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Boston, Life, Registered Dietitian, Self Care, Weekend

Weekend Recap and New Shifts In Life & Work

March 19, 2018 By Robyn 44 Comments

I spent Friday and Saturday at the MEDA conference and it was such an awesome learning + networking experience. Jessi asked me if I was going months ago, but it took me until a day before to finally finalize going both Friday and Saturday and I’m so so so so so glad I did!

MEDA stands for multi-service eating disorder association, meaning there were physicians, therapists, dietitians, nurses, nurse practitioners and other clinicians at the conference. I really loved being able to learn from and talk with people from so many different fields, yet all of us specialized in eating disorders. And meeting Paige and Haley in person was so fun! By the end of our 48 hours together it felt like I had known these new friends for years.

Something really unexpected that the conference did for me was really solidify what matters to me when it comes to this work and my life. I feel like I’ve been in this transitional season over the past several months and have slowly, but surely, began to shape and form the vision I want for my career. But even more so over the past month or so I feel like I’ve began to get really, really clear on what I do and don’t want to focus on when it comes to business and career. I’m somebody who can get really clear and then I see a shiny object or I get distracted with “shoulds” and before I know it I’ve crossed over 4 lanes on the freeway.

This weekend helped me find my lane again and even more so, solidly that yes…THIS is my lane. Nick had been gone traveling for work all week so Friday after the conference wrapped up I came home to spend some much needed time with him – we walked over to Urban Grape to pick up a bottle of wine and then onto B.Good for burgers + fries. I was craving sweet potato fries and also wanted to veg out on the couch so this was our quickest option. Last minute I went with the chicken sandwich with spicy slaw and avocado. It was the best meal ever, but pretty good for affordable takeout. We’ll be back.

Saturday morning I answered email since I neglected my inbox Friday – I usually don’t answer email on Saturday, but I did a little in the morning to respond to anything that needed attention. And then I went on a morning jog along the Charles River. It was cold but in a way that leaves you refreshed. Does anyone know what I’m talking about?

And then I made a green smoothie and took this toast with me to eat on my way to the conference. Avocado and everything seasoning on one half, sun butter + banana on the other.

I learned a lot and I also felt like I was affirmed in things I already incorporate into my practice. Especially when it comes to counseling, sometimes when I’m working with a client we get creative and are figuring out things together because xyz thing didn’t work and then we try something else etc etc. It was reallyyyyy reassuring when I realized, “oh, these things they are teaching me right now…I’m already doing.” and that boosts my confidence and also helps me to refine that part of my practice even more. I loved loved loved the talk Dr. Gaudiani gave on palliative approaches and end of life care in adults with eating disorders. I’ve been fangirling her hard since I discovered her about a year ago and could listen to her teach for hours on end. Also Ragen Chastain gave such a powerful talk on eating disorder recovery and size acceptance – if you ever get a chance to hear her speak I highly recommend! She’s incredibly influential.

Saturday after the conference, sadly Paige had to hop a flight so we missed her, but Jessie, Haley and I headed to Barcelona for wine + tapas and sat there for 3 hours. A great wrap on the conference. I told them this at dinner, but it’s conferences like this and being around people that do the same work you do that make me feel insanely grateful to get to do this work and be involved in this community. And you guys reading this are included in those people that allow me to do this work so thank YOU.

Sunday I ate a smaller-ish pancake for breakfast to save room for brunch after church. These were leftover blender pancakes with nut butter and banana + maple syrup I added to the plate after this photo because soggy syrup pancakes are no good.

We’ve gone back to Mosaic church a couple times and are hopeful that maybeee our church dating days are coming to a close. Afterward we got brunch with our new-ish friends Brian and Amanda and their baby boy Luke at Cinquecento. I ordered the cheesy polenta with mushrooms and poached eggs. It was cheesy and fab. Plus a “sugar donut” I shared with Nick that tasted more like a fried cake and was also fab.

The rest of the day included grocery shopping, eating popcorn and watching UNC lose…bad (that was rough, especially for Nick) and eating leftovers for dinner. I didn’t take a picture of dinner…

Which ties into my thoughts lately on this blog and career and how that fits with my life. A month or so ago I was jogging and had this thought that doesn’t sound like an “a-ha” moment, but it was. I realized I didn’t like writing weekend recap posts and I was resenting it. But what kept me writing them was that you all really enjoy them and I didn’t want to disappoint anyone. I really REALLY appreciate and love you guys. But then I realized this wasn’t healthy for me anymore. My brain was never shutting off. All weekend I would be thinking about what pictures I needed to make sure I was taking. I was annoyed at having to take out my phone at dinner or when Nick and I sat down to eat so I could have that photo for the recap. And then all day Sunday I would be thinking about having to write the weekend recap post. It would just hang over me and as a result, I never felt like I was truly shut off from work throughout the week because work bled into the weekend and then Monday was here.

