August 8, 2024 • 11 mins
Can giving up your morning coffee change your life? Find out in this episode as we dive into summer wellness routines! From the surprising benefits of ditching coffee to exploring the ins and outs of an anti-inflammatory diet, we’re sharing how these changes can transform your well-being, and our top tips for staying healthy while traveling and making the most of your summer.
In this episode, we cover:
1. Our personal wellness routines for staying healthy during summer.
2. The anti-inflammatory diet (AIP) and its effects.
3. Strategies for maintaining health while traveling.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Welcome to Don't Call Me Midlife.
This summer we're shakingthings up a bit with our special
series called Survive or Thrive.
We know moms are extra busyduring the summer, so we're
bringing you shorter, bite-sizedepisodes, focused on one hot
topic at a time.
Join us as we share tips,stories and laughs, helping you
decide if you're just getting byor truly thriving this summer.
(00:23):
Good morning, alex.
How are you?
I am good.
I am psyched to talk to you.
I feel like we haven't talkedforever, I know.
Welcome back to the real world.
Yes, back from Europe.
A month was definitely a longtime.
I know we texted when we werethere, but I have to say the
time change talking to people,even my mother, was really,
(00:45):
really hard, so I wasn't reallyable to do it.
But getting back into reality,getting back into what's in your
cup yes, in my cup, you knowwhat I'm boring today.
I have two cups.
I have one of straight coffeeand one of straight water with
lemon tea.
I am just going back to basics.
I am keeping it simple straightwater with element tea.
(01:06):
I am just going back to basics.
I am keeping it simple, back tobasics.
In August, what are you doing?
I'm pretty basic.
I'm a basic bee myself, so Ijust have a cup of water because
I'm finishing up myanti-inflammatory diet, I gave
up coffee, which is justincredible, because I never
thought I could do it and it wasnot easy.
It took like a full week to getused to the fact and like the
(01:29):
headaches and the grogginess.
So, yeah, now I'm like I wantit because my 30 days is almost
up, but I'm like do I do that tomyself?
You don't want to like add itback.
You mean I mean on occasion,yes, but like the daily,
everyday morning.
I don't want to like add itback.
You mean I mean on occasion,yes, but like the daily,
everyday morning.
I don't know.
I like waking up and not havingthe need to have coffee to get
(01:53):
going.
I hear you.
I hear you for sure.
When I was in London, I wastrying to do the routine of like
you know, we've listened to alot of those podcasts about
morning routine where I wouldhave water and then I would go
for a walk and then I think itwas Mel Robbins that said it and
come back.
It's like an hour and a halfand then have coffee.
Was that your routine?
Yeah, yeah, that was my routinebecause, you know, I was with
(02:13):
my two older teenagers thatwanted to sleep till like 10 or
11.
So I would get up early andtake a walk.
And I have to say, you know,seeing the sunlight and being
able to walk and then havingyour coffee later, it did make a
difference in my day.
I didn't wake up craving it.
But it does take a week.
It took like a week for me tolike get out of that habit for
sure.
Yeah, one it's a habit and two,it's an addiction.
(02:36):
So maybe will.
But I'm wondering, like, whatare you going to do in the
winter, because Boston wintersare brutal For walking?
Yeah Well, you know, you and Iare both doing this like
step-bet challenge with ourfriend Stacy, and that's sort of
what prompted me to walk.
I have thought about that.
I think in the winter, though,I may just hop on a treadmill
(02:58):
because I really like startingmy day and I've I've maintained
that routine since I've comeback to Boston.
And now my body you know, whenyou start a habit, your body
just like sort of craves walkingand I just I, I love it.
And you and I were talking aboutone thing that could like help
us do.
That is you call a friend,right, and a lot of people like
(03:18):
it.
Oh, I want to just chill, butthere are times when it is like
you're doing a two for one, likewalking and talking, and you're
like, check, check, you know, Iknow, I know my sister-in-law,
chris.
I'm going to give her a littleshout out.
I know she calls me.
I almost always know when she'swalking her dog and I call her
too when I'm walking my dog.
It's a good way for me to likecatch up with people, just be
(03:40):
alone.
Sometimes I like to listen tolike an audio book, but mostly I
call people yeah, yeah, no, I'mwith you, I'm with you.
I like that and encouraging.
Well, this has to do with ourtopic today.
I'm loving these 10-minutelittle episodes, right, same.
And so, ladies, we are going totalk about wellness.
(04:01):
How are you maintaining yourwellness?
Are you thriving, are yousurviving?
