These are just some of the things that have come up during my pregnancy. You are probably thinking to yourself, “how fun!” For those of you who are reading this who loved being pregnant I truly am happy for you, that is a gift. If I said that I am in love with being pregnant…well, I would be lying. Going through pregnancy has been one of the most challenging internal struggles I have had in a long time. While I am excited about the outcome, I feel a bit out of control which is a very vulnerable place for me.

You see I am a go getter, a breaking the glass ceiling kind of woman, doing her own thing, who suffered with body dysmorphia and an eating disorder called bulimia for many years in her 20’s. Thankfully I had reached a place of self- love, a healthy eating pattern, and a healthy body. I had developed a rhythm of life that kept me healthy.
Then pregnancy hit. At 35 after trying for 1.5 years, my husband and I did get pregnant, but ended in a miscarriage at 8 weeks. While this was a challenging experience, I knew deep down that I COULD get pregnant which was a really nice feeling and a total blessing. 3 months later, I was pregnant again.

While my husband and I were so excited and thankful, the challenging journey of pregnancy began for me. Changes happened that were not all comfortable. In the first trimester I was hungrier than I ever had been in many years. It was a kind of hunger that could not be satisfied, and this was uncomfortable for me as a former food addict. I had felt this kind of hunger and craving for food as a suffering bulimic. However, this time it was different. I knew that I needed to eat, and that I was keeping my food in, not letting it go. I knew I was feeling this way not because I was seeking a release (purge), but had a growing being inside me that needed nourishment too.
As you can probably imagine, I also started gaining weight rapidly from eating more which did not help my feeling of being out of control. When I would throw hints at friends or colleagues about the eating, most of the advice was simply, “just let yourself eat Theresa; this is the time you are free to do what you want; don’t worry about it.” While I appreciate this advice, this is tough for a recovering food addict. I do not want to just eat whatever or let myself go. I want to be healthy.

In my 2nd trimester my appetite returned to normal, at which point the food fears were replaced by a different obstacle. During our 20-week ultrasound, the sonographer and physician could not see a number of necessary brain structures. The prognosis was a strong likelihood of significant development disabilities, and we were then shepherded to a room where our termination opens were presented to us.

I wanted to kick myself because going into this ultrasound I was almost cocky, just as I would be going into a game that I was over prepared for and knew I would win. Knowing how healthy I was I felt nothing could be wrong with my child. Needless to say, this news threw both my husband and I for a loop and caused great sadness. While we held hope, there was so much varying medical information out there to read; it was overwhelming. I often didn’t want to get out of bed. Feeling that a loss may happen, or may not, left me feeling very low. I had already lost both parents and a lot of my extended family, I was not sure what another loss would do to me.
Thankfully the next set of tests we requested at 23 weeks were deemed normal and the chances our child was healthy improved significantly. The cloud of stress and sadness was nearly lifted. A level of anxiety persisted, and we forged onward.

My 3rd trimester rolled around and my belly got big, the clothes much tighter, and my maternity wardrobe grew. My movement slowed, I could not eat very much due to limited space, and my mind scattered. The demands on me at work have not slowed, but have increased due to some exciting opportunities that add to my anxiety. In a time that I need to be preparing for birth, I am not. When asked in my birthing class how I bond with my baby, I made up my answer. Because besides random pokes or rubbing of the belly, I had not been spending ample time on this, which was in stark contrast to all the other Moms in the room.

As a new Mom with an unborn child, I realize that even with not feeling as prepared as other Moms, struggling with the highs and lows of mood, the discomfort of eating at times, the weight gain, the anxiety…this is an amazing time and opportunity in my life that is a gift. Despite all the struggles, what is happening is a gift. While I do not LOVE the process of pregnancy, I love the opportunity and the end product – a child. I love what this child will offer the world and to my husband and me, and what we can offer it unconditionally.

While loving the process of my pregnancy is not realistic, loving the purpose behind it is!!

pictures from: https://www.pinterest.com/evamenetrier/pregnancy-photos/

The post My LOVE Story with Pregnancy appeared first on Dr. Theresa Larson.

Theresa Larson is a woman with many titles and one inspiring story. She’s played college and professional softball, served as a US Marine, and is now a doctor of physical therapy in San Diego. In her recent memoir, Warrior, Theresa bravely shares her story of being platoon commander in Iraq and battling some inner demons. We have a very raw and honest conversation about: The issues that come with being a perfectionist The challenges of being a female Marine officer How movement and exercise helps us overcome trauma The importance of owning and sharing our stories

Check out the podcast.