I’ve experienced the same thing with social media. Which is why I’m posting less actual IG pictures and you don’t see me on it much over the weekend anymore. I’ve been writing this blog for almost six years – the first 2 1/2 years are archived since I was in a different place personally and professionally when I began and that content doesn’t align with where I am now – but six years feel like a long time to me. And although I don’t plan to quit writing in this place anytime soon, I think how I go about writing and how I engage with social media is changing. I have a love/hate with social media and I think a lot of people, including maybe you, also do too.

I feel like over the past year I’ve been in this push and pull with defining who I want to be as a professional and where I want to draw the line with work and life. Is there a balance? What does that even MEAN? So I feel like this has been a work in progress that I’m finally starting to feel clarity on in these beginning months of 2018. I don’t have the answer for what work life balance means. And I also think the capacity to which you work and the rhythms of how you work change as life seasons change.

I feel really thankful to make my own hours, my own rules and my own income with the blog and private practice. I never in a million trillion years thought this business would grow to what it has….much of that being over the past year, with the previous five years paving the way for this past year of growth. I also feel really thankful that my soul freaking bleeds for this work. That might sound dramatic, but I feel like that’s the best way I can describe it. So all that say, I can work 14 hours a day doing this work if I let myself…a major thing that helps me not to do that is relationships. Friendships and my family and my husband. So that’s good.

I don’t think that what I’m feeling is burn out because I’ve definitely had that. Hi, nursing school. But rather I think that I want less distraction and I want to either be 100% present in my life or 100% present in my work (which is my life too but you get what I’m saying..) So now that I’m just word vomiting and external processing as I write…here’s what I think that means for me.

My number one focus is being a really good practitioner and continuing to develop my skills and knowledge. That’s what I care about most – caring for my clients and patients, staying on top of the research, growing in my nursing + counseling skills, and creating content that educates and empowers women. And if that’s my number one, I can do that and also draw firm boundaries with social media and the blog because when those bleed too much into my life, my mind doesn’t have time to reset.

So a lot of words later I think what I’m saying is that I won’t be writing weekend recap posts anymore and you won’t see me on social media in the evenings or on the weekends unless for some reason it feels natural and I want to engage. What you can expect though is to still see lifestyle content in addition to the intuitive eating, women’s health, hormonal health and food content. So I will still share snippets of my life and other things and still monologue about life stuff on Instagram stories sometimes for those of you that enjoying listening (I love you btw 🙂 …but I’m craving more privacy instead of recapping events or days in my life.

If I’m honest with you and myself, my fear is that if I retreat back with sharing my personal life I won’t be meeting expectations. So as the blog shifts slightly I hope you will stick around. And if I’m not on social media in the evenings or weekends, know that I’ll be back on Monday morning. 🙂

Now your turn…setting boundaries and holding to them is HARD STUFF. Are there areas in your life that you feel like need some boundaries? What might you do differently if there ____ didn’t hold you back? I’d love to hear it in the comments! <3


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Filed Under: Boston, Life, Registered Dietitian, Self Care, Weekend

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Comments

  1. Randee says

    March 19, 2018 at 7:41 am

    Hi Robyn,

    I’m a very new reader who just discovered your blog and instagram account within the last few weeks. Anyway, I have enjoyed both so thoroughly and just wanted to say a huge THANK YOU for all the work you are doing!!! And, after reading this post, I applaud you for respecting what feels right for you and navigating the world of sharing and social media accordingly. You have gained a new reader who will be sticking around regardless of how often you post. You deserve to have your weekend breaks too! Thank you again!

    Reply
    • Robyn says

      March 19, 2018 at 4:13 pm

      Randee – first, WELCOME! I’m so glad you are enjoying the blog and finding it helpful! Your works means so so so much to me so thank YOU!

      Reply
  2. Allison says

    March 19, 2018 at 7:56 am

    Thank you for sharing your thoughts on how the blog and social media are influencing your life! I feel like that’s something that people often over look and they just want consistent content from creators (on any platform) without taking into account that it is an actual human person who still has to live their lives and take care of themselves!

    I can relate, I feel like I’m constantly thinking about work when I’m not there and it drives me crazy. Still figuring out a way to shut my brain off!

