Eat Your Feelings

Do you frequently find yourself dismissing negative thoughts and feel frustrated when others express negativity? Do you surround yourself with positive affirmations and constantly encourage friends or family to “look on the bright side”? Congratulations, you’ve fallen into the toxic positivity trap and you’re definitely not alone. Listen in as Robin shares the ways in which she’s struggled with toxic positivity, how not allowing herself to feel negativity has led to life-altering consequences, and what toxic positivity could be doing to your relationships, health, and overall well-being.

Change is a funny thing. In most cases, it offers an opportunity to start a new and focus on self-improvement, but that doesn’t make it any easier to avoid ransacking a bag of Cheetos. In this weeks episode we share the insanity that we both experienced for the end of 2020, ranging from a breakup after a 5-year relationship (and most recently, engagement) to moving 1000+ miles across the country, and what we’ve been doing to cope with the stress. Robin also shares the strength she’s found in being a single-woman while Brandy offers some simple psychological tools that can help your mind better-adapt to a new environment, whether it be a new home, new job, etc.

COVID-19 has been a historical, life-changing experience for all of us. And while the end is on the horizon with the approval of the vaccine, the second wave is still very real, and very serious. Listen in as Brandy shares the terrifying experience of her and her husband being hit hard by COVID, what she wished she knew when she had it, tips for what to do if you find yourself suffering from it, and the importance of not becoming complacent or lazy with preventative measures -- especially right now. Robin also shares tips for keeping inflammation down (a major influence in the severity of COVID) and why she thinks she's been able to avoid contraction despite coming into contact with it. Disclaimer: The tips and advice shared in this episode are based on personal experience and do not come from the advisory of a healthcare professional. If you find yourself suffering from COVID-19 reach out to your state's health department for guidance on what to do.

Whether you’re totally feeling your bod or would prefer to hide under a rock, confidence plays a major role on the journey to optimal health. Listen in as we chat about the risks of having both too much confidence and not enough, and what you should ultimately strive for to live your best healthy life. Brandy also reports back on the surprising things she’s learning from food tracking and her thoughts on using the My Fitness Pal app.

Regardless of where you stand on the political spectrum, we can all agree that this election has been CRAY. Throw COVID into the mix and you've got the perfect concoction for an emotional eating disaster. We get it (especially Brandy) but unlike most health-related media sources, we're not here to convince you to stop. Rather, just pivot a little. In this week's episode we discuss a few simple ways to not only own up to emotional eating but also seek out healthier alternatives that still provide that much-needed emotional fix. Brandy also shares how she did on her 2-day sushi diet plus finally being able to sit indian style due to personal training.

We all have that special someone in our life — the one who makes you add bean-based party food to your menu to adhere to their strict vegan diet. And while there’s nothing wrong with that, the vegan lifestyle comes with an array of challenges that most of us don’t have the self-discipline to maintain. Luckily, there are some alternative diets/nutritional habits that offer a close number of health benefits which is what we’re digging into in this weeks episode. Listen in as Robin explains the difference between a vegan, vegetarian, and pescatarian diet and the pros and cons that come with each, while Brandy tries to keep up and then reluctantly agrees to try a 2-day pescatarian diet.

That venti extra whip mocha might have been fine in your early 20s, but once you pass 25, not so much. In this week's episode Brandy talks about her struggles with losing weight after 24 while Robin shares the biological reasons that our younger fat-burning methods cease to work overtime and what you can do about it.

It's no secret - American's love any and all cosmetic surgery. But could popular cosmetic fat-melting methods (lipo, cool scultiping, gastric bypass) actually cause more harm than good? That's what we're discussing this week as Robin explains the shocking results she's seen among clients and friends who have undergone weight loss surgery, and how solving external flaws is really just putting a bandaid on a deeper, underlying issue.

We all know that yoga provides a variety of health benefits, but what's up with all chakra talk? That's what we're discussing in this weeks episode. Brandy shares her inability to activate her "spiritual energy" while Robin breaks down yoga concepts in a way that actually makes sense -- even for the most cynical yoga-doer (aka Brandy).

We've all heard it before -- drinking a minimum of 64oz of water per day can do amazing things for your health. And if you're anything like Brandy, you've spent your entire life avoiding this extremely simple cure-all solely because everyone won't shut up about it. In this week's episode Robin gets into specifics about what exactly consuming large quantities of water can do for your mental and physical health, while Brandy offers insight on how to get your daily consumption even when it feels like a chore.

With the Coronavirus, the political climate, and the uncertainty of the future, the stress of our current times is definitely taking a toll on our collective health. But can sharing your feelings with a stranger actually help? That's what we're exploring in this week's episode. Robin and Brandy discuss their own experiences with therapy, the importance of exploring mental issues for improving physical health, and why those who are the most resistant towards it could be the ones who need it the most.

