83. Wellness After 40: Letting Go of Perfectionism and Building Strength

Welcome to Episode 83 of the Emotional Eats Podcast! I'm excited to welcome Kristin Brucker and Raquel B. Cartagena, co-hosts of the Functional Moms Podcast. These two inspiring women are functional medicine-certified health coaches and New Jersey moms with a passion for helping women over 40 take control of their health and age strong. Kristin's journey began when her third child faced severe food allergies and chronic health issues, leading her to discover the transformative power of functional medicine. Raquel, a single mom of four, came to functional medicine during the pandemic after years as a fitness professional, searching for a more holistic approach to help women improve their health and confidence. Together, they created Functional Moms Podcast to build a supportive community of midlife women using functional medicine and lifestyle solutions to improve their own health and that of their families. In this episode, we discuss: What functional medicine health coaching is and how it complements conventional medicine. How breaking free from the "all-or-nothing" mindset can make health changes more sustainable. Practical tips like five-minute workouts, journaling, and celebrating small wins to create lasting behavior change. Why mindset, intuition, and building a relationship with yourself are key to achieving health goals. The importance of community and how small steps can lead to big progress over time. Kristin and Raquel also share their approach to empowering women to trust their intuition and embrace imperfect progress, making health and wellness fun and achievable for busy midlife moms. Let this episode inspire you to nourish your life, embrace grace, and take the first small step toward a healthier, stronger you! Episode Highlights: Background of Kristen and Raquel (0:00) Formation of the Functional Moms Podcast (6:42) Defining Functional Medicine Health Coaching (6:57) Overcoming Obstacles and Building Confidence (20:28) Practical Tips for Women to Get Started (26:30) The Role of Faith and Spirituality (55:02)   More about Kristin and Raquel:Kristin and Raquel are certified health coaches dedicated to helping women over 40 create sustainable health solutions. Raquel is also a personal trainer and fitness specialist for women over 40. Kristin, a married mom of three, and Raquel, a single mom of four and grandmother of two, believe in the power of community, mindset, and consistent, small steps toward wellness. Connect with Kristin and Raquel: Instagram: @functionalmomspodcast YouTube: Functional Moms Podcast Spotify & Apple Podcasts: Functional Moms Podcast LinkedIn: Functional Moms Podcast  Note:  The information in this podcast is not to replace working with your doctor, other medical practitioner or mental health practitioner.  This podcast is to provide conversation, information and entertainment.   My favorite evening drink (or dessert) is Organifi Gold Chocolate.  It is like a "healthy dark hot chocolate".  With reishi mushrooms and lemon balm extract for calming and relaxing, it's perfect in the afternoon or evening.  Gold  also has superfoods like tumeric and ginger.  It's nonGMO, vegan and organic. You can check out all of Organifi's healthy products at https://www.organifishop.com/.  Make sure to use code:  KIMH to get a discount