    Reply
    • Robyn says

      March 19, 2018 at 4:13 pm

      Thank you Allison for your encouraging comment – man, I can relate too and I’m figuring it out myself 🙂

      Reply
  3. Suzanne says

    March 19, 2018 at 8:15 am

    Robyn – I totally understand and support your decision to set some boundaries. As with any season of life, there are times when we feel more free to share and be open and that feels good and there are times when we need more privacy/boundaries. With social media, it is an ever changing and ever evolving process. Once again, you are being an example to us by your honesty and authenticity and by taking care of YOUR needs.

    Thanks for all you do!

    Reply
    • Robyn says

      March 19, 2018 at 4:14 pm

      Thank you for your loving support Suzanne <3

      Reply
  4. Gemma says

    March 19, 2018 at 10:52 am

    Hi Robyn! I’m glad you enjoyed the MEDA conference. I’d be interested in hearing more about what Dr. Gaudiani had to say about palliative care for those with Eating Disorders. This sounds like a controversial yet important topic. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Robyn says

      March 19, 2018 at 4:14 pm

      Certainly not something that everyone agrees with but very very interesting and a compelling point of view I think! Email me if you want to hear more info

      Reply
  5. Lynda says

    March 19, 2018 at 11:02 am

    Thank you for sharing your struggle with balancing work and life. I appreciate you being so open and I totally understand. With the type of work that you do it would be so easy to work all the time and as you said other important areas of your life are neglected. I will always follow you! I think you will feel such contentment in making this decision. Thank you for all of your hard work.

    Reply
    • Robyn says

      March 19, 2018 at 4:21 pm

      I already do and especially with so much love and support for you all – thank you so much Lynda! <3

      Reply
  6. Edie says

    March 19, 2018 at 11:10 am

    Nothing but love and support for you, Robyn. I couldn’t agree more. I actually took an intentional break from social media all weekend, and it was glorious. At the end of the day, you have to do what is best for you — that, in of itself, is modeling ultimate self-care (which I know you believe wholeheartedly in!).

    XO

    Reply
    • Robyn says

      March 19, 2018 at 4:20 pm

      Aww Edie thank YOU! So glad you are doing what is best for you too <3

      Reply
  7. Amber @ Bloom Nutrition THerapy says

    March 19, 2018 at 11:26 am

    I think this post describes perfectly a lot of the boundary issues that professionals in the social media/blogging space face. I have been there, too, with wondering what the balance is between personal and professional. In the beginning, when I was first building my blog and practice, I POURED myself into it and it really felt like I never shut off. BUT, at the time, that felt right and like what I wanted because I was so passionate about it. As things have settled, I, too, have felt the need to make more of a distinction in personal and professional. Now, I share mostly in a professional context on my blog. And, when the mood strikes and I have something interesting to share (like trips, favorite things, etc.), I share those, too. It’s definitely a balancing act and it takes time to figure out what works! I definitely am not going anywhere!

    Reply
    • Robyn says

      March 19, 2018 at 4:20 pm

      so hear you and agree Amber and I appreciate you sticking around :))

      Reply
  8. Kelly says

    March 19, 2018 at 11:27 am

    Hey Robyn! Thank you for sharing your thought process and decision with us – I’m a huge fan because you have created an online community that is authentic to you, and I am glad you will continue to do that! On the flip side of weekend recaps, I’ve realized I can spend so much time watching others live their weekends on social media that I don’t get out and live my own life. So that’s an area where I’ve realized I need to set boundaries!

    Reply
    • Robyn says

      March 19, 2018 at 4:20 pm

      Kelly I never even thought of that and commend you so much for your honesty in your self reflection, that’s so admirable. Yes to setting boundaries around that and enjoying the life you get to live!

      Reply
  9. Vanessa says

    March 19, 2018 at 11:54 am

    Hi Robyn! I have been reading your blog for a very long time and have to be honest when I say I look forward to your weekend recaps so much! BUT, i completely understand where you are coming from and at the end of the day, you have to do what you have to do inorder to be happy and not overwhelmed. We definitely don’t want you making posts ONLY because we want them, because then they arent as genuine, they’re just forced. I will FOR SURE continue to read and follow along & I respect so much that you’re taking a step back from
    how much you engage in social media. So
    while I will miss your weekend recaps so much, I will always be here to stay!

    Reply
    • Robyn says

      March 19, 2018 at 4:19 pm

      I appreciate your honest Vanessa :)) And YES! I want to be writing form a genuine want and not to just be churning out content. Thanks for staying here Vanessa through the changes – your loyalty means so much!