Who says you can’t have your cake and eat it too? In this episode Brandy digs into her pretty unhealthy obsession with certain junk foods (graham cracker ice cream sandwiches YUM), while Robin offers up some simple, healthy alternatives ranging from sweet, salty and crunchy.

Sure, a cleanse might seem like a fast + easy way to shed those extra pounds but how safe are they? And are they even effective for keeping the weight off? That’s what we’re exploring this week as Robin shares her personal (and slightly terrifying) experience of a recent bone-broth cleanse plus how to approach a cleanse safely without sending your body into total shock. Brandy also shares VERY unexpected news about an insanely big health/life change which she 1000% blames on Robin. Hint/Disclaimer: Following the advice in this podcast may result in pregnancy.

If sex is more of a burden than an enjoyable act of love, your health might be to blame. In this week's episode Robin and Brandy talk about their very contrasting sex drives, how tight pelvic floor muscles could be the cause of painful intercourse, and why too much screen time and not enough down time could interfere with overall pleasure.

How the heck do you stick with a health regimen when life keeps throwing curve balls? That’s what we’re delving into this week. From Robin getting her car stolen to Brandy having marriage issues, we discuss ways to maintain mental and physical health, even when everything feels crappy and hopeless.

Do milk alternatives actually taste anything like standard dairy milk? That's what we're exploring in this week's episode as Brandy and her 10yr old daughter do a live, on-air tasting of 6 different milk/creamer alternatives ranging from cashew to collagen (..what?). Robin also shares the suspiciously bizarre health problems related to standard dairy milk and offers up her favorite alternatives for anyone with healthy, aka broken, tastebuds. Brandy + Charlotte's milk ratings: Macadamia Creamer: 3/10. Cashew Milk (MALK): 5/10. Coconut Milk: 2/10. Vanilla Almond Milk: 6/10. Collagen Creamer: -20/10. Oat Milk: 4/10. Standard dairy milk: 10/10.

Whether it’s fast food on the road or delicious deserts prepared by family, is it even possible to go on vacation without weight gain? That’s what we’re digging into this week as both sisters return from their recent road trips. Robin shares her experience of renting an RV and the amazing health benefits of getting to prep her own food on-the-go, while Brandy complains about having to eat fast food for 3 days straight while stuck in the car with her 10yr old, husband, and dog.

To supplement or not to supplement? That's the question we're answering in this episode. Robin shares the results of her (slightly insane) week-long broth cleanse while Brandy reports back on her (slightly pathetic) once-per-week physical activity challenge. They also discuss the stigmas surrounding the supplement industry, the safest ones on the market for health newbs, and which ones to take for weight loss, energy, and muscle gain. Recommended protein powder: Evolve for vegans or Isopure for people with tastebuds. Weight loss: CLA (brand = ON). Helps your body process fat. Appetite suppressant: Hoodia. Energy: B12 (Whole Foods brand or Nature's Way).

How do you muster up the motivation to be physically active when you'd literally rather be doing ANYTHING else? That's what we're diving into with this episode. Robin shares tips for starting out small with weekly workout routines and how to integrate physical activity into your everyday life. Brandy talks about her annoyances with running (ie having a waterbed butt) and agrees to take on Robin's simple 1-day per week health challenge.

Look through your kitchen cupboards and what's the most common ingredient you'll find hidden within nearly every boxed or quick-prepare food item? Soy. In this episode Robin digs into the source of our country's high soy consumption, how it's causing everyone to become abnormally inflamed, and why we should all be eating a clean, soy-free diet. Brandy also offers easier, more realistic suggestions for those who don't want to devote their entire life savings (and sanity) to maintaining a soy-free diet.

While depression may not be completely curable, there are a few ways to make it suck a little less, and that's what we're digging into with this episode. Robin shares 4 mental and nutritional-based tips for climbing out of the "depression hole" (the place you go when everything starts feeling hopeless, ie where most of us are right now) while Brandy reports back on the almost unbelievable impact the DIM hormone supplement has had on her depression and energy level (completely safe -- no side effects).

Brandy reports back on how she's doing with Robin's slightly annoying yet surprisingly effective water challenge (30oz/day), the physical and emotional impact of falling into the stress-fatigue loop, and how to get yourself to calm the heck down. Bonus: Robin makes Brandy perform stress-reducing labor breathing during the episode which somehow causes Brandy to choke... on her own air.

Then you're a completely normal human being. In this episode we cover the source of emotional consumption (and yes you can probably blame your parents), what happens when you swap one bad habit for another, Brandy's super unhealthy addiction to caffeine, and the life-changing benefits of water.

Get to know personal trainer Robin Atwood and stand up comedian Brandy Thomas as they share their extremely different approaches to health despite being sisters (hint: one is healthy, one is not), what they plan to dish out with this podcast, and why they think the current conversation surrounding health needs a massive overhaul.