The Ultimate Resource List for Optimal Health and Weight Loss

Here is the ultimate list of health and fitness resources I've sent to my personal training clients to help them reach their optimal health (and lose weight)! You’ll find the answers on how to lose body fat, what to eat for breakfast to lose weight, how to manage stress, why you’re not losing body fat, how to eat on the road, what drinks to avoid, how to approach fitness and prevent injury, how to improve your sleep, how to make your life more efficient, and much more!

Please share this list with anyone (friend, family member, colleague, client, etc.) who wants to change their life and finally see a difference in their health and lifestyle. Also, be sure to bookmark this page and return to it when you're frustrated with your results (which happens to everyone) or need a new idea.

    Tip: Skim through this list and find the headlines most relevant to your current goals and interests (then spend 20 seconds skimming the article).

WHAT TO EAT FOR BREAKFAST TO LOSE BODY FAT

• 6 Breakfast Items at Starbucks that Will Lead to Weight Gain

• The 17 Healthiest Breakfast Options from a Diner Menu

• "If You're Trying to Lose Weight, Don't Make These 10 Breakfast Mistakes" Review

• “5 Ways Your Breakfast is Sabotaging Your Weight Loss” Review

TIME TO REACH YOUR OPTIMAL HEALTH (AND LOSE WEIGHT WHILE YOU'RE AT IT)

• The Evolution of a Personal Trainer's Diet (My Story)

• A Simple 10 Phase Progression for Weight Loss

• The "All-In, I'm Sick of Trying Everything" 2 Week Weight Loss Plan (What I Sent my Client)

• The Grocery List that Will Help You Lose Weight (and Live Healthy)

• Friday Quick 5: Plant-Based Grocery Items You Need this Weekend

• How to Turn Your 13 Favorite Midwestern Meals into a Weight Loss Diet

• A Personal Trainer’s 3-Day Diet Log

• 4 Healthy Substitutes for the Foods I Crave the Most

• My Personal Training Client’s SPECIFIC Plan to Lose Weight

• My Advice to a Friend’s Frustrations While Trying to Lose Weight (And Why it Worked)

• Do This Every Day, and You May Lose 20 Pounds in 6 Months

• Your Business Plan to Lose Weight (or Achieve Optimal Health)

• 37 Snack Ideas for Weight Loss (And You Won’t Be Bored)

• "42 Ways to Beat Your Junk Food Cravings" Review

• The Secret to Losing Nearly 27 lbs!

• 7 Ways to Lose Weight After 50

• Will Eating at Night Really Make You Gain Weight?

• "6 Things You Can Do Every Day to Prevent Weight Gain" Review

• 5 Non-Diet Ways to Trick Yourself into Losing Weight  

MANAGING YOUR STRESS AND ANXIETY

• What Being a Parent Taught Me About Managing Stress

• 5 Morning Habits That Have Made Me More Successful (and Less Stressed)

• How to Overcome Your Anxiety at Work

WHY YOU'RE NOT LOSING WEIGHT OR BODY FAT

• "44 Ways You’re Sabotaging Your Weight Loss Goals" Review

• A List of my Personal Training Clients’ Worst Habits from the Last 13 Years (and Why it Affected Their Weight Loss and Fitness Efforts)

• "5 Bad Things about Detoxing You Don't Know" Review

• "Is vegetarian fast food actually good for you?" Review

• “Why Stress Makes You Want to Eat Everything in Sight or Nothing at All” Review

• “Just Say No to That Detox Diet or Juice Cleanse” Review

• The Underlying Influence on Your Weight Loss Failures

• 6 Diet Tricks That Are Actually Making You Gain Weight

• "Don't Fall for These 10 Weight-Loss Gimmicks" Review

WHAT YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT THE FOOD YOU’RE EATING

• “10 Trendy Health Foods That Can Threaten Your Waistline” Review

• Weird Facts About Your Food that You’ll Want to Know About

PARENTING TIPS ON HEALTHY EATING

• 5 Ways to Make Your Child a Healthy Eater

• "5 Mistakes Parents Make When Feeding Their Kids" Review

WHY SALADS MAY NOT HELP YOUR WEIGHT LOSS GOALS

• Why Salad is So Overrated

• "25 Salads That Have More Calories Than a Big Mac" Review

HOLIDAY WEIGHT LOSS TIPS

• "4 Ways to Approach Holiday Eating" Review

• "10 Foods to Give Up for Lent—and How Many Calories You'll Save" Review

• 9 Dishes Doctors Won't Eat at Thanksgiving

BEST SOURCES OF PROTEIN FOR WEIGHT LOSS

• Save the Cow! Here is a List of Non-Animal Protein Sources

• "45 Vegetarian Protein Sources You Should Be Eating" Review

• 36 Ways to Fulfill Your Protein Needs While Losing Weight

FOODS YOU WANT TO AVOID....AND WHY!