Because I think Nicole and Iboth are having sort of
different experiences thissummer, I would say a little bit
different, and so we want youto think about how are you
thriving, surviving, or are youin the middle right with your
wellness?
So you embarked on this journeya couple of weeks ago, nicole.
So I want to hear all aboutthis, because I really haven't
(04:23):
even talked to you about whatyou are doing.
Yes, so I'm doing ananti-inflammatory protocol diet.
I was just talking about it onstories and Instagram and my
friend Stacy was like oh, I'vebeen thinking about it too,
let's do it together.
And this was like on a Thursdayand we started on Monday.
It was like boom, go, girls, go, go, girls go.
(04:43):
That is Stacey.
That is the wonder.
I saw it on Instagram.
I was like what are they doing?
So it's called the AIP, right?
Yes, yeah, for sure.
Okay.
So basically, what it is is thatyou avoid all processed foods
alcohol, additives, refinedsugars, coffee, tea, oils, I
guess, certain medications likeNSAIDs.
(05:03):
What are you eating then?
Chicken and broccoli.
Chicken and broccoli yum, wait,I'm not done, because you also
have to give up grains, legumes,dairy eggs and nightshade
vegetables, which are likepotatoes, eggplant and tomatoes,
okay.
So it hasn't been like.
It does sound like a lot atfirst.
(05:25):
I think the hardest thing for me, honestly, was giving up coffee
and then, like nuts I lovewalnuts, almonds, cashews, and
so finding replacements forthose.
I did tiger nuts, which I don'tknow if you've ever heard of it
.
But no, I saw that they're sodelicious.
We can talk about that laterbut you can make milk out of it
(05:47):
and like, slice it, get itsliced so it's like granola, and
then you know flour.
You can make a nut butter andit's delicious, it's like
naturally sweet.
So my question is that seemslike a lot to eliminate, right?
This isn't something that you'redoing forever.
This is just sort of to seewhat is it, to see what foods
affect you as you add them backin.
(06:09):
I've heard a lot of people sayit's like the whole 30 diet.
I decided to do this because Ihave a thyroid condition with
Hashimoto's, and so food is areally big trigger for me.
I have to tell you I feelamazing, like, yeah, no brain
fog, I haven't had any jointpain, any muscle aches, and so
(06:30):
I'm curious to see, as I add in,what will affect me.
So, in addition to doing this,I'm also doing the walking
challenge, which has been greatto get me back into that routine
.
So I'm feeling great.
Yeah, I am surviving.
No, you're thriving.
Oh, I'm sorry, maybe that's thelack of coffee there.
(06:51):
I am thriving.
No, I'm really interested.
I think.
I think we should do an episodeafter you are done with this
Cause.
I'm interested in this becauseI know a lot of the big
inflammatory foods are dairy andgluten, right, but as you add
some of those other things back,there are a lot of big,
especially nightshades I'veheard are pretty inflammatory.
When I was having shoulder andjoint pain they were saying to
(07:12):
eliminate that.
So I'm proud of you.
Thank you, that's awesome.
The first week was hard but Iwent in prepared.
I think being prepared is key,having a meal plan, like you say
.
The second week I flounderedbecause I didn't plan as well
and so I was like hungry a lotand like searching.
But the third week I'm good,I'm going in strong.
(07:35):
Have you broken at all?
Like, have you cheated?
Yeah, like the first week it'slike mindless eating, so like
because we get French fries andI'd like pop one in my mouth,
like as I was through the drive,sort of like passing the bag.
And then one day we went to themall and we were sitting at a
table and I was on a phone calland my kids were eating Dairy
Queen blizzards and I justpicked up a spoon and I think I
(07:57):
took about five bites and I waslike, oh my God, what am I doing
?
So?
But other than that, no,because you're just mindful of
it and you feel so good.
But when I had the dairy I feltimmediately bloated and then
the next day I had a lot ofinflammation.
I even knew dairy was a triggerfor me before.
But Right, right, right, goodfor you.
(08:17):
I am proud of you.
I saw that and was like, wow,that's amazing for you guys.
I love that.
Yeah, how about you?
I was in London for three weeks,went over to Barcelona for a
weekend and then was in Italyfor a week.
So I am not doing the AIP dietand I have to say, you know, I
love to meal prep meal plan.
I think we ate one meal at home.
(08:38):
We did eat breakfast at home,so I did make the kids breakfast
and we were on a little routinein the morning, which was
really, really nice, but it'sjust too hard, you're there.
But I did make better choices.
