The Addiction Nutritionist (Kelly Miller)

In today's episode we discuss weight loss with Susie Thomsen, a NASM Certified Nutrition Coach, PN Certified Master Health Coach and owner of Unchained Wellness, a virtual practice that seeks to serve and equip women in the area of weight loss. Susie herself is in recovery from an eating disorder and has developed a unique approach to helping women find their own healthy weight in a sustainable way. We discuss the differences between eating disorders and disordered easting, both of which have huge overlaps with substance abuse, especially for women. Susie takes us through her 4 part program that educates her clients on the fundamentals of nutrition, the role blood sugar plays in weight management, how the metabolism really works, which hormones need to be optimized in order for the body to feel safe enough to release weight, and what is actually driving those pesky cravings that we all seem to struggle with.

I was so blown away by Susie's knowledge of the body and how it responds to cues, her humble honesty about how long sustainable weight loss really takes, and her ability to take a complicated topic like metabolism, and translate it into accessible and approachable chunks of information. She really highlights the importance of including each of the 4 concepts of her program so her clients can achieve their goals and sustain a healthy weight for the rest of their lives. No more yo-yo dieting! Although Susie specializes in women in her private practice, men will still be able to take away the same valuable information, because her principles apply to everyone!

If you'd like to learn more about Susie and what she has to offer, you access her website here: https://www.unchainedandfree.com/

In this very first episode of The Addiction Nutritionist, my cohost Nikki and I share the details of what led us to experience a truly Resilient Recovery. We discuss our hearts desire behind starting this podcast and what we hope it will provide to it's listeners. We give a brief of overview of our personal recovery journeys, share topics we're excited to take a deep dive into during future episodes, like mood stabilizing nutrients, the power of amino acid therapy, how to eliminate cravings, improve digestion and so much more. We overview PAWS (Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome) and explain why it's so important to have a firm understanding of this topic during your first few years in recovery. We also introduce Recovery U, the first ever completely online health and wellness coaching community completely focused on improving our lives through the use of healing foods, recovery supporting supplements and life changing wellness strategies. We hope that you will stick around and grow with us as we learn how to "podcast", so you can learn the skills to develop your own Resilient Recovery. There is so much more to come!

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If you would like more information about working with Kelly or you'd like to book a free consultation visit https://www.theaddictionnutritionist.com

Recovery U:https://recoveryu.mn.co/

In today's episode I speak with Andrea Nicholson, former Crime Scene Investigator turned Holistic Health Practitioner. Andrea now spends her time as a Metabolic Health Investigator helping her clients discover and investigate their own blood sugar patterns, optimizing them for better mood, brain function and overall well being. This is one of my FAVORITE topics and highly relevant to people in recovery, because mismanaged blood sugar is a top relapse trigger! Listen to Episode #4 for more info on that topic. Andrea details what blood sugar management is, and why it's considered the gateway to all things health, wellness and longevity. She lays out the different pieces of evidence that she analyzes with her clients to determine if blood sugar regulation is wreaking havoc on their health or contributing to their symptoms. She shares with us some shocking statistics about the state of health of the average American, as well as which laboratory tests can be valuable in assessing your own personal state of blood sugar. Hint hint the most valuable test is probably one you have never had or hear of! Andrea and I discuss different ways you can become your own health advocate, and get real time data using devices like CGM's or other monitoring devices. This is a highly valuable episode packed with lots of practical tips about how you can start managing your blood sugar today!

Andrea's Virtual Practice Healthy Life with Andrea: https://www.healthylifewithandrea.com/

Andrea's Podcast Healthy Bites with Andrea: https://www.healthylifewithandrea.com/holistic-health-bites-podcast/

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If you would like more information about working with Kelly or you'd like to book a free consultation visit https://www.theaddictionnutritionist.com

