Shows
Rest DaysSoup or BowlIt’s time for the Super Bowl. Who are we rooting for? Usher, baby. When Usher plays the halftime show, we’re all winners.So, instead of Super Bowl talk, we’re talking soups and bowls. Does soup count as a meal? What’s our favorite bowl meals? We get into nutrition and simple food hacks to keep you nourished all winter long. Give this one a listen for lots of giggles and what we believe to be actually helpful meal suggestions!Hosts: Lauren Leavell + Maria Sylvester Terry | @laurenleavellfitness @vitamin_riContact...
2024-02-0738 minRest DaysWhat Have We Learned About Ourselves?Do people actually change, or do they just become more of who they really are? To be honest, we aren’t sure and we aren’t answering that big question today. We do want you to take a moment in your day to acknowledge what you’ve learned about yourself lately. Even better, what do you LIKE about yourself?We walk through some of our favorite topics, like food, movement, routine, and style, and discuss the things we’ve learned about ourselves, especially coming out of our diet headspace eras. We hope this episode serves as a fun way...
2024-01-311h 00Rest DaysWe Only Marched for 30 minutesDid you think Mardi Gras was just one day, too? Well, you’re not totally wrong. Mardi Gras is Fat Tuesday, but when you live in New Orleans, Carnival Season is weeks long. This episode is the result of a phone call in which Lauren asked Maria, “Wait… is my friend a Mummer?” The rest is for you to find out. As you may know, Maria is based in New Orleans and has adopted Carnival Season with great enthusiasm. She’s in multiple dance krewes, spends weeks creating costumes, attends practices for weeks, and… Lauren really had no idea....
2024-01-2433 minRest DaysNew Year, Same (Horrible) MeBe honest: are you having a happy new year? We’re back for Season 5, and that’s enough. Being back, being here, and keeping on with our lives is the win for us! In this episode, we first get into the details of what exactly happened in Season 4: our shortest season of all time. Mostly, this episode explores what we encourage you to unlearn about the New Year: expectations to be a different person, to achieve a new level of goals, and to feel industrious. The truth is: it is really enough to step into the...
2024-01-1731 minRest DaysGadgets and Gizmos a’plenty IIWelcome back to Rest Days! This is our second installment of Gadgets and Gizmos a’plenty and we definitely have who’s its and what’s its galore. There will DEFINITELY be thingamabobs. Is it an episode of entirely clickbait items? Maybe.We hope this episode brings some comical relief to the onslaught of devices and products we will be marketed throughout the holiday season. Some of them are luxury, others problematic, and some just won’t age well.Hosts: Lauren Leavell + Maria Sylvester Terry | @laurenleavellfitness @vitamin_riContact: restdayspodcast@gmail.comMusic...
2023-11-251h 08Rest DaysThe Hormone Monsters (PMS + PMDD)Today, we’re interviewing two guests: our own Hormone Monsters. Navigating a menstrual cycle - be it regular AF or simply untrackable - can feel like filing taxes depending on the time of the month. As two people with some pretty frustrating Hormone Monster moments, we’re taking time to discuss PMS, PMDD, and what sets them apart. In this episode, we discuss the differences between PMS and PMDD, what it’s like to get a PMDD diagnosis, and a host of helpful strategies to support the stages of your cycle. Given our specialties, we talk a good bit about...
2023-09-2053 minRest DaysI Think You Should Leave [The Gym]. Here’s Why.If there’s a topic that gets fitness fans talking, it’s that bench that never got a good wipe down by its last user. There are just some gym behaviors related to etiquette and boundaries that, well, have us thinking… maybe you should leave.There are also elements of etiquette that make gyms and studios special places. We’re covering the good, bad, and the sweaty on this episode of Rest Days. From bathrooms to music to classes and more, we cover the spectrum of healthful and not so healthful habits that can make or break your fitness experience. Hosts: L...
