Not sure how many of you have tuned in yet, but we’ve been rolling out new content on the TOPS YouTube channel for the last few months. Currently, it is a hodgepodge of segments during which I demo recipes that have appeared in recent issues of TOPS News and share shopping tips while getting groceries in “behind the scenes” (BTS) shorts. If…
You may have noticed in January/February 2023 issue of TOPS News a short teaser about my first cookbook being released this spring. One of the topics I candidly discuss in the opening section is how I became sober-curious during the “safer at home” phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, I’ve been gradually transitioning to an alcohol-free life and am…
Pair up with pals to help you stay motivated to exercise regularly this summer – especially since it can be easy for the days to rapidly roll by once prime vacation time begins. Looking forward to a positive experience or a celebratory event you’ll do with others can be much more effective than constantly fixating on how to avoid setbacks.…
Toxic relationships can sabotage healthy, positive change. Sometimes the effect is direct and acute like a partner or kids constantly complaining about having dessert less often after dinner. But we can also be triggered emotionally by family or friend drama such as chronically absorbing passive-aggressive behavior from loved ones who may resent the fact you are more physically active and…
Living more sustainably doesn’t have to be a substantial time – or money – drain. So if Earth Day this week puts you in the mood to rethink how items get used in the kitchen, these eco-conscious choices might actually save you some cash over time: Have an eco-friendly kitchen habit that has also saved you some coin over the…
Starting to notice our food patterns is an integral component to learning how to eat more mindfully. When truly savored, food should be nourishing on multiple levels. Real pleasure results in satisfaction. But if you find yourself chronically tempted by random cravings—even if it’s directly after a meal—think about how many distractions you’ve gotten into the habit of bringing to…
“Gymtimidation” is a new term I heard earlier this month. And the original NY Times article I read got me thinking that identifying factors in an external environment which might make us uncomfortable working out around other people, is likely easier than recognizing what unrealistic expectations or pressure we place on ourselves in regard to fitness performance. So I decided to chat…
I was recently listening to one of my fave wellness podcasts and one of the dieticians pointed out that, “No amount of snacks will satisfy a mealtime hunger.” A truth bomb so simply stated. And it got me thinking about how if we pause to really reflect on the type of hunger we’re experiencing at a certain moment, it may…
What are your primary motivations for changing your eating and exercise habits? Weight loss obviously may be at top of the list, but being thinner doesn’t necessarily mean one is automatically healthier. Improving health status, physically and mentally, requires a multi-faceted approach. Therefore, the outcomes will manifest in a variety of ways too. Unfortunately, for far too long, contemporary mainstream…