• "25 Awful Ingredients Everyone Still Uses—But Shouldn’t!" Review

• 11 Foods to Toss Out of Your Kitchen For Good

• “21 Foods that Sound Healthy, But Are Not!” Review

WHY YOU SHOULD AVOID THESE DRINKS

• "20 Coffee Drinks with More Sugar Than a Can of Coke" Review

• How To Fit Alcohol in Your Diet without Ruining Your Weight Loss Goals

• "70 Most Popular Sodas Ranked by How Toxic They Are" Review

•  “The Most Unhealthy Drink Orders at the Bar” Review

• "The Best and Worst Booze to Drink if You Want to Lose Weight" Review

• 4 Ways To Beat Your Diet Soda Addiction In One Week

• How Caffeine Could Prevent You From Losing Belly Fat

HOW TO EAT AT RESTAURANTS AND AIRPORTS AND STAYING HEALTHY ON THE ROAD

• The "No Messing Around" Guide to Eating Healthy on the Road as a Professional

• “23 Restaurant Foods with Crazy High Amounts of Sugar” Review

• The Personal Trainer's Guide to Staying Healthy While Traveling

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FITNESS

• You’ll Want to Try this At-Home Core and Butt Workout over the Weekend!

• Do you have what it takes to pass this physical test to join the FBI?

• 5 Easy Ways to Amp Up Your Workouts

• 4 Simple Ways to Flatten Your Stomach

• You Should Master These 6 Exercises Before the New Year (And Here's How)

• 12 Workout Myths That Just Need To Die

• The 15 Most Common Mistakes Personal Trainers See in the Gym

• “7 Myths About How to Stay in Shape” Review

• “20 Ways to Ensure Workouts Happen Every Day” Review

INJURY PREVENTION

• How I've Prevented More Lower Back Pain in the Last 12 Years (After 2 Bulging Disks)

• End Your Lower Back Pain Today

• "The 21 Worst Things You Can Do For Your Body" Review

• Why Your Office Desk Is Destroying Your Posture (And What You Need To Do)

• Personal Trainer Wisdom: 1 Fitness Myth Unraveled

THE KEYS TO IMPROVE YOUR SLEEP AND REDUCE FATIGUE

• "10 Nighttime Habits that will Transform Your Tomorrows" Review

• 49 Reasons You're Always Tired

• 11 Ways To Sleep Better Tonight

• This simple addition to your bedtime routine could make a huge difference in your sleep

QUOTES

• 4 Quotes That Steer My Approach to Life Right Now

• 12 Inspirational Quotes that Have Shaped My Life Over the Last Year

• My 10 Favorite Life-Guiding Quotes from the Stoic, Marcus Aurelius

MAKE YOUR LIFE MORE EFFICIENT

• 19 Hacks to Solve the Biggest Problems in Your Life

• How to Create More Time Each Week (And It’s Easier Than You Think)

RESOLUTIONS, GOALS, RELATIONSHIPS, AND THE REST OF LIFE

• The 1 Article that Will Make You Rethink Your Day-to-Day Approach

• 7 Ways that Keep My Personal Training Clients Motivated

• Why 'Follow Your Dreams' May Be the Worst Advice You Ever Heard

• Advice My Future (10 Years Older) Self Would Tell Me Today (And Why I Need to Listen)

• ”13 Weight Loss Resolutions You Shouldn't Make" Review

• My List of New Year’s Resolutions (and How I’ll Achieve Each)

• My List of Intents for 2020 (and How I’ll Achieve Each)

• The Best All-In (Life Changing) Fitness Plan

• "9 Ways to Ensure Your Relationship Is Built to Last" Review

• Excerpt from the book Redefine Yourself: Define Your Purpose

• 6 Principles That Will Transform Your Professional Approach

TRAVEL ITINERARIES (AND WHERE TO EAT)

• The Detailed Itinerary You Need for a Journey to Lisbon, Porto, and Madrid and the Best Restaurants in Each

• The Detailed Itinerary You Need for a Long Weekend in London and a List of 141 of their Best Restaurants

• The Detailed Itinerary You Need for an Adventure in Australia (You’ll Need to Save This)
  
  Picture Credit: elegantmedia .com – Is it time to redefine your approach to old habits?