The post Dr. T on Eagle Nation Podcast appeared first on Dr. Theresa Larson.

Email getbetter@movement-rx.com for a FREE balance assessment!

Offer good through Friday July 22, 2016

The post Challenge Your Balance appeared first on Dr. Theresa Larson.

I couldn’t imagine a better guest on the episode going live on the day the US celebrates independence than a woman who served in Iraq helping us stay free and safe, Theresa Larsen.

Theresa Larson has been a professional softball player, an award-winning fitness competition contestant, and a lieutenant in the Marines, where she led an entire platoon while deployed in Iraq. She is now a doctor of physical therapy and the founder of Movement Rx, offering support to wounded warriors and individuals with movement issues. Theresa travels all over the world as a speaker for the CrossFit Movement and Mobility course and is a consultant for the world-renowned MobilityWOD. She is a lululemon athletica ambassador, a LALO Tactical ambassador, and works with Team Red, White & Blue, LinderKids, The Resilience Project, the National Eating Disorders Association, and other nonprofits. She lives in San Diego, California.

-Allan Misner, 40+ Fitness

The post 40+ Fitness appeared first on Dr. Theresa Larson.

The post Real Strength Matters: Becoming a Warrior appeared first on Dr. Theresa Larson.

1. Once you have the idea- the book is just written overnight
Soooo writing a book and publishing a book is like having a second job. It took 10 years and 5 months from having the idea to actually publishing the thing…

2. Being an author is perfect for an introvert- you just stay quiet and write a lot and don’t have to interact with everyone. When your book is done, people will just read it!
Yeah not really! You need to broadcast your story, like, A LOT! I get energy from being quiet, some of this process did not bring me energy, but a lot of it did. I did HAVE to find boundaries in how much “being on” I could handle.

The cherry on the top: I found out that this book writing process was so much more healing for me than I had ever anticipated.

3. ELLEN, OPRAH, The Today Show are TOTALLY what sell books!
Sure, being mentioned on Oprah’s Book Club would be great, but for the most part getting publicity does not transfer over into selling more books. What it does do is bring exposure to your message, which is very important.

4. You sit back and chill once the book is written; the publisher does it all!
The publisher did do a great deal, but it is still up to ME to market the book and the message, to build a grassroots brand that people can relate to. While I had support, I also had to hustle on my own and build knowledge in how to organically get my book out there in a way that was authentic to me. I had to ask for help from colleagues and friends who were influencers in the community who could share my story with their audience, friends, and loved ones.

5. Being an author is so glamorous; life just kind of unfolds after you are published.
To be honest my life has been getting better and better as this book has been a huge emotional clearing for me. I healed so much from writing this thing with Alan – I faced a lot of fears and let a lot of “stuff” go. However, life just didn’t unfold. It has been a long journey of ups and downs, learning what I need to stay healthy, and walking my talk.
The not so glamorous parts about writing Warrior:
I let go of a couple long lasting friendships that were not healthy for me any longer. I lost my Father, I cried myself to sleep many nights, I worked late and was up early so I could record and work on this book, I prayed a lot, and I spent a lot of time in contemplation working to figure out the best way to tell my story.

6. You will make a lot of MONEY if you write a book
Ha! The truth is it is very hard to make money as an author, especially the first time around. Most of the time spent working on it, takes time away from other things….you actually lose money. What it does do is spread the word about your message and brand. I hope to be able to continue to leverage this book so it can impact many!

7. Writing a book means I am kind of legit!
Nope, what makes me legit is who I am. What I do does not define who I am as a person anymore. This book IS a piece of my soul…shit did happen. I am the author of a book but I am still the same person and will stay humble for as long as I live. That is what makes me legit. That is what makes YOU legit!

If you haven’t ordered your copy of Warrior, you can do so here.

The post 7 Myths About Writing a Book appeared first on Dr. Theresa Larson.

I am extremely proud of this book as it took years to put together, and a lot of healing in the interim.

WARRIOR tells the story of my life.

In fact, WARRIOR tells the story of all of my lives.

Because in my thirty plus years I feel like I’ve lived ten lives.

It shares my journey of being a tomboy, living in a log cabin where I helped care for my mother who I was very close too, and who died of cancer when I was ten.

I was a talented athlete. I won accolades in high school, and pitched on the softball team for Villanova University. I was voted All-East Pitcher of the Year, Academic All-America, and later I pitched professionally in Italy.

I became a fitness contest participant and winner, and model.

