Avoid the Trap of Comparison

Even just a casual scroll through your social media feeds can trigger feelings of not being enough. With the prevalence of social media, it is so easy to become consumed with comparing oneself to others who appear to be living their best life. You may not even realize you are internalizing the messages on your […]

A turtle crossing the path

2023 NC Year of the Trail

Did you know that North Carolina is the Great Trails State and that 2023 is the NC Year of the Trail? The “NC Year of the Trail” is the largest statewide celebration of the vast network of trails, greenways, and blueways that showcase the state’s diverse landscapes. Goals for NC Year of the Trail: I’ve […]

I’m Injured–Now What?

About a month ago, I broke my toe. It’s the big toe, and arguably the most important since it’s responsible for balance. I went from engaging in over 500 minutes of physical activity a week to maybe 100 minutes, severely restricted by my injury and a walking boot. Pre-injury, I enjoyed daily movement consisting of […]

Lights spelling out My Body

Does Body Image Improve with Age?

*This blog post was authored by Dr. Carolyn Dunn and edited by Casey Collins We may think of negative body image as something that mostly impacts young people. As someone in their 60s who has experienced decades of society telling me what my body should look like I know that negative body image can continue […]

kale leaves

Kale is the New Kale

Food fads come and go. However, a hot trend from several years ago is still going strong. Kale. There is a reason for that. Kale, a leafy green has the potential to improve your overall diet in several ways. It is high in fiber and low in calories, and a diet high in leafy greens […]

A plate with utensils forming clock hands

Can Intermittent Fasting Help Us Lose Weight?

Recently, there has been a lot of buzz around Intermittent Fasting and its effect on weight loss.  But does this really help us lose weight?  What is Intermittent Fasting? Before we dig into this topic, let’s first define what is meant by Intermittent Fasting.  Intermittent Fasting, also called Time Restricted Eating, refers to an eating […]

A woman looking at an app on her phone

My Experience Using a Calorie Counter App

Perimenopause and menopause have had their challenges for me, including weight gain despite no change in diet or exercise. In addition, a baseline bone density scan performed last summer revealed lower-than-normal bone density in my hips. Needless to say, I became very motivated to lose weight, especially abdominal fat, and prevent further bone loss. My […]

A woman grimacing due to head pain

Do You Clench Your Jaw? Try Face Exercises!

I naturally clench my jaw when I’m working or concentrating but a few years ago, I started to notice regular jaw tension and attributed it to higher stress levels–I guess a global pandemic will do that. I got a cheap drugstore night guard to protect my teeth at night but that wasn’t going to address […]

Potatoes on a toy couch

Are You An Active Couch Potato?

According to the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, adults should get at least 150 minutes of moderate to intense physical activity per week. For some of us, that means hitting the gym for 30 minutes a day to “knock it out” before work or maybe going on a moderate-intensity walk. Although doing this might check […]

a magnifying glass that depicts SUGAR in a pile of sweets

I gave up sugar, and this is what happened.

Okay, the title sounds a little extreme. I didn’t give up sugar ENTIRELY. I’m no martyr! But I cut way back on my sugar consumption and my life changed in ways I did not expect. And now I want to share my lessons learned with anyone who will listen. In a recent conversation with a […]