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About the Author: Michael Moody, Wedding Officiant

Michael Moody—author of the self-improvement book Redefine Yourself: The Simple Guide to Happiness and host of the “The Elements of Being” podcast—is an ordained minister serving Denver and other towns across Colorado. He is a 2023 WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Award winner in both Denver and Chicago (his eighth consecutive year), was named “Best Business of 2024 and 2025” by Three Best Rated, and earned “The Best Wedding Officiant in Commerce City, Colorado for 2024” from Quality Business Awards USA. Since 2012, he has officiated more than 300 weddings.

Specifically, Michael officiates wedding ceremonies in the Denver neighborhoods of LoDo, River North, Washington Park, Cherry Creek, City Park, Central Park, Capitol Hill, Cheesman Park, Park Hill, Highland, Platt Park, Lower Highlands, Sloan Lake as well as the zip codes 80215, 80214, 80204, 80203, 80205, 80207, 80218, 80219, 80222, 80223, 80224, 80246, 80238, 80221, 80022, 80230, 80231, 80202, 80209, 80247, and 80210. Michael also serves as an ordained minister in Golden, Boulder, Breckenridge, Frisco, Aspen, Vail, Estes Park, and more.

If your Denver neighborhood or Colorado town isn’t listed here, no worries! Please contact Michael to propose a wedding ceremony location in a different area!

The Evolution of a Personal Trainer's Diet (My Story)

I often think of the first twenty years of my life as a biased introduction to the world curated by the family, friends, culture, and influences of that period. Despite my passionate connection to psychology today, I never examined my role in that world nor how I interacted with it until later in life. Most importantly, I never examined myself during this pivotal period of my development. Although a high school psychology course triggered my interest in mental health, I was more enamored with the study of the underlying influences of OTHER people's human behavior (not my own).

Considering the common academic and social distractions of a man in his early 20s, most of my personal exploration in college was the physical body. I, like my many male counterparts between the ages of 21 and 25, succumbed to the health and fitness trends of pushing the body to the limits at any cost. Along with Arnold Schwarzenegger's dietary guidelines, I adopted the amplified version of the standard American/midwestern diet to gain nearly 25 pounds of muscle. Usually, my meals consisted of the meat, dairy, and simple carbs that I grew up eating and always loved. A toast taco slathered with butter, parmesan, and spaghetti, and a tall glass of whole milk? Yes, please! An entire Tombstone Meat Lovers pizza? I'll take two, por favor! You can imagine that I wasn't in a good position to say no to these temptations. It permitted me to eat everything I WANTED with the incentive of a lot of muscle!

Although my 23-inch arms gave the appearance of fit, the day-to-day discomfort told a different story. After taking Tums nearly every day for six months, I visited my doctor to seek a medical solution. While the doctor praised my muscle tone, I quickly shifted his tone when he reviewed my blood panel. My triglyceride levels were nearly double the norm (and genetics didn't account for that troubling level), and the doctor recommended taking a statin to lower the number. Also, I learned that my dairy intolerance contributed to my indigestion. Basically, I was abusing my body with poor nutrition.

Shortly later, a spasm left me on the ground for thirty minutes, and I, consequently, spent the following nights in the hospital for bulging discs in my lower back (L4-L5, L5-S1). While I hope no one else needs to reach this physical low, it became the push I needed to derail an obsessive mindset that blinded my physical awareness. My body was a degrading, inflammatory time bomb, and something had to change.

I asked myself, "What am I trying to optimize here?" and "What is my body's true relationship with food and movement?" Awareness of proper dietary fuel was never part of my language at home or at school. I didn't know how to create sustainable change. I did possess an unrelenting curiosity about the mind and body that wouldn't allow my condition to worsen.

