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I once knew two seventy-year- old ladies who got into an argument in the grocery store over Vidalia onions—were they worth the extra cost or not?—and then refused to speak to each other for years. (No kidding.) Luckily, they patched things up before they hit their eighties! I used to laugh when I thought about their silly argument, but then one day I asked myself: How many of my relationships have suffered because I was holding a grudge and wasn’t willing to mend fences? And how much negative energy was I pulling into my life by refusing to heal those relationships?That’s when I decided to take action. I knew I’d be happier if I healed my broken relationships, so I did. It took some courage, but I’m telling you: It made a big difference in my life. Even when I had good reason to hold a grudge because someone had hurt me badly, I discovered that patching things up freed me from a ton of misery. That’s why I’m encouraging you to mend your own fences during my “Create Happy” Month. Here are some tips for doing it.First, identify the relationships in your life that are damaged. In each case, ask yourself: Do I truly want this person in my life? If the answer is yes, then the breach is making you unhappy and you need to repair it. But if not—if you don’t like the person, or worse yet, the relationship is toxic—then it’s probably smarter to walk away. If you decide that a broken bond needs repairing, then it’s time for you to make the first move by contacting the person. Here’s my advice: Start by admitting your role in the situation. Offer an apology for being wrong if you were at fault—or for not handling the situation well, if you feel that the other person was wrong. Don’t try to rehash the argument and prove that you were right, or you’re likely to make things worse. Say “I’ve missed you”—and explain why. For instance, tell the person, “I’ve missed your sense of humor and the way you always make me feel better when I’m down.” Make it clear that the person is very important to you. Let the person vent. If you approach the person positively and kindly, and you get an angry response—“Yes, you really hurt me, and I’m still upset”—don’t get defensive. Even if it’s painful, let the person air his or her negative feelings. Be patient. Sometimes, you can mend a broken relationship quickly. Most of the time, however, it takes time and work—so keep your expectations realistic. Write a letter. If the rift between you and the other person is huge, it might be easier to put your feelings on paper rather than trying to express them in person. This will allow you to think carefully about what you want to say. I can’t guarantee that all of your efforts to mend fences will be successful. But you know what? Even if the other person wants to keep holding a grudge, you can let go of your own negative energy. And most of the time, I’m betting there will be some happy tears, some hugs, and a lot of relief on both sides. So give it a try—because every time you mend a fence, you “create happy” for everyone involved.Keep Thinking Big & Living Bold!

When I was a kid, my dad always told me, “The six inches between your ears are what defines you.” In other words, if you want to be healthy and happy, you need to get your mind in the right place. And one of the best tricks for doing that is through affirmations. Here’s why. As you’re growing up, the people in your life—parents, teachers, and others—play a big role in the belief system you develop. In fact, most of this unconscious programming is in place by the time you turn 18, and it’s responsible for about 95 percent of your thoughts as an adult. Unfortunately, if you’re like most people, much of your inner script is negative. For instance, your unconscious may tell you, “You’ll never be successful,” “You’re not very talented,” or “You aren’t meant to be happy.” Thoughts like these can become self-fulfilling prophecies, preventing you from achieving true happiness and realizing your potential. It’s like you’re automatically casting yourself as a bad guy, a loser, or at best an extra in the cast. But here’s the good news: You can rewrite your script! One of the best ways to do this is through positive affirmations. When you repeat these affirmations over and over again, they override the negative thoughts. In effect, you’re rewriting your personal story line. How amazing is that? This is why, as part of my “Create Happy” Month, I want you to actively create affirmations. Here’s how to do it: Journal your affirmations in a notebook and say them out loud every morning. Phrase your affirmations in the present tense, as though they are already happening. Say your affirmations as soon as you wake up and again before you go to bed. It’s also smart to do it while you’re looking in the mirror. If possible, spend a few minutes taking calm, deep breaths before you say your affirmations, because this will put you in a more receptive state. Here are some examples of affirmations: “I am worthy of love and respect.” “I have amazing talents and I am making the most of them today.” “Happiness is a choice, and I am choosing to be happy.” “I am courageous and can face any challenge successfully.” “Obstacles are moving out of my way.” “I choose to release resentments and hurts.” Once you create your affirmations, take time every day to really think about each one, rather than rushing through them like a to-do list. Remember: You’re getting rid of negative thoughts that have dragged you down for decades and replacing them with positive thoughts that will last a lifetime. The more energy you devote to this exercise, the more it will pay off. Or, as my dad would say: How much of that space between your ears do you truly want to own? Keep Thinking Big & Living Bold!

One of the most important things I’ve learned in life is that no matter what you want—including happiness—you need to actively pull it into your life. You can’t just sit there thinking, “I wish I could be happy.” You need to get off your butt and make it happen—and that’s what my “Create Happy” Month is all about. Earlier this week, I talked about cultivating happiness by starting a happiness journal. Today, I want to share another powerful approach for “creating happy:” a form of meditation called Intentional Meditation. The difference between Intentional Meditation and other forms of meditation is that you’re not simply quieting your mind, increasing your self-awareness, and reducing your stress (although all of that is good, of course!). In addition, when you do Intentional Meditation, you are attracting a specific outcome. Here’s how to do it: 1. Ask yourself. What do you wish to attract into your life? 2. Write down your answers—for instance, peace, friendship, and joy. 3. Define your intention and write it down. Write it in the present tense—for instance, “I am attracting peace, friendship, and joy into my life.” Be sure to write your intention in a positive way. For instance, instead of writing, “I am getting rid of my ugly belly fat,” write, “I am honoring my body and becoming stronger and healthier.” 4. Find a quiet time in which you can meditate for 15 to 20 minutes without being disturbed. Follow the steps of mindful meditation, focusing on your breathing and letting thoughts float through your mind without judging them or going in on them. Each time you get distracted, repeat your intention. Visualize yourself already enjoying the outcome you want. Intentional Meditation sounds simple (and it is), but the positive energy you create when you do it is incredibly powerful. It turns you into a magnet, attracting what you desire and pulling it into your life. At the same time, it banishes the negative energy that blocks you from receiving the universe’s gifts. As the Buddha said, “The mind is everything. What we think, we become.” So practice Intentional Meditation… and become happy! Keep Thinking Big & Living Bold!

