The Diabetic Toolbox

Hello friends,

On today's show, we are talking about diabetes, stress, and alcohol. Now these three things have a very complicated relationship, and while many of us use alcohol as a way to manage our stress and make ourselves feel better, drinking too much can actually increase your risk of anxiety and depression. Tune in to today's show as we discuss how you can manage your stress without drinking, and if you do drink, how to do so that it does not interfere with your ability to manage your diabetes.

Don't forget to share this episode with someone you love,

With Peace & Love,

Renee

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Hello, my friends,

Can you believe we are heading towards the end of the year? You still have time if you have not met your health goal or any goal you want to accomplish by the end of the year. Today's show will discuss how you can create a plan to accomplish one fantastic goal or your list by December 31st of this year. I am sharing my two-part plan to help you stay focused and keep the overwhelm at bay.

Please share this episode with someone you love.

With Peace & Love,

Renee

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Hello my friends,

Today on the show, we are talking about the importance of incorporating spirituality into our wellness journey. Including spirituality is part of the whole-person approach to healing, meaning we don't just focus on the disease but on quality of life. Spirituality is not about going to an institution, but about deepening your faith so that you do not feel so alone when things get hard.

If you are struggling with anxiety, depression, disconnection, or anger that comes with managing a chronic illness, I hope today's episode will help you to expand your focus and begin the process of showing yourself some compassion.

You will learn some tools to help you start the process of building a spiritual practice.

With Peace & Love,

Renee

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Hello, my friends. I am back with new podcast episodes, and I can honestly say that I have missed you all terribly. Thank you to those who reached out to check on me; your kindness will not be forgotten.

On today's show, we are talking about when you should see a doctor before starting a new exercise program. I know we have all heard this before, but how many of us do it before we decide to take up walking or pickleball? From my experiences and speaking with clients and the dynamic folks inside our Facebook group, I know many of us do not heed this advice. Today, we will discuss when to see a doctor before starting a new workout program. Walking is a safe activity for most folk. Still, even with this gentle and restorative practice, it's essential to get the okay from your doctor if any of the situations we discuss in today's episode apply to you.

With Peace & Love,

Renee

Hello friends,

Hello friends,

I know how hard it can be to deal with a chronic illness day in and day out. Today, I want to offer you some encouragement if you are thinking about quitting or giving up on yourself. Because, my friend, you must begin again for your family, friends, and community, all of whom depend upon you getting well. But the most crucial reason you must start again is for yourself because you are too important to lose.

When you listen to the episode, you are going to learn how to reconnect with your "why" This will keep you going when things get hard. How to set small goals, remove barriers, and ask for help. Quitting is not an option; you can find the courage to start again somewhere inside you. And, if you still need help, you can borrow some courage from me; I am only a DM or email away. You can contact me at info@thediabetictoolbox.com

Please share this episode with someone you love,

With Peace & Love,

Renee

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Hello friends,

Do you work at a desk for eight hours or more each day? If you answered yes, and you have been diagnosed with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, listen to today's episode for tip on how you can take better care of yourself and still be productive. You are your best advocate, and sitting for long periods of time is a real health hazard that could negatively affect your health.

With Peace & Love,

Renee

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Hello, my friends,

In today's episode, we are talking about the four health screenings that every man over 50 should include in the annual or semi-annual check-up.

Hello friends, I thought I would weigh in on diabetes/weight loss drugs bombarding our television and print ads. I know how hard it can be on the person battling diabetes and their family; in this episode, I am talking about the two things you must include in your wellness toolbox; whether you decide to use these weight loss drugs or not, they are mindset and lifestyle changes.

With Peace & Love,

Renee

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Hello friends, in today's episode, I am sharing why we must stop the all-or-nothing mentality regarding our wellness journey on today's show.  I have been guilty of this mentality, -and I share how and what I did about it in today’s episode. Even small steps toward wholeness are steps in the right direction.

Enjoy!

