Inspire Her: How Krisanne Robba Is Helping Women Nourish Their Lives Inside and Out

Meet the inspiring Krisanne Robba. Krisanne, what is happening in your career/life right now? Anything you want us and the world to know? I recently launched a Women’s Nutrition & Wellness, Health & Life Coaching Business: Inspire Her, where I help women unlock their full potential and become the healthiest, happiest versions of themselves. My passion is guiding women through their journey of personal transformation—whether it’s overcoming self-doubt, achieving wellness goals, or building sustainable, healthy habits that nourish both the mind and body. What inspired you to enroll in the Nutritious Life Studio? Having finished my health and life coaching certification I wanted to dive deeper into nutrition to be able to offer my clients the best of both worlds. A full health and life coaching program with the Nutritious Life philosophy as the foundation for my nutrition offerings. What was your favorite lesson, and why? The emotional eating module was one of my favorites as it is a topic I find so many people struggle with – including myself! I absolutely love the fact that even though I am a foodie, I no longer depend on food to make me feel better or require food to celebrate accomplishments. Were there specific lessons that helped you grow your business? The whole business unit of the program was very helpful to grow my business, and I love to look back on all of the lessons often to help me uplevel. What’s the one snack you always have with you when traveling? Nuts (pecans or walnuts usually) as they are nutrient-dense, boost satiety, regulate blood sugar and great for heart health. Also, the muscle bakery bars are the best treats I couldn’t live without! Your favorite conscious food indulgence? Pear & cheese ravioli! I love it! Oh, and cookie dough skillet or Biscoff cheesecake for dessert! It’s all about balance, right? How do you stay active outside the gym? I always take the stairs! This little shift in your routine is so beneficial for your health and a reminder that the little things add up.  I also participate in kids’ activities such as jumping in trampoline parks. Why does being older mean we have to miss out on all the fun?! What’s your weirdest healthy habit? Not sure if this is a weird healthy habit but I love to take contrast showers. At the end of a lovely warm shower, I turn the water all the way to the coldest setting for a minute or two. This is great to help boost circulation and strengthen the immune system. Which healthy habit do you wish you had more time for? I wish I had more time to practice mindfulness and meditate more often for longer periods —with young kids and a busy life I definitely don’t do that as much as I would like. What does it mean to you to “live consciously”? To me, to live consciously means living a life with purpose! Always making conscious efforts to live authentically and in alignment with my deeper values and empowered eating is also very important for living consciously in my opinion. If you had to name your healthy diet, what would you call it, and why? Inspire & Nourish Within! My business name is Inspire Her and this healthy diet name is the perfect accompaniment. “NLS Success” is a column highlighting the incredible accomplishments of Nutritious Life Studio alumni. We’re showcasing the healthy products our grads have created, the better eating habits they now consider second nature, and other ways NLS helped them find healthy, happy success—in life and business. Learn more about The Nutritious Life Studio, here.