I served in the United States Marines Corps, won leadership awards, became a platoon leader, and served in Iraq, leading 150 Marines on several dangerous missions.

And…I was world class at being cruel to my mind and body- telling myself I was not good enough when I didn’t win a game, when my body was not as fit as I wanted it to feel and look, when I didn’t get good enough grades, when I was made fun of in school, when anything external allowed me to feel less than perfect. To top it off, I also became a world-class bulimic, sometimes throwing up sometimes seven times a day.

Yes, for years I fought my own war, struggling to balance several of these lives at once, while hiding that one secret life. Finally, to overcome that secret war, I learned that I needed to call up every ounce of strength I could muster, strength I never knew I had. I learned then that your true strength lies within you.

In WARRIOR I take you with me into all of my lives in intimate and vivid detail. I examine every important relationship I had, no matter how personal, difficult, and, at times, painful. I take you into my Marine training and deployment into the guts of the Corps, learning hand to hand combat, mountain warfare training and becoming—not without difficulty and some hilarity—a Marine Corps engineer and platoon leader, and then dealing with sexual harassment, arriving in Iraq, and finally facing my eating disorder head on and deciding to return home via being medevaced.

We all face wars inside us. Our foes are self doubt, regret, loneliness, loss, fear of failure, and the need to be in control. Our weapons are love for ourselves, good friends, exercise, healthy eating, rest, quiet, and living in each and every moment. Choosing to use these weapons means you are in the arena battling for your life each and every day. The glory goes to you, just being in the arena, and knowing there will always be critics (even yourself) wanting you to fail, feel less than, etc.

I continue to live my daily life in a male dominated world as doctor of physical therapy and strength & conditioning coach. I’ve realized my calling. I run a physical therapy practice and I run a CrossFit class for wounded warriors and adaptive athletes, helping them develop strength and improve their movement. I am the instructor, but these inspiring men and women teach me way more than I could ever teach them. I work with a mother of two, a former Marine, who wages her war with adrenal cancer and does not know when her last day on this earth will be. I work with a young veteran who lost his leg above the knee in Afghanistan. I work with a double amputee who served in Iraq. I work with a Naval Officer who was sexually assaulted by one of her peers.

They share their stories, they reveal their vulnerabilities, they give me their hearts. We laugh, all of us, and we cry sometimes. They curse, not at their plight, but at not being able to do one more rep or push themselves for thirty more seconds. Yet, I tell them. You haven’t done that one more rep yet. We work together, we cheer each other on. This is my new team, the team I lead, the team I pitch for now.
I tell them that asking for help makes you strong.
Asking for help makes you a warrior.
I am a warrior.

I wrote this book because I think I can help.

I believe my story to be many peoples’ story, perhaps the story of someone you know, or perhaps even your story.

Here is what Kirkus Reviews wrote in a rave review:
“By turns honest and heartbreaking, Larson’s book is a celebration of inner strength. It is also a poignant reminder that the mark of a true warrior is not just someone who fights wars, but who also knows how to “ask for help” in times of crisis. A courageous and inspiring memoir.”

I used to believe that I had to be perfect. I used to believe looking fit and winning games meant I was good enough. It took me a lifetime and living several lives to find out that no such thing as perfection, and strength is so much more than what it looks like.

Get your free chapters plus lots of free gifts here!

The post Warrior: Why I Wrote This Book & Why You Should Read It appeared first on Dr. Theresa Larson.

Now that I am in full swing launch mode for my upcoming book ‘Warrior’, I am quite active on social media 6 days of the week. As I use social media more and more, I have become hyper-aware of how curated most posts are. Most original posts seem to be the best moments of that person’s day or recreations of a happy moment. When I compare those to the offline conversations I have with people, usually that person’s reality isn’t what was posted. I understand – who wants to frown into a camera? But who realistically has awesome moments all day long?

Many of you might think, “that’s obvious, Dr. T!” I want to dig a bit further into this, because the repetitive dopamine cycle we fall into with social media isn’t necessarily good, and it’s hard to break.

I wanted to share some methods I’m working on to keep social media in its place so it does NOT get in the way of doing what I love, does NOT cause me envy or anxiety and does NOT keep me from being present with those physically around me. I hope these resonate with you. #5 is the most important of all!

1. When I scroll through my feeds, I remind myself to consider the source of the post. Some posts are intended to be uplifting, others attention-seeking. The poster made a choice not to show the cursing and sweating during the hike to that mountain vista, not the half-dozen fails before hitting the PR I’m watching nor the sad moment earlier in the day.