I did drink a lot of cocktails,because they're amazing there,
but a lot of Aperol, spritzesand stuff.
But I didn't go overboard, I'dhave to say.
Compared to last summer when Iwas there, I made healthier
(08:59):
choices to eat.
I also made it a goal formyself because we were doing
this walking challenge, to dowalking.
I was getting back because of myshoulder.
I haven't been able to work outin six months, so I got back to
the online workouts, which feltreally really good.
So I think it evened out theeating and drinking, probably
with a movement, but, yeah, it'sdefinitely a transition.
(09:20):
Coming back, I would say youknow what?
I'm not thriving or surviving.
I would say I'm in the middle.
I would say thriving because Ireally enjoyed my vacation and I
wasn't too stressed about it.
Good, and I'm not too stressedabout the rest of the summer,
but I feel good bringing backsome of those habits, like I
said.
So I think you know, I thinksummertime can be black and
white.
I know people that are like Ijust like go eat everything
(09:43):
during the summer, or there arepeople that don't.
I think it also depends on yourschedule, right?
I've been traveling a ton.
We are going to Mexico as well,so my schedule is a little bit
crazy.
So I think finding those habitsthat are healthy I have been
thriving in finding the habitsthat work for me while I'm
traveling, that are really,really easy, like drinking water
, lmnt and trying to get somemovement every day, awesome,
(10:07):
awesome.
Well, I would say that you arethriving and that you enjoyed
your summer, and I think it willbe easier to bounce back into
your regular routine because youkept your walking up, because I
feel like exercise is the firstto go.
Exercise is good, so we willkeep everybody.
We want to know what you guysare doing.
Send us a DM and see what youare doing for the summer.
(10:30):
Maybe you're trying somethingnew, like Nicole, or you're just
traveling a lot and justkeeping some of those habits.
So I love it.
We should do a follow-up in thefall and see how we're doing
then, cause it's going to bedifferent.
Every season is different,right?
Yeah, let's see if we keep itup.
Yeah, all right, we're boththriving.
We want to hear how you guysare doing.
Let us know.
And that's a wrap for today'sepisode of Don't Call Me Midlife
(10:57):
.
We hope you had as much fun aswe did.
If you're just waiting in thecarpool line, don't forget to
follow the show, and if you'refeeling extra spicy today, leave
us a rating and review Beforewe part ways.
Join our newsletter to stay inthe loop with all things Midlife
, magic, bonus content and more.
Head on over to the show notesfor how to sign up.
We can't wait to keep theconversation going and
Welcome to Don't Call Me Midlife.
This summer we're shakingthings up a bit with our special
series called Survive or Thrive.
We know moms are extra busyduring the summer, so we're
bringing you shorter, bite-sizedepisodes, focused on one hot
topic at a time.
Join us as we share tips,stories and laughs, helping you
decide if you're just getting byor truly thriving this summer.
(00:23):
Good morning, alex.
How are you?
I am good.
I am psyched to talk to you.
I feel like we haven't talkedforever, I know.
Welcome back to the real world.
Yes, back from Europe.
A month was definitely a longtime.
I know we texted when we werethere, but I have to say the
time change talking to people,even my mother, was really,
(00:45):
really hard, so I wasn't reallyable to do it.
But getting back into reality,getting back into what's in your
cup yes, in my cup, you knowwhat I'm boring today.
I have two cups.
I have one of straight coffeeand one of straight water with
lemon tea.
I am just going back to basics.
I am keeping it simple straightwater with element tea.
(01:06):
I am just going back to basics.
I am keeping it simple, back tobasics.
In August, what are you doing?
I'm pretty basic.
I'm a basic bee myself, so Ijust have a cup of water because
I'm finishing up myanti-inflammatory diet, I gave
up coffee, which is justincredible, because I never
thought I could do it and it wasnot easy.
It took like a full week to getused to the fact and like the
(01:29):
headaches and the grogginess.
So, yeah, now I'm like I wantit because my 30 days is almost
up, but I'm like do I do that tomyself?
You don't want to like add itback.
You mean I mean on occasion,yes, but like the daily,
everyday morning.
I don't want to like add itback.
You mean I mean on occasion,yes, but like the daily,
everyday morning.
I don't know.
I like waking up and not havingthe need to have coffee to get
(01:53):
going.
I hear you.
I hear you for sure.
When I was in London, I wastrying to do the routine of like
you know, we've listened to alot of those podcasts about
morning routine where I wouldhave water and then I would go
for a walk and then I think itwas Mel Robbins that said it and
come back.
