Welcome to the STRIVE with Janelle Blog!

I have realized over time that there are three pretty powerful forces at work in my life.  They apply across many aspects of my world including my relationships and spirituality.  And, even more so, they play into my emotional eating patterns. Those forces are… drum roll please… Fear, Faith and Control As I get older I begin to realize I have always been a FEARful creature.  I was plagued with self-doubt as a child, as perhaps, many of you were also.  It is hard to grow up as teen girl in the United States.  So many unrealistic and unattainable beauty...

One morning a couple of weeks ago I was driving to my early morning workout session.  It is a bit of a drive for these one-on-one personal training appointments, so I was feeling resentful and burdened.  It was such a chore to get up so early and get my butt out of bed…yada yada yada.  Then, as I sat at the 4-way stop down the street, I realized what I was thinking.  Wait, I am the one who chose to make this appointment.  I am the one who chose to schedule an early morning appointment at this particular gym.  So,...

Past, Present or Future? Someone recently said to me “Happiness lies in the now.”  This sentiment struck me as I have been striving to become more mindful, more tuned into the here and now.  And I wondered, does happiness really lie in the “now”? After thinking about this for a few days I have decided that contentment does live in the “now.”  And I think contentment lends itself to happiness.  I have also concluded that there is less stress when you focus on the “now.”  This is because, for me, worrying about all the things that might happen, cause me...

There are days I feel like I fight a mighty fight.  I have a friend and mentor here in town who describes the feelings and emotions I’m fighting on these days as the “F*#K its!”  Yes, there, I even typed out a euphemism.  And I while I think that is a very harsh and vulgar word, there is no better way to describe this place I can get into some days with my fight to eat clean and keep pursuing my wellness goals. I am sure you know the feeling.  You are tired, maybe you are hormonal, maybe it’s your...

Maybe you are wondering what I mean when I call myself a “stuffer”.  Let me give a little background.  In my wellness journey, I have realized just how much my emotions - and how I handle those emotions - have played into my weight over the years.  I can tell you how many calories are in any food, I can tell you how many calories I burn exercising, I know about nutrient density, low fat, no carb, paleo, vegan…I know it all.  But there was still something sabotaging me. I have finally had to come to terms with how much...