2023-09-131h 03Rest DaysAn Interview with a Vampire: When Life SucksOn this special episode of Rest Days, Lauren interviews a vampire (Maria), who has spent six months in anticipatory grief and recently returned from a month away from home to support her family.These experiences can turn our lives, routines, and habits upside down. How do you eat, sleep, move, and work when we feel like a total vampire?While we are no experts on getting through the suck, we do hope this episode shines a light for those of you in a dark time. This interview discusses self-care strategies and mindsets for those seasons of your life that...
2023-08-2347 minRest DaysHAGS (that means Have A Great Summer)We’re bringing back HAGS, short for “have a great summer,” in this episode dedicated to summer shifts in routine and habits. The truth is… we aren’t all having a great summer. The earth is hotter than ever [literally though], the air quality is variable at best, and the social and emotional conditions are rough. This is a season and an era for extra intentionality and compassion for our bodies. Tune in for the ways we’re adapting to the summer season when it comes to sleep, nutrition, movement, and skin care. Hosts: Lauren Leavell + Maria Sylvester Terry | @laurenleavellfitness @vitamin_riCo...
2023-08-0237 minRest DaysThe Internet LatelyOr the alternative title "I have no problem being on my phone for hours and hours"The internet is gonna internet, y’all. We’re talking about what’s been trending on the internet lately, specifically health and fitness topics that are giving clickbait. Yes, you know what we’re talking about – mustard on everything, nootropics, 12/30/30, and more. As usual, we give our honest takes and provide nuance to otherwise nuanceless conversations we see on the internet. It’s not all bad, though – tune in for what we’re digging and what we’re skipping. Hosts: Lauren Leavell + Maria Sylvester Terry | @laurenlea...
2023-07-2634 minRest DaysYou better fix my entire lifeWe’re living in a clickbait world, baby. And this right here is our Click Baits of Yesteryear episode. We’ve all fallen into the trap of thinking a product, program, food, or protocol would ‘fix our entire lives.’ And… we can pretty much all agree that most of those silver bullet solutions left us wanting more [or less… looking at you, Quest Bars].Have a listen to our first episode of Season 4! Find out the haircare product that Maria fell for hard [hint: she fell cause it was greasy AF] and the food product Lauren proudly layered into her fitness...
2023-07-191h 07Rest DaysBody Goals Pt 2We’re talking bodies - again! We know we left you in a bit of a thought swamp in Body Goals, Part 1. This time around, we take a look at body goals from another angle. What if our body goals felt good? Inspired us? Reminded us of how strong and capable we are? In this ep, we discuss when the transition from negative-feeling body goals to positive ones occurred… with an unfortunate, mutual discovery about that entire process. There are of course some serious sticky spots on this journey; after all, not everyone is on your journey, which means fielding unso...
2023-05-3159 minRest DaysBody Goals Pt 1Body goals: we’ve had them. We might still have them! How those goals feel is what matters most. In Part 1 of our Body Goals episode series, we are getting into the not-so-great side of body goals. Some of our old body goals may feel as painful as a lukewarm, concentrated shot of apple cider vinegar. We’re here to walk through the swamp with you. Click Bait features a couple cringeworthy throwbacks to the 90s and early 00s. We stick around in the time machine to explore some of our earliest influences of body image and body goals: from comm...
2023-05-2444 minRest DaysFitness Trackers“What do you think about fitness trackers?’ is a question we get a lot. The TL;DL? We love our trackers. However, it wasn’t always that way.In this episode, we explore what it can look and feel like to have a fitness tracker as a supportive tool. And also, we share our experiences and insights about fitness trackers becoming more of a rule than a tool. Tune in to our conversation about how we get derailed by trackers and ways to utilize them in an informed, thoughtful way. Hosts: Lauren Leavell + Maria Sylvester Terry | @laurenleavellfitness @vitamin_riContact: restda...
2023-05-1753 minRest DaysTalking ShitThis is the poop episode. The episode where we talk about poop. Buckle up the bidet and have a sitz with us.In this week’s episode, we chat through what it means to be regular with a poop routine [and how that can mean something different for all of us!]. From our professional perspectives, we also identify the ways in which movement and nutrition can play a part — for better or for worse — in our poop routines. And, of course, it’s not Rest Days without relevant clickbait. We guess you could call this a literal shit show! Have a listen...