Recovery U:https://recoveryu.mn.co/

In today's episode we take a DEEP DIVE into the world of protein. We answer all the questions: what is protein, where do we find it, are some sources better than others, what are proper portion sizes, how much do we need in general versus how much do you personally need as a person in recovery. We discuss the role that digestion plays in isolating and utilizing the amino acids we get from protein to support mood, recovery, cravings etc. We discuss the connection between protein and neurotransmitters. We answer the questions: Can one get enough protein on a plant based diet? Is grazing a healthy dietary pattern? I take a few moments to step onto a protein soapbox, and then we digress into some practical steps you can take today to improve your protein intake status! This is a long one folks, we are working on shortening future episodes, but you may want to listen to this one in two different sessions, just a tip! Remember to check out Recovery U on the website www.theaddictionnutritionist.com for more information about signing up for our online community where we'll meet to discuss podcast episodes, walk through the steps of implementing the PAWS protocol, and provide live group coaching for all your health and wellness in recovery needs. I hope you'll join us!

In today's episode, we take a hard look at the addictive nature of the powdery white stuff...sugar! Why do sugar cravings go up in early recovery? We detail the two different types of cravings. We discuss reactive hypoglycemia and its connection to recovery. We talk blood sugar management and why it's a key relapse prevention tool. We answer the question, what is a comfort food really...We also address the controversy of whether sugar withdrawal is a real thing or not. Lastly, we share why success rates are so high for programs that use nutrition therapy, and have a deep understanding of blood sugar management and use it as a foundational tool in their treatment protocols. I hope you'll feel more confident in your choices and healing journey after listening to todays episode! Don't forget to check out Recovery U as a way to start putting action into what you are learning here. More info at www.theaddictionnutritionist.com

In today's episode I chat with Helen Duyvestyn, a Holistic Mental Health Coach and Registered Psychiatric Nurse. Helen has made it her mission to educate nurses in New Zealand about the importance of nutrition for mental health. Helen was the keynote speaker for the Auckland District Health Board where she shared striking studies and undeniable evidence that demonstrated nutrition must play a role in mental health care moving forward if we're going to make any difference in this world wide epidemic. Helen shared with us her story of how she moved from traditional nursing to mental health coaching, and the challenges she began to realize individuals face when trying to get well using conventional approaches to psychiatric illness. One of my favooitre parts of this episode is when Helen and I discuss how incredibly simple it can be to begin changing the diet, and the remarkable results you can see in such a short amount of time. We can talk about specific nutrients all day long, but often times people are just simply undernourished globally, and just need a a bit of a bump in a few areas to start making a noticeable difference in their lives. It really doesn't need to be rocket science and I love how approachable mental nutrition can be, with the right support and the right tools! I hope you'll give episode a listen, Helen was a pleasure to have on the show! Be well friends!

If you'd like to learn more about Helen and what she offers, you can connect with her on her website One Life:https://www.onelifenz.com/

In this episode my friend and colleague Jeff Jones who is an LPC, CACIII, Nutritional Recovery Life Coach and owner of The Family Recovery Solution, shares with us what he calls a "spotlight diagram", that gives a visual of how family members organize themselves around their loved one who is struggling with addiction. You can access the Spotlight Diagram here:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/b72k1yskohwnp9v/Screenshot%20%28253%29.png?dl=0

Jeff discusses the different roles that family members play during the stress and chaos of navigating addiction, including what he calls the "blamer", the "helper", the "avoider", the "distracter", the 'distancer", and the "object of focus". Jeff shares why family members take on these roles, what that looks like, as well as what these individuals can do to move towards healthier interaction.

Jeff's diagram and explanation of these roles can really help individuals better understand how they themselves have developed coping skills that may either be helping or hurting the situation, and how you can get really curious about your own behavior. Jeff believes that whole family healing must take place in order to give the person suffering from addiction their best shot at abstinence and recovery.