With Peace & Love,

Renee

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Hello friends,

Is your sweet tooth sabotaging your wellness goals? We've all said it; I will cut back on sugar today. No more sodas or candy bars. But sugar is added to just about everything we eat. Today's episode is about reducing the amount of sugar you eat to lower blood sugar and improve overall health.   We all must understand that sugar is harmful. It can weaken our immune system and lead to heart disease; while overeating sugar does not necessarily cause type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, it contributes to weight gain, which can contribute to the onset of both lifestyle diseases. Learn some simple tools to help you reduce your sugar intake and enjoy your food more.

For more tips, head over to the blog www.thediabetictoolbox.com. Don't forget to follow the blog so you don't miss a blog post or podcast episode.

With Peace & Love,

Renee

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Hello friends, today we are talking about how to lose belly fat and improve our overall health.  In this episode, I am sharing some easy-to-implement tools to help you win the battle of the bulge.   Looking cute in a bathing suit isn’t the only reason to be concerned about belly fat. Packing on excess pounds around your middle raises your risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers. It is especially dangerous when your spare tire includes visceral fat surrounding your heart, lungs, liver, and other organs.

Remember that you can have too much visceral fat even if you’re thin, so measure your waistline to be sure it’s under 35 inches for women and 40 inches for men. Hormonal changes, a sedentary lifestyle, and mindless eating all promote weight gain around your middle.  You can reduce this unhealthy fat with simple lifestyle changes.

With Peace & Love,

Renee

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Hello friends,

Today's podcast is about creating an evening routine that brings you joy, help you get a great night's sleep, and has a successful day.  Creating healthy habits and routines is the cornerstone of a life-changing wellness journey.  As with your morning routine, your evening routine should not cause stress or overwhelm you. On the contrary, this is the part of the day when you focus on activities that relax your mind and body as you prepare for a good night’s sleep. Make your evening routine a non-negotiable part of your day. Your health depends on it.  

With Peace & Love,

Renee

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Hello, my friends; today, we are discussing creating a successful morning routine.  You might be thinking, how would making a morning routine help to manage diabetes? Successfully managing your diabetes requires the creation of healthy habits that will become the foundation of your healthy lifestyle. A morning routine is one of the pillars of that foundation. It is no secret that how we start our morning can affect the quality of the entire day.

Don't forget to share this episode with someone you love and follow the podcast at www.thediabetictoolbox.com so you don't miss an episode.

With Peace & Love,

Renee

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Hello friends, today we are talking about intermittent fasting.  I am sharing the two most popular ways to fast intermittently and what happened when I tried to do this myself. Intermittent fasting is all the rage now but is it safe, and can it help you in your quest to reverse or successfully manage your prediabetes or type 2 diabetes? Well, let’s find out. To be clear, I am not an advocate of this eating protocol; everyone has to find their own rhythm to eating and digesting food. Before you start any new eating plan, please check with your primary care physician to ensure that it is safe for you.  Fasting is nothing new; some religious sects include fasting to assist followers with deepening their spiritual connection or becoming more mindful of how they live. But intermittent fasting has become all the rage for helping practitioners to lose weight, lower their blood sugar, and reduce inflammation, to name a few of its benefits.      

With Peace & Love, 

Renee

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Hello, my friends; today, I am sharing two simple tools to help you become more mindful and create healthier habits that support your wellness journey.  Creating healthier habits will not only affect your health, but I believe that as you get healthier, so will your family.  So, learn how to be your family's health change agent.  The two tips we are talking about today are keeping a food journal and eating more slowly.  Did you know that it takes about 20 minutes before your brain registers that you have eaten enough food and are full?  Eating slowly will also help you to enjoy food more and help you to stop overeating.

  With peace & love,

Renee

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Hello, my friend; before you get too deep into your New Year's Resolution, I invite you to take a step back and reflect.  Today's podcast is about the benefits of self-reflection, how you can get started today, and why it is important for the success of your wellness journey.

Don't forget to share this episode with someone you love and follow the podcast at www.thediabetictoolbox.com, so you don't miss an episode.

With Peace & Love,

Renee

Resources

Hello friends,

Hello, my friends, 

In today's episode, I am sharing three tips to help you get back on track with your wellness goals.  No need to put your health on the back burner even if you are not where you hoped you would be when you made your New Year's resolution at the beginning of the year.