2023-05-1051 minRest DaysSpring CleaningHave you been spring cleaning? So have we! When we talk spring cleaning, we mean something fairly nuanced. We’re cleaning out more than closets!In an unlikely turn of events, our Click Bait turns a little bit into a Ricki Lake mediation episode… meets a heavily influenced beverage commercial. You’ll love it. This week on Rest Days, we’re diving into the many ways you can enter the spring season. You can clean out your closet of clothes and styles that no longer serve you. You can fill your fridge or pantry with items that meet your needs as the w...
2023-05-031h 04Rest DaysWhy you so obsessed with me?Ooooh, why you so obsessed with me? Boy, I wanna know. Well, here’s the thing: we DO know. We have been obsessed with a lot of not great fitness, nutrition, and wellness habits. A lot of the “why” has to do with feeling in charge of your health and your life. And also, we can’t disregard the impact of societal pressures, fatphobia, and diet culture. On this episode, we share our insights on staying off the obsession hamster wheel and key observations to make around your fitness and nutrition routines.Listen to the u...
2023-04-1247 minRest DaysItchy Girl SeasonSeason 3 is here, and so is the pollen. Welcome to Itchy Girl Season! This episode is our spring variation of ‘Crock Pot Season,’ and we’re sharing the specific ways we make space for shifts, adaptations, and grace in our spring routines.Amidst our face scratching and sneezing, we talk through general routine, movement, food habits, energy and sleep, skincare, and clothing. Learn to work within the seasons of your life, instead of against them! Hosts: Lauren Leavell + Maria Sylvester Terry | @laurenleavellfitness @vitamin_riContact: restdayspodcast@gmail.comMusic: Nick Sylvester | @nickgodmodeArtwork: Brandi Wheeler | @stardustbyjuno
2023-04-0556 minRest DaysWhy You Stressin?Stress is a part of life. When does the thing we’re accustomed to become the thing we’re relying on to get anything done? The stress of needing to meet a deadline or eat before you get too hangry or drink water before your body turns into a raisin – yep, we know those stressors and more. MAJOR CW for talk about Gwyneth Paltrow + other diet culture thingsDiet and wellness cultures are their own stressors, as noted by Lauren in her recent TikTok [link: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTR7wuFD5/ ]. We do our best to tackle Goop Queen and he...
2023-03-2258 minRest DaysGuest Episode: Food access, gut health, and a sprinkle of astrology with Lauren Bell, MPH This week on Rest Days we are in excitingly good company. Our second ever guest is the one and only Lauren Bell, aka Nutrition Lo on social media. Her knowledge and insights will get you thinking, unpacking, and reimagining your understanding of nutrition from a public health lens.In this episode, we discuss public health nutrition, food access in the US and particularly in Louisiana, and ways we can support our local communities. And, in good Rest Days fashion, Lauren delivers a public health clickbait, too!You can learn more about Lauren Bell and the...
2023-03-151h 03Rest DaysThose No Good Bad Body Image DaysWe’ve all been there: the bad body image day. Maybe it’s a whole day or just a moment within one. Regardless of the duration, these times are tough to navigate.While we don’t consider ourselves the experts, we do know the power of community in sharing what has helped us on our journeys!Tune in for our discussion on common body image triggers, conversations with others who don’t quite get it, and five strategies for working through those bad body image experiences.Hosts: Lauren Leavell + Maria Sylvester Terry | @laurenleavellfitness @vitamin...
2023-03-081h 00Rest DaysDiet and Fitness Lore 101How many times have you wondered to yourself, is [insert trend/advice here] even TRUE? Welcome to your intro course, Diet and Fitness Lore 101 with adjunct faculty Lauren and Maria.This episode is short, sweet, and to the point. Lauren and Maria debunk 2 foundational myths from their respective fields, and yes, you can receive a certificate of completion for your learning time.The curriculum for Diet and Fitness Lore 101 includes a discussion on exercises for body types, perfect posture and form, recommended protein intake, and what ‘fires up’ your metabolism.What should we cove...