It's like an hour and a halfand then have coffee.
Was that your routine?
Yeah, yeah, that was my routinebecause, you know, I was with
(02:13):
my two older teenagers thatwanted to sleep till like 10 or
11.
So I would get up early andtake a walk.
And I have to say, you know,seeing the sunlight and being
able to walk and then havingyour coffee later, it did make a
difference in my day.
I didn't wake up craving it.
But it does take a week.
It took like a week for me tolike get out of that habit for
sure.
Yeah, one it's a habit and two,it's an addiction.
(02:36):
So maybe will.
But I'm wondering, like, whatare you going to do in the
winter, because Boston wintersare brutal For walking?
Yeah Well, you know, you and Iare both doing this like
step-bet challenge with ourfriend Stacy, and that's sort of
what prompted me to walk.
I have thought about that.
I think in the winter, though,I may just hop on a treadmill
(02:58):
because I really like startingmy day and I've I've maintained
that routine since I've comeback to Boston.
And now my body you know, whenyou start a habit, your body
just like sort of craves walkingand I just I, I love it.
And you and I were talking aboutone thing that could like help
us do.
That is you call a friend,right, and a lot of people like
(03:18):
it.
Oh, I want to just chill, butthere are times when it is like
you're doing a two for one, likewalking and talking, and you're
like, check, check, you know, Iknow, I know my sister-in-law,
chris.
I'm going to give her a littleshout out.
I know she calls me.
I almost always know when she'swalking her dog and I call her
too when I'm walking my dog.
It's a good way for me to likecatch up with people, just be
(03:40):
alone.
Sometimes I like to listen tolike an audio book, but mostly I
call people yeah, yeah, no, I'mwith you, I'm with you.
I like that and encouraging.
Well, this has to do with ourtopic today.
I'm loving these 10-minutelittle episodes, right, same.
And so, ladies, we are going totalk about wellness.
(04:01):
How are you maintaining yourwellness?
Are you thriving, are yousurviving?
Because I think Nicole and Iboth are having sort of
different experiences thissummer, I would say a little bit
different, and so we want youto think about how are you
thriving, surviving, or are youin the middle right with your
wellness?
So you embarked on this journeya couple of weeks ago, nicole.
So I want to hear all aboutthis, because I really haven't
(04:23):
even talked to you about whatyou are doing.
Yes, so I'm doing ananti-inflammatory protocol diet.
I was just talking about it onstories and Instagram and my
friend Stacy was like oh, I'vebeen thinking about it too,
let's do it together.
And this was like on a Thursdayand we started on Monday.
It was like boom, go, girls, go, go, girls go.
(04:43):
That is Stacey.
That is the wonder.
I saw it on Instagram.
I was like what are they doing?
So it's called the AIP, right?
Yes, yeah, for sure.
Okay.
So basically, what it is is thatyou avoid all processed foods
alcohol, additives, refinedsugars, coffee, tea, oils, I
guess, certain medications likeNSAIDs.
(05:03):
What are you eating then?
Chicken and broccoli.
Chicken and broccoli yum, wait,I'm not done, because you also
have to give up grains, legumes,dairy eggs and nightshade
vegetables, which are likepotatoes, eggplant and tomatoes,
okay.
So it hasn't been like.
It does sound like a lot atfirst.
(05:25):
I think the hardest thing for me, honestly, was giving up coffee
and then, like nuts I lovewalnuts, almonds, cashews, and
so finding replacements forthose.
I did tiger nuts, which I don'tknow if you've ever heard of it
.
But no, I saw that they're sodelicious.
We can talk about that laterbut you can make milk out of it
(05:47):
and like, slice it, get itsliced so it's like granola, and
then you know flour.
You can make a nut butter andit's delicious, it's like
naturally sweet.
So my question is that seemslike a lot to eliminate, right?
This isn't something that you'redoing forever.
This is just sort of to seewhat is it, to see what foods
affect you as you add them backin.
(06:09):
I've heard a lot of people sayit's like the whole 30 diet.
I decided to do this because Ihave a thyroid condition with
Hashimoto's, and so food is areally big trigger for me.
I have to tell you I feelamazing, like, yeah, no brain
fog, I haven't had any jointpain, any muscle aches, and so
(06:30):
I'm curious to see, as I add in,what will affect me.
So, in addition to doing this,I'm also doing the walking
challenge, which has been greatto get me back into that routine
.
So I'm feeling great.
Yeah, I am surviving.
No, you're thriving.