2. I know social media activity has been shown to be addictive (dopamine and narcissism are the key culprits). If, upon a happy or sad moment, I feel the need to tell the world about it, I know I’m giving in to that addiction, that my brain is seeking more and more social media stimulus, more and more dopamine-driven emotion, pleasure, and want. In these moments I shut off my phone.

3. I try to be happy for the person posting. Being authentically happy for others can really help in avoiding low moments. Everyone is unique and gets unique opportunities, some more than others. I do not have to know their whole story. Reminding myself to be authentically happy for someone helps me quickly get past jealous thoughts, and keeps the gifts of my own life in perspective.

4. When I get tired of only seeing inauthentic or staged posts, I consider posting my reality in that moment. People may hate it, people may like it. But it is ME, and it is real. One fourth of Americans have anxiety and or depression. Posting real sh*t can be really nice and helpful for someone who is having a bad day. Showing how life can be messy is a good thing. Just wait until all my book quotes start coming out…those show some of my messes.

5. I focus inward. The more I focus on caring for my own inner nature- quiet time, being present to my husband, human interaction versus text, the less I need or care about what others are doing. The more I focus on seeking approval from others the more I need to be in the know or find myself spending hours on Facebook.

Social Media is addicting, but it can be controlled. Try the 5 steps above and enjoy your reality. Post YOUR reality but only because you want to, not because you feel you NEED too. Give yourself time away from looking at other peoples’ lives and ENJOY and be present in your own.

For more on dopamine and social media addiction, read here.

The post 5 Steps to Avoid Social Media Envy appeared first on Dr. Theresa Larson.

Obi Wan Kenobi describes the Force as what gives a Jedi his power. It’s an energy created by all living things and surrounds and penetrates us. Some have stronger forces than others. I am sure most of us choose light over dark- I would hope! Dark sides in our lives can take the form as negative thoughts, self harm, lack of self care, the drive to be perfect, wanting to harm others, unfocused, out of control, mean, and/or selfishness. The light side takes the form of patience, love, taking in the good in situations, discipline, health, the acceptance and love for yourself, the ability to stick up for yourself, being calm, genuine, and compassionate.

So to avoid more dark side behaviors that can suck us in and create tapes that are distorted, let’s nip the dark side in the butt early on, and start creating the light side of the Force behaviors.

Here is how:
1. Perform Self Care 10-15 minutes a day. Picking up a piece of your favorite mobility equipment and going after the knotted, stiff, sore tissue in your body is a good idea daily. 10-15 minutes a day 2-3 minutes each spot/technique can help change the physiology of your musculo-skeletal system. This will also help you eliminate pain in your body and allow you to be pro-active about your health. 96-98 % of all injuries out there are preventable. Also the dark side hates it when you’re healthy and pain-free.

2. Spend 5 minutes a day in stillness and quiet. This is where your body, mind, and soul can connect and find some balance. We all live busy lives, and the dark side feeds on a monkey-like mind that likes to be negative and self- defeating. Consistency is key in this arena, and one of the best times of the day is in the morning before your home wakes up or evening when everyone is in bed. Make it your time to fill your souls cup!

3. Move 45 min to 1 hour per day in your favorite activity– could be yoga, walking, hiking, running, weight training or anything else. Move it or lose it. The dark side likes a sedentary, non-moving human being who hates good posture and really loves sitting in a dumpy position. Enjoy exercise of your choice, sit and stand frequently during your day, and me sure to smile when you are training!

4. Say I love you to someone. Saying I love you is a positive, uplifting message and can be said to those who you have really really strong feelings for. This could be a really good friend or your significant other. It is a good practice to do this because just by you saying it gives positive energy to not only you but your friend or significant other. The light side Force is then spread around which is not what the dark side wants.

5. When you are in a sticky situation, are being challenged by emails, phone calls, to -do’s etc take the time to BREATH 3 long slow breaths (5 seconds in, 5 seconds out) filling up the belly AND RIB CAGE. This is a great way to check in and build energy because you broke the chain of frantic events and gave yourself a chance to ground in the moment so to speak. Using your breath as a tool to take a quick break. Vacation, time to center/ground in the moment is like a small dose of serotonin or dopamine that we all need during our day. The dark side likes stressed out, frantic, miles long of to-do’s.

Choose the LIGHT!

Photo credit: http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Yoda

The post 5 Ways to Fight the Dark Side appeared first on Dr. Theresa Larson.

The post Dr. T on Harder to Kill Radio with Steph Gaudreau appeared first on Dr. Theresa Larson.