5 Tips to Beat Burnout in Healthcare: From One Nurse to Another

May is National Nurses Month, a time to celebrate the amazing contributions that nurses make to millions of people every day. This year, the American Nurses Association chose “Nurses Make a Difference” as the theme to honor the positive impact nurses make on our lives. Unfortunately, nurses haven’t been caring for themselves the same way they care for everyone else, which has added to the epidemic of burnout in healthcare that began well before the pandemic. With burnout already an issue in the healthcare field, Covid-19 came along and pushed nurses to their limits. As a nurse with decades of experience, and as a member of a family with many healthcare clinicians, I truly get what nurses are dealing with every day. I’ve seen the toll their work can take on their mental, physical, and emotional well-being. Nurses continue to give so much to others while paying little attention to what they need for themselves. As a Nutritious Life Certified Nutrition and Wellness Coach, I also understand the importance of a holistic approach to a healthy life. It’s the interconnectedness of all aspects of daily living that ultimately create work-life harmony. That is why I started TAP Wellness Coaching, which is specifically geared toward healthcare professionals. Because taking care of yourself is not selfish. In fact, it’s a necessity. Burnout doesn’t have to be an expected part of nursing. Causes of Burnout in Nursing and Healthcare Nurse and other clinician burnout isn’t going away any time soon. Burnout is the mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion caused by sustained work-related stressors. In healthcare, these stressors can include: long shifts caring for high acuity patients (those who need closer monitoring) the need for quick decision-making inadequate staffing levels lack of support lack of sleep All of these factors conspire to chip away at the highly-motivated professionals in the healthcare field who went into the role with the mission of helping others. But, as the saying goes: You can’t pour from an empty cup. If you’re concerned that you may be experiencing burnout and draining your cup, read on for signs that you may be burnt out at your healthcare job. 5 Warning Signs of Burnout Burnout takes an emotional and physical toll that impacts both your work and personal life. You may be experiencing burnout if: 1. You are physically exhausted You feel like you can never get enough sleep. You may struggle to wake up, or doze off at unusual times. 2. You feel distant and detached You no longer feel connected to your patients. You are just trying to get through the shift and feel unfulfilled. You avoid spending time with friends and family. 3. You dread going to work You lack motivation and enthusiasm for work and often think about calling in sick. You feel overworked and underappreciated. 4. You are often sick You seem to get every cold, virus or infection going around because you are so depleted. 5. You have constant anxiety You worry so much about everything that it becomes crippling. You can’t easily adapt to minor changes without feeling overwhelmed. It’s Time to Tap into Wellness When you’re feeling signs of burnout, it can feel overwhelming, but you can get back on track! Focusing on small, sustainable solutions in the short-term is key for the long game. Let’s look at some action steps you can take beginning today. 1. Move More Make time for daily movement. Walk around the hospital on a break, use the stairs to go to the lab, or walk on your treadmill at home after work. Regularly scheduled activities each day will help clear your mind and rejuvenate your body. 2. Sleep Deeply Create a sleep ritual before bedtime. Banish electronics from your bedroom, keep the temperature comfortable and create a ritual to signal to your body and mind that you are winding down. RELATED: Create a Bedtime Routine for Better Sleep 3. Eat Empowered Bringing fresh fruit, cut up vegetables, or small servings of nuts into work can begin to make a positive difference. You also won’t be so tempted to eat the donuts in the break room! 4. Practice Gratitude Gratitude is a key component of wellness. Giving thanks can make you happier, according to Harvard Health. “Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.” With this in mind, create a nursing unit “gratitude jar” or “jar of joy” with notepads and pens. Staff can add inspiring quotes, or positive thoughts for the day. The only rule is if you take one, you must add one back to the jar. 5. Practice Self-Care Self-care doesn’t have to be another complex task to add to your to-do list. Imagine starting your shift report with a three-minute pause for nurses to breathe, ground themselves and stay present. RELATED: Why Daphne Oz Unapologetically Prioritizes Herself Beating Burnout in Healthcare Is Possible By adding a nutrition and wellness coaching component to my training, I wanted to give back to the nursing profession that I love by using my combined experience and expertise to help heal those who are hurting. You can embark on a holistic journey that focuses on your unique physical, mental, and emotional health needs as a healthcare professional. Imagine arriving for your shift with a positive mindset, well-rested body, and energized spirit. You can achieve it and you’re worth it! Looking to work with a health coach who caters to nurses and others in the healthcare field? Learn more at TAP Wellness Coaching. Or become a nutrition coach yourself. The Nutritious Life Studio’s Become a Nutrition Coach courses support a thriving community of thousands of wellness professionals (including nurses, chefs, fitness pros and more!) in building and growing their healthy businesses. Our courses are 100% online, go-at-your-own-pace, and taught by Keri Glassman, MS, RD, CDN, and an incredible team of expert guest teachers. Find your purpose-driven mission today. (Images: Shutterstock)