Over the last few years, I’ve experienced more than my share of ups and downs. I’ve been on top of the world one moment, only to get kicked in the teeth the next.  I’ve had days when I couldn’t wait to say “hello, universe!” and days when I wanted to crawl under the covers and stay there… forever. Along the way, I’ve learned some important lessons. And one of them is that no matter what’s happening in my life, I can still choose to be happy. Okay, let me clarify that. I’m not Pollyanna, and I don’t break into a cheerful song every time I get bad news. When I get smacked down by life, I cry, I yell, and I say some really bad words. But here’s what I don’t do: I don’t say, “My life stinks,” and allow myself to wallow in my misery. Instead, I pick myself up, dust myself off, say “next,” and decide to be happy. As Deepak Chopra puts it: “Research has shown that the best way to be happy is to make each day happy.” Notice the word make. The key is to make happiness happen, not to wait passively until the Happiness Fairy taps you with her sparkly wand—because trust me, you may have to wait a long time for her to get around to you! So… here’s my question for you today: Are you happy? If you answered “yes,” congratulations! But there’s also a chance that you’re not happy right now—or at least not as happy as you’d like to be. If that’s the case, I’m going to show you how to create happiness in your life, no matter where you are right now. I know that may sound impossible. But think about it for a minute. We all know people who experience joy nearly every day even though they’re battling huge problems. And we all know people who are unhappy even at the best of times. What does that tell us? That happiness comes from inside, not outside. Because I think learning to create happiness can change your life, I’m designating July as “Create Happy Month.” Every week, I’m going to share my best tips for putting a smile on your face, no matter what curveballs life is throwing at you. I’ve helped hundreds of my patients get more joy out of life with these tips, and I think they’ll work for you, too. Right now, for starters, I simply want you to do one little thing: Wrap your mind around the powerful idea that you can create happiness in your life. Once you fully understand this, you’ll already be on the road to doing it. So every morning this week, when you wake up, say to yourself: “I can create happiness.” Even if you don’t believe it at first, plant the thought in your mind. Over this month, I’ll tell you how to nurture that thought and make it bloom! Keep Thinking Big & Living Bold!

I never, ever skip my daily dose of bone broth. Hey, I’m not a kid anymore, and my skin needs all the collagen building blocks it can get! Those wrinkles are just waiting to pounce if I neglect this part of my beauty ritual, and I’m not about to give them the chance. I’ve also worked hard to get a glowing gut and the easy weight loss that comes with it—and that’s why I want to make sure my GI tract gets plenty of gelatin from bone broth. Gelatin soothes and heals the gut, helping its vibrant ecosystem of microbes to thrive. And I can’t forget about my joints, either! I’m into strength training, I love yoga, and I’m always making last-minute dashes through airports towing a heavy suitcase—so I can’t afford to let bad knees or achy hands slow me down. That’s another reason I love bone broth, which is loaded with joint-healing glucosamine and chondroitin. So needless to say, I go through a lot of bone broth. And here’s the thing: When I include a super-food like bone broth in my diet every day, I don’t want to get bored by the same recipe. Instead, I like to get creative and change things up! Here are three of my favorite variations on the bone broth theme, from my book, Dr. Kellyann’s Bone Broth Diet.   Asian Chicken Bone Broth Prep Time: 5 minutes | Cook Time: 5–10 minutes | Yield: Makes 4 cups (1 quart) 4 cups (1 quart) chicken bone broth 3" length of lemongrass, cut into 1" pieces 1 small clove garlic, smashed One handful of shitake mushrooms, sliced 2 scallions, white and green parts, cut into 1⁄2" pieces Celtic or pink Himalayan salt Ground black pepper 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped cilantro leaves Heat the broth in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the lemongrass, garlic, mushrooms, and scallions. Reduce the heat to medium-low or low so the broth barely simmers for 5 to 10 minutes. Remove and discard the lemongrass and garlic. Season with salt and pepper. Top with the cilantro.   Eastern European Beef Bone Broth Prep Time: 5 minutes | Cook Time: 5–10 minutes | Yield: Makes 4 cups (1 quart) 4 cups (1 quart) beef bone broth 1 small clove garlic, smashed Large handful of shredded cabbage 1 rib celery, diced 1 bay leaf 1 teaspoon dried dill 1 peppercorn Celtic or pink Himalayan salt Heat the broth in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic, cabbage, celery, bay leaf, dill, and peppercorn. Reduce the heat to medium-low or low so the broth barely simmers for 5 to 10 minutes, just until the vegetables are tender. Remove and discard the bay leaf, garlic, and peppercorn. Season with salt and serve.   Italian Beef Bone Broth Prep Time: 5 minutes  | Cook Time: 5–10 minutes | Yield: Makes 4 cups (1 quart) 4 cups (1 quart) beef bone broth 1 small clove garlic, smashed 1⁄4 cup tomato sauce, sugar-free 1⁄4 teaspoon Italian seasoning Celtic or pink Himalayan salt Ground black pepper 6 fresh basil leaves, cut into fine chiffonade ribbons Heat the broth in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic, tomato sauce, and Italian seasoning. Reduce the heat to medium-low or low so the broth barely simmers for 5 to 10 minutes. Remove and discard the garlic. Season with salt and pepper and serve topped with the basil.   Try all three of these variations yourself, and then try coming up with your own recipes featuring your favorite flavors. Add any seasonings you want, and any non-starchy vegetables… nothing’s off-limits! No matter what flavors you add, you’ll always get the fat-melting, gut-healing, wrinkle-blasting power of bone broth—Mother Nature’s most powerful prescription for weight loss and anti-aging. Keep Thinking Big & Living Bold!

