Everything Is Not What It Seems

I hope everyone is having a great weekend! It’s hard to believe I’ve now been a mom for 2 weeks. Similar to pregnancy, time is passing both insanely fast and agonizingly slow. Postpartum is a wild ride; between healing from giving birth, to navigating breastfeeding, to also having to keep this tiny human alive, it is the multitasking gig of a lifetime for me. The hardest part has been basically being confined to the house all day. It’s too hot to take the baby outside during the day, and I haven’t really been able to do much movement yet. Needless to say, I’m going a bit stir crazy 😅. But, like I said in last week’s newsletter, I really am trying to soak in these days because I know they won’t last forever.

Of course right now, nutrition is incredibly important for me. I’m focusing on eating to support healing and breastfeeding, so in that sense some of this time feels similar to my time as an elite athlete. Fueling is part of the job, and I have to find a way to make it a priority. At the two week mark, I was able to start adding in some slightly longer walks (we’re talking 15-20 minutes) and some gentle stretching and movement at home, which has been so nice. I watched the US Championships this weekend while doing my very minimal exercise routine on the floor, and I felt so inspired by the performances that I’m counting down the days until I can get back to running.

So if you’re in the same boat as me and are anxiously awaiting a time when you can get back out there, you’re not alone! Focus on the things you can do right now to make that a possibility, and we’ll be back out there before we know it.

In Today’s newsletter:

• What’s for dinner? I’ve planned out your week in meals and snacks so you don’t have to! Check out my menu plan for the week, and some simple recipes to go with it.

• Weekly tip: For some, calorie counting can be a common habit, and for others, it can be hard to shift their thoughts away from thinking about the calorie composition of everything eaten. Today, we’re talking about a few strategies to help move away from calorie counting.

• Science corner: There are quite a few performance supplements on the market, and it can be difficult to know which ones actually help with performance. We’re highlighting a few of those supplements today to help you filter through the marketing and advertising and get down to the science.

• Food for thought: As I continue to learn how to take care of a tiny human, I’ve found myself struggling with comparison, especially if I spend time on Instagram. I’ve talked about comparison before, but I wanted to share my thoughts why it’s so important to remember that social media is a highlight reel.

Do you have topics, recipes, or thoughts that you’d like to see in the next Sunday Brunch Club? Reply to this email and let me know!

Listen👇🏼: to the most recent episode of the Fueling Forward podcast where you can find interviews with athletes or listen to me answer questions submitted by listeners.