Too Tired to Be Happy

Women today are savvy when it comes to health and wellness. Most have likely read about the stress hormone cortisol, probably know about the "caveman diet," and have at least heard murmurs that lifting weights is the key to a healthy, lean body. Also apparent is the resurgence of a more natural way of living — even in the city — as more people take to a bit of urban farming, ranging from cultivating a small herb garden on the windowsill to keeping egg-laying chickens in the backyard. Many are also ditching department store skin care for more natural products and drinking out of glass, stainless steel, or ceramic, as collectively we grow weary of so much plastic. Slow cookers have made a comeback, and CrossFit has swept the nation, giving more normalcy to women working out with barbells.

Overall, there has been a positive shift toward a more natural way of living, and while not all of you may be doing these things — or have yet to brew your own kombucha — these practices are not seen as completely "out there" as they were twenty or thirty years ago. But at the same time as we are striving to live more naturally in our homes, most women are still living with the unnatural stresses of filling multiple roles, from mom to employee to entrepreneur to wife to playdate coordinator to everything in between.

We've piled more expectations, more work, and more stress on our plates with each passing year — and all of this in an increasingly toxic and stressful environment rife with chemicals that disrupt our hormones all day, every day. It's no wonder our hormones have gone haywire and our happiness has flown the backyard coop. This has us struggling to manage our obligations, sleep, body weight, and cravings, not to mention losing our joy. Between the two of us, we've worked with thousands of women and have found that nearly all of them are being stretched too thin. From the single working mom to the senior executive to the hustling woman with entrepreneurial dreams to the busy stay-at-home mama, most of us are overwhelmed and oh so very tired.

Women are plagued with this notion that we have to do it all and look good doing it. So we pile dieting and exercise onto an already stressed-out physiology and overwhelmed mind, and of course our metabolism and hormones say "What exactly is your problem, lady?" Then, like an overly emotional teenager (which is what we feel like), they rebel. And just when things are totally starting to fall apart and what we really need to do is slow way, way down, unfortunately what so many of us do is one or more of the following:

• Feel guilty for not being able to handle life and suffer in silence

• Avoid going to the doctor because we don't have time right now and we think we'll have time to take care of ourselves later

• Go to the doctor, only to be told that lab tests look normal enough and "it's all in your head" or "all moms feel that way" or, the worst, "you're just getting older"

• Dig in deeper with diet and exercise and end up doing even more when we need to dial it back

If you've mustered the energy to pick up this book and you're actually still awake and reading this page, you may be thinking, "What am I going to do with a new exercise plan, a new nutrition strategy, time-consuming daily habits like walking and meditating and … I can't do this, I need a nap!" Before you drop the book, hang on — we've got your back. We know that adding more to your plate is not the answer. We also know that if you don't put in place some healthier food, exercise, and lifestyle strategies, you're going to sink. So, yes, we are adding some things but we're also throwing you a few life rafts.

We Do Not Expect Perfection. You're going to approach the reset in your own way, whether that's immediately going all in or implementing just the parts that you know you can successfully accomplish right now. We're actually going to say that again: this isn't about perfection. Let that sink in. You're going to do your best and your best will vary depending on whether you're injured, you're sick, your kids are sick, you're up for a promotion, or you're otherwise just having a bad day. It's OK. But we do want you to keep going, no matter what your pace might be. We want you to show up and keep showing up. Our Five Pillars, which you'll learn in chapter 3, will give you a foundation for making the strategies and habits you'll learn become easier and easier, until your new lifestyle feels as familiar as your current one, but with sustainable and real results. While we call this a four-week program, it's really a lifelong program — you can't get rid of us in a month! We're here for you for the long haul. We do, however, want to stress the importance of consistency. No, perfection is not required, but feeling better will happen faster when you start grooving new habits and committing to what works for you (you'll be very familiar with what that means soon). Remember, this is not just another diet you'll most likely fail at; this is a plan that will carry you through the rest of your life!

The Hangry B*tch Reset Covers YOU from Mindset to Meals to Muscles. Most programs will give you a one-size-fits-all diet and workout plan yet neglect mindset and hormones entirely. Others address hormones in relation to diet recommendations but seem to be stuck in thirty-year-old exercise science when it comes to workout advice. Finally, almost all of them miss the importance of mindset and stress management entirely.

What we've created is a customizable program that will work for you instead of you trying to work for it. We'll teach you exactly what you need for your hormones and for you to be happier. You'll heal your hormones, gain strength, lower inflammation, and (what we know you want more than anything else) get your mojo back and start living a life that is more joy-centric and less focused on just getting by. We want you to let go of believing that the only way to be healthy is by following a grueling exercise and diet plan. Instead, we want you to embrace self-compassion, love, and trust in order to really be OK for the long haul.

Finally, There's No Test. You may have implemented...