      Reply
  10. cate says

    March 19, 2018 at 12:34 pm

    You could ditch all the personal stuff, and I’d still love your blog. Your experience, education, and viewpoint is what keeps me learning and reading!

    Reply
    • Robyn says

      March 19, 2018 at 4:18 pm

      love reading this from you cate! I love writing those posts the most!

      Reply
  11. Laura Adkins says

    March 19, 2018 at 1:33 pm

    Robyn,
    After suffering from irregular periods for years due to disordered eating patterns, overexercise, stress about eating/not eating, I discovered you and your blog. I cannot say that I am fully recovered, but your words, wisdom, ‘food recaps’, posts and encouraging words have led me to shed the guilt/thought patterns that have tormented me for years. I just want you to know that because of you my life is back on the right track and I haven’t been this happy in I can’t remember when. While I completely understand your need to cut back on this site, I still look forward to seeing your posts.
    Thank you for being a driving force for body positive behaviors/thoughts in a world where that is MUCH needed.
    Laura

    Reply
    • Robyn says

      March 19, 2018 at 4:17 pm

      LAURA! You sharing your story means so so so much to me. Knowing that this space is having such impact on others fills me up so incredibly much. Giving you a virtual hug!! xx

      Reply
  12. Korie says

    March 19, 2018 at 2:46 pm

    Thanks for sharing!

    I loved getting to know you through your posts, but I understand needing privacy! To be honest, many bloggers can talk about their days and weeks… but you actually know stuff. If you were to only post 1-2 times a week but focus more on in depth content, that would be of great value to your readers. Not many bloggers have the education and professional background that you do.

    Reply
    • Robyn says

      March 19, 2018 at 4:16 pm

      Thank you so much Korie for your input – that’s encouraging that you find such value in the deep content posts and those are the ones I love to write most!

      Reply
  13. Nicole @ Laughing My Abs Off says

    March 19, 2018 at 3:36 pm

    I love the raw honesty of this post. Please do exactly what feels right to you, and know that your loyal followers will follow you wherever you lead. 🙂

    Reply
    • Robyn says

      March 19, 2018 at 4:15 pm

      Thank you so much Nicole <3

      Reply
  14. Megan @ A Continual Feast says

    March 19, 2018 at 3:42 pm

    I LOVE that you are creating boundaries and I think people will really respect that! Not to mention you will probably feel so much more fulfilled. Proud of you girl! Also I was so bummed about UNC losing too! Between them and UVA my bracket is shot haha

    Reply
    • Robyn says

      March 19, 2018 at 4:15 pm

      hahahah UVA was SOOO SAD. And then UNC was another blow. I think a lot of peoples brackets are trashed 🙂
      Thanks so much for your support! xx

      Reply
  15. Kara says

    March 19, 2018 at 5:08 pm

    Thank you for your update post Robyn!

    I have been a reader for several years now and your blog has consistently been one of my absolute favourites.

    I admit I am sad to hear that you won’t be doing weekend recap posts anymore. While I’m sure many folks reading your content derive the most benefit from your topic-focused posts on women’s health/hormones/diet etc.., I personally have had the greatest healing from following your daily life content
    .
    Your ability to lead by example (from what you eat, to where you go, to time you spend with friends, activities you do on weekends etc.) are all what have helped me heal and feel excited and inspired to enjoy and live a life I love and feel comfortable with.

    I fully respect your decision (and know I would feel somewhat stressed having a weekend-recap hanging over me every weekend!), but I thought I would let you know that for some readers, like myself, these are the posts that make the biggest difference. I find it much easier and more inspiring to look at what someone like you is doing and eating in their everyday life and use that to inspire my own life, rather than try to apply specific health/medical knowledge to how I eat and manage my health.

    Of course I am eager and happy to continue following along with you and your beautiful life! Just thought I’d share that perspective!

    Many thanks 🙂

    Reply
    • Chris says

      March 19, 2018 at 10:53 pm

      I relate to this. 🙂

      Reply
  16. Ashley V says

    March 19, 2018 at 7:04 pm

    Robyn, I can’t even remember how long I’ve been reading your blog, but it’s probably been 5 years or so. I enjoy the weekend recaps and the lifestyle posts that make me feel like I know you, but they’re not the only reason I read. I always feel like you’re genuine in your posts, and I wouldn’t want that feeling to go away just for the sake of cranking out a post. Every fiber of my being is an introvert, so I can’t imagine being such a big presence on social media, and I imagine that it can be quite draining. I have a love/hate relationship with social media, and I’m not even a business owner! The moral of the story is that you’re not letting me down by ending the weekend recaps! Take care of yourself and your relationships!