Jeff is an amazing resource for families looking to develop their tool box of healthy coping skills so they can best support their loved ones. If you would like to learn more about Jeff's resources you can connect with him here: www.thefamilyrecoverysolution.com
www.alcoholbioquiz.com

In todays episode, I'm joined by my good friend and fellow Nutrition Therapist Charis Sederberg. Charis (pronounced Care-iss like Paris) is a former oncology nurse, nutrition and digestive health expert and my go-to practitioner for all things digestive wellness. Charis breaks down what digestion really is, the different organs and chemical components involved, and explains in an easy to understand way why digestion is thee foundational step in any individuals health journey. Charis explains some basic tests that can help identify issues that may be causing digestive distress, as well as some very practical steps you can take today to improve your digestion right away. Charis offers many services through her virtual practice Prime to Nourish, including courses, education, community, testing, and 1:1 consultations. You can find more information about Charis, or schedule a free consultation to discuss your health challenges at https://primetonourish.com/

In today's episode I welcome Jake Yoder, Owner and Founder of Natural Highs Recovery, a holistic health and mindfulness based practice based in Santa Cruz, that offers a variety of services to those in recovery. Jake is a Sobriety Coach, Mountain Guide, and Mindfulness teacher who uses holistic practices to help his clients build trust with themselves, learn to balance their nervous systems naturally, and develop a sense of purpose and passion for life. Jake shares his personal story of cannabis recovery, and what led to the discovery of a natural high that far outweighed any synthetic high that Jake had ever experienced. Jake is an incredible resource for anyone looking to expand their beliefs about what recovery can look and feel like. I can't wait for you to listen!

You can learn more about Jake and his variety of services, including his group coaching program Inner Ascent, on his website https://www.naturalhighsrecovery.org/

In this episode I chat with Becky Doidge, an SLP and Feeding Specialist who helps her patients move from a primarily processed foods diet to a more varied and nutrient dense one. Becky works with special populations including those suffering from ARFID and Eosinophilia Esophagitis, but the strategies she uses to help individuals move away from eating a highly restricted diet (due to fear, sensory issues like taste and texture etc.), are highly applicable to anyone who considers themselves a "picky eater". In active addiction we can become addicted to "comfort", which can keep us stuck eating the same foods over and over because they're consistent and highly predictable (a Cheez-It will always tastes like a Cheez-It), foods that feel good on our stomach, and foods that do not overwhelm our senses. If I had a dollar for every time I heard "vegetables are too bitter"...! Becky introduces us to the idea of interoception, one of the "senses" we often forget about during the experience of eating, and how we can use it to expand our palettes. The most surprising strategy that Becky shares with is has to do with mindset and the way we speak about our food. Surprise, surprise, our thoughts and language matter when we are trying to change a behaviour! Becky shares why anxiety about food can be a good thing, and why playing with your food is a non-negotiable! I love the strategies she shares with us in this episode and I have started to implement them in my own life (hello cheese grater in the bottom drawer!). If you're a picky eater, are the primary care giver for a picky eater or just want to learn how to move away from a diet full of processed foods and incorporate more nutrient dense foods like fruits and vegetables, this episode is for you! I hope you'll give it a listen and consider using some of these strategies in your own life. Be well friends, and let's mature those palettes together!

If you would like to learn more about Becky's services, she can be reached through her private practice website at Thrive Feeding Therapy:

https://www.thrivefeedingtherapy.com/

In today's episode I welcome my first Client Spotlight guest Doug Fingliss. Doug is a former client who shares his remarkable story of recovery from alcohol, as well as an astounding 100 plus pound weight loss journey. Doug shares some of the components that have helped him feel resilient in his recovery, like running, exercise, art, sound meditation, and of course-nutrition. I hope that you'll give this episode a listen and consider sharing it with your friends in recovery. Doug's story infuses hope into the soul of those who may be active in their addiction, struggling with weight loss or just trying to uplevel their recovery.

You can learn more about Doug's story and follow along on his blog, browse his art for purchase including his Sobering Sunrises coffee table book, and learn more about what's next for Doug on his websites