How Simone De La Rue Conquered COVID Anxiety and Kept Her Fitness Empire Intact

Celebrity trainer Simone De La Rue knows a thing or two about surviving. Coming out of the pandemic with her fitness empire intact, De La Rue learned that transformation is essential–especially as the entire world continues to go through waves of shutdowns while the coronavirus morphs and evolves. De La Rue created her signature dance-based fitness method, Body By Simone, 10 years ago after retiring from a professional dance career that led her to the stages of Broadway, London’s West End and her native Australia. Her high-energy, cardio-based dance workouts have been a hit with celebrities (she counts Jennifer Garner, Reese Witherspoon and Sandra Bullock among her clients) and non-celebs alike. De La Rue credits part of that success to the joy and empowerment that she and her staff have worked hard to cultivate. “Exercise is exercise,” says De La Rue. “Any trainer can tell you to do some jumping jacks, but I always wanted to sell a feeling, not a piece of equipment.” We caught up with De La Rue recently and talked about her winning recipe for fitness, surviving a pandemic through transformation and what appearing on “Revenge Body with Khloé Kardashian” taught her and more. Read on for an edited version of our chat. Simone De La Rue’s Secrets to Surviving in Fitness and Life Nutritious Life: How would you describe your unique brand of fitness? And what inspired you to begin your Body By Simone brand? Simone De La Rue: Ten years ago, I was a professional dancer on Broadway and had an aha! moment when I realized I wanted to take control of my destiny and be able to create something for myself. The seed was planted then. Suddenly I realized, why not teach anybody to dance? People get intimidated and frightened by dance. Dancing was always my joy, my passion, my love. It was a chance to express myself creatively. I wanted everyone to experience that. So I decided to take all of the forms of dance and strength training that were part of my life (yoga, pilates, cardio) and all the things that dancers do to keep their bodies in condition to perform eight shows a week, and share it with others. In the process, I found my clients became very strong. I found women started coming to this one-hour class to release the tensions of their lives. And in that process, they developed their own dancer’s body. Why do you think your workouts have become so popular that you’ve managed to create an empire around them? What is it about them that appeals to women? In my studios, I work hard at choosing the people on my team. We create a loving space where women can come in and feel supported. We work hard to make exercise fun and joyous. We don’t take ourselves too seriously. It’s a community that lifts one another up, and in the process of doing these workouts, you might drop a few pounds and gain some muscle. But it was always ultimately about creating a safe space for women to feel empowered. Since you were a Broadway dancer, the dance cardio part of Body By Simone makes sense. But what about the trampoline? What led you to incorporate that into your brand? With dance cardio, the impact can be hard on the body, especially after pregnancy. Hip and knee injuries can happen. With trampoline, people can still get their heart rate up while protecting their joints in the process. Arms, abs, lower body, everything gets a workout on the trampoline. It also forces you to engage your core while getting the blood flowing and draining the lymphatic glands. So there are many advantages to a trampoline workout. You have a new course out. Tell us about “Transformation From Within” and how and why you created it. Did the pandemic play into this at all? (Image: Simone de la Rue) A. I’ve evolved as a person and there were times throughout the pandemic where I thought I was going to lose my business. (All the studios were closed for 18 months and we still had to pay the rent.) I was suffering from depression, anxiety, and stress and I realized that everybody was going through this during the pandemic. Like I said, exercise has always been about the feeling. During the show “Revenge Body,” people wanted to lose 40, 50, 60 pounds, but it was never about the weight. Everyone knows you shouldn’t eat a whole pizza in one sitting, that you need to drink water, and move your body. But what was stopping people from doing healthy things? I realized there was always a reason, a past trauma, some kind of block. The weight loss wasn’t happening because they needed to do the inner work first. It’s about changing the patterns and behavior that you learned somewhere along the way, that stopped you from replacing them with good behaviors. It’s about looking yourself in the mirror, really loving what you see, stopping the negative self-talk and transforming it to positive. What advice do you have for countering the temptations of the holidays? Or countering weight gain this time of year? Life should be a balance. Health and wellness should be a lifestyle, not a quick fix or fad. People always obsess over the secrets to weight loss and always ask me what I eat. The emotional torture and punishment we inflict on ourselves for eating something sweet, for example, really creates an unhealthy attitude. The focus should be on fueling your body with delicious food so that you have the energy to run and play with your child or to go for a run. We should focus on being present during the holidays and enjoying the moment. As long as you have a healthy attitude towards food and exercise, it’s OK to allow yourself to indulge a little during the holidays At NL, we like to talk about “indulging consciously.” In other words, there’s no reason

