Did you know I have a mid month newsletter I only release to my subscribers? Figured as a little 2nd birthday gift I’d give all y’all a little sneak peak into some of the fun.
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August 2023 | Vol. VIII
Mid Month Momentum Newsletter
Celebrating life & another monthly birthday of Making Momentum! A time to reflect, reset, move forward, onward, and upward with some momentum.
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A message from Monique ✯
This is a special issue, because it is Making Momentum’s 2nd birthday! 🎂
I purposely distribute these newsletters on the monthly anniversary of Making Momentum, which is the 17th-18th of every month, but August 2021 was the inception.
Two years ago in 2021, between the nights of August 17th and August 18th, I was lying in bed trying to drift off to sleep and instead was absolutely ignited with this need to follow my passion for fitness, health, and wellness. I was tossing and turning all night buzzing with ideas and this desire to create some kind of outlet/business around this passion. I didn’t sleep a wink trying to think of ways to bring it to life.
I started by deciding that I needed to return to the field by becoming a Certified Behavior Change Specialist, then I became a Certified Nutrition Coach, and then became a Certified Wellness Coach. While I’m still determining how I want to share all that I’ve learned, and continue to learn, I’ve slowly been making momentum on Making Momentum, LLC.
Most days I’m still not sure where I’m going with this. However, when I paused and reflected, I actually have put a lot into this behind the scenes over the years and that’s something to celebrate. (And we know I’m all about celebrating any win, big or small 🥳) Thank you to all of you supporting me in this and joining me as I try to figure out this wild ride. Cheers to you & cheers to two years of Making Momentum!
Content Roundup ✪
On Site content is a recap of what I've released content wise for you since the last newsletter to catch up on or revisit from my blog. The off site content is from others that I've consumed and think is worth a gander.
On Site ✪
✨ Catch up on Momentum Mondays
✨ Understanding Dehydration & Electrolytes
✨ Understanding Cholesterol 101
✨ What *Not* to Do When Starting a Fitness Routine
Off Site ✪
✨ Managing Fear and Achieving Better Workouts | Keeping It Real: Conversations with Jillian Michaels Podcast | I love all of Jillian Michaels' podcasts and recommend listening to all of her episodes in their entirety, but I particularly found her discussion for a caller question (beginning at 38:23) of weight loss, ground rules for food quality, and understanding going organic in this episode very helpful to anyone starting their journey into going organic!
✨ How to Understand Your Emotions | Mark Manson | I came across this Instagram post of Mark Manson’s and subsequently went to look for his blog post deep dive on the subject. I liked in the post how he said emotions are simply a feedback mechanism of your nervous system responding to stimuli and then in this article discusses what these 6 main emotions Happiness, Sadness, Anger, Fear, Shame, and Love are telling us.
✨ The Science of MDMA & Its Therapeutic Uses: Benefits & Risks | Huberman Lab | Last month’s newsletter I included that TIME article What MDMA Taught Me About Human Connection and this month I wanted to include this podcast from Andrew Huberman because
1.) Dr. Huberman is a highly prominent and respected neuroscientist and pretty much THE top dog in Science and Wellness right now.
2.) This podcast, while slightly in the weeds, not only explains the science of why the individual in that TIME article likely had the experience he had; but even more importantly, teaches us the science behind the mechanisms to help us better understand why this an emerging field of study in social wellness 🤓
Latest Favorites ✪
No sponsorships (yet), just genuine obsessions. 🤷
✨ PSA, please start following @BakedByMelissa on Instagram and thank me later. She's famous for making delightful mini cupcakes, but on her Instagram she has tons of ASMR videos of her cooking simple, healthy, delicious looking foods. It’s like hanging out with your best friend while she cooks. Literally, now all I ever want to eat are vegetables because she's inspired me that veggies can be easy, fun, and yum.
✨ I haven't watched Barbie yet, but I finally watched the series finale of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Besides the show being utterly hilarious, I was really struck by how well done the show was. I’m no feminist, but I so appreciated watching this fictional woman relentlessly forge forward on this unknown path. She fell down countless times, but always brushed herself off, picked herself back up and kept making momentum towards her goals. I also had an epiphany that I have a fondness for period pieces because it always baffles me how things were simultaneously easier and harder back then and they are simultaneously easier and harder now. 🤯 Anyways, thought it was a stellar example of making momentum. Highly recommend it if you’re looking for something to watch on Prime!
✨ It’s still summer and dang hot and too dang hot to drink hot coffee. Therefore, I’m continuing to drink cold brew coffee like it’s my job. As such, I’m slinging another organic coffee recommendation your way. The first time I had Lucky Jack I’m not sure if it was regular cold brew coffee or concentrate I was drinking, all I know is that I was absolutely wired. I decided to give it another whirl and this time I know for a fact I intentionally grabbed the cold brew concentrate. The verdict: it’s delightful and doesn’t leave me buzzing and jittery when properly diluted! Plus, you can literally taste how superiorly high quality this organic coffee is.
Mid-Month Check In ✪
The Name Says It All: Making Momentum Is Quite Literally What It’s All About
For this 2nd annual birthday issue I was debating what my mid-month check in should be. I wanted it to be profound and instead I decided on this: Making Momentum is quite literally what all of this is about. Bravely “shooting for the moon and if you miss you’ll be among the stars” and embracing “progress, not perfection”. Putting aside luck, persistently pursuing and executing towards your goals in the form of consistent action is how you build and get closer to any result you’re looking to achieve. Even failures and setbacks still create momentum. Perfection doesn’t have to be the destination. Start small and simple. Gradually you will make momentum. Sometimes, simply the pursuit and making any momentum at all is what this is all about.
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Wishing you the best in health, wellness, & forward momentum,
Monique
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