Of course, I tried everything I could before changing my diet. I hoped exercise was the answer. Over the course of a year, I experimented with a plethora of exercise programs that improved the condition of my back but didn't affect my digestive comfort or my triglyceride levels. Despite my repeated attempts, there was no way around it. My optimal fitness depended on the body I fueled and brought to the gym floor. I had to rethink my eating approach.

After much research, I learned that nothing affects the human body at the cellular level more than a nutrient-dense diet of whole food plants (a far cry from the pasta and German sausage I grew up eating). After a lifetime of the same eating habits, I knew that pivoting from the old to the new physical me would undoubtedly be a significant transition.

Nevertheless, I began my journey and went all in. I became a "human scientist" and studied the emotional, physical, and mental patterns of myself. I quickly discovered how dysfunctional the real "me" was at times. My poor habits seemed hardwired and unchangeable. I fought against the insecurities, fears, and family culture that steered most of my behaviors and choices (the underlying influences that often led me to take a step back when I knew the best step forward). Would the fitness industry push back on my issues regarding the adverse effects of meat, dairy, and supplements? Would I lose business by advocating what's right…not what's most popular or accepted? Would I be ostracized from social functions because of my eating preferences?

Without a doubt, the process of awareness, acceptance, and adaptation was the true step to overcoming these influences. Armed with this approach, I created an adaptable framework for everything in life, including nutrition, and determined the optimal baseline for my physical body. I became aware of my body's sensitivity to different foods and the continuous state of inflammation and stress that I endured.

With this new awareness, I struggled to accept it. It took time to admit that I was an imperfect human who didn't always make perfect decisions. It wasn't easy to accept that my physical boundaries weren't as extended as I thought and that I would need to adopt a new plan to see sustainable change.

I was determined, though, and justified the effort for the long-term health benefits. I finally set the most appropriate boundaries based on my optimal nutritional needs — not my wants (as I had done most of my life). I began adapting my diet to a whole-food, plant-based diet. It became the baseline for ALL of my food choices and the anchor for my meal decisions, which are still made today.

Fast forward to today, I believe that every meal should be 100% whole food plants. Many studies and books, including those by the celebrated authors Dr. Fuhrman and Michael Pollan, provide scientific support for the health benefits of this approach. Among many vegan, vegetarian, and plant-based social groups, there is a great debate over the proper terminology for this belief, though. Personally, I term this approach a "Whole Food Plant Diet," and I integrate a flexible extension of this system, which I named "Whole Food Plant-Based Diet," into my life.

Essentially, whole food plants are the center, the foundation of each of my meals. Although they are my priority, I allow some wiggle room for non-whole-food plant indulgences (e.g., meat, dairy, processed foods, refined sugars, and alcohol). When I do so, I accept the inflammatory and adverse health consequences unapologetically, though. If I see brisket on a menu in Austin, I will absolutely order and enjoy it. And, yes, yes-I'm salivating, right now. Sometimes that brisket is 5% of the total food on my plate, while at times it is as high as 40%. Is any of the brisket ideal for my sustainable health? I don't believe so. It isn't the most nutrient-dense option for my health, and the benefits of the protein and iron don't outweigh the effects of the inflammation. That's okay. My brisket choice is an outlier, and I always return to my whole foods plant baseline.

Overall, I have determined that I can healthfully get away with 10-15% of non-whole-food plant choices without compromising my levels of inflammation, cholesterol, blood sugar, comfort, sleep, and other health indicators. I've designated 21 of 28 meals to be entirely whole-food plant-based. In the remaining seven meals, all meat, dairy, processed foods, and refined sugars don't exceed more than 25-40%.

All in all, my diet system has helped me (as well as my personal training clients) build the most optimal "self" while satisfying the mental, craving "self" at times. While it hasn't been a perfect journey, I couldn't be more thankful for the cues and signals that pointed me in this direction. If you're reading this right now, I hope this article is the cue you need to make the change you deserve today.

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Disclaimer: Hey, vegan, vegetarian, and plant-based friends! If you have any insight on this topic that I overlooked or left out, don’t hesitate to email me (michael@michaelmoodyfitness.com). I grew up on a Midwestern diet of meat, cheese, and processed foods and want to guide the world back to some of its plant roots (see what I did there). Help me educate the world about the benefits of a whole-foods, plant-based diet!

