5 refreshing (and non-boozy) drinks to enjoy guilt-free this summer

Summer is pretty much here, and those fruity cocktails are calling!

But, if alcohol is making sleep more challenging or your migraines or hot flashes flare up, you may want to be considering alternatives for your favorite sangrias, rosées, and long island iced teas.

So, I’m sharing a few fun options here, and bonus is they’re also no-sugar-added, which is also great news for your belly.

Happy sipping!

Continue reading “5 refreshing (and non-boozy) drinks to enjoy guilt-free this summer”

How to eat to stay energized in midlife

Are you feeling less than energetic these days?

Maybe you notice you’re more tired, or lethargic, or even exhausted?

It’s not just because you’re getting older, I promise.

Aside from all the things you’re juggling, what you’re eating may be the culprit.

When you’re in perimenopause and menopause, your hormones are changing, and like it or not, that takes up a good amount of your energy.

So, if you want to increase your energy up and make this hormone shift smoother, consider the foods your’re choosing

Choose foods that give you energy rather than zap your energy.

To help you out, here are some energizing food tips that are known to keep you energized in midlife:

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Join the 7-Day Belly Fit for Summer Challenge!!

So, I’m relaunching this popular challenge.

Since summer is right around the corner, this is the perfect time.

The challenge is free, and it starts June 1st!

Why “Belly Fit?”

If you’ve been a regular reader of my blog posts, you know that I’m all about losing fat around the middle.     

Especially peri/menopause related belly fat.

That’s not only because I want you to fit into your favorite 20 year-old jeans (yes, that would be awesome!)

The biggest reason I’m so crazy about reducing belly fat, is that your health can be measured by your waistline.

Yup, your waistline.

Studies have shown that if your waistline is larger than half your height, you’re at a higher risk for all the big lifestyle illnesses.

That’s because belly fat is related to insulin resistance and stress.

Waist not weight

I know for a lot of you, losing weight is probably high up on your wish list.

And while that’s not a bad thing, I want you know that weight isn’t the best number to focus on.

At least not if being healthier or fitter are also goals.

In fact, focusing on weight has strong emotional ties, and may even demotivate you.

And, as you know, two people can weigh the same, but be in very different shape.

So, if better health and fitness are goals, then measure your WAIST, not your WEIGHT.

Waist circumference will tell you a whole lot more than weight.

And while you’re slimming your waistline, you’ll also be getting a whole lot of other benefits:

  • Stronger muscles and bones
  • Increased energy
  • Stronger emotional health
  • Less intense perimenopause symptoms like hot flashes, migraines, and heavy periods

The Challenge

My 7-day BELLY FIT CHALLENGE is to move your body AND de-stress every day for 7 days in a row.

Join my 7-Day Belly Fit Challenge

It’s a simply powerful way to start your summer.

So, for the first 7 days of June, you’ll receive a simple exercise/workout in you email inbox, that won’t take longer than 15 minutes to complete.

Each workout will be different, and will help you lose belly fat.

And that doesn’t mean it’s just a bunch of “core” exercises.

It means you’ll be doing a mix of strength (resistance) training, cardio, and calm, conscious movement.

And in addition to the physical workout, you’ll also get some of my favorite stress-relieving ideas.

Learning to calm your body and mind will be huge in helping you become more belly fit.

So, when the challenge is done, you’ll have lots of ideas to keep you going!

Before the Challenge

So, here’s a pre-challenge challenge for you: 

Figure out where you can carve out 15 minutes in your day. 

Will it be first thing in the morning, on your lunch hour, before dinner, after dinner… When works best for you?

Planning ahead is a huge part of succeeding, so find a time you know will work every day.

And another thing:

MEASURE your waistline.

You’ve got to know where you’re starting on June 1st.

Yes, the challenge is only 7 days, and of course you won’t lose ALL the inches you want in one week.

BUT the exercises and stress relievers that I’ll be sharing with you can be used for the coming weeks and months.

So, if you stay consistent, and keep going beyond the 7 days, before you know it, you’ll have lost inches!

Imagine yourself on August 31st, and how amazing you’ll feel knowing how far you’ve come over the summer.

Are you ready?

Let’s move forward together and get this done!!

Debbie

P.S. Here’s where to sign up for the Challenge:  https://debbie-harbec.lpages.co/7-day-belly-fit-challenge-2023

P.P.S. Have questions, or want more personalized help? Email me at debbie@debbieharbeccoaching.com or book a time to talk with me directly!

How to become happier in midlife

I think of perimenopause as a time of awakening.

It kind of takes you by the shoulders and shakes you.

And if you’ve been in a busy-ness trance, like many of us, it may cause you to look around and wonder how you got here.

You start to re-examine everything in your life.

Like the time and effort you spend on your work.

And the quality of relationships you have with your partner or kids or parents or friends.

And of course, the shape and health of your body.

You may find yourself in a place, emotionally or physically, they don’t really want to be, but it’s what you’ve become used to.

It’s a dull kind of normal… It’s not terrible, but it’s not great.

You know you’re not as happy as you could be.

As you want to be.

“But what can you do?  This is just life, right?”

Continue reading “How to become happier in midlife”

Perimenopause is more than just hot flashes

Before hitting perimenopause, around 45, the only things I really knew about menopause were hot flashes…

And not having a period anymore.

Honestly, both these things sounded pretty good to me.

First because I was freezing most of the time.

And no period? Where do I sign up???

However, with five years of peri under my belt (literally) and learning a lot more about perimenopause and others’ experiences, I know that it’s much more than this.

Continue reading “Perimenopause is more than just hot flashes”

How to have more BALANCE in your life

What does balance mean to you?

Is it about splitting your time between doing the things you want to do and the things you don’t?

Or maybe it’s about managing your energy between pushing yourself and relaxing.

Balance is a simple word that can mean many things.

So, if you want balance, you need to define what it means to you if you’re going to achieve it.

And I think a good place to start is to notice how you’re feeling.

Continue reading “How to have more BALANCE in your life”

Join me for my Belly Fat to Belly Fit webinar

It’s the holiday season.

And generally, it’s a hectic time with parties, events, shopping for ALL the things, and navigating the holiday food landscape everywhere you go.

And not having much, if any, time left for YOU.

Between the stress and the treats and no self-care, your HORMONES can easily end up in a tailspin.

Especially if you’re over 45 and in perimenopause.

But, it doesn’t have to be this way.

Continue reading “Join me for my Belly Fat to Belly Fit webinar”

Join me for Better Belly Week

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today is Thanksgiving here in Canada.

And it’s one of my favourite holidays.

Of course, a big part of what I love about it is the food…

Pumpkin pie being my absolute favourite.

But it’s especially a time to remember all the things we’re thankful for.

And in this past year, I feel really blessed that I’ve been able to work with so many great women.

Women who, like me, are moving forward through peri/menopause.

We know that peri/menopause, although it’s natural, can be a challenging time.

And being able to guide women through it, and find ways that we can all feel better in our bodies, maybe even better than ever, is what I love most.

So, in honor of Thanksgiving, and once the leftovers are gone, I’m offering four days of strategies, ideas, and tips to feel better in your peri/menopause body.

I’m calling it Better Belly Week

Join me for Better Belly Week!

From November 1st to 4th, I’ll be live for up to an hour each day, sharing what works to feel better in your belly, body, and life.

Continue reading “Join me for Better Belly Week”