Soup is one of my most powerful weight-loss secrets. It fills you up without weighing you down—and because it satisfies your hunger, it helps you eat up to 20% less and still feel just as full. Translation: pain-free slimming! And here’s another great thing about soup: It’s not just for winter. In fact, I put soup on my table just about every day during the warm summer months. It’s the perfect way to take advantage of the bounty from my farmers’ market, whether I’ve bought sun-ripened tomatoes and beautiful bell peppers or sweet watermelon and spicy basil. Better yet, soup is so healthy—especially when it’s rich in fat-melting, wrinkle-blasting bone broth. (It’s easy to make your own broth—or, if you’re in a hurry, use my ready-to-go beef or chicken bone broth or instant collagen broth.) Add in the vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients from those glorious fruits and veggies, and you have a perfect prescription for good health, weight loss, and anti-aging. Want more? Soup is versatile, too. You can eat it for breakfast, serve it as an appetizer before dinner, or take some to work in a thermos for lunch. You can dress it up for company, or keep it simple for family. And you can play around with your ingredients, so each pot of soup is a brand-new experience.   To help you get in the summer soup habit, I’m sharing ten of my favorite recipes in my FREE new ebook. In it, you’ll find everything from Szechwan Carrot Ginger Soup to my Avocado Soup with Smokey Chipotle Adobo. Click here to get your copy, and start “souping up” your summer! Keep Thinking Big & Living Bold!

What are the best natural healers? I always say that the most powerful medicines aren’t in your medicine cabinet—they’re in your pantry and your garden. And Mother Nature’s cures aren’t just powerful; they’re also far, far safer than the drugs your doctor prescribes. (Do your berries or herbs come with a warning label that’s eight hundred words long? No. I rest my case.) So, in honor of my Month of Favorites, here’s a new list: my favorite natural healers. Put these ten potent prescriptions to work for you, and they’ll make you healthier inside and out! 1. Turmeric as a natural healer. This awesome spice, a staple of Indian cooking, is finally coming into its own in the West. In part, it’s because people are falling in love with its warm, peppery flavor and mouth-watering aroma. But it’s also because they’re discovering the incredible health benefits of the curcumin in turmeric. These benefits include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, neuroprotective, and anti-diabetic properties. This spice has so many benefits that I try to use it at least two or three times a week in curries, smoothies, or cauliflower dishes like this zingy one from the Food Network. 2. Blueberries are a powerful natural healer. Is there anything that blueberries can’t do? Here’s a list of just some of their incredible health benefits: They protect your skin against sun-related damage and wrinkling. They can lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. They can help protect your eyes  against damage from sunlight. They can keep your brain young, delaying cognitive decline as you age. They can help protect against breast cancer and prostate cancer. They can lower your blood pressure and help keep your arteries elastic. That’s a lot of powerful medicine in a teeny, tiny package! And blueberries are incredibly versatile, too—so toss them in everything from smoothies to salads to grilled salmon recipes. To get you started, check out this recipe for my lime-blueberry poppy seed coffee cake. 3. Use aloe vera as your go to for a natural healer - h3 It’s not just an old wives’ tale; this succulent really does make wounds heal faster. Research suggests that it does this by binding growth factors at a wound site, making their effects last longer. And of course, topical aloe vera is awesome for soothing sunburns. However, there’s some controversy over whether you should drink aloe vera juice or use aloe vera gel orally. Here’s the scoop. Research shows that oral aloe vera may lower blood sugar levels in diabetics, fight bad bacteria in the mouth, and even help fight cancer. However, a study by the National Toxicology Program found that long-term consumption of non-decolorized whole-leaf extract of aloe vera increased the incidence of colon cancer in rats and mice. (Decolorizing is a process that removes a constituent of the aloe called the latex.) But a more recent study found that decolorized whole-leaf aloe vera had no adverse effects on rats—and aloe gel, which is different from whole leaf extract, doesn’t contain the substances implicated in cancer. Confusing? A little—but it looks like you can get all of aloe’s benefits from decolorized products or aloe gel, without any of the risks. And there’s no question that topical aloe vera works wonders. So plant some aloe in your garden, or put a pot of it on your windowsill.  Rub it on cuts, burns, sunburn, and even eczema and psoriasis. (Just do a little “patch test” first to make sure you’re not allergic to it.) 4. Cayenne pepper packs a punch a natural healer. Cayenne doesn’t just give your mouth a burn; it can make you burn calories faster. In addition, it reduces your appetite naturally—and it lowers blood sugar. How’s that for cool? By the way, here’s one of my favorite ways to enjoy cayenne pepper: in home-made sweet potato chips. (Yum.) 5. My ultimate favorite natural healer is bone broth. You knew this would be on my list, right? And it definitely earns a top spot in my pantheon of natural healers, because it’s loaded with gut-soothing gelatin, joint-healing glucosamine and chondroitin, and the deep nutrition of bone marrow. Bone broth makes you look healthier, too, because it contains the building blocks of wrinkle-erasing collagen. If you’ve never made bone broth before, it’s super-simple; here’s my easy recipe for basic broth. Not interested in making your own? Check out my liquid or powdered broth already prepared for you! 6. Coconut oil is a tremendous natural healer. Coconut oil is loaded with medium-chain triglycerides that are converted directly to energy by the liver, so they don’t wind up on your waistline. It’s also rich in lauric acid, which is a powerful germ fighter—and if you have arthritis, the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant power of coconut oil may help to ease your pain. I cook with coconut oil all the time. (For instance, check out my pork fried “rice” here.) In addition, I use it as a skin cream, and I prescribe it for my patients with psoriasis or eczema. 7. Don’t underestimate the power of honey as a natural healer. Honey can heal you on the inside and the outside. Here are just some of its health benefits: It inhibits inflammation. It helps fight cancer. It has antibacterial properties. It’s rich in antioxidants. It can help heal your gut. One study, for instance, found that honey promotes the growth of good gut microflora and helps protect against damage caused by dangerous mycotoxins. Used externally, it helps heal diabetic ulcers and can even knock out the super-bug MRSA. Make sure you buy raw honey—not the cheap, adulterated stuff—and use it sparingly, because it does raise your blood sugar. For external use, buy sterile Manuka honey. And never give honey to a baby, because it can contain botulinum spores that are harmless to older people but can endanger infants. 8. A lesser-known natural healer is maple syrup. Maple syrup contains 54 different beneficial compounds. Researcher Navindra Seeram, whose team discovered the wealth of nutrients in this healing food, says that the “sheer quantity and variety of identified compounds with documented health benefits qualifies maple syrup as a champion food.” But use this super-food only occasionally, because like honey, it will elevate your blood sugar. 9. Avocados are a supreme natural healer. What would life be like without guacamole? I don’t even want to think about it. And I don’t just love the taste of avocados; I also love the fact that they’re loaded with dozens of nutrients, as well as healthy fats that help your body absorb these nutrients. (They’re high in fiber, too.) Eating avocados can improve your cholesterol and lower your risk for metabolic syndrome, and a new study suggests that pregnant and nursing women in particular should be sure to include them in their diets. 10. Use cinnamon for a natural healer with a kick. Cinnamon reduces blood sugar and blood pressure in diabetics. It may even fight cancer by slowing the development of new blood supplies to tumors. And remember, cinnamon isn’t just for sweet dishes; it’s also awesome in savory dishes like this sage and cinnamon chicken over at Civilized Caveman Cooking. — Can you see why I tell my patients that the key to healing and anti-aging is a good grocery list—not a pill? When you take advantage of the medicines that Mother Nature provides so generously, you’ll do everything from reducing inflammation and lowering your blood sugar to healing your gut and protecting yourself against cancer. And here’s the best part: You’ll do it all deliciously. Bon apetit!t! Keep Thinking Big & Living Bold!