http://www.rhodeisland-art.com

https://rhodeisland-art.com/products/sobering-sunrises 

http://www.fingliss.com 

https://www.facebook.com/doug.fingliss/ 

https://www.instagram.com/dfingliss/ 

https://www.facebook.com/positivelycriminal/ 

https://www.tumblr.com/dfingliss 

https://innovative-visuals.com/ 

MapMyRun friend me: Doug Fingliss 

Relive friend me: @dougfingliss 

In today's episode I chat with Rebecca Vigelius, a sought-after Holistic Sleep & Stress Coach and behaviour-change specialist. Rebecca shares with us the various barriers that get in the way between you and your best night's sleep. In the majority of podcasts I have listened to about this topic you will commonly hear about sleep hygiene and other practices you can enable like blue light blocking glasses, and not eating 3 hours before bedtime, but in this episode we focus on something called "sleep mindset". Rebecca shares with us how mindset is likely the number one thing getting in your way, and what simple shifts you can make to get to sleep faster and stay asleep longer, so you can show up as your best self the next day. She clears up some myths for us and tackles all the questions, like can someone switch from being a night owl to a morning person, how much sleep do we actually need, what is "revenge bedtime", is it normal to wake up throughout the night, is insomnia a real thing-and if so what is the most effective treatment? We also discuss the connection between sleep and stress, and most importantly-stress resilience! I hope you'll give this episode a listen and find the tips highly practical. If you'd like to learn more about Rebecca and her services, you can reach out to her on Instagram. We have also provided a link below to book a sleep and stress audit with her. Sleep well friends!!

IG: @rebeccavigelius Here’s the link to book the free 30-minute Sleep & Stress Audit. https://calendly.com/rebeccavigeliusinc/sleep-and-stress-audit

In today's episode I chat with Mikkel Clark, a friend and colleague in the health and wellness space who after years of doing the corporate grind found himself over weight, stressed to the max and generally unsatisfied with life. After two life changing events Mikkel decided to grab life by the horns and pull a full 180. He began to make radical changes like putting his health front and center, leaving his high stress career, rediscovering his love for surfing and eventually taking the big leap into business ownership with health and wellness coaching. Mikkel's story of arriving at midlife and feeling grossly overwhelmed and underwhelmed at the same time is not uncommon. What's different about Mikkel is that he recognized the potentially deadly role that stress was playing in his life, and made the brave and inspiring decision to slow down, change course, and create a life he loves and is proud of. Mikkel saw the opportunity to create a new legacy for his family and his story is incredibly inspiring!

https://mikkelclark.com/about-me

My guest today has spent more than 25 years in the mental health space in a number of different capacities, including suicide prevention and addiction recovery.   She has a harrowing story of how she ended up in mental health, and a deep personal connection to nutrition, sugar consumption, depression and cancer.

After years of battling different types of depression and a subsequent cancer diagnosis, Mark Kay was introduced to a book that challenged everything she believed to be true about food, health and nutrition, including being told as a child that she was hypoglycemic. This book, and the paradigm shift it created, initiated her journey into holistic health and the world of functional medicine.  After purging her cupboards and changing her diet she experienced a remarkable and rapid improvement in her clinical depression symptoms. This led to her diving deeper into the literature to explore the connections between food and mood. Eventually Mary Kay obtained additional training in mental health nutrition, so she could continue to help both herself and her clients in the best way possible.

Mary Kay and I also discuss the theory of chemical imbalance, the role MTHFR plays in depression as well as the differences between folate and folic acid.  It’s a wonderful and enlightening conversation that I hope will inspire you to look closer at your own nutrition, its’ links to low moods, anxiety and depression, and how you can start making changes today to improve your mental health through the healing power of food!

Mary Kay Irving can be reached at support@marykayirving.com

Website: www.marykayirving.com

To learn more about her 12 week program and access her free guide, sign up for her email list here:https://pages.marykayirvingcoach.com/guide-1

In today's episode I welcome our very first guest to the podcast, Chris Engen, a Certified Nutrition Specialist, Amino Acid Therapist and owner of Nutrition for Recovery. In this episode Chris and I discuss Amino Acid Therapy, what it is, and how it's often the missing link in most people's recovery journey! We give an overview of the four mood regulating neurotransmitters; serotonin, dopamine, GABA and the endorphins. We talk about the different free form aminos that support each chemical messenger, and we discuss why most people could likely benefit from a targeted amino acid approach, but especially individuals in recovery. Chris and I discuss how to trial aminos, why capsules are ideal, and how to learn more about creating a targeted amino acid protocol for yourself.

