Recently, my mom was lamenting mistakes she made as a mother while my brothers and I were kids. It broke my heart to hear it. It was such a moving example of what a lot of moms do, which is to beat themselves up for the mistakes they made or believe they are making as mothers.
Beyond that layer of regret, however, lay a deeper more persistent thought process of negative self-talk. It’s a process of constant self-berating that basically adds up to ‘I’m not good enough.’ I’m not a good enough mother. I’m just not good enough, period.
Sometimes the flood of negative inner chatter can be so consistent that it’s hard to imagine a time without them.
If you grew up in a household of highly critical and judgmental people, then you most likely absorbed all of it like a sponge, internalizing it and on a subconscious level, turning it into your own inner critic.
How do you talk to yourself?
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Let’s be real. Yoga is weird. I know it's incredibly trendy, and it seems like everyone is doing it but the bottom line is it's just a semi-bizarre thing to do. It feels strange moving your body in ways that seem wholly unnatural and counter-intuitive—leave “Happy Baby” to actual babies.
And then there are the people. Typically, skinny women outfitted in Lululemon, carrying brightly colored metal water bottles filled with Kangen water because regular water isn't evolved enough. And then there are the bearded men, with their calf tattoos, and their man buns, all of them also sporting Lululemon. Lululemon is making a shit-ton of money off people easily parted with their cash.
So I hear you. The ick factor is high.
Then there is the 20ish yoga teacher, with her perky Instagram celebrity glow, who speaks in a low, airy voice—the kind of voice that should only ever be used when you're waking somebody up from a deep sleep or trying to put someone in a deep sleep. They tell you things like “breathe into your ovaries,” or rotate your inner thighs out toward the wall (wut?) and then they try to pixie dust you with essential oils to help you “deepen” into your Savasana. Get back, lady. I'm just fine.
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Worried you don’t? Most people worry about this. So, you’re not alone. But here’s the thing. Odds are, you do. In fact, odds are, you probably get too much.
The food industry—and just about any health and wellness publication or website—has done one hell of a job convincing us that we are all lacking in adequate protein. There are protein powders, bars, infused cereals, ice creams, breads and yes, even water. The protein supplements market is huge and getting bigger every year. A recent report by Grand View Research, Inc., estimates that by the year 2025, it will reach $21.5 billion. All of which leaves us, erroneously, in search of massive quantities of protein to stuff down our gullets on the daily.
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Everyone’s sliding into my DMs with this FAQ: What protein powder should I buy?
First of all, since when did all of us basic bitches need protein powder? Are we body builders for Muscle and Fitness magazine now? Maybe you’ve noticed the enormous jugs of protein powders lining the shelves of Kroger, and not just the Vitamin Depot anymore. But it seems to me we’re in a bit of a CrossFit rabbit hole, and maybe we just need a reasonable amount of protein to stay healthy, grow our cells, and maybe a tad more if we’re super active or breastfeeding. More on that here.
So, to answer that FAQ? You don’t need a protein powder.
Here’s why.
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