The Katy Way

01/01/2025

You HAVE to remember…

We’re all at different points on this wild journey called life!

And just because someone looks like they have it all together…the probably don’t!

Whether your goals are big, small, or somewhere in between, your health journey doesn’t have to start in January—or hey, maybe it can start in January. (You do you!) There should be no pressure to completely change your life at the beginning of the year for ANY goal!

The key is this:

You’ve gotta do what’s right for YOU—your mental health, your physical health, and yep, even your family and your chaotic schedule.

For example:

Only run if you love running (and if you’re not wincing afterward like you just ran from a bear—yes, that includes post-run pain!).

You NEED to eat food! Preferably food that doesn’t come in a box or have an ingredient list longer than a CVS receipt. And yes, red meat is on the table—unless your doctor said otherwise (and even then, we might wanna ask some follow-up questions).

You do not need a bootcamp to lose weight. If life already feels like a bootcamp (hello, cortisol!), maybe a brisk walk with a friend is better—bonus points if you vent and soak up some sunshine while you’re at it.

Let’s get real: Every ad, influencer, and company is trying to sell you something. Think back—how many “miracle” fixes have you already bought that didn’t work? Exactly.

Here’s the truth:

There are no quick fixes—at least none that won’t come back to bite you later.

Health, fitness, and nutrition are NOT one-size-fits-all. If someone claims to know exactly what you need without digging deeper, run (but only if you love running). Especially if you’re a woman navigating peri-menopause or menopause—don’t fall for the hype targeting this demographic. They know you’re craving quick answers, and they’ll use it against you.

So, what should you focus on?

The big rocks:
✨Eating healthier (most of the time).
⭐️Prioritizing strength training (yes, heavier than 5 lbs).
💥Moving your body daily (walk, dance, whatever gets you going).

Your journey, your rules. Just don’t forget to enjoy it along the way.

So remember: Progress isn’t about perfection; it’s about showing up for yourself, one step (or snack) at a time. (And if you know me..you know I mostly mean the snack part) 😄

07/14/2024

❤️❤️❤️

Be patient with their growing brains 💞

06/29/2024

The kitchen, living room, my room and every other room and area 🤣

06/12/2024

May you never be the reason why your daughter, who loves wearing colorful and sparkly outfits with dreams of being in fashion, now wears plain clothes.

Or why your son, who loves dancing and singing, never takes the stage by storm again.

Or why your daughter who always spoke so excitedly about her dreams, is now silent and on a path that makes more sense for a career.

Or why your son who loves soccer quits to focus on something more practical.

There is no need to kill your children’s dreams before they have even had a chance to form fully.
A few discouraging words are all it takes to sway your kids away from something that gives them joy.

So, let them dream and be who they are.
Build them up. Support them.
Encourage them. Guide them.
And help them when they need.

Never dim your child’s light.

Your job as their parent
is to make them shine brighter.

✍️:
📸:

06/09/2024

💯 ♥️♥️♥️

My Daughter,⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Don’t chase pretty.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Because a little girl who loves being pretty⁣⁣
and seeks compliments on her appearance,⁣⁣
will turn into a teenager and adult who has⁣⁣
an unhealthy perception of her body.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
The last thing I want is for your worth to be sealed into pretty.⁣⁣
Because you’ll waste so much time and energy in the chase for something you’ll never catch.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
My Daughter,⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Chase things that matter.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Chase kind.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Chase creative.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Chase funny.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Chase smart.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Chase happy.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Chase loving.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
These are the real stand-out qualities.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝗪𝐎𝐑𝐋𝐃,⁣⁣
⁣⁣
𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐏 𝐓𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐃𝐀𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐘’𝐑𝐄 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐘. 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐘’𝐑𝐄 𝐒𝐎 𝐌𝐔𝐂𝐇 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓.

✍️:
📸: Kate T. Parker Photography

04/29/2024

❤️❤️❤️

Be gentle to the mom you are right now.

