time, 90 minute call to get you those mental breakthroughs so you can hit those weight loss goals you have. 

APPLY HERE

Weight Loss

The BEST “Diet” to Follow

Hear me on this… when you start any kind of diet, you don’t need to be extreme on day one. 

Too many times, we, as women, go all in on changing our eating habits when we really don’t need to to get started. 

Before you jump into any new nutrition plan, I always tell my clients to fix your vitamin deficiency first before you try anything else. Without adequate vitamin intake, your body will not function optimally.

After that, start small. Up your protein. Get in healthy fats. Drink enough water. Your body will be working better in no time. It really is that simple!

My suggestion would be to pick the biggest limiting factor and start there! If you’re not getting enough water, start there. Add an extra glass to your meals. 

Pick one habit to focus on at a time and as you feel capable, add another one. 

Picking a nutritional goal or plan can depend a lot on factors like budget, dietary restrictions, and preferences. Find the approach that works for you! Our bodies are extremely adaptable and so stinkin’ smart! 

So which diet is best for you? 

By keeping your changes small and smart, you can tailor a diet to fit your goals and your age. Key in on those lifestyle changes where you are consistently creating habits toward your goals. Add in more protein and more whole foods and you’re on your way to hitting the goals you want in the way that is best for your body.

If you’ve tried and tried and know you need accountability in reaching your nutritional goals, let’s chat! I’d love to see if we’d be a good fit for working together. You can schedule a call with me here.