Right now, dads all over America are unwrapping Father’s Day presents—from toddlers’ finger-painted pictures to gift cards and golf clubs. (Not to mention thousands and thousands of “World’s Greatest Dad” mugs!) But you know what will make any dad even happier than getting gifts on this special day? Giving him special treatment. Here are five ways to do it: Share stories about him. Over the dinner table, have your kids tell their favorite stories about funny or heartwarming moments with their dad—or call your own dad and remind him of memorable moments the two of you shared. Really listen to him. It’s easy to tune out your partner or your dad when he’s ranting about politics, complaining about work, or rattling on about sports. But this is his special day—so focus on what he’s saying, ask questions that show you’re listening, and at least pretend that you’re fascinated. Ask him what he wants to do—or let him do nothing! It’s tempting to make big plans for a guy on Father’s Day—a movie date, dinner at a fancy restaurant—but why not ask the man of the day what he really wants to do? There’s a chance he’d be happier sleeping in, playing golf, or surfing the Net while you make a batch of chili for dinner. Whatever his preferences are, let him call the shots. Bite your tongue.  Do your best not to criticize, make sarcastic remarks, or argue with your guy today—and make your kids follow the same rule. Do his chores. Does the man in your life do the dishes, take out the trash, or weed the yard? Then volunteer to do these tasks for him today. Get the kids to tackle some chores, too. Tell him you love him. I know, I know. Guys tend to act all embarrassed when you say “I love you.” But they need to hear it anyway—especially on their special day. All of these “gifts” are free—and when it comes to brightening your special man’s day, they’re priceless. So say a big thank-you to your partner or dad by making this Father’s Day the best one of all! Keep Thinking Big & Living Bold!

I’m delighted that my Bone Broth Diet is getting lots of people who are part of the “take-out” generation to venture into the kitchen. It makes me happy that they’re discovering how good real food tastes—and how fun, creative, and satisfying cooking can be.   If you’re one of these new cooks, good for you! To make your time in the kitchen even more fun, here are ten of my favorite little kitchen hacks to save you time and money. (And who knows… even if you’re an experienced cook, you may pick up a tip or two.)   Wrap the top of a bunch of bananas in plastic wrap. It’ll keep the bananas fresh for days longer. When you make bone broth, freeze some of it in ice cube trays. That way, you’ll never waste any. (This is also a good way to save leftover wine for cooking.) Peel avocados with your hands, not a knife. This way, there’s no waste, and you get all the healthy nutrients that are just under the skin. Simply cut the avocado in half, remove the pit, cut each half in half, and then peel the avocado like you’d peel a banana. Store asparagus upright in a mason jar, with the bottoms of the stems in water. It’ll stay fresh much longer. Place a wooden spoon over a pot of boiling water to keep the liquid from spilling over. You won’t lose a drop—and you won’t need to clean the top of the stove! Use an egg slicer to slice mushrooms. You’ll get neat, even slices. Use a serrated grapefruit spoon to peel ginger. It works far better than using a knife, and there’s less waste. Save cardboard egg cartons, add a little dirt or potting soil to each section, and use the cartons to start herb seedlings indoors. No need to buy starter kits at the nursery! Hate chasing pieces of eggshell when they fall in the bowl? Use another eggshell to fish them out. It’s much easier than trying to catch them with your fingers. Use a plastic straw to hull a strawberry. Poke the straw through the bottom of the berry and push it up to the top, twisting it as you go. The top will pop right off. Try out these tips when you’re cooking—and if you have great kitchen hacks of your own, share them with me and I’ll pass them along. I’m always on the lookout for ways to save time and money for my peeps! Keep Thinking Big & Living Bold!

