Earn Your Happy

Growing up outside of Portland, Alexandra describes her childhood as “growing up with hippies.” Always eating healthy, straight out of a garden to be exact, Alex as a young child always craved sugar. “When I found out that the church down the street served cookies and kool-aid every weekend, I started going to church…by myself, just to have the cookies!”  By the age of 15, like most teenagers, Alexandra finally got to decide her own diet and what she chose to eat, especially now that she had a job and was making her own money. This continued for about 10 years, until she began to get extremely sick in her mid 20’s. “I had migraine headaches about 3-4 days a week and put on about 20 lbs. even after the extra college weight.” The first doctor she visited, wrote her a prescription for a cocktail of different meds, but it wasn't until her second (and different) doctor visit, that they actually found the core of the issues. “He asked what I had been eating, and gave me a list of foods to eat and a list of foods to avoid. I wanted to cry! The list to avoid was everything I loved.” It may have been a bottom-point for Alexandra during that time of pain and disappointment, but it turned into a love and passion for food, molding her into what we would call a “Food Junkie!” She attended culinary school at The Natural Gourmet Institute and began diving headfirst into nutritional research, specifically geared towards healing foods. Flashing forward to present day and the (thankfully) healthier Alexandra, she shares the story of how she met her husband, Morgan, and the film they produced together, that not only changed their lives, but the lives of the millions viewers who have ever watched “Super Size Me.” (And if you haven't, I HIGHLY recommend it!) Listen in as Alexandra shares the science behind cravings, the power of healing foods and her extensive amount of nutritional knowledge, that I believe is vital for a healthier happier YOU! “You cant just take away sugar, you cant just take away the foods that give you that dopamine hit. You have to also add in fun and play and pleasure in equal amounts.” Going off of what Alexandra said, it’s about taking away AND adding in…it’s called a balanced life! In This Episode You Will Learn About: Sugar addiction Eating healthy Food awareness Diet Wellness Self care Cravings Resources: Alexandra's 3 FREE Meditations Super Size Me See more from the lovely Alexandra at alexandrajamieson.com and make sure you download her AMAZING & FREE meditations, through the link above! Follow me on social media @LoriHarder on Instagram and Lori Harder on Facebook. You can also see more at my website: LoriHarder.com

Before the holiday storm arrives, if it hasn't already, I'm here to help you recharge! It's important for your own sanity and for those in your company to set a daily recharge, for yourself, to really be able to live in the present and enjoy the most beautiful time of year! Set agreements for your holiday company, don't be afraid to ask for help when you're feeling overwhelmed, but the key is to remain grateful that you even have this family/friends/things on your agenda! Could you imagine your life without it?! It would be so boring without the chaos! "We want to wrap every memory in awesomeness!" In This Episode You Will Learn About: Agreements Permission Recharging Making a set plan Gratefulness Resources: My Holiday Survival Guide Follow me on social media @LoriHarder on Instagram and Lori Harder on Facebook. You can also see more at my website: LoriHarder.com

