Live Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis

When we’re diagnosed with a chronic illness, no one talks about how we go through a bit of an identity crisis. How do we create an identity that’s not centered around our illness, yet is different than before because we now have a diagnosis? I explore these questions in a fascinating discussion with Dr. Morgan April Morley about what makes up our self concept. Diagnosed with Lupus, she had to deal with unique circumstances that affected how she looked at herself and her own identity. Then she decided to research the phenomenon as it relates to all people living with a diagnosis. She talks about why she wears heels when she has a flare, and the surprising reason why relationships are so impacted by a diagnosis. Dr. Morley also shares a brilliant therapeutic technique called identity mapping exercise with us to help us get started on creating a new, empowering identity that truly fits us. Connect with Andrea:Website: ( ( (@AndreaWHanson)

Pick up your pen and start writing your own story - before someone writes it for you. Paul Forchione brings his own inspiring story about learning to walk when all his doctors said he never would due to his Cerebral Palsy. He catapulted his determination and grit into a business helping others write their stories - no matter how big and impossible they seem. And don’t miss his surprising way to get anyone out to the comparison game. Today’s discussion will give you a big dose of happiness and inspiration. Connect with Andrea:Website: ( ( (@AndreaWHanson)

Cyndi Lynne Lamarucciola talks about navigating work culture when it’s more acceptable to leave early to go walk your dog than for a doctor’s visit. How to successfully leave the corporate world behind. Feeling embarrassed as a nurse who “should have known what was going on” when it came to her own diagnosis.Gracefully handling chronic illness in the workplace, The real way to “stay in your own lane” when dealing with what other people think of us- without it blowing up in our face. Why we need to be our own PR department, the secret to asking and receiving help without feeling like a burden, Advocating for yourself with family, friends, work, in a healthcare setting. And the secret to getting a second opinion without conflict. Connect with Andrea:Website: ( ( (@AndreaWHanson)

Winning strongman competitions as a woman with disabilities is only one small part of Justine Martin’s amazing story. She talks about the invaluable role of art in her recovery from a serious illness and how she’s blossomed her passions into multiple businesses that help others. Justine takes us behind the scenes for everything from how she creates all of her goals so she hits just about every one, to how she runs her booming businesses. Listen to one of the most down to earth people you will ever meet talk about her amazing productivity and the steps we can all take to knock out goals of our own.  Connect with Andrea:Website: ( ( (@AndreaWHanson)

Hi, it's Andrea. I can’t wait for you to dive into the new podcast episodes in season 2. But before you do, I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself, tell you a little bit about my own story of being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and why I think the guests on this podcast are so important. Learn how I’m taking everything I’ve learned through having MS for over two decades, being a master certified coach, author, workshop leader and more - and bringing it to you with the help of powerful guests to help you create your beautiful, fulfilling life. Please enjoy.  Connect with Andrea:Website: ( ( (@AndreaWHanson)

Hear inspiring discussions with people living with chronic illness. These guests went after their passions and goals -even when everyone told them they couldn't. Listen to stories of resilience and gratitude in the face of uncertainty. Hosted by Andrea W. Hanson, Author, Motivational Speaker, and Autoimmune Rebel living with multiple sclerosis. You’ll not only fall in love with these guests, but you’ll soak up powerful mindset tips and ideas to find your own unique path to success. Please note I'm not a healthcare professional and I'm not promoting any specific therapy. So please use your discretion when considering the therapies we may talk about here. These stories are uplifting and positive, but if you feel triggered by any of the discussions please reach out to 800.273.8255. Connect with Andrea:Website: ( ( (@AndreaWHanson)

We know what stress does to our body - sickness, systemic and hormonal problems, not to mention generally feeling like a basket case. But do you know what it does to your brain? There are big changes that happen to our brains under stress that hinder our progress - I'm talking all about those changes and how they hold us back. I hear from a lot of people who swear by a little stress to get them moving. But there's a fine line between a little push for motivation and chronic, bad for you stress. This week, I'm looking at why that is, what's really going on and how to get that motivation without tipping over into the chronic stress arena. Some stress is completely involuntary and we have no say in controlling it. But there's a large amount of everyday stress that we all can control pretty easily. So we're talking about different kinds of stress - what you can control and what you can't. In this episode, you will learn- -3 types of stress we all can control - and how to stop it. -Why we think stress can motivate us and what's really happening in our brains when we stress. -The "stress is good" myth and how it can hurt way more than it helps. -How to back off pressuring yourself and still get amazing things done in your day. Available now at your favorite bookstores! (Barnes & Noble) (Amazon) (Books A Million)