As a weight loss and anti-aging specialist, I urge my patients to do bone broth “mini-fasts” twice a week. It’s the single biggest key to losing weight quickly and safely, and it allows my patients to lose dozens or even hundreds of pounds easily. That’s why it’s a core feature of my Bone Broth Diet. And you know what? Mini-fasting two days a week won’t just strip extra pounds off you; it may even save your life. According to a story today in the Wall Street Journal, fasting can protect you in these ways: By reducing symptoms of autoimmune disease. Fasting appears to kill autoimmune T cells and regenerate healthy new cells. In a new study, researchers found that severe calorie restriction reduced symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) in mice and completely eliminated them in 20% of the animals. It also led to regeneration of myelin, the protective nerve sheath that’s damaged in MS. By lowering your risk of developing metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and heart disease. Periodic fasting leads to loss of belly fat, improvements in blood sugar, reduced inflammation, lower blood pressure, and a lower resting heart rate. By improving the efficacy of cancer treatments. Animal studies show that periodic fasting can help reduce the side effects of chemotherapy and make this treatment more effective by weakening cancer cells. By reducing asthma attacks. Studies show that intermittent fasting appears to prevent asthma exacerbations. And that’s not all. There are also hints that intermittent fasting (a.k.a mini-fasting) may reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease. What’s more, it appears to lengthen your lifespan. And mini-fasting, far from being abnormal, is something our bodies are designed to do. In our ancestors’ time, when food was scarce and hunters often returned empty-handed, people frequently went for days without eating. Over time, our bodies learned to use this “down time” for resting, cleansing, and renewal. Of course, typical fasting is hard for many people (as the researchers note in the Wall Street Journal article). I’ve solved this problem by having my patients do two “mini-fasts” each week in which they replace meals with up to six cups of bone broth. This rich, satisfying broth gives them the benefits of fasting without the hunger and cravings that make regular fasting so difficult. So if you’ve avoided intermittent fasting because you think it’s too hard, try doing bone broth mini-fasts twice a week. The broth is simple to make, and the mini-fasts are painless. And you won’t just be trimming off extra pounds—you may be adding extra years to your life. Keep Thinking Big & Living Bold!

Some days are just awesome. Everything goes right. The traffic is light. People compliment your new hairstyle.  Your boss gives you a raise. And you think to yourself, “Days like this don’t grow on trees.” And it’s true: Days when the universe scatters rose petals at your feet can seem few and far between. For every red-letter day, it seems like there are dozens of so-so days (and a few that are downright awful). But you know what? You can make nearly any day a great day. However, you can’t do it by sitting back passively and waiting for good things to happen to you. Instead, you need to send out the positive energy you want to pull into your life. Here are seven ways to make today your favorite day: Make it a good day for someone else. One of the best ways to improve your own day is to brighten another person’s day. So treat a friend to lunch, surprise your mom with a bouquet of flowers, or simply tell the grocery checker that you love her nail polish. Start your day with “grateful meditation.” This is a variation of mindful meditation. Start by sitting quietly and focusing on your breathing. Once you’re “in the zone,” reflect on the things you’re grateful for—from big things like loving friends to small things like your favorite song. Do one little thing you’ve put off. It’s easy to get bogged down by a long to-do list. Knock even one thing off that list, and your day will automatically get better! So clean out your junk drawer, pay a couple of bills, or wash the car. Get in motion. The simple act of moving automatically releases tension and improves your mood. So take a walk, lift weights, or put on some music and dance. Go with the flow. It’s easy to ruin a day by expecting everything to be perfect and getting upset or angry if it isn’t. However, you’ll be happier if you learn to laugh at little crises like a burned dinner or a broken shoe heel—and everyone around you will be happier, too. Do something silly. As a kid, you were always doing silly stuff, from making faces to turning cartwheels. And it’s okay to be silly as an adult, too! In fact, it’s one of the best ways to put a smile on your face. So take a goofy selfie of yourself, paint your fingernails purple, or sing Taylor Swift songs at the top of your lungs as you clean the house. Let go of a grudge. As the saying goes, “Holding a grudge is like swallowing poison and waiting for the other person to die.” So consciously let go of at least one grudge. (It can even be an ancient one. For instance, think about that really mean chick who made you miserable in high school, and say, “I forgive you.” Then do it.) Remember—if you simply sit back and wait for great days to happen, they’ll be few and far between. Go out and make them happen, and you’ll be surprised at how much happier you are every day. So put my seven strategies into action… and make today your favorite day! Keep Thinking Big & Living Bold!

DOWNLOAD THE COCKTAIL RECIPE BOOK! If you’ve finished my Bone Broth Diet and you’re on my 80/20 maintenance plan now, here’s great news: Alcohol is back on your “yes” list. (Woohoo!) CLICK HERE to purchase The Bone Broth Diet 80/20 Maintenance Plan E-Book! And here’s more good news: While you’re sipping your cocktail, you can be treating yourself to a big dose of fat-melting, wrinkle-blasting nutrients. As a result, you can be wicked and virtuous, all at the same time. Sweet, right?   Today, I’m sharing my free new ebook, Dr. Kellyann’s Cocktails: Seven Fun, Fancy, and Flirty Cocktails for your 80/20 Plan. Each of my cool, refreshing drinks contains fat-busting fruits or veggies, along with bone broth or collagen broth to smooth your skin, heal your gut, and take pounds off fast. (If the idea of putting broth in your cocktails sounds strange, trust me: It’s delicious. Try it and see!)   Download my free ebook instantly. Then invite your friends over, and kick off a fantastic summer with an assortment of these refreshing and sinfully delicious drinks. You and your guests can enjoy a party and get a beauty treatment all at the same time. Cheers—and happy summer!   Keep Thinking Big & Living Bold!