2023-03-0149 minRest DaysRealistic Self CareTwo roads diverged into yellow wood… and we took the Gremlin Girl off-road trail instead. When confronted with the [potentially arduous] task of self-care in 2023, we’re getting real and talking realistic.No, not the 5-9 That Girl Routine; this week on Rest Days, Lauren and Maria talk through their own definitions of self-care from a realistic angle, as well as their favorite health-promoting self-care behaviors that are supporting them lately. Of course, because life isn’t always about protecting strong boundaries and journaling, you’ll also hear a good bit about the Gremlin Girl behaviors. You’ll know th...
2023-02-2255 minRest DaysKitchen NonconfidentialThere’s nothing confidential when it comes to our kitchens. This week, we’re talking about our recent go-to choices for meals, snacks, and hydration. Why? Because a life without dieting means a life full of choices! We’re here with you in your decision fatigue and your 4pm lunches. This episode is not prescriptive or directive in ANY capacity. Rather, this is an intentional share about the ways we work to nourish our bodies - the bodies that run businesses, love movement, and enjoy a hyperfixation meal for a solid few weeks at a time. With every...
2023-02-081h 10Rest DaysGuest Episode: Nikki Pebbles Rocks Our WorldThis is the very first episode of Rest Days featuring… a GUEST! Your trusty Rest Days duo shares the mic with the incomparable, wildly energetic Nikki Pebbles. Read more about Nikki below!In this episode, we ask Nikki about how we can set goals and create routines without feeling the dreaded structure and pass/fail system we learned from dieting. She delivers! Nikki also teaches us about neutral affirmations and how to talk to that voice inside your head about yourself. Special bonus material is available on our Patreon!About Nikki Pebbles She's a...
2023-02-0145 minRest DaysRest Day’s Guide to the Gym GalaxyIf there’s one thing we love to talk about, it’s the good, the bad, and the ugly of fitness culture. At the beginning of the year, fitness spaces tend to experience higher attendance as folks resolve to be more active. How would we approach these fitness spaces? Consider this episode your guide to that messy gym galaxy. CW: This episode contains talk about dieting, diet behaviors, and adult language.This episode is broken down into a few parts. Have a listen to learn Navigating a Gym 101, all about gym etiquette, and what our drea...
2023-01-251h 10Rest DaysResolution EvolutionSeason 2 is here!And so is the New Year. The start of the year is closely associated with expecting big changes from yourself and… your body. It can get messy. This week, Lauren and Maria dive into resolutions and how they’ve learned to reframe and pivot from that messy thinking.CW: This episode contains talk about dieting and diet behaviors plus some adult languageIncluded in this episode is a brief history of resolutions as well as Lauren and Maria’s personal ‘resolution evolution’ that provides insights for how you can see the New Ye...
2023-01-1857 minRest DaysStu-Stu-StudioFitness studios can be some of the welcoming community spaces… and sometimes, they’re spaces where we can feel awkward, out of place, or even unworthy. Lauren and Maria spent thousands of collective hours in fitness studios as barre and yoga instructors, respectively. Who better to walk you through this episode dedicated entirely to stuuuu stuuu studios?In this episode, Lauren and Maria play yet another round of This or That and share their studio stories, the good/bad/ugly for instructors and clients, and their best strategies for finding a studio space you enjoy. Lauren drops a nu...
2022-11-301h 23Rest DaysGadgets and Gizmos a’PlentyWelcome back to Rest Days! In this episode, we’re getting into Gadgets and Gizmo a’plenty, who’s its and what’s its galore. There will DEFINITELY be thingamabobs. Is it an episode of entirely clickbait items? Maybe.We hope this episode brings some comical relief to the onslaught of devices and products we will be marketed throughout the holiday season. Some of them are luxury, others problematic, and some just won’t age well.This first recording of this episode is available to our Patreon subscribers in the bits and pieces we have remaining...
2022-11-2346 minRest DaysAn Honest Conversation about SleepWe’ll be honest - we’re pretty weird when it comes to our sleep routines. And, that’s the way we like it! We’re here to have an open, honest convo about sleep hygiene and share how you can embrace a sleep routine that serves you well.In this episode, we leave no stone unturned and discuss just how all-or-nothing we can get about our sleep and how to find the nuances that matter when it comes to a sleep routine. You’ll leave this episode with 5 tangible next steps on improving your sleep hygiene. Love...
