"Look at this board," Mary said, staring at the broad, wooden trailhead sign at the start of the Ingalls Lake Trail.

"It's like entering the land of No."

No campfires at the lake.

No camping at the lake.

No dogs allowed

No firewood cutting

If you think January feels like the "land of no" Reader, you're not alone.

No more sugar

Don't eat after 8 pm

Don't eat processed foods

After the food and drink free-for-all of the holiday season, many of the clients I've seen this week feel the pressure to live in the "land of no" - to get back on track.

But they DON'T want to fall into the dumpster fire of January diet culture. They'd rather ease back into a rhythm and routine with food and movement.

So, I asked them, ”If you could ease into the New Year, what would that look like?” Some of their responses...

No pressure to "undo" holiday eating

Find more joy with movement

Get back to my big salad at lunch

Add a vegetable to dinner

Start making my baked oatmeal for breakfast again

These behavior-based intentions (or goals) help to refocus on a positive relationship with food and exercise.

At the same time, the ease-in approach helps to push back against the loud diet culture noise of January.

What behavior-based intention with food or movement would help you ease into January, Reader?

Hit reply! I'd love to read your ideas 💡😊

Here are 2 blog posts to help you ease into the New Year AND stay out of the January diet culture dumpster fire:

​How to create healthy habits after 40: 5 Steps​

​3 unexpected ways to reach your health goals after 40​

Recipe Share

Lemony Red Lentil Soup, serves 4

This recipe is loaded with phytoestrogens, fiber, protein, and most importantly, satisfaction. I found it in my FAVORITE cookbook, Bad Manners, originally published as Thug Kitchen. The recipe creator is Michelle Davis @mdavisfoods, and @badmannersfood is worth following on social media and subscribing to her Substack. But! A word of caution, if you don't like spicy language and easy recipes with top-level flavors and satisfaction, this isn't the resource for you 😉​
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1 tsp olive or coconut oil

½ yellow onion, chopped

1 fist-size russet (baking) potato, peeled and cut into cubes about the size of a dice

1 carrot, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp ground coriander (or extra ½ tsp cumin)

½ tsp ground cumin

¼ tsp salt

2 cups red lentils, rinsed

6 cups vegetable broth

½ tsp grated lemon zest

1 Tbsp lemon juice

½ cup chopped fresh cilantro (optional)

Grab a large soup pot and heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion and let it saute for about 3 minutes until it starts getting all soft and vaguely golden.

Now add the potato and carrot. Sauté for another 2 minutes and then add the garlic and spices. At this point, your place should start smelling amazing! Sauté for another 30 seconds and then add the salt, lentils, and broth.

Let the lentils simmer, uncovered, until they're soft and kinda falling apart, 15-20 minutes. Stir this now and then. Add the lemon zest and juice and turn off the heat.

Now you can stop if you prefer a chunky lentil soup, or you can blend half of it for a creamy chunky hybrid thing. It's your soup, so own that shit. The blended soup will thicken up if you throw it back on the stove with some low heat for a minute or two, just watch.

Serve warm, topped with some cilantro if you don't hate it, and a drizzle of plain full-fat yogurt if you want.

Have a delicious weekend savoring food and your body!

Amanda

PS: After the food and drink free-for-all of the holiday season, most of the clients I talked with this week said they want to ease back into a rhythm and routine with food and movement. Here are 2 blog posts to help you ease into the New Year AND stay out of the January diet culture dumpster fire:

​How to create healthy habits after 40: 5 Steps​

​3 unexpected ways to reach your health goals after 40​