When you live in the northeastern U.S., like I do, you really appreciate the arrival of warm weather. Believe me… a summer swim at the beach beats shoveling snow in January any day! That’s why June, with its blue skies and balmy breezes, is one of my favorite months of the year. And speaking of favorites, I’m officially declaring June to be my Month of Favorite Things. I’m a great believer in accentuating the positive, so in every blog post this month, I’m going to focus on my personal faves. I’m starting off this week with an encore of one of my most popular posts ever—a post about my Click HERE to read my 5 Favorite Sweeteners! And while I’m sharing my favorite things with you, here’s an idea: Every day this month, I’d like you to journal about your favorite things. This is a terrific way to generate positive energy, especially on days when you’re feeling a little down. In your journaling sessions, write about things like these: Your favorite books, and why you love them. Your favorite people, and why they make you happy. Your favorite vacation spots, and what makes them magical. Your favorite teachers, and how they’ve influenced you. Your favorite time of the year, and why you enjoy it the most. Your favorite funny moments in life, and why they made you laugh. It’s surprising how this little journaling exercise can lift your spirits, banish your negative thoughts, and reduce your stress. In addition, it makes you more grateful for the good things in your life, and gratitude isn’t just good for your soul—it also helps make you healthier. So all this month, focus your attention on your favorite things. As for me, I’m off to buy a new swimsuit and some sundresses… because I need to get ready for the beach, and one of my very favorite things is shopping! Keep Thinking Big & Living Bold!

It’s easy to define yourself with labels: Mom. Dad. Breadwinner. PTA member. Soccer coach.   But how well do you really know yourself?   When I think about this question, I’m reminded of the movie Runaway Bride, starring Julia Roberts, in which the heroine couldn’t find true happiness until she found herself. In the movie, she made eggs a dozen different ways because she realized that she didn’t even know how she liked her eggs. (Sound familiar?)   This month, I went to a retreat to spend some quiet time to rediscover myself. It left me feeling reinvigorated, and it taught me a lot about who I am.   So now, I’d like to do the same for you. During my month of “Doing You,” I want you to take some time to reconnect with yourself. I want you to look beyond the labels and discover who you really are, what makes you happy, and what you want to achieve in life. Here are five ways to do it. Think about what makes you happy. Early in your life, you often experienced pure joy. Whether you were playing hopscotch, winning a soccer game, or mastering a Mozart sonata on the piano, you savored one of life’s greatest gifts: absolute bliss.   But now that you’re a grownup, and your life revolves around responsibilities—what you should do, what you need to do, what you feel guilty about not doing—I’m betting that such moments of real joy are few and far between. That’s because you almost never ask yourself what you want to do.   So think back to the moments of joy you remember in your life. Now, ask yourself: What would bring you similar joy now? Would taking cooking classes, mastering ballroom dancing, or planting a garden make you happy? Whatever you choose, make time for it—and do it.   Try doing what you fear. If you stay in your comfort zone forever, you can avoid the fear that comes with taking risks. But there’s a big price to pay, because you’ll never fully discover who you are and what amazing abilities you have.   I know for a fact that all successful actors, writers, dancers, chefs, and rock stars have one thing in common: at some point, they’ve all been scared out of their wits! But they still went to auditions, sent manuscripts to agents, applied to Julliard or Le Cordon Bleu, or took a deep breath and walked out on that stage.   I understand the kind of fear they’ve overcome, because I had to overcome it myself. It took guts for me to send out book manuscripts (and I cried when I got rejection letters). But I now have seven successful books, including a New York Times bestseller. And I still get stage fright before I go on TV—but I’ve worked my way up from local shows to Good Morning America and The Doctors.   So step outside of that comfort zone—even if it’s just a small step. And keep doing it over and over again, because each time you conquer your fear, you’ll get more confident. You’ll learn that failure won’t break you, that succeeding at something difficult is a rush, and that you haven’t even begun to discover all of your talents.   Stop telling lies about yourself. Okay, this one is tough. But every time you tell a lie about yourself, you become less you. And every time you live in your truth, you become more you.   So think about it. How many lies have you told about yourself recently, either in personal conversations or online?   Have you lied about your feelings, your life, or your personal opinions? Have you nodded in agreement when your friends said things you actually thought were misguided or cruel? Have you pretended to be fine, when you’re really struggling with money problems, illness, anxiety, or depression? If so, stop hiding. I know you can’t always tell the truth about other people (and sometimes it’s kinder not to). But be more open about telling the truth about yourself. Keep a journal. Journaling is one of the best ways to get to know yourself better, so get in the habit of writing an entry every day. It doesn’t need to be long; even two or three paragraphs will help you clarify your feelings, thoughts, and goals. In your journal, write honestly about your deepest feelings. What are your dreams? Your disappointments? Your hopes? Your fears? Also, write about the people in your life. This can open your eyes to which relationships are improving your life and which you’d be better off ending. One good journaling trick is to free write. Set a time limit—for instance, fifteen minutes—and write down whatever comes to mind, without censoring yourself. Frequently, thoughts and feelings that you’ve suppressed will come to the surface.   Be aware of your own feelings. It’s easy to get so caught up in the whirlwind of life that you’re constantly acting rather than just being. And it’s easy to worry about everyone else’s emotions—your kids, your partner, your boss—and completely ignore your own.   To rediscover yourself, you need to actively reconnect with your feelings. So several times a day, stop and ask yourself: How do I feel right now? Identify the emotion you’re feeling, and then score it on a scale of one to five. It may sound silly, but it’s a powerful way to get back in touch with your inner self. — Some of these steps will be easy to follow. Others—for instance, living in your truth and doing what you fear—will be a bigger challenge. But all of them will give you new insight into the most important person in your life: You! Keep Thinking Big & Living Bold!