The tips are simple, show yourself some grace, move your body, and connect with your tribe.  I will show you how.  Remember, self-care must be your priority if your goal is to reverse or successfully manage your prediabetes. When you function at your highest level, every area of your life is better, and your work, relationships, health, and finances will shine because you decided to put yourself first.

Remember, you are stronger than you give yourself credit and more blessed than you know.

With Peace and Love,

Renee

Hello, my friends, and welcome to our first yoga audio class. I hope you enjoy it. Today’s class will focus on what I believe is one of the most essential foundations of your yoga practice. The breath! If you can tap into the breath and breathe intentionally, you can reduce stress and increase your joy throughout the day.

We tend to look to external strategies to reduce our overwhelm and manage stress. But unfortunately, strategies like overeating, bingeing on our favorite Netflix series or surfing social media do little to improve our health outcomes or equip us to fight prediabetes or any chronic illness.

I want to invite you to tap into an internal source that is readily available to accompany you into battle as you manage the physical and emotional symptoms of your illness.  That source is your breath.

With Peace and Love

Renee

Hello friends, in today's episode, I am sharing four reasons you should not keep your prediabetes or type 2 diabetes diagnosis a secret.  Because type 2 diabetes and prediabetes are considered a lifestyle disease associated with how a person or group of people live. Unfortunately, this thinking has cast a stigma on the disease; many folks keep their diagnosis a secret.  But keeping such a secret can be dangerous not only for you but for your children as well; not telling them will leave them unable to protect themselves against this disease.  Plus, you need to have the love and support of people who love you.

Take a listen to the podcast and let me know what you think. I am only an email away at info@thediabetictoolbox.com 

Do me a favor and share this episode with someone you love.

With Peace and Love,

Renee

Hello friends, on today's show, we are discussing four habits that could sabotage your ability to lose weight and keep it off.  Taking a look at our habits and rituals is so important to creating the life you want because your habits and rituals will determine if we can set sail towards our goals or if we stay stuck and idle on shore.  Forgive the sailing analogies. :) 

Remember that this is a judgment-free zone; we make changes by observing, not judging, our behavior.  

Please share this episode with someone you love,

With Peace and Love,

Renee

Hello, my friends, 

Hello, my friends,

I will be reading from my new book, “You Are Stronger Than You Think- Affirmations to Heal your Mind, Body, and Spirit, in today's show. I hope you enjoy it. To get the whole healing experience, click the link in the show notes to download your copy of the eBook so that you can start working on the journaling questions for this week.

Today's affirmation is entitled "I Call Upon My Inner Strength" If your chronic illness has you feeling weak and out of control, this affirmation will remind you of the strength you have inside; you need to tap into that strength, so you do not lose heart and stop fighting. This affirmation will help you to do just that. 

To be clear, self-care is not just the latest buzzphrase in the wellness community. Research has shown that if you do not increase your level of self-care, you risk not being able to manage your physical, mental, or spiritual health. Self-care simply means taking better care of yourself, putting your needs first more often, and doing things that make you happy.

In this episode, you will learn six simple ways that you can manage your self-care:

• Get active 
• Eat Healthier
• Take Your Medication
• Wash Your Hands
• Connect With Community
• Create an Emergency Kit

Self-care can no longer be something you put on the back burner; your health cannot wait for you to make it a priority. Work deadlines, community events, and family obligations will go unattended if you are laid up because you did not effectively manage your health. You have spent your whole life putting others first. Isn’t it time to remember that you are important, that you matter? My answer would be yes.

With Peace and Love,

Renee

On today's show, I am giving you all the deets on my private coaching program, The Prediabetes Weight Loss Lab.  I created this evidence-based eight-week private coaching program to help midlife folks win the battle against prediabetes.

It is designed to help, you lose weight naturally, reduce your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol numbers, help you change your habits, and create a lifestyle that supports your health and brings you joy.

How many times have you said, I will start living my life when I lose weight?  Well, today I am going to show you three ways to start living your life with joy regardless of what the scale says.  

In today's show, you will learn how to be mindful, build a wardrobe you love, and why you should start doing the things you love.  Just because you need to lose weight to successfully manage your chronic illness.  You are beautiful at your present weight. 