    Reply
  17. Abigail T says

    March 19, 2018 at 7:32 pm

    Thanks for being honest and open with your thoughts. I appreciate your example of a wife, fellow Jesus follower, and health care provider. I totally get the whole social media / privacy / work / relationships / etc “balance”. I read your blog because you are very wise and humble and SO knowledge on so many issues women are facing today. I love seeing what is going on in your life but don’t mind if that goes away. Do what’s best for you and Nick!

    Reply
  18. Erin says

    March 19, 2018 at 8:31 pm

    Hey Robyn, I just wanted to say that I think it’s amazing that you are setting boundaries that work for you! I definitely have had to learn how to do this in areas of my life, and while it’s challenging, it’s very much worth it. I love reading your thoughts on the blog no matter what form that ends up taking. There are so many unhealthy and unrealistic blogs out there, and yours is one of the few that I still read. Thank you for always being vulnerable and honest.

    Reply
  19. Erin Drum says

    March 19, 2018 at 8:47 pm

    Yes girl! Proud of you! You aren’t missing any expectations by not doing your weekend round ups! You are already blessing so many people with who you are and what you share! xoxo

    Reply
  20. Isa says

    March 19, 2018 at 11:18 pm

    I totally get the setting boundaries stuff. Although I enjoy reading and looking at the pics, I’m someone who shares almost nothing (like 1 post every 2 months, maybe?). I realize this is part of your business but I care more about the posts with content and life instead of life itself haha also because sometimes I see people I’m following and I can’t even recall why I’m following that person. So you I know it’s because of the clever advice + positive energy + simple way of looking at stuff. although it’s fun to see other parts of your life that’s not my main reason to follow you (hope it doesn’t sound rude).
    And about separating work and life: I do think it exists and I do think it’s healthy! I work from home so I usually try to follow my buddy schedule so I don’t go crazy on a working forever but not really working loop. And who doesn’t want a break from social media? so keep the great posts coming but follow your heart on this!

    Reply
  21. Emily Davis says

    March 20, 2018 at 4:47 am

    Hi Robyn! So glad to hear you’re setting boundaries for yourself. I too have a love/hate relationship with social media, and I think it’s wonderful that you’re stepping back from posting all the time (especially when it feels forced). While I love all of your writing, it’s the posts on intuitive eating, HAES, and just health and well-being overall that I truly look forward to. What you do on your personal time is private and up to you! Enjoy your newfound freedom from photo-snapping and being online 24/7!

    Reply
  22. Katherine says

    March 20, 2018 at 7:33 am

    Robyn, you are so brave! I so greatly admire you for sticking to what you know to be true for yourself. Of course I’ll miss these weekend updates, but I’m excited to see how your blog evolves! I will always be a faithful reader of your blog! It truly has made a huge impact in my life and recovery!

    Reply
  23. Melissa says

    March 20, 2018 at 10:54 am

    Good for you. Having to be “on” all the time isn’t healthy and having time to shut off and just be with the ones you love is so important. You’re not disappointing anyone, if anything you are being relatable and modeling what self care can look like. I am a counselor so I probably sound cliche but self care is not selfish. I think it is so awesome that you are setting boundaries that feel right to you. 😃

    Reply
  24. Valerie says

    March 20, 2018 at 6:20 pm

    Congrats to you for honoring what feels right to YOU!
    I hear you on thinking about all of the “should” stuff too much and veering off course before you even realize it. It reminds me of a series of sermons that a preacher in Atlanta (Andy Stanley) led several years ago called “Guardrails”. It was about the importance of establishing guardrails in your life in order to stay in your lane and stay true to yourself – the guardrails help to keep you ‘safe’ in a certain sense. Anyway, all that to say good for you 🙂 Life is crazy enough as it is so you just gotta do you!

    Reply
  25. Rachel says

    March 20, 2018 at 10:01 pm

    As you say all the time – you do you! I don’t think any of us have expectations of you so much as we just appreciate whatever work you do and are more than happy to flow with your lifestyle. I’ve often thought it must be a pain to keep remembering to take photos all weekend. Congrats on coming to a place of clarity where you know what you want and are prepared to act on it. I’m so proud that you can do that for yourself, and it shows that you are a really strong, independent and resilient woman. I’ll still be here soaking up whatever you post 🙂 Rooting for you!