I have a big bag of tricks for staying young. The first is to eat a diet that’s high in quality proteins, vegetables, and fats, and free of inflammatory grains and sugar. Here are some other strategies I recommend.

If you know me, you know that one of my mantras is strategize your yesses. That’s because the stress that results from over-committing causes you to overeat, makes you miserable, and even ages you faster. I call it getting “fat, bitchy, and bald.” If you want to be healthy, you need to stop saying yes to everything and everyone. However, I know from personal experience that this habit isn’t easy to break. So today, I’m offering up seven strategies that can help you start saying no. Visualize what you’re giving up. Every time you say yes to a commitment, you’re saying no to something else—whether it’s relaxing with a book, playing with your kids, or doing your exercises. So before you say yes to an obligation, take a minute to visualize what you’re sacrificing. This can help you make smart choices. Take off the super-hero costume. Busy people tend to wear over-commitment as a badge of honor. It becomes part of who they are—Wonder Women or Supermen who are capable of doing the impossible. If this sounds like you, realize that your own ego is the problem. It’s time to swallow your pride and realize that there are equally competent people who can take on some of your obligations—and no one will think less of you if they do. Practice saying no. If you’ve said yes to every commitment for decades, you may feel very uncomfortable saying no. But the more you do it, the easier it will get! So each week, make a point of saying no to one obligation. Also, rehearse positive ways to decline—for instance, “Oh, I wish I could. But I have so much on my plate right now that I can’t.” Plan realistically. A friend of mine lost hours of time on a hectic day last week trying to do a simple chore: making posters for her son’s soccer team. First, she discovered that she needed new marking pens, necessitating a trip to the store. On the way back from the store, she ran over a nail and got a flat tire. She changed the tire, dropped the flat off at a gas station, and got home—only to discover that her new puppy had peed on her poster board. By then, she was running late for another obligation and her day was in ruins. What’s the moral? Before saying yes to a commitment, make sure you have plenty of buffer time in your schedule to allow for complications. Otherwise, you’ll wind up over-booked and overstressed. Tune in to your emotions. If someone asks you to take on a commitment, stop and evaluate your feelings. Do you feel annoyed, put-upon, resentful, or depressed at the idea of saying yes? Then that’s a good sign that you should consider saying no. Choose quality over quantity. Make a list of all of your commitments. Now, ask yourself: Which of these are the most important to me? Which make the most difference in people’s lives? Which really, truly matter? Number your commitments from most to least important, and get rid of those at the bottom of the list. Develop a “swap” system. If you have as many commitments as you can handle, resolve to drop one commitment for each new one you take on. This will go a long way in helping you decide whether a new commitment is worth it or not. — During this month—my month of Doing You—I want you to put all of these strategies into action. Every single day, strategize your yesses. Stop running yourself ragged, and learn to treasure yourself and make time for your own needs. When you do this, you’ll look and feel infinitely better—and you’ll say goodbye to “fat, bitchy, and bald.” Keep Thinking Big & Living Bold!

There are lots of Mother’s Day gifts I’ll remember forever. Hand-made cards. Breakfasts in bed. Flowers. But this week, I got the best gift ever. My younger son wrote me this note: “My mom is my number one fan. I love her because she is smart and caring and because she changes people’s lives. I am really proud to be my mom’s son. Everybody loves her, but I love her most. She is the BEST cook and she really loves to make us eat at the kitchen table together. Sometimes I fight her on that because I want to watch TV or sit on the couch, but I love dinner after she makes us all talk and laugh together. My mom is all about her family, she loves bringing everyone together, usually around food! Happy Mother’s Day to the bestest mom in the whole wide world. I love you so so so so so much!” — My youngest son Yes, it made me cry. And I’m going to keep it forever and ever. What’s more, on those days when I’m feeling guilty over working late or missing a baseball game, I’m going to read it again. I’m going to realize that being beautifully imperfect as a parent is just fine. I’m going to remember that while I sometimes magnify my shortcomings as a mom, my kids remember the good stuff. And I’m going to celebrate myself. And you know what? That’s exactly what I want you to do on this Mother’s Day! Whether you’re a mom yourself, or you’re spending the day with your own mom or remembering a mother who’s passed away, I want you to celebrate yourself.  Yes, you’ve probably screwed up plenty in your mother-child relationship—haven’t we all?—and it’s easy to focus on the stuff you did wrong. But today, I want you to focus on everything you’ve done right. To help in this process, take a few minutes to do my “five-by-five” exercise. Here’s how it works: Think of five kind things you’ve done as a mom, or as a son or daughter. Think of five times you’ve made your mom or your child happy. Think of five times you’ve helped guide your mother or a child to make a good decision and avoid a bad one. Think of five things that make you proud of yourself as a mom or as a son or daughter—for instance, your courage, your loyalty, or your ability to handle crises. Think of five times you’ve “been there” when your mother or your child needed you. This exercise will open your eyes to how much positive energy you’ve brought to your relationship with your child or your mother. You’ll dwell less on mistakes you’ve made, and give yourself more credit for the good you’ve done. You’ll realize that while you’re imperfect, you’re beautifully imperfect. And you’ll give yourself the best Mother’s Day gift of all: the gift of loving yourself! Happy Mother’s Day! Keep Thinking Big & Living Bold!