If you'd like to learn more about amino acid therapy or Chris's other services and offerings, you can reach her at the following links.

Website:  https://nutrition4recovery.com/

Contact: chris@nutrition4recovery.com

Request Free Discovery Session link   https://p.bttr.to/3rCd0OJ

2 Online Course Offerings: 

Nutritional Foundations for a Balanced Brain  https://nutrition4recovery.com/feed-your-recovery-nutritional-foundation/
Using Amino Acids to Balance Your Brain: How to Determine Your Unique Dose  https://nutrition4recovery.com/using-amino-acids-to-balance-your-brain-how-to-determine-your-unique-dose/

In today's episode I chat with Meghan Bottom, a faith based Mental Health Coach., We have a great discussion regarding anxiety and depression, and how practices that merge science and faith can help you to overcome various mental health disorders.

Megan is a highly skilled Christian counselor and Christian Mental Health Coach dedicated to helping individuals and couples find healing, growth, and fulfillment in their lives and relationships. With a deep passion for integrating faith and clinical counseling techniques, Megan offers a compassionate and holistic approach that addresses the spiritual, emotional, and relational aspects of her clients' lives.

With years of experience in the field, Megan has a deep understanding of the challenges and complexities that individuals and couples face. From an individual counseling standpoint, she is practiced in overcoming anxiety, beating depression, healthy boundary setting and overcoming trauma. She also enjoys working with couples and specializes in relationship struggles, communication issues, conflict resolution, premarital counseling, and marital enrichment. Megan believes that God's love and wisdom can transform relationships and guide individuals towards healthier connections and deeper intimacy.

If you would like to learn more about Megan's resources or how to get in touch with her, she can be reached at the following links.

https://www.facebook.com/MeganBottomSpeaker/
https://www.instagram.com/_meganbottom_/
https://bookme.name/broken2blessed

In today's episode Kelly and Nikki give a high level overview of nutrients like B-Vitamins, essential fatty acids, Vitamin D and many others that are crucial for stabilization and a solid recovery. We review some of the information on depression and its connection to certain nutrients. We discuss alcohol and its impact on nutrient deficiencies and gut health. We also briefly discuss the relationship between sugar cravings and recovery. This episode is designed to give you a review of the data to create a foundational understanding of why nutrition therapy is fundamental in recovery. We will take a deeper dive into individual nutrients in upcoming episodes.

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If you would like more information about working with Kelly or you'd like to book a free consultation visit https://www.theaddictionnutritionist.com

Recovery U:https://recoveryu.mn.co/

In today's episode I speak with Dr. Mary Braud, a Colorado based Psychiatrist and Functional Medicine Practitioner. Dr. Braud details for us the differences between conventional medicine and a functional approach, why she shifted her practice to a more functional model, and the limitations of the standard model of care we still have today. She introduces us to the term "orthomolecular medicine", her experience with it and how it shifted the way she practices. We discuss nutrient therapy and its implications in treating psychiatric disorders like anxiety, depression and more. We discuss the labs that she uses in her practice and how they can help identify imbalances in the body that may be leading to symptoms. We discuss specific nutrients and their potential impact on mental health, why metabolism matters and the role that bioindividuality plays in our health. Dr Braud gives her perspective on whether or not nutrient deficiencies are as rare as we've been told, and how using functional labs and prescribed nutrients can lead to a reduction and possibly even total elimination of certain psychiatric medications. We also get into the highly controversial topic of Keto, Keto for recovery and Keto for mental health. This was a great discussion that really highlights the benefits of using a functional medicine approach in psychiatry and how critically important nutrition is in mental health.

In her practice Dr. Braud sees patients of all ages, who may be dealing with a wide range of psychiatric conditions. She can be reached through her website here: https://denverfunctionalmedicine.com. You can also inquire there about her Saturday morning donation based Groove dance group.

In today's episode, I take on the topic of Healthy Fats. What are healthy fats, where can we find them in the diet, which specific types of fats may help recovery outcomes, and which fats should we all avoid. Healthy fats are an essential part of everyone's diet, but there is often confusion around how much we should consume and what are the best sources. I attempt to clear up some of the myths and confusion in this episode. If you have questions about anything related to nutrition in recovery, please send your questions to kelly@theaddictionnutritionist.com. I will start to compile a list of questions that Nikki and I will answer on the air.