    Reply
  26. E S says

    March 20, 2018 at 10:49 pm

    I SOOO love and appreciate that you won’t write the weekend recap posts unless you want to; I used to feel like I had to blog at least 3-5 times a week, but then the posts felt forced, and I felt like you do too. I felt like I had to always have my phone out and always be taking pictures of my food and such, and I could never be present.

    All that to say, you are one of my role models Robyn for being present and loving time with friends. I always love hearing about how you hung out with your friends for hours, just talking, and building relationships. It’s always a motivator for me to spend that time with people I love and be all there.

    And I totally appreciate when you can engage when it feels natural, but please don’t feel like you have to do it! We’ll be here to read when you come back. <3

    Reply
  27. Trista Johnson says

    March 22, 2018 at 8:41 am

    Wow, I scrolled through a lot of supportive and loving comments to get down to the bottom and write my own! Clearly I am just echoing much of the sentiment that has already been left here for you, but I still wanted to chime in!

    I’ve always enjoyed your recaps and I feel that through them I’ve come to care about Nick, your mom, and your friends! But it occurred to me after a recent one- I think the New hampshire weekend- that you are taking photos of your food during these trips/events/etc. I kinda wondered to myself I wonder if that’s annoying?? (I’ve never been one to take pictures of my food for instagram). I also think that you sharing real life/real time eats is probably helpful for some who are in the beginning of their intuitive eating journey and looking for role models so to speak (aka someone who eats two pieces of toast), but I know for me I kind of caught myself wanting to mimic your food (and others in the space, not just you). So for where I am in my journey- shifting away from looking to others for inspiration for what i put on my plate- your shift in the blog makes a lot of sense. I also am really excited to know that this will continue to be a resource for really good information.

    Thanks for all that you do- very much looking forward to following along with the next phase of the blog!

    Reply
  28. Nancy says

    March 22, 2018 at 2:59 pm

    Robyn: Your ability to realize that part of what you do wasn’t really working for you anymore is part of why we love you. You aren’t afraid to grow and adjust as your seasons of life/work change. You setting a needed boundary is a great example to your readers. Something that worked yesterday may not work as well today or tomorrow. Your content is genuine and caring and healing and informative and I always look forward to reading it. You do what you need to do for your life balance. I doubt any readers will wander off while you enjoy your weekend 🙂

    Reply
  29. Jenifer says

    March 26, 2018 at 12:04 pm

    Intuitive Working, couldn’t make more sense! The more I engage in the Intuitive Eating concept the more the idea of Intuitive Living/Working/Breathing etc. comes into play. It only makes 100% sense that you follow your Intuitive self in all aspects of life and you and your followers and clients will benefit. Ty for all you do Robyn and for following your intuition.

    Reply

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A non-diet dietitian and nurse practitioner helping women find peace with food, accept their natural body size and heal from hormonal issues and period problems.