Shawn Stevenson is a bestselling author and creator of The Model Health Show, featured as the #1 Nutrition and Fitness podcast on iTunes. A graduate of The University of Missouri – St. Louis with a background in biology and kinesiology, Shawn went on to be the founder of Advanced Integrative Health Alliance, a successful company that provides Wellness Services for both individuals and organizations worldwide. Shawn is also a dynamic keynote speaker who has spoken for TEDx, universities, and numerous organizations with outstanding reviews. As an aspiring athlete, Shawn had a bright future in football and other sports. Staying active and playing sports was a way of life, until a tragic incident at the age of 15. Breaking his hip while running on the school track, Shawn came to later find out that he had Degenerative Bone Disease and Degenerative Disc Disease. “My physician at the time told me I had the spine of an 80 year old, when I was only 20 years old.” As the years went by, due to lack of motivation and ability to be as active as he once was, Shawn began packing on the pounds. Not only was this disease effecting his body, but also his sleep. The pain it brought on from switching comfortable positions in bed, was unreal. “I would take a special cocktail of medicines before bed, just to knock me out. But it was pseudo sleep, not the high-quality type of sleep.” With the hopes and all of his trust of his future solely in the doctors hands, it didn't take long before Shawn realized that it was up to HIM to get HIMSELF better. “I cut away the possibility of anything else, besides me getting well.” And so the journey began…to where Shawn is now! Fast forwarding, and healing (Spoiler alert!) Shawn has become a Best Selling Author and a health/sleep genius! His joy became being of service to those around him, to sharing his story and helping heal those in need. Whether it be love and relationships, health and nutrition or even just the advice to become your own leader, Shawn holds a space to help us all! With absolutely, amazingly insane health and sleep tips, Shawn’s interview on todays podcast is one that I highly recommend you tune into! Did you know you could lose fat while you sleep? …count me in! In This Episode You Will Learn About: Relationships Love Abundance Diagnosis’ Optimizing nutrition Movement Sleep Heath tips Willpower Helping others Resources: The Model Health Show (podcast) by: Shawn Stevenson Sleep Smarter by: Shawn Stevenson For the ultimate guide to maximizing your sleep and your heath, head over to theshawnstevensonmodel.com or follow him on social media @shawnmodel Follow me on social media @LoriHarder on Instagram and Lori Harder on Facebook. You can also see more at my website: LoriHarder.com

"Living in worry invites death in a hurry.” There’s a reason it’s called “disease.” It is living in a state of dis-ease. Worrying creates certain toxic chemicals which are then sent out to our body, putting us in a state of despair. Crazy to think, but choosing positivity over negativity can actually add years to your life! “Worry does not take away tomorrow troubles, it takes away todays peace.” I’d love to share the 5 things you can start doing NOW, to switch your mindset: Setting aside a “worry time” Pray Except what you cannot change Workout! Meditate And now that I’ve gotten your attention, I’m really just here to turn all your worriers, into WARriors! In This Episode You Will Learn About: Worrying Living in the future instead of the present Stress Anxiety Disease or Dis-Ease Switching your mindset Resources: loriharder.com/challenge Follow me on social media @LoriHarder on Instagram and Lori Harder on Facebook. You can also see more at my website: LoriHarder.com

Health and fitness expert Mark Sisson is the Best Selling Author of The Primal Blueprint and one of the leading voices of the Evolutionary Health Movement. His blog, MarksDailyApple.com, has paved the way for Primal enthusiasts to challenge conventional wisdom’s diet and exercise principles and take personal responsibility for their health and well-being. Mark’s efforts to promote primal living extend to a line of nutritional supplements, a book publishing company, a Primal Kitchen line with healthy mayonnaise, salad dressing, and other functional foods, and the burgeoning Primal Kitchen Restaurants fast casual restaurant chain. Mark is a former elite endurance athlete, with a 2:18 marathon and a 4th place Hawaii Ironman finish. His latest book, Primal Endurance, applies the primal eating and lifestyle principles to the challenge of endurance training—helping athletes overcome the common conditions of burnout and carbohydrate dependency. With the combination of Evolutionary Science and Modern Genetic Science, Mark shares his overflow of knowledge with us, in the field of health and wellness. “It’s all about the food you eat, the types of movement you choose to do, your sun exposure, the amount of sleep you get and even the amount of play you give yourself.” The above is what Mark likes to call, our “Primal Blueprint.” Looking for ways to live your healthiest and happiest life while enjoying every bit of food you eat? Mark’s life hacks and tips allow us to do so without the feelings of regret and/or sacrifice. “I want people to arrive at a space where they are intuitively making the kind of choices they feel good about in real time, but that don’t compromise their health long-term.” Mark helps us understand that we in fact CAN have it all. The great foods, the fit bodies, the healthy heart etc..Our one life to live shouldn't have to revolve around sacrificing the food and things that make our mouths happy. “It’s also about the movement. It doesn’t have to be something we dread. I like to find ways to move that are fun, so it can become something you look forward to, and enjoyable experience.” Getting rid of all processed foods and “sweets” is on the top of his tip list. Re-wiring our brain to curb these cravings will help substantially. Listen in, to hear what Mark substitutes in, when he has those sweet cravings. (I’ve never even heard this one before!) With the most positive outlooks on intakes, Mark’s great advice will have you amped to be the healthiest version of you! In This Episode You Will Learn About: Shifting metabolism Peak energy Fat loss Health tips Diet Optimizing fitness Food choices Reduce cravings Body input Resources: The Primal Blueprint by: Mark Sisson Primal Endurance by: Mark Sisson For more healthy and sustainable tips, you can find Mark at marksdailyapple.com. Follow me on social media @LoriHarder on Instagram and Lori Harder on Facebook. You can also see more at my website: LoriHarder.com