 Losing weight may give you more confidence in the short run, but if you do not heal your mindset and stay present in your life, the weight is going to come back, and you will be back on that diet merry-go-round of self-defeating, negative self-talk which leads to self-loathing and comfort eating.  You deserve more than that.

Share this episode with someone you love, there are 88 million folks in the U.S. struggling with prediabetes, so let's help them out.

Remember, you are stronger than you give yourself credit and more blessed than you know!

With Peace and Love,

Renee

Hello friends, I am sharing my secret weapon for losing 43 pounds and keeping it off in today's episode.  It's called mindful eating and the 20-minute meal.

Mindful eating means taking the time to honor your body by choosing nutrient-dense whole foods, that you prepare with care, yes that means cooking more meals at home and eating slowly and attentively using your five senses to really enjoy it.

It means setting aside quiet time in your schedule to prepare and enjoy eating your meal without rushing or multitasking at the same time.

Mindful eating is a way of saying to yourself: “I respect my body enough to be completely aware of what I put into it and of the way I eat.”

The 20-minute meal will help you to stop eating on the run, overeating when you are full, and repair your relationship with food.

With Peace and Love,

Renee

Spring is a time of renewal, and what better time to reset your wellness goals than the beginning of a new season.  In today's episode, I will show you how to create a health vision for spring.

  Not to get philosophical on you, but you cannot plot a course for your health or any area of your life without creating your vision.

In Habakkuk 2:2,” the prophet writes, “The LORD answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.” So your health vision is your unique way of seeing your medical goals become a reality.

Your vision for your health is the one thing you must articulate to your health team so that the plan of action is not only medically sounds but also answers the question, what do I want to accomplish?

That is what we are going to talk about today!  

Remember, you are your best advocate for your health.  

With Peace and Love,

Renee 

Are you overthinking your wellness goals? I know that you aspire to make your wellness goals stick this time.  Instead of creating a wellness plan fit for an Olympian.  Your best way of making sure you stick to your wellness goals this year is to keep it simple.  Try these four strategies to simplify your wellness journey, and you will have success this year!

Overthinking your wellness goals will only lead to stress, overwhelm, and giving up on yourself.  The key to success is to keep it simple.  In today's show, I am sharing four strategies to help you to keep your wellness goals simple and attainable.   Don't be afraid to start where you are and celebrate every step of the way.

With Peace and Love,

Renee

Resources:

Are You Struggling with Your New Year’s Resolution?

Four Strategies to Get Back on Track

In today's show, I am sharing four tips to help you get back on track.

1. Be proactive about managing your stress

2. Eat More Nutritious Foods and Exercise

3. Manage Your Thoughts and Emotions

4. Use Positive Affirmations

Don't forget to share this episode with someone you love, and if I can help, please feel free to email me at thediabetictoolbox@gmail.com

With Peace and Love,

Renee

It can feel like a trap when you are working a job you do not enjoy.  The last place you want to go every day, five days a week or more, is where you don’t feel valued, where your skills are not being used to the fullest.  You feel like you don’t have the support to grow and reach new levels in your career.

In today's podcast, I share actionable tips to help you salvage your work situation or plan your exit gracefully.

Hello Sister,

Today we are going to talk about one of my favorite things mindset shifts.  The shift we are going to make today is to stop thinking like a victim and to begin thinking like a warrior.

In today's episode, you will learn five strategies to help you get started.

•  Increase your awareness.
• Be sure to take responsibility.
• Stop waiting for someone to rescue you.
• Try Prayer or meditation.
• Discover and implement your favorite stress-relieving activity.

You can reclaim your power as you experiment with different stress-relieving activities.  In time you will learn how to avoid or diminish negative thinking in your personal space.  Your first response will not be to blame others, your luck, or your circumstances.  Instead, you will manage your emotions with calm and ease.  It is time to regain your power.   Which one will you try today!

With Peace and Love,

Renee

Hello, my dear sisters,

This week we are embarking on a new series, Forgiveness. I know so much is discussed why we need to forgive the people who hurt us, but still, it is so complicated that many of us find it challenging to get it done. So if you are holding unforgiveness in your heart for anyone, it is time to let it go so that you can heal and move on with your life.