Is there a sick mindset? This week I came face to face with just that. Getting sick is frustrating. But it happens because, life happens. And sometimes we find ourselves tired, cranky, feverish and snotty. That was me for the past few weeks. But, as I do, I learned from being sick. I learned not just about health, but also about limiting factors that stand in the way of you and your highest success in health, wealth and life. But don't take my word for it - hear my take what ( The Big Leap) author Gay Hendricks says about the Upper Limit Problem. We all know we should rest and drink lots of fluids when we're sick, so why do we typically ignore this very sound advice? I've found there a reason (beyond germs) that we get sick in the first place- and it has to do with our mindset. Join me today for some pretty fascinating information on the sick mindset, and being much healthier because of it. In this episode, you will learn- -Why we seem to willfully ruin a streak of healthy eating with junk food - even though we feel amazing while eating nutritious food. -The real reason we try to push through being sick (it has nothing to do with schedules or responsibilities). -How getting the flu is tied to your net worth. -The fascinating reason your mindset can literally make you sick. Available now at your favorite bookstores! (Barnes & Noble) (Amazon) (Books A Million)

When we want to make lifestyle changes to get healthier, there's nothing more frustrating that falling back into old habits. We all have them. The ones that keep us on the couch instead of the gym, or keep us giving into cravings instead of opting for something healthier. Those old habits are frustrating because we know they push back that day that we arrive at our natural weight and live an effortless healthy life. Those habits are ultra annoying because we know we don't want them in our lives anymore. So what gives? This week I'm talking about the very simple explanation of why we fall back into old habits: our brains crave the familiar. Even if the familiar isn't what you really want. Annoying, right? Learn why that is, how we can lessen the draw back to old habits and how we can use this ancient defense mechanism to our benefit when we are adding things to our lives we know we want. We can always use these little quirks in our brains to our advantage. Lifestyle changes can happen - and it doesn't have to be hard. In this episode, you will learn- -The very simple, un-dramatic reason why we fall back into old habits. -Exactly how to ease into change in a way that actually feels good. -The one thing you need to address before making any changes to your life. -What makes something familiar and the real reason why our brains love it so much.   Available now at your favorite bookstores! (Barnes & Noble) (Amazon) (Books A Million)

This is the last podcast in a three-part series where I talk about my book, Stop Carrying the Weight of Your MS. In this podcast I talk about my personal struggles with diet, why finding an MS diet is so tough. And I reveal the real reason why diet has become a four letter word for all of us. Find out why what we eat is so important (it's more than you think) and why it's completely possible to create a diet you love AND will be motivated to stick with for the long-run. Because why should we go through diet-suffering if the payoff won't last anyway? Join me as I share the behind the scenes look at what I was thinking as I wrote this chapter, and a reading of Chapter 3 of my latest book. (Available in your favorite bookstores now.) If you have questions you want me to answer, don't be shy! This was so much fun I will definitely do more Q&A podcasts. Send questions to hello@andreahansoncoaching.com In this episode, you will learn- -How to create a food journal that is actually helpful and doesn't suck. -2 simple moves to clean up your diet immediately. -What you should know before you go gluten free (or sugar free, or carbohydrate free...). -Why I think following guru diets (like the MS diet) can be unhelpful for long term health. Available at your favorite bookstores! (Barnes & Noble) (Amazon) (Books A Million)

What we expect to happen in our lives is super important. Our expectations play a huge role not only in what our future looks like, but also in how fast we get started on our goals now. Learn about the subtle cues your mind will pick up on, making changes for better health seamless. This is a must listen to podcast if you're wondering how you can more easily manifest better health. In this second in a three-part podcast series, Andrea shares behind the scenes gossip about what inspired Chapter 2 of her book, Stop Carrying the Weight of Your MS. And then she gives a reading of the entire chapter. If you have questions you want me to answer, don't be shy! This was so much fun I will definitely do more Q&A podcasts. Send questions to hello@andreahansoncoaching.com In this episode, you will learn- -Why you must be crystal clear about what you want for your health and how to get started now. -4 Essential questions to diagnose exactly where we are now and how to dial in your mindset today. -The 4 words that sparked my health revolution and how to make them work for you. Available at your favorite bookstores! (Barnes & Noble) (Amazon) (Books A Million) Have Questions for Andrea? Email Hello@andreahansoncoaching.com