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A little way I’m learning to enjoy these years o A little way I’m learning to enjoy these years of getting to spend so much time with my kids: aka another way I’m discovering some pockets of peace so my heart & mind & soul don’t crumble under the reality of dependent & emotionally dysregulated tiny humans.  About once a week we go somewhere for baked goods. We drive or walk, buy something buttery & then find a beautiful, relatively quiet outdoor spot where the boys can romp and I can sit and think my thoughts while I watch them play. This past week we were found ourselves at the Wool Factory where the boys threw rocks & whatever else off the bridge while I ate 90% of this almond 🥐 from @coucourachou that will blow your mind. Boys ate the other 10% bc they were busy playing and didn’t ask for more quickly enough 😜  I’m finding *for me* playgrounds have a time & place but they aren’t where I enjoy motherhood & my two toddlers the most. Baked goods & a pretty outdoor spot without high drops my 15 month old could launch himself off of…I’m here for it.
I brought this bag of snacks along when I took the I brought this bag of snacks along when I took the boys to hike out at one of our favorite spots last week and when I ripped it open I was regretting my choice to share them with my kids. @baresnacks randomly sent me a box of snacks and I usually eat free food we receive or give it to a friend/neighbor and move on. But I felt it my duty to tell you about these bc they are THAT GOOD. I’m not getting paid and this isn’t sponsored - I was just shocked at how tasty these were and felt you needed to know. We ate them with some buttery roasted nuts and the combo was 👌🏻 but they are good just on their own.  The boys climbed rocks and swam in the reservoir - leave it to my almost 3 year old to want to strip down naked and fully submerge himself in chilly water on a sixty degree morning. “Mama can I get super nakey?” Sure baby. Sure. This is your childhood.
It’s a hard sell to get me to accept an offer of It’s a hard sell to get me to accept an offer of extended alone time away from the babies to just be. And that isn’t something that’s best for me, it’s an area I gotta grow in. So this afternoon when Nick pushed me out the door and was like - get out of here plzzzz - I walked to my favorite cafe and ordered a thick pastrami sandwich and sat there for a good LONG while before taking a long, peaceful walk in the rain to wrap up the afternoon. Note to self: stop being such a control freak and go be by yourself sometimes.
a girlfriend brought me a 🍪 the size of my face a girlfriend brought me a 🍪 the size of my face from @mariebettecafe this morning when she came to get her toddler who played with us all morning and it is v good. even better when paired with an iced latte 😍
#AlignPartner I left off a few weeks ago sharing a #AlignPartner I left off a few weeks ago sharing about how taking @alignprobiotic regularly has improved my digestive regularity.  And I’m still taking them! I’ve permanently added Align 24/7 Digestive Support* into the roundup of supplements I take before bed (prenatal, vitamin D, choline & DHA - all which help keep me healthy while breastfeeding) so I can keep seeing the benefits.  Just because you see benefits, doesn’t mean you should stop taking your probiotic. Keep taking Align daily (under the supervision and recommendation of your health care provider of course) to keep seeing the benefits!  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - one of my favorite parts of Align probiotics is that they don’t need refrigeration AND they come in a convenient little blister pack that has the days labeled. It’s the little things people! #MyAlignGuutJourney #guthealth  *These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
I realized it was going to be a long, hot afternoo I realized it was going to be a long, hot afternoon (91 and muggy in MAY 🤯) when a toddler nap was refused and a baby nap was cut wildly short ....so my tired mom brain pulled out two plastic storage bins, filled them up with soap & hose water and striped ‘em down naked in the yard. Two hours later, it was almost time for an early dinner and I had magically been able to sit for most of that time and we already had baths checked off the list. 👍🏻 I’m archiving this idea for my future self, hope it helps another tired mama out.
#AlignPartner I left off a month ago sharing about #AlignPartner I left off a month ago sharing about getting better at doing the basics to care for myself which included taking my supplements and @alignprobiotic regularly.  Probiotics take time to work so I wanted to give it a full month to see the full effects of @alignprobiotic. So here are my honest thoughts: it took a few weeks to notice any differences, but near the end of the month I did notice some changes in my digestive balance - even while traveling! I’m not someone who experiences occasional gas, bloating or abdominal discomfort frequently enough to notice a difference, so I don’t feel like I can comment on how well Align works for those benefits.  All in all though, taking @alignprobiotic was a positive experience and I really appreciated how the capsules don’t need to be stored in the fridge, making it convenient to take them with me anywhere #MyAlignGuutJourney #guthealth  *These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Where we will spend a good majority of our summer. Where we will spend a good majority of our summer. Because the swampy VA summer has already begun (it’s in the low 90s today 🥵 lord help) and creeks are our retreat - not only from the heat but also from the noisy world. I need this just (if not more) than they do! We’ll be at the splash pads and pools too, but the quietness of the creek...my mental health is so about it. And it’s hours of play for them! Win win.  A couple things to note: this scene also included a few toddler reminders on finding another direction to throw rocks instead of at his brother - so not all is serene 🤪 and also, yes I am now that mom who buys the same clothing for both kids bc it keeps things simple & i think i kinda like it too 🤷🏻‍♀️
Things I love about midwifery among many: the appo Things I love about midwifery among many: the appointments, no matter how long, feel so unhurried. 
Just walked in from an appointment with my midwife because I was due for a Pap test + an overall wellness visit. My last pap was during my first trimester with Cal which feels like a jillion years ago, but it’s only actually been three years. Life changes so fast! Pre-baby life feels like a whole other life.  I’m wayyyy overdue for a visit to my PCP bc I’ve been under OBGYN or midwifery care for the majority of the past three years while having babies, but I am pretty good with keeping up with my paps. It seems women often think they need pap and/or HPV testing way more frequently than they do (and providers sometimes perform these tests more frequently than necessary - remember more testing doesn’t always mean better outcomes!)  So if you need it, here’s a quick little reminder on this chilly spring Friday afternoon on how often you need this testing (these are the recommendations from ACOG)  Women aged 21–29 years should have a Pap test alone every 3 years. HPV testing is not recommended.  Women aged 30–65 years should have a Pap test and an HPV test (aka co-testing) every 5 years (preferred). It also is acceptable to have a Pap test alone every 3 years.  If you get abnormal results, this testing frequency could change - but for healthy women with normal results, you actually don’t need testing as frequently as you might think. Which is great news for those of you who hate the speculum.  Ok, off to finish up some things on the to-do list (including cleaning this kitchen) during nap time and then come 5 o’clock, crack an IPA with our neighbors 🍻
#AlignPartner Over the past seven months since bec #AlignPartner Over the past seven months since becoming a mom of two, caring for myself has gotten shoved to the back burner. And it's been a challenge to make it a priority. My routine-resistant personality has upsides and downsides when it comes to motherhood. So I'm starting small this year with a consistent bedtime routine that includes taking my supplements and @alignprobiotic and hoping as that becomes consistent, my mornings will naturally shift too.  In short my bedtime currently goes like this….jammies & face care when putting the babies to bed. Before I go to bed (anytime between 9pm and 12am...) I’ll pump, take my supplements and fill my water. Then I go upstairs and brush my teeth. And then get in bed. The kicker: 70% of the time I find myself finishing up tasks on my phone IN BED. I hate this habit.  Back to supplements. This is something I have been able to stick with. On top of fish oil, my prenatal, choline and vitamin D, I recently added @AlignProbiotic 24/7 Digestive Support*§ to see if it helps with abdominal discomfort and regularity because when I don’t drink coffee or am traveling that can get thrown off.  I’ll be taking it every day for the next 28 days since it takes TIME for our bodies to adjust to probiotics - and I'll be taking you guys along with me as I share my honest thoughts. Many people think if they don’t see changes within the first 7-10 days then the probiotic isn’t working, but that’s not the case. I’m giving myself more than just a week or two and instead a full month to see the full benefits. I’ll keep you posted over the next month. Check out my stories to learn more! #MyAlignGutJourney #guthealth
 