This new series is designed to help you do just that, listen to today’s episode of the Welcome to Your Life Podcast. Today we start healing, and forgiveness is the cornerstone to that process. Let me know what you think; just hit reply to this email.

Do me a favor, and share this episode with someone you love, and don't forget to follow the podcast I don't want you to miss an episode.

With Peace and Love,

Renee

Hello my dear sisters, 

     Life as we knew it has changed forever, it seems that we will be wearing our masks for a while and some of us will continue to shelter in place either by ourselves or with the people we love.  I know that as women our first inclination is to fix what is broken, but sometimes fixing what is broken requires us to step back and let faith step in, in today's episode we are discussing why believing in something greater than yourself could be the very thing you need to gain some semblance of control over your life, health, and overall well-being.

Do me a favor, and share this episode with someone you love, and don't forget to follow the podcast I don't want you to miss an episode.

With Peace and Love,

Renee

Hi guys, my name is Renee.  I am a Certified Coach and Yoga teacher host of the award-winning Welcome to Your Life Podcast and the Courageous Woman's Book Club founder.      Thank you so much for checking out today's episode.

Hello, my sisters, today's episode may touch a little close to home.  But let me say, that I did not record it to condemn anyone for their parenting style.  It is simple to help you help your children when they ask you why you parented them the way you did.  Believe the questions are coming and I want you to be better prepared than I was, instead of trying to defend your parenting record I want you to try these four tools.  

• Listen Actively
• Correct inadequacies with love
• Show yourself some compassion
• Beware of guilt

We have all made mistakes as parents and while you cannot go back and fix your parenting mistakes, you can help your children to understand why they turned out the way they did and how they can become better people and better parents.  We know that parenting is a lifetime commitment and as our children grow into adults we get to be not just their mom but maybe even their friend.

With Peace and Love,

Renee

Hi guys, my name is Renee.  I am a Certified Coach and Yoga teacher host of the award-winning Welcome to Your Life Podcast and the founder of the Courageous Woman’s Book Club.      Thank you so much for checking out today’s post.

Hey guys, welcome to another episode of the Welcome to Your Life Podcast.  Today, we are talking about how you can create your own safety bubble and promote healing, love, and connection in your life.  You know many of us rely on others to make us feel safe, and it might be time to ask ourselves if this is fair to them.  As humans, they will ultimately fail us, and then we will feel even more disappointed, abandoned, and alone.

I know that the world can feel anything but safe, especially for women or people of color.  But what if you could create your own safety bubble and grow into the woman you were meant to be.  In this episode, I share three simple but powerful tools you can begin to use today.  Including healing, believing in something greater, and creating your village.

You cannot control what happens in the world, but you can control how you respond.  Taking control of your healing will help you to stay positive and keep moving when things get tough, and you want to quit.

Remember, I am only an email away, info@reneereid.net

With Peace and Love,

Renee

Hi guys, my name is Renee.  I am a Certified Coach,  Yoga teacher host of the award-winning Welcome to Your Life! Podcast,  and the founder of the Courageous Woman’s Book Club.      Thank you so much for checking out today’s post.

"Our world has changed. We must prepare for what's going to happen next.” - Mike Smith

You have decided to do something positive and make a change in your life.  You would think that your family and friends would gather around to support you and become your biggest cheerleaders.  Unfortunately, that is not always the case. 

In this episode, I will share with you the number one reason your family and friends might not support your move towards a new life and the quick and easy way you can create a village that will help you empower your mindset and lend you the emotional fuel you need to keep going when you feel like you are running on empty.

On today's show, we have Lisa Copeland. Lisa is a best-selling Author, Speaker, Love Coach, and Dating Expert.  She is a leading, internationally recognized expert and dating coach for women over 50. She is the author of The Winning Dating Formula For Women Over 50 and is a regular contributor to The Huffington Post/50, The Huffington Post Women, The Examiner, and Tribune News Services newspapers. Her website, www.FindAQualityMan.com was named one of the Top 5 Online Dating Services by The Examiner and one of the 10 Best Senior Dating Blogs by DatingAdvice.com.

On today's show, you will learn:

•  That it is not too late to find the man of your dreams.
•  The art of flirting. 
• How to improve your confidence so you attract a quality man.  

#midlifewomen #fitbabyboomer