Matt Salis is a researcher and writer focused on addiction prevention and recovery, with a particular focus on the impact of addiction on various relationships. He co-hosts and produces the Untoxicated Podcast, writes for and edits the Sober and Unashamed website and blog, facilitates trauma and addiction recovery writing and support groups, coaches high school soccer, and is married to his business partner, the mother of their four kids. Together Sheri and Matt authored their 2020 Amazon best new release, Soberevolution: Evolve into Sobriety and Recover Your Alcoholic Marriage. This book reads like a literal roadmap to healing your relationships after alcohol has taken it's toll on a marriage. It's a personal favorite in my alcohol literature library!

In this episode Matt and I discuss the relationship wreckage that's left behind when someone suffers from addiction. Matt shares that often times the person embarking on a new recovery journey may think that once the alcohol or substance is removed, everything is fixed and things can go back to "normal". But early recovery is often the very beginning of what can be a long road back to restoring relationships. Matt answers my pointed questions regarding how long it takes and how much work is it really when you're walking the path of relationship recovery. He also shares his thoughts on how often things actually do work out. Matt is point plank about what is to be expected during this process, provides a few non-negotiables if there's going to be hope for success, and provides us with very realistic expectations. He also gives some amazing practical tips on how to start the process and shares the number thing that must happen if relationship restoration is to take place.

On Matt's Podcast Untoxicated, Matt and his wife Sheri bare their souls with their personal stories and unearth all the good bad and the ugly of restoring relationships in recovery. The result after years of hard work between them is both beautiful and inspiring. There is hope in restoring relationships if you have two willing partners and the right tools. Although Matt's work focuses mainly on married couples, his practical steps can be applied to almost any relationship dynamic, parents and children, family members, friends etc. This episode is a must listen. I believe you'll take away a new perspective and renewed hope in relationship recovery!

Podcast: https://un-toxicated.com/ https://thestigma.org/author/mattsalis/ Soberevolution:https://soberandunashamed.com/books/

In this episode Nikki and I trade places, while she gives us the low down on mindfulness and meditation. Nikki has spent years and countless hours in training, teaching and education, to better understand these two practices, where they are similar, how they different, and how they can be applied to radically change your life. I have personally benefited from mindfulness practices resulting in major behavioral changes around everything from food, to nicotine to alcohol (plus hair sniffing but you'll have to listen to find out what that means)...Nikki shares with us her highly practical tips on how to make both of these practices more approachable, and the many resources available to help you begin. I hope you'll give this episode a listen and consider adding one or both of these practices to your recovery tool kit!

Pillars of Recovery is split into two parts. Todays' episode is Part 1, where Nikki and I discuss Recovery Pillars, the foundational habits and practices that support a strong and Resilient Recovery. In Part 1 Nikki shares her personal pillars, how she developed them and why they are crucial to helping her thrive today. We believe there are many paths to recovery, and no two recovery journeys will look the same. We support the idea that even though we feel there are specific ingredients to a well rounded recovery recipe, everyone must untimely find their own path. Head to Episode 6 Part 2 to learn more about Kelly's recovery pillars.

In today's episode, Nikki and I discuss what it's like to move from a life of Reactivity, to Resilient Recovery. We define what each of these states looks like and how they tend to show up in peoples lives (hint hint it's not just people in recovery that live reactively). We describe what it looks like to be fully present in your own life. We also discuss how to recognize when you are living out of a reactive state, and which area of the brain is in charge when we're reacting vs responding. We also go into what can happen when we consistently ignore our needs, and how that chaos will manifest in our lives. This episode really highlights the premise of what we are trying to accomplish with Recovery U, helping individuals live in alignment with their values, recognizing what shifts need to be made in order to bring that alignment about, and how to take action to accomplish your goals.