Oh, I'm sorry, maybe that's thelack of coffee there.
(06:51):
I am thriving.
No, I'm really interested.
I think.
I think we should do an episodeafter you are done with this
Cause.
I'm interested in this becauseI know a lot of the big
inflammatory foods are dairy andgluten, right, but as you add
some of those other things back,there are a lot of big,
especially nightshades I'veheard are pretty inflammatory.
When I was having shoulder andjoint pain they were saying to
(07:12):
eliminate that.
So I'm proud of you.
Thank you, that's awesome.
The first week was hard but Iwent in prepared.
I think being prepared is key,having a meal plan, like you say
.
The second week I flounderedbecause I didn't plan as well
and so I was like hungry a lotand like searching.
But the third week I'm good,I'm going in strong.
(07:35):
Have you broken at all?
Like, have you cheated?
Yeah, like the first week it'slike mindless eating, so like
because we get French fries andI'd like pop one in my mouth,
like as I was through the drive,sort of like passing the bag.
And then one day we went to themall and we were sitting at a
table and I was on a phone calland my kids were eating Dairy
Queen blizzards and I justpicked up a spoon and I think I
(07:57):
took about five bites and I waslike, oh my God, what am I doing
?
So?
But other than that, no,because you're just mindful of
it and you feel so good.
But when I had the dairy I feltimmediately bloated and then
the next day I had a lot ofinflammation.
I even knew dairy was a triggerfor me before.
But Right, right, right, goodfor you.
(08:17):
I am proud of you.
I saw that and was like, wow,that's amazing for you guys.
I love that.
Yeah, how about you?
I was in London for three weeks,went over to Barcelona for a
weekend and then was in Italyfor a week.
So I am not doing the AIP dietand I have to say, you know, I
love to meal prep meal plan.
I think we ate one meal at home.
(08:38):
We did eat breakfast at home,so I did make the kids breakfast
and we were on a little routinein the morning, which was
really, really nice, but it'sjust too hard, you're there.
But I did make better choices.
I did drink a lot of cocktails,because they're amazing there,
but a lot of Aperol, spritzesand stuff.
But I didn't go overboard, I'dhave to say.
Compared to last summer when Iwas there, I made healthier
(08:59):
choices to eat.
I also made it a goal formyself because we were doing
this walking challenge, to dowalking.
I was getting back because of myshoulder.
I haven't been able to work outin six months, so I got back to
the online workouts, which feltreally really good.
So I think it evened out theeating and drinking, probably
with a movement, but, yeah, it'sdefinitely a transition.
(09:20):
Coming back, I would say youknow what?
I'm not thriving or surviving.
I would say I'm in the middle.
I would say thriving because Ireally enjoyed my vacation and I
wasn't too stressed about it.
Good, and I'm not too stressedabout the rest of the summer,
but I feel good bringing backsome of those habits, like I
said.
So I think you know, I thinksummertime can be black and
white.
I know people that are like Ijust like go eat everything
(09:43):
during the summer, or there arepeople that don't.
I think it also depends on yourschedule, right?
I've been traveling a ton.
We are going to Mexico as well,so my schedule is a little bit
crazy.
So I think finding those habitsthat are healthy I have been
thriving in finding the habitsthat work for me while I'm
traveling, that are really,really easy, like drinking water
, lmnt and trying to get somemovement every day, awesome,
(10:07):
awesome.
Well, I would say that you arethriving and that you enjoyed
your summer, and I think it willbe easier to bounce back into
your regular routine because youkept your walking up, because I
feel like exercise is the firstto go.
Exercise is good, so we willkeep everybody.
We want to know what you guysare doing.
Send us a DM and see what youare doing for the summer.
(10:30):
Maybe you're trying somethingnew, like Nicole, or you're just
traveling a lot and justkeeping some of those habits.
So I love it.
We should do a follow-up in thefall and see how we're doing
then, cause it's going to bedifferent.
Every season is different,right?
Yeah, let's see if we keep itup.
Yeah, all right, we're boththriving.
We want to hear how you guysare doing.
Let us know.
And that's a wrap for today'sepisode of Don't Call Me Midlife
(10:57):
.
We hope you had as much fun aswe did.
If you're just waiting in thecarpool line, don't forget to
follow the show, and if you'refeeling extra spicy today, leave
us a rating and review Beforewe part ways.
Join our newsletter to stay inthe loop with all things Midlife
, magic, bonus content and more.
Head on over to the show notesfor how to sign up.
We can't wait to keep theconversation going and
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