Happy Thanksgiving! “Gratitude turns what we have into enough and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity. It makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.” -Melody Beatty Although I truly believe that every single solitary day should be filled with an abundance or thankfulness and gratefulness, it is important that today, before the hustle bustle and family/friend fun that you take a moment to sit in gratitude. You can not attract more of the good stuff, without already being grateful for what you have! “Be thankful for what you have and you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you DON’T have, you'll never ever have.” -Oprah Winfrey Before eating tonight (just another thing to be grateful for,) go around the table and have everyone name one thing they are “thankful for.” Creating bonds and family traditions are my favorite, so join me! Stop. Drop & Get GRATEFUL! Have a happy and healthy holiday! In The Episode You Will Learn About: Thankfulness Gratitude Family tradition Celebration Resources: loriharder.com/challenge Follow me on social media @LoriHarder on Instagram and Lori Harder on Facebook. You can also see more at my website: LoriHarder.com

Lisa is the creator of the I AM Initiative: a self-defense through self-empowerment curriculum for pre/mid teen girls and the author of ‘I AM: A Girls Guide To Harnessing Superpowers’. The purpose of her workshops and book is to empower girls and demonstrate the necessity of self-love in relationship to self-protection. Lisa Van Ahn is a professional boxer and kick boxer. She found her way to the sport after being exploited as a child, years of believing she was unworthy, and living as a victim. Once she began kickboxing, her self-esteem soared and she was able to heal the wounds that were inflicted in her younger years. She started her fighting career in 1996, and quickly rose to the top of her sport with a regional Championship title and moved on to fighting professionally winning a national Kickboxing title in 2000. After winning her kickboxing title Lisa found fights difficult to procure and decided to take on the world of boxing. She boxed professionally in Las Vegas from 2001-2004 and fought on many prestigious cards and arenas including the Arco Arena SAC, and the Philips Arena, ATL. She also appeared on ESPN’s Friday night fights. Lisa still fights for the U.S. kickboxing team and won a bronze medal at the Pan Am Games in 2012. In 2015/16 she also participated as a competitor on the popular NBC show, American Ninja Warrior. Lisa’s passion for finding her inner superpower stemmed from her difficult childhood of being exploited. By the young age of 15, Lisa started having unfortunate suicidal thoughts after feeling like all her darkest secrets had been exposed. Coming from a place of deep salt-blame, Lisa struggled as a child, teen and young adult. Playing the “victim role” was all she knew, which again led her to making poor choices. At only 19, Lisa found herself in an abusive relationship with a much older man. “I remember specifically one day as he kicked me out of his Bronco, I landed in the front entrance of a kick-boxing studio and had two options…I can sit here and cry or I can walk myself into that studio.” Sometimes, it’s in our darkest moments that we find our truest selves. Lisa knew that was the perfect time to stop playing the victim, stop saying “I cant do anything about this,” and decided to turn her life around! “Very often the world is going to put you down or give your mixed messages. You have to be able to recognize yourself!” Young or old, still in search of your inner superpower?! Let Lisa be the one to help dust off the cobwebs on your wings, and if you're not even sure where to begin, recite the following with me: “My thoughts guide my attitude. My attitude guides my actions and my actions create my reality.” Don’t let anything fool you, the universe is always on your side of the ring! (Pun intended) In This Episode You Will Learn About: Finding your superpower Being mindful of your thoughts Self love Positive action Empowerment Knowing your worth Protecting yourself Boxing Resources: http://www.iaminitiative.com/ Find out some more BADASS inspiration at lisavanahn.com or iaminitiative.com. Follow me on social media @LoriHarder on Instagram and Lori Harder on Facebook. You can also see more at my website: LoriHarder.com