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
We had an AFTERNOON today. Toddler didn’t care f We had an AFTERNOON today. Toddler didn’t care for a nap. Putting baby down was harder than I wanted it to be. Miraculously, I had a moment of clarity as I was covered in tiny humans and decided I wasn’t doing the nap battle thing a on 60 degree, gorgeous, sunny spring day 🙅🏻‍♀️ so I piled both babies into the car half naked, opened the sun roof, put on white noise for them and an audio book for me and drank a kombucha as I drove a meal to a postpartum mama. Thirty five minutes later we had a sleeping baby and a toddler who at least had a rest. Baby transferred without waking HALLELUJAH and although my toddler didn’t nap today (lord help) at least we got soaked in breezy sunshine 😎🤘🏻💆🏻‍♀️
We veered from our usual Friday night homemade piz We veered from our usual Friday night homemade pizza (minus the dough, we leave that to @albemarlebakingco) because we are eating pizza tomorrow with some friends - instead I called my mom and asked her how she makes her chicken fingers and we fried up a big ole batch of chicken nugs 🙌🏻🤤 along with a sheet pan full of sweet potato fries and a simple arugula salad dressed with parmesean, olive oil and s&p. Oh and my moms honey mustard recipe for dipping. It’s SO DANG GOOD.  Over the past 6ish months we’ve been practicing (and practicing and practicing bc it doesn’t come naturally) unplugging from technology and slowing down and resting and just being for one day a week. Some call it Shabbat. Some call it Sabbath. Maybe you call it something different. All I know is IT IS SO GOOD FOR MY WEARY SOUL and the day I look forward to ALL WEEK. Sundown on Friday to sundown Saturday. Nothing but rest. For us that means hiking (or something outside) and napping and reading and being with friends and eating really good food. And drinking some really good wine or craft beer. Sometimes whiskey. 😛  And because I know I’ll get asked about the chicken finger recipe and also because it’s too good not to share and Momma Coale said I could, here ya go:  Cut chicken breast into thin strips or small pieces (I prefer nug size bc the breading to chicken ratio is perfection). Salt and pepper those babies really well. Then dredge them in all purpose flour, then egg, then panko - just like you would bread anything else. Then fry them up in a light oil - I use avocado oil because that’s our everyday oil. You could also use canola or peanut oil. Just fill a pan with an inch or so of oil on medium high heat. They only take 2-3 minutes per side. You can always temp them to make sure they are at least 165 degrees F to really make sure they are done. Dunk in all the sauces and enjoy!  Happy weekend!

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