Mother’s Day is just around the corner, and you know what that means: You need to find the perfect gift. It doesn’t need to be fancy, and it doesn’t need to be expensive, but it needs to say “I love you, and I’m so grateful for all you do for me.” So this year, go beyond the standard card, bouquet of flowers, or box of chocolates. Think outside the box, and select a gift that your mom will remember forever. One caution, however: You don’t want your gift to be memorable in the wrong way! As I was collecting ideas for great Mother’s Day gifts, I heard stories from my friends about really goofy ones. My favorite was a bag of frozen grocery store shrimp (from a husband who said, “But you love seafood!”) Others included fertilizer, a pet toad, and a spatula. My advice? Skip all of these—unless your mom is really into toads or frozen shrimp—and go for something she’ll actually love. Here are some suggestions. For a baker: A basket of healthy ingredients. Find a pretty basket and fill it with high-quality ingredients like fine-ground almond flour, coconut flour, baking chocolate, organic honey, real maple syrup, coconut sugar, and dried fruits. Toss in a Paleo dessert cookbook, and you have an awesome gift.  For an above-and-beyond mom: a note from the heart. One woman I know treasures a note she got one year from her son. After a year of financial calamities, he was too broke to buy her anything except flowers—but with them he included a long, heartfelt note thanking her for everything she’d done to help him get through the year. The flowers are long gone, but she’ll keep the note forever. For a stressed-out mom: a helping hand or a restful break. Is your mom’s to-do list getting longer and longer? Then call her and tell her you’re going to spend Mother’s Day mowing her lawn, washing her car, or doing her shopping. Then make dinner for her, and do the dishes afterward. Other good gifts for high-stress moms include scented bathtub salts, books, aromatherapy candles, and—of course—a gift card for a massage. For an adventurous cook: Something off the beaten path. Does your mother love to experiment in the kitchen? If you have a little money to spare, buy her some interesting cookware—for instance, a Moroccan tagine. If your wallet is lighter, treat her to some exotic spices, a Himalayan salt barbecue block, or a book on making her own fermented foods. For a mom with a green thumb: an outdoor or indoor garden. A mother who loves gardening will be delighted to get an assortment of heirloom seed packets and attractive pots to plant them in. (You can find heirloom seeds at any plant store or online.) Or buy her an indoor herb garden, so she can pick fresh basil or oregano without leaving the kitchen. For a stylish mom: non-toxic makeup. If your mom loves different shades of lipstick and fingernail polish, make her happy—and make her healthier, too—with an assortment of products that are free of toxic chemicals. For information on the best brands, check out the Environmental Working Group’s list here. For a writer: a journal. Whether your mom is an aspiring novelist or simply likes to write down tidbits about her day, she’ll appreciate this practical gift. Journals come in every style from elegant to whimsical, so you can pick one that suits her personality perfectly. — So there you have it: seven creative options for telling your mom you love her. Add in a card and a bouquet of flowers, and you’re all set. Of course, the very best present you can give your mom on Mother’s Day is one that doesn’t cost anything. Simply give her a great-big hug and say—“I love you, mom!” Keep Thinking Big & Living Bold!

Welcome to May—or, as I call it, Doing You Month! What do I mean by that? I mean that every day this month, I want you to honor yourself. It’s all too easy to fall into the habit of belittling and badmouthing yourself. Maybe you compare yourself to models or movie stars and think, “I’m so imperfect.” Or you make a few mistakes at work, and you think, “I’m always screwing up.” Or you feel guilty about not being a perfect partner, a perfect parent, or a perfect son or daughter to your own parents.      Well, here’s what I want you to do this month: Knock it off! Think about it. Would you say that to your best friend, “Wow, you sure aren’t movie-star pretty, are you?” Would you constantly point out her shortcomings and imperfections, and make a point of rubbing her nose in her mistakes? No—not if you’re truly a good friend. And this month, I want you to be a good friend—to yourself!   One of my strongest beliefs is that positive energy pulls good things into your life. Negative energy, on the other hand, slams doors on you. And that’s especially true when it comes to the energy you direct toward yourself. So here’s what I want you to do this month: I want you to make it a month of consciously loving and caring for yourself. Think of it as falling in love with yourself again.   As part of this process, I want you to do seven things: When you first wake up, spend a few minutes thinking about what you like best about yourself. Are you kind? Creative? Funny? Strong? When you focus your attention on your strengths, you will make the most of them. Do at least one nice thing for yourself each day. Set aside a little time to relax in a hot tub, enjoy a cup of tea while you read a book, or cook something special that you like. If you don’t have time to do this, find ways to cut down on your commitments. Any time you catch yourself thinking a negative thought about yourself, immediately think of three positive thoughts. Focus on “living in your truth.” Spend less time agreeing with everyone else, and more time respecting your own beliefs. If your friends don’t like you because of those beliefs, find new friends. Forgive yourself for at least one mistake you made in the past. Any time you catch yourself ruminating about that mistake, remind yourself firmly, “I am forgiven for that.” Insist that the other people in your life honor you. If there’s someone who continually makes you feel small, inferior, or “not good enough,” either remove that person from your life or insist on being treated with more respect. Ask for help when you need it, rather than martyring yourself. At first, you may actually feel selfish when you honor yourself—especially if you’ve always neglected yourself while you focused on caring for the people around you. But when you learn to love yourself, you will be amazed at how much more love and respect you feel for the people around you.  You will radiate positive energy, brightening the lives of everyone you touch.   So take my challenge, and celebrate Doing You Month… and fall in love with yourself again! See the post --> Seven Ways to Stop Over-Committing Yourself   Keep Thinking Big & Living Bold!

Hate looking in the mirror and seeing that roll of fat on your neck? Then fight back!