2022-11-091h 13Rest DaysThe Hydration EpisodeCW: Some discussion of diet culture, calories, and disordered eatingThere are skincare girlies. Green juice folks. And then there’s the hydration heroes. The wellness world is just about obsessed with the concept of staying hydrated. Is it really that serious? Do we need electrolytes? A gallon a day? Are you Team Hydroflask, Team Stanley, or Team 17 Cups of Water Around Your House? This week, we’re doggy paddling through the sea of hydration info and misinfo. Lauren and Maria talk through hydration habits, strategies, and helpful practices to help you feel less...
2022-11-021h 02Rest DaysThe Wrecking Ball RoutineBIG CW for diet talk and ED talkIt’s us, you, and Miley - we’re riding the wrecking ball this week on Rest Days.In this episode, we are talking about something we’ve nicknamed the Wrecking Ball Routine – the wild swing from chaos to restrictive thinking that keeps us feeling off for most of the holiday season. It’s weird – we swing in one direction to help us feel more in control but it really doesn’t help!If you find yourself swinging on the pendulum from restriction to overdoing it during the...
2022-10-261h 24Rest DaysCrock Pot SeasonAre you noticing that your routine is changing as the seasons shift? Rather than resisting it, we are practicing the art of leaning into the ‘low and slow’ energy - it’s crock pot season, baby!In this episode, we’re talking through six elements of our lifestyle that change with the seasons, from nutrition to skincare to clothing and more. Lauren shares numerous lifestyle shifts that are the ultimate life hacks. Maria identifies how to lean into the Crock Pot vibe even when you live in a warm-weather state. Get in on the action via Patr...
2022-10-191h 17Rest DaysNo tricks, mostly treatsNo tricks, mostly treats - that’s the episode. And, truth be told, that’s probably a motto for our lives, too. CW: Discussions around diet culture On this episode of Rest Days, we’re getting into the sweet parts of spooky season – trick or treating, halloween costumes, our favorite candies, and more. No candy stone is left unturned.Depending on your community of friends and family, you may have a positive or negative connotation of the word ‘treat.’ Lauren and Maria have a different perspective to share with you – tune in and see how it sit...
2022-10-121h 05Rest DaysBasic Person Fall Starter PackIt’s fall, y’all. Feeling basic? Yep, us too – we’re digging into our Basic Person Fall Starter Pack this week. Even our Click Bait is pumpkin spiced!CW: Discussion around diet culture and brief mention of alcoholHere’s the rundown:Lauren shares our first ever in person click bait. Maria draws hard lines around pumpkin spice products.Maria introduces the history of pumpkin pie spice blend and takes us to the present day, revenue generating fad. It smells like cinnamon and colonization.Lauren owns being a PSL fan
2022-10-0553 minRest DaysBack to School Ep 2: Creating a new relationship with BTSCW: This episode contains conversations around diet culture, diet, and exercise. Listener discretion is advised. Ready for Part 2? In this episode, we’re sharing our best strategies for rebuilding your relationship with what we were taught in school. We might not even realize the ways in which we are impacted by BTS energy or school in general. Today, we get to reflect on what works for us, what doesn’t, and how we can live our lives as authentically us.Before we jump into the topics of unlearning the ‘perfect’ schedule, feeling good with fashion, redefini...
2022-09-281h 35Rest DaysBack to School Ep 1: Deconstructing the shitty things about BTSBack to school, back to school, to prove to our gym teachers we aren’t running the freaking mile. The first episode of Rest Days is a two-part special centered on Back to School energy. It’s a lot more than gel pens and Lisa Frank folders.This season can bring us back to turbulent times, even as adults. In this episode we’re focusing on deconstructing…The perfect schedule {9:00]Uniforms [24:50]PE class [34:50]And of course, school lunch [48:15]Join us next week for part 2, when we’ll share our...
2022-09-211h 04