The podcast discusses the importance of recognizing and appreciating what we have, managing expectations during the holidays, and planning activities to foster gratitude. It also emphasizes the significance of acceptance, setting boundaries for happiness, and pursuing personal growth. Additionally, it introduces a challenge for listeners, the power of building an online community, and the benefits of journaling for self-reflection and success.

Dr. Amy Cannatta is an international coach, innovative business and life strategist, #1 International Best Selling Author for her book titled, PURSEpective; From Ruin to Resilience, podcast host, and blogger for The Huffington Post. She is passionate about teaching you how changing your perspective can turn tragedy into personal transformation. Focusing on resilience, perseverance, and positivity, she has personally developed a signature coaching program using her DREAM framework, the same strategies she used herself to transform from domestic abuse victim to VICTOR, doctor, and entrepreneur. Her personally developed coaching programs that combine her expertise as an intuitive, holistic chiropractor, business owner and life coach. When she is not getting caught red handed on her secret stash of sour patch kids or getting glares from her teenage daughters for dancing around the kitchen, she can be found outside enjoying nature and being a spirit junkie. Growing up on a small farm in Connecticut, Amy went on to graduate high school and begin the Business School route in college. After completing her first year, Amy decided to drop-out. (I love a good “college drop-out" to awesome entrepreneur story!) Working any and every job you could possibly think of, Amy felt that she wasn't put on the earth to work the typical minimum wage job. Being on the health and wellness career path now for about 10 years now, Amy has just recently shifted over from chiropractic work, to the “mentorship” side of things, helping high-aching women in the health and wellness field, try to start their businesses! “Have never even gotten an adjustment before, I followed my faith to Chiropractic school. It just kind of lined up for me.” (No pun intended on alignment ;)) Aside from her many life accomplishments, Amy takes a moment to get super deep and personal. She’s a great example of the “perfect life scenario” when really, on the inside, no one knows the truth. Having been dealing with domestic abuse from her then husband, she takes us back to the exact day in 2002 when she felt the most humiliated in front of her classmates, yet the most relieved she had ever felt, as the wave of a “I will rise above” mindset shifted for her. Sometimes, it is in the most horrendous moments that we find such pivotal answers for ourselves. “You cant have a rainbow, without the rain.” From that day forward, Amy knew she had a message to share. One that could change the lives of others just like her, forever. She wasn't going to let this mess take her down. “I wasn't going to survive, just to survive. I was going to thrive and then I was going to be a transformational healing voice for the world." In This Episode You Will Learn About: Health & Wellness Leadership Living the life you desire Transformational healing Entrepreneurship Resilience Domestic abuse Resources: Concept to Cash Flow Podcast with Amy Cannatta Pursepective: Ruin to Resilience Want to follow Amy and her awesomeness? You can find her on both Facebook at Dr. Amy Cannatta and Instagram @Dr_amycannatta! Follow me on social media @LoriHarder on Instagram and Lori Harder on Facebook. You can also see more at my website: LoriHarder.com

“Peace, it does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.” In times of chaos, whether it be because of the holiday season, our country’s situation or maybe even something personal like your love life and/or job. It is remembering that peace is an inside job, that will help find the light at the end of the tunnel. We are all guilty of getting wrapped up in the noise of a busy day, but it’s important to listen to our noise within, our inner voice. Our intuition and what speaks without words, can be the loudest. “Grace and Space,” the two most incredible gifts to give yourself this holiday season. In This Episode You Will Learn About: Finding peace through chaos Fear vs. faith The little voice inside you Giving yourself grace and space Meditation Prayer Follow me on social media @LoriHarder on Instagram and Lori Harder on Facebook. You can also see more at my website: LoriHarder.com