This is the first in a three-part series of podcasts where I talk about the first three chapters in my new book, Stop Carrying the Weight of Your MS. In this week's episode, I talk about the behind the scenes of Chapter 1 and then read the entire chapter. Learn why this book isn't only for people with MS. The character in this chapter is modeled after me and my struggle with weight loss when I was first diagnosed, but it goes so much farther than that. Why being in the age of information and having so many "guru's" at our fingertips is counter productive. And the real way to create a lifestyle change, not simply a diet for the season. If you have questions you want me to answer, don't be shy! This was so much fun I will definitely do more Q&A podcasts. Send questions to hello@andreahansoncoaching.com In this episode, you will learn- -Why creating a plan you love for getting healthy seems impossible- and how to change that. -The truth of why having someone tell us what to do doesn't work long term and why it's good news. -The real reason you're feeling disconnected from finding the solution to your health (it's not what you think). Available for pre-order at your favorite bookstores! (Barnes & Noble) (Amazon) (Books A Million)

Andrea answers listener questions in this information packed episode of the Health Mindset Podcast. We're covering everything from how to explain to someone that you're sick - when you look just fine to how to have fun with creating a health totem. We're also talking about how to have healthy boundaries with your health, and easy tips to using the Law of Attraction for your health. There's also a bonus on turning Mountain Dew into vitamins (straight from a listener's question). In this episode, you will learn- -Why it feels hard to explain your illness when you look fine. -Exactly how to use the fun Health Totem exercise - and get results for life. -Why we can manifest "little" things in our life, but manifesting health and weight loss seems out of reach. For more about Andrea's books and free resources, visit (AndreaHansonCoaching.com)

Do you feel like you're overcommitting your life away? The top reasons we don't go 100% in on our health are a lack of time and energy. The reason we feel time and energy are slipping away is because we're spread way too thin. There are many good reasons why we do this- family, friends, and work being a few.  In this episode I pin down three reasons why we commit to things we don't want to do, and how to say no while feeling good about it. Leaving us more time and energy to devote to what we're probably saying no to right now - our health. The bonus is that you don't have to say "no" to everything to feel better. You may not even have to change a thing on your calendar to get back that time and energy. In this episode, you will learn- -Exactly how to talk about your commitments in order to feel better immediately. -How to sidestep those commitments with your head held high - even when you've already said "yes". -Why we say "yes" when we don't really want to and how to stop. At the end of the episode, I'll take you through your calendar and help you find the surprising answers to which commitments you should keep and which ones you should get out of.

Are you committed to your weight loss if you take cheat days? This episode, we talk about how to know if you're truly 100% committed to your weight loss or if you're sliding a bit. Your first reaction may be like mine was - "of course I'm 100% committed." Duh. But I had a big wake up call that caused me to change my answer. My new outlook on committing helps me dial in my health and catapults my results. It's not bad to be 90% or 80% committed to your health - we have busy lives and less energy to focus than we like. Being 90% worked for me for a while, but I found it unsustainable. At the end of this podcast you may have a different answer, too- one that can help you double down on your weight loss without doubling down the effort. In this episode, you will learn- -A new way to define commitment that can lead to crazy results. -Why I think all cake is necessary (and why I don't think eating it is a "cheat"). -How to diagnose your level of commitment and see if it truly works for you. At the end of the episode, I'll show you exactly how to see what your commitment level is - even if you think you're at 100%. I'll share some powerful questions to ask yourself about what you think commitment is, and also why that definition may harm to your health.

The health mindset is all about creating the health you want by redesigning your mind. Your mindset is the key to losing weight, living a happy life, and coming out ahead when faced with a diagnosis. Our mindset is everything. When we don’t have a health mindset, we find ourselves on autopilot, realizing we just ate something we swore we wouldn’t. We decide that there’s something more important than getting in that workout. Not having a health mindset means we don’t change, don’t lose weight, don’t get healthy. We need to purposefully create that health mindset to heal our bodies in a way that lasts long into our golden years. But we can do even better than even that. We can up our game much more with a little practice and the right tools. Today I’m talking about three quick ways to have a killer manifesting mindset so you can achieve the health and weight loss you truly want. In this episode, you will learn- -3 tools you can use to immediately start changing your mindset and your body. -Why weight loss tools are a lot like a closet full of clothes. -Why we get stuck attracting weight loss in the future - and how to switch to having weight loss now. At the end of the episode, I'll tell you exactly how to pick the one tool that will benefit you the most for your unique set of circumstances. They're all great tips, but there's one that you need right now.

