Why women in their 40s need a pleasure plan

I got a Toto Washlet for Mother's day. Not familiar? It's a bidet with all the bells & whistles including a heated seat and dryer! This toilet seat is going to bring me years of joy. I am smiling right now just thinking about sitting on that warm toilet seat when I wake up to go in the middle of the night.

This got me thinking about how as women it's part of our culture to be self-sacrificing and put ourselves LAST. There is nothing wrong with serving others, I love to do it too. But more importantly, you need to SERVE yourself.

I notice the self-sacrificing mindset leads to beliefs like "no fun or pleasure can be had until" fill-in-the-blank: my to-do-list is complete, I have X amount of money saved, I lose X amount of pounds, I have more time, or I get one more degree.

I for sure wasn't going to buy myself a Toto anytime soon. I even said earlier this month that we should wait longer to get it! Why?!!!

Chances are you are most likely pleasure starved.

Being pleasure starved commonly results in us turning to food as an easy immediate substitute which is usually only a temporary fix.

There is no shame in getting pleasure from food. You should! I can't imagine a world where we couldn't.

My point is often we are hungry for something else besides food. Maybe it's comfort, intellectual stimulation (adult conversation anyone?), beauty like art or a different culture (travel!!), touch.

When we satisfy these "cravings" we may find ourselves less dependent on food to fill us up.

So think about what are you really hungry for and make a plan.

Start with 5 mins of a daily pleasurable activity like listening to a podcast on a nature walk, taking a warm bath, or time with a pet. It doesn't have to be luxurious or cost anything.

The pleasure plan is essential for our productivity, mental health, and overall wellbeing. Let me know what your plan is going to be.

Talk soon,

Stephanie

P.S.-Want to ditch diets for good and have a sustainable plan? Check out my free 10 ways to sustainable weight loss here.

Comments

Epic Family Road Trip to Nova Scotia and Cape Breton Island

My family and I just returned from an unforgettable 12-day road trip to Nova Scotia and Cape Breton Island. To say we loved it would be an understatement! We experienced so many unique and fun adventures, and I just had to share them all with you. Getting There We kicked off our journey by driving 5 hours from our home in Vermont to Bar Harbor, Maine. From there, we boarded the high-speed CAT ferry directly to Yarmouth, NS, with our car in tow. The ferry ride was an experience in itself—spotting whales, enjoying live music, and relaxing with a latte and gelato made it a perfect start to our adventure. Day 1: Yarmouth Arrival We arrived in Yarmouth around 8 PM and spent the night at the Tru by Hilton . I highly recommend it for its free breakfast (and coffee!), nice gym, and indoor pool with a waterslide. Day 2-4: Exploring Mahone Bay & Peggy’s Cove We drove up the coast and discovered the charming town of Mahone Bay. We had a delicious lunch at Oh My Cod and explored th

Healthy Snacking on the Go: My Favorite Options for Your Road trip

Summer is here and my family and I just took a long roadtrip up to Acadia National Park and I packed #allthesnacks. Whether you're taking a long summer road trip or just going to visit family, finding healthy snacks for long car rides can be challenging. If you're planning on spending an extended period in the car with family, friends, and kids, you'll want to plan with healthy options that will boost the energy needed to explore. Here are some great ideas and links to specific products I buy for healthy snacks to pack (no cooler required) when traveling this summer: Nuts, Seeds, & Olives Packing various nuts and seeds is a great way to stay full throughout your travels. Almonds, walnuts, and peanuts provide healthy fats, protein, and other essential nutrients. Seeds like chia, sunflower, and pumpkin seeds are also excellent sources of protein and fiber. Nuts and seeds are easy to pack in small bags or containers, so they're perfect on the go. I love oli

Struggling to find time to meal prep?

A long time ago before I had kids, my dinner meal ideas came from gourmet magazines like Food & Wine and Bon Apetit (with the perfect wine pairing to boot). Fast forward several years to our first year as parents and that all went out the window. My meals were, well not so gourmet or healthy. A bowl of cereal was about all I had the energy for to make. I have now spent the last ten years as a working mom learning many tricks in the kitchen to get delicious, healthy and easy meals on the table night after night. Do you want to eat healthier meals and be more fit but struggle to find time to meal plan for the week? Not feeling creative? Picky eaters at home? You know you need to eat healthier to have more energy, but end up eating out more often than you would like. Below are my top time-saving tips to help you feel like a master in the kitchen, have more time to focus on your family and feel more energized to do what's important for you. Pre-cook animal proteins (chicken br

Master Her Health

Search This Blog