4 Ways to Improve Your Mental Wellbeing Today

It probably comes as no surprise that people are increasingly, unhappy. According to the CDC as of late June, 2020, over 40 percent of U.S. adults are suffering from increased mental health issues—with a big spike in young adults, essential workers, and caregivers. People are experiencing heightened anxiety, depression, increased substance use, and elevated suicidal ideation. The report found symptoms of anxiety disorder were approximately three times higher than  the same time last year (June, 2019 vs. June, 2020)—25.5 percent versus 8.1 percent, and depressive disorder four times higher— 24 percent versus 6 percent.  The pandemic is continuing to surge with numbers rising as the cold weather begins. Restrictions and curfews are being implemented. Daycares and schools are having to close again. Just as we were getting a glimpse of normalcy, we’re having to take a step back. It’s critical for all of us to recognize that taking care of our mental health is essential at this time. Many of us are looking for something, really anything to help us find some happiness—even if that is just for a moment. And, while we can’t control what is happening on a global scale, there are some things we can do for ourselves.  Here are four science-backed ways to improve your mental wellbeing. Connect with a Friend In a recent interview, Dr. Corinna Keenmon, medical director of psychiatry at Houston Methodist Hospital said, “There are plenty of people in the same boat as you, suffering through the same challenges; and, while we can’t always be with someone in person right now, even just a phone call or video chat can help us connect.” Take a moment to call your friend or relative. You don’t have to talk about what’s bothering you. Just connecting with others, especially if you’ve been isolated for a long period of time can make a huge difference.  Take a Social Media Break Social media can be great. It can help us connect with others (as mentioned above, so important right now!). It can be a way to share photos and updates about our lives with family far away, and it can also make us laugh and inspire us to get moving (hello, dance reels!). But, it can also make people feel more isolated, self-conscious, and even angry. A Pew Research study in 2018 found 71 percent of social media users reported finding content that made them angry. “Seeing others’ curated, polished images of only happy moments or attractive photos can set up an unrealistic expectation of ourselves, and the destructive experience of constantly comparing oneself with others,” Christine Moutier, M.D., practicing psychiatrist and chief medical officer at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), told SELF magazine in a recent interview. Take a social break. Turn off your alerts and put the phone in a drawer (even 30 minutes can make a difference). If you’re feeling bold, delete the app from your phone for a day (or a week…we dare you!).  t’s proven to help. A 2018 study of over 100 undergrads at the University of Pennsylvania showed a reduction in loneliness and depression after 3 weeks of limiting their time on social platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat) to 10 minutes a day. Reframe the Negativity It’s easy to dwell on  negativity. We can get caught up in all the “what-ifs.” But, having a positive outlook can work wonders as it relates to your health. A 2019 study revealed that people who focused on the positive in their lives had greater odds of living to over 85 years old. What’s more, they had a 35 percent less chance of suffering from a heart attack or stroke, and had a stronger immune system). The next time you find yourself going down a negative thought spiral, try these three steps: Become Aware of the Thought: Recognize the thought to understand what is happening. Some negative thoughts will pass by; but, if you start to really dwell… Ask Yourself Questions: Literally ask yourself about the thought. Is this true? How is it affecting you? What advice would you give someone if they came to you with it? Journaling is a great way to do this—it’s actually been proven to help reduce anxiety and even boost performance. Then… Come Up With New View: What can you do right now to help yourself overcome the negativity? Is there something else you can focus on that is more positive?  Focus on Sleep Studies have shown that not getting proper sleep can lead to physical problems like weakened immune systems and mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. So, getting those seven to eight hours each night is imperative.  Set up a sleep routine to help calm your busy brain at night.  5 ways to get you ready for sound sleep: Set a regular bedtime. Your body craves consistency, and you’re more likely to get enough sleep if you schedule rest like your other important tasks. At Nutritious Life, we call this practicing good sleep hygiene. Create a cutoff time for coffee (and wine): While a cup (or two) of coffee in the morning can help you feel more alert during the day, as you acclimate to an earlier wake-up time your caffeine consumption should stop around lunchtime. Otherwise, you risk not being able to fall asleep that night. The same goes for a nightly glass of wine or cocktail. If you have a glass of wine with dinner, make sure there’s a three-hour time frame between then and when you go to sleep. While alcohol might make you feel more drowsy and make it easier to fall asleep, it can take a toll on the quality of sleep you get throughout the night (which makes it harder to get up in the a.m.). Exercise. Working out can improve sleep in many ways, including relief of muscle tension. Don’t work out right before bed, though, since exercise may make you more alert. If you like, try gentle upper-body stretches to help transition into sleep.