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If you would like more information about working with Kelly or you'd like to book a free consultation visit https://www.theaddictionnutritionist.com

Recovery U:https://recoveryu.mn.co/

In this episode I chat with my teacher and mentor, Christina Veselak! I took Christina's course on Recovery Nutrition and Amino Acid Therapy in 2017. Her Level 1 training program helped launch me into the world of addiction nutrition and taught me what NO OTHER PROGRAM is teaching: how to feed a recovering brain! Christina is the founder of The Academy for Addiction and Mental Health Nutrition, and she is on a mission to spread a vital message. If you are a clinician working in the field of addiction recovery, this episode will be of special importance. I had so much fun catching up with Christina, discussing her newest project, the non-profit Eating Protein Saves Lives, and her nationwide campaign.

  Christina Veselak has over 40 years of experience in the field of psychotherapy and is a dynamic public speaker with an enthusiastic following. Her vision as a global changemaker is to make this life-saving information available to all people, from a kitchen in a mud-house in Africa to the White House.

To learn more about Christina, the Academy, her non-profit, and all the programs she offers, please visit the following links.

Options for Discovering & Experiencing more about Amino Acid Therapy and Nutritional Recovery.

Option 1 - FREE Practice Enhancement Session with Christina                 https://calendly.com/aminoacidtherapy 

Option 2 - FREE Practice Enhancement Session with Mark              https://go.oncehub.com/AcademyforAddictionandMentalHealthNutrition 

Option 3 - “Discover The Power of Nutrition in Recovery” 6-Hour Introductory Training $180                

https://aminoacidtherapy.com/peer-coach-training-and-recovery/           NEXT COURSE: Sat 16th September

Option 4 - “How To Do Amino Acid Therapy” On-demand training + 1 Coaching Call $129                  

https://aminoacidtherapy.com/course-lesson-1/# 

Option 5 - Christina's Weekly Amino Club Weekly group ‘Using Amino Acid Therapy’ Case Coaching  $50 per month 

https://aminoacidtherapy.com/the-amino-club/  

Option 6 - ”Feed the Brain, First!” 12-Hour On-demand training $900

[ Deductible from any Full Coaching and Certification Courses]                  https://aminoacidtherapy.com/two-day-intensive-course/ 

Option 7 - Full Coaching and Certification Courses $398 per month                  https://aminoacidtherapy.com/course-all/                    

NEXT On-Demand Core Training COURSE: Starts DAILY                  

NEXT LIVE Core Training COURSE: Starts Tue 21st September    

Eating Protein Saves Lives Website - 

https://eatingproteinsaveslives.org/

Feeding Recovery Network Meetings - https://eatingproteinsaveslives.org/feeding-recovery-network-meetings/ (Resumes on October)

Today's episode is Part 2 of a two part topic, Pillars of Recovery. So if you haven't heard Part 1, you may want to head over to Episode 5 to learn what the term Pillars of recovery means, and listen to Nikki's personal story. Today in Part 2, Kelly details her Pillars of Recovery, and shares the impact they have had on her life and how she maintains these habits on a daily basis to sustain her Resilient Recovery. I hope you enjoy this episode and find some key pieces you would like to incorporate into your own recovery!

You will not want to miss this episode; it is near and dear to my heart! Jolene Park was one of three people who personally changed the trajectory of my life. When someone told me to check out Jolene Park's famous TED Talk, and her resources on Gray Area Drinking, I said, "Huh? Gray Area Drinking? What the heck is that?"....Little did I know in that moment that that phrase, and Jolene's description of what it means to be a Gray Area Drinker, would ultimately lead me to give up alcohol for good. Leaving alcohol behind has changed my life in such profound ways that it's difficult to capture in words. It often brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it.

I am so excited to bring this episode to the world because I know that so many people, especially women, are seriously struggling in this area. I see it in my friends, I see it on social media, and I see it in my community, even in my FAITH COMMUNITY, which Jolene and I decided was an important topic to discuss, so we did!

I can't wait to hear how this episode blesses you, your family, your loved ones, your sisters in Christ, and beyond. It's a long one, but so worth your time friends.