My bet is this question runs though your head a few (million) times a week. "Am I doing enough to lose weight?" We all ask ourselves if we're eating the right things, fasting enough, working out enough, doing cardio enough. Whatever it is that you're doing to lose weight, you can wonder if it's enough. Especially when the scale doesn't move. This question, "Am I doing enough?" and the answer, "I don't know," are motivational killers. They put you into a state of confusion about what your body really needs, and then you fear that what you're doing will never be enough to lose weight - not by summer at least. There's a way to both stop giving yourself a hard time about what's working and to know if you're doing enough - or what to tweak. In this episode, you will learn- -How to tap into the definitive answer to "Am I doing enough," and know if you need to change your plan. -The three steps you must master if you want to connect with your body and know what it really needs. -The biggest reason that we get confused about what's necessary to lose weight and heal our body. At the end of the episode, I give you a super simple practice to train your brain out of confusion and into decision mode.  You'll bypass the biggest reason we get so confused about doing enough so you can jumpstart your weight loss again.

I'm celebrating this first podcast milestone by talking about something I practice every day for my health, but haven't taught yet on this podcast - the Law of Attraction. This is a weight loss tool every bit as big as eating the right foods, working out, getting quality sleep and decreasing stress. If you've practiced it before in your life, you know how fast it works. But you may also know that the fun and games of attracting good parking spots can get tricky when you try apply them to get better health. Our health is the most personal topic of attraction there is. And we can get tripped up when we try to apply these principles to something so important as our weight loss and wellbeing. But you can - you must- and there is a way. I'll talk about how on this week's podcast. In this episode, you will learn- -How the Law of Attraction is tailor made to work with our brains. -The two core systems all humans have that tap into the practice of manifesting. -Two easy manifesting tools I use almost every day in my health and the direct results I see. At the end of the episode, I'll give you a fun and simple tool to try out the Law of Attraction yourself. If you're like me, you may be a bit skeptical about trying this out at first. I give you an easy way to test it and feel the results yourself. (And if you're already in the manifesting game, bravo! Here's a fun way to up the ante.)

Have you ever wondered if something is wrong with you because you don't get the results that everyone else seems to get? Have you ever caught yourself asking "what's wrong with me? Why can't I just do this?" You're not alone - not by a long shot. There's no shame in asking yourself these questions. We all go there when we're frustrated that results aren't happening as quickly as we want. The problem is, these questions aren't very helpful for your long-term (or even short term) health. There are some common traps that we all fall into on our quest for better health that lead us to ask these very un-awesome questions. The good news is there's an easy way out of this common sabotage when you know where to look. In this episode, you will learn- -A common sabotage that we all fall for and how to fix it. -Why so many of us allow this motivation blocker without realizing it. -The #1 practice that will shine a light on what's blocking your momentum. -The one phrase that kept me from losing weight and why you may be believing it, too. At the end of the episode, I give you one easy practice that will let you know if something is really making you feel driven to get results- or is actually turning your inspired action into bullying yourself into action instead.

Let's talk about rebelling. Whether you come by it naturally (like me) or are someone who's just now learning to speak out for themselves, adding a little rebellion can give you that edge on weight loss and health for life. I'll share what rebelling for your health means (and doesn't mean) and how to get the most out of it. You'll learn everything from what white coat syndrome is and how it can devastate your health to how to have the most empowered, freeing feeling ever (and how chocolate lava cake fits into all of it). In this episode, you will learn-  -Why putting yourself first is essential in order to be there for who and what you most care about. -The four things that must be in place before you can effectively speak out for yourself. -The one, easy thing you can do to be able to consistently do what's best for your health. -The trap you may be in that prohibits you from knowing what helps you lose weight. At the end of the episode, I give you one simple question to ask yourself to start your own rebellion for your health. This isn't sit-down-at-your-desk homework, it's something you can answer without anyone else knowing. This question allows you to start your secret rebellion immediately.