She has worked hard to become the version of herself she is today.

Cheer her on, and don't give up on her.

Even if she finds herself mostly overwhelmed and keeps making plans and then canceling them because she forgets about a doctor's appointment or a tutoring session, there's always something.

Even if she misses a big game because she gets stuck on a work call and the failure feeling is crushing her,
or she yells at her kids and is now filled with immense guilt and defeat and feels like she wants to break down in tears.

It doesn't matter how much she thinks she's failing.

Because she does her best,
she shows up,
she tries every day,
and no one loves her kids more.

And her kids feel that love,
and think she's a superhero.

Let that be enough.

✍️:
📸:

03/27/2024

We all try to do our health journey wrong. And I mean WE all do. It is hard to not want instant gratification.

It seems almost not worth the hard work if we don’t SEE the results. Right!?!

The truth is….that’s 💯 the hard part and the biggest reason that so many ppl don’t stick with the journey. They feel like it isn’t working. All because they can’t see it working and yet there is plenty of evidence out there that proves that as we age these healthier habits will help us age more “gracefully.” 😝

So change what you focus on. Focus on your health. Think longevity….

💪 will adding in strength training and walks to my weekly routine help me later in life?

🍲 will choosing “whole” foods with plenty of protein and fiber help with digestion, heart health and (increasing and maintaining) lean body mass later in life.

🍺 will skipping the alcohol create better sleep and help me feel better tomorrow…so I can eat the healthier foods and do the workouts. (See what I did there…)

🛌 will going to bed (instead of staying up to binge a show) help my body heal properly (not to mention the other very important process that happen while we sleep).

Will all of this help you look better naked tomorrow?

Nope! Probably not! But one day it will. And if you focus on just doing the healthier and harder choices, then you will wake up one day and be pleasantly surprised.

03/20/2024

There are so many things in this life that I will never understand! Sometimes I feel like it is best to just accept these things as they are!

And while I don’t understand, I do accept them. But I also feel like I should acknowledge them!

1. (The biggest thing is) how I am so lucky to be my baby’s mother? She is the most amazing little human.
2. How do I always find the most amazing clients?
3. Why do things always seem to happen in 3’s? 🤔
4. Why do I always have to deal with another round of 40 degree weather when I have ALREADY become used to my sunny days and warmer weather?
5. Why didn’t they keep the same actors in Grease 2? That really ruined that movie 🤣

But more importantly I don’t understand why more people don’t help those around them grow. I believe we all have a purpose, a thing that we can give to help others. Our lives become so much more meaningful when we provide meaning to others. No matter how big or how small we all have something to offer!

What a beautiful world we would live in, if we all set out to help others grow!

03/12/2024

Why not me!

I recently listened to a podcast that Jen Cohen was a guest on. (Even though I love her podcast too 🫶). And she said something that really stood out to me…

She said that everything she does, she thinks, why not me. She never allows anything to be out of her reach, by this one little sentence.

I felt so empowered by just repeating that sentence to myself after hearing it. Why not me! There are so many reasons that we think something isn’t obtainable. But when you approach life with this mentality those reasons just seem to dissipate. Right?!?

There has always been a reason that you could NOT achieve goal A and B. Or there has always been something in the back of your mind telling you that you can’t quit your full-time job and chase after your real dreams. Perhaps you struggle with relationships with food and your body. The fear of failure will prevent most people from just taking that leap. The fears you have can be removed. Why not me!

There is literally no reason that you can’t do it. You just have to know that if someone else can do it. So can you!

So ask yourself…. Why not me! And ask yourself everyday until you believe it!

03/11/2024

No matter what you do…just make sure you are as determined as the little girls that chase me to pet Shadow 🤣 one day they will notice the headphones

03/08/2024

It is International Women’s Day—to celebrate what women have been overcome!

So it is a great day to mention, that I am rooting for all the women at there.

Even if you don’t know it.

Even if you aren’t rooting for yourself yet!

You can do anything you set your mind to!