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Jolene Park is a sought after speaker and leading authority on Gray-Area Drinking. Her pioneering TED talk has been viewed 400,000 times! Wowza! She’s a functional nutritionist and health coach who provides a new and revolutionary way to rewire, replenish and repair the nervous system after quitting drinking. Her NOURISH method is applicable to anyone questioning their drinking, or who has already quit — especially those who don’t have a crash-and-burn drinking story. Today, Jolene guides clients through the missing physiological pieces that they need to reduce excessive alcohol consumption, anxiety and cravings. She also trains healthcare practitioners on the importance of nourishing neurotransmitters and supporting their client’s nervous system in a comprehensive way. Her work has been featured on NPR and many other outlets. Jolene is a Colorado native and currently lives in Charleston, SC. 

To learn more about Jolene and her offerings, you can find her at the following links:

Website https://grayareadrinkers.com

Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/jolene__park/

Coach Training https://healthydiscoveries.mykajabi.com/nourish

TED Talk https://www.ted.com/talks/jolene_park_gray_area_drinking?language=en

I recently had the pleasure of participating in a 10 week class that today's guest Alyssa Vogelwede, taught about the science of building joy. My mind was blown on so many levels during the course that I just knew I had to have Alyssa on to share her wisdom with us. I had never really given joy much thought, other than holding the belief that it was not much different than "happiness", but boy was I wrong! Alyssa shares with us the distinctly different traits of joy, where it's housed in the brain, how it operates much like a battery charger to the rest of the brain, and it's relationship with desperately needed skills in recovery like emotional regulation, maturity and character development.

Alyssa shares with us the brains capacity for building joy, the basic ingredients necessary to begin the process, and how to start exercising your joy muscle so you can build more joy into your life. She highlights the especially important topic of relationships, and how joy fertilizes the soil for healthy community development. She also gives us practical tips on how to amplify joy throughout the day, so we can build our emotional resilience and capacity for big feelings. Alyssa and I discuss the concept of "joy camp", how we can map our brains back to joy, and how we can make joy our default emotion. Lastly, Alyssa takes us through a 5 step process of how information comes into our brains, and how our brain uses old and or updated files to process that information. She also shares where the brain can short circuit, potentially leading us to use "pseudo joys" like processed foods, substances or unhealthy behaviors in place of true joys, and how we can begin to recognize where pseudo joys may be taking up space in our lives.

This was truly one of my favorite episodes so far. This discussion was so incredibly helpful to me, and I know it's going to bless so many of you who may be looking for ways to increase your own joy. I hope you'll give it a listen and feel as inspired as I did to start implementing some of the easy tools that Alyssa shared with us in this episode. If you would like to learn more about Alyssa or what she has to offer you can learn more about her here: https://www.claritygroup.org/alyssa-voglewede or you can reach out to her private practice at Rising Oaks in Castle Pines Colorado https://www.therisingoaks.com/

Slide of the 5 levels of information processing:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/rionybmye3j2wvv/5%20Levels%20of%20the%20Brain%20%283%29.pdf?dl=0

In today's episode I chat with my friend and returning guest Matt Salis, the author of Soberevolution (a book about how to survive an alcoholic marriage) and host of the Untoxicated Podcast. I was casually listening to episode 197 of Matt's podcast when he started talking about how shame has creeped back into his life 6 years into sobriety, but this time it circles around food. I was so moved by what Matt shared that I knew I had to have him on to explore this topic deeper! Turns out, the same patterns we develop around alcohol consumption, hiding, lying, defensiveness and deflections, can rear their ugly head when it comes to our relationship with food. Matt and I discuss what happens when other people judge our food choices, when we judge ourselves for our food choices, and where alcohol and food are different when it comes to moderation. We discuss the role of will power, the importance of releasing rigidity, and the power of vulnerability. Shame and perfectionism are major enemies to progress, and there's just no room for them in a resilient recovery. I hope that Matt's vulnerability with this topic inspires and encourages you to better understand your personal relationship food, and know that we are all in this together!

If you want to learn more about Matt and his resources he can be reached at the following links:

Podcast: https://un-toxicated.com/ https://thestigma.org/author/mattsalis/ Soberevolution:https://soberandunashamed.com/books/