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About the Author: Michael Moody, Wedding Officiant

Michael Moody—author of the self-improvement book Redefine Yourself: The Simple Guide to Happiness and host of the “The Elements of Being” podcast—is an ordained minister serving Denver and other towns across Colorado. He is a 2023 WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Award winner in both Denver and Chicago (his eighth consecutive year), was named “Best Business of 2024 and 2025” by Three Best Rated, and earned “The Best Wedding Officiant in Commerce City, Colorado for 2024” from Quality Business Awards USA. Since 2012, he has officiated more than 300 weddings.

Specifically, Michael officiates wedding ceremonies in the Denver neighborhoods of LoDo, River North, Washington Park, Cherry Creek, City Park, Central Park, Capitol Hill, Cheesman Park, Park Hill, Highland, Platt Park, Lower Highlands, Sloan Lake as well as the zip codes 80215, 80214, 80204, 80203, 80205, 80207, 80218, 80219, 80222, 80223, 80224, 80246, 80238, 80221, 80022, 80230, 80231, 80202, 80209, 80247, and 80210. Michael also serves as an ordained minister in Golden, Boulder, Breckenridge, Frisco, Aspen, Vail, Estes Park, and more.

If your Denver neighborhood or Colorado town isn’t listed here, no worries! Please contact Michael to propose a wedding ceremony location in a different area!

#6 - Michael's List of Intents for 2020 (and How He’ll Achieve Each)

Introduction

Welcome to “The Elements of Being” podcast, where I dissect and explore the minds and habits of filmmakers, writers, and industry icons. Essentially, we learn what makes them flip the switch to achieve incredible feats, goals, and milestones, and we have a chance to geek out over the psychology behind human behavior.

Today, we explore the elements of being….me. There is only one chair in this episode, and I'll break down my 18 intentions or resolutions for 2020. It is the list of lists to direct my behaviors and thoughts at the beginning of the new decade. I'll share my philosophical roots and give you a sneak preview of my day-to-day life. In many ways, this is a brief introduction to me, and it most likely frames every interview you hear on this podcast now and beyond.

So who am I? I’ve been a personal trainer and author who has personally helped personal training clients collectively lose over 3,000 lbs and transform their day-to-day approach since 2005!  My first book, Redefine Yourself: The Simple Guide to Happiness, was my first foray into the writing world, and I will begin a second book —a treatise on rewriting the systems/processes of your life, as well as on effectively integrating a "non-negotiable" mindset into your goal strategy. Recently, I’ve been named to Modern Luxury's "It List" and have served as the fitness expert on the Biggest Loser/MSN Chicago tour and The Whitney Reynolds Show on PBS. I have also over 18,000 hours of one-on-one personal training experience (and really don’t know where that time has gone).

What else do you need to know about me? I’m intrigued by the mindset behind human behavior as much as by how people achieve what they do. I’m obsessed with efficiency, but have spent the last decade raising my awareness in my life, harnessing my never-ending energy, and truly relaxing.

In the review of my intentions today, you’ll get a sneak peek into my efficiency/analytical mindset as I share my master list and break down how to achieve it. This episode is truly meant for the individual looking to transform his or her life with a focus on the minutiae of the day-to-day life.

Michael Moody Author

I include my intentions to trust my instinct more, increase the amount of sleeping, reading, and writing, change my environment to influence my productivity and joy, optimize my social, physical, and emotional well-being, and a few other nuggets. So, with that being said, let’s jump in!

You can follow Michael Moody on Facebook and learn more about him at https://www.michaelmoodyfitness.com/.

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Listen to all episodes on Apple, Spotify, Overcast, Castbox, Stitcher, or on your favorite podcast platform!

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“Quit wasting away seconds, minutes, hours, days, years, and decades of life worrying about not being perfect, doing perfect, or acting perfect. Embrace your emotion and passion but bundle it into a positive adaptive package and act instead of stewing in your destructive emotion. Don't let the resentment, anger, hate, and worry prison your mind and distract you from the precious little life moments (even if those moments don't feel important).”

— Michael Moody

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About the Author: Michael Moody, Wedding Officiant

Michael Moody—author of the self-improvement book Redefine Yourself: The Simple Guide to Happiness and host of the “The Elements of Being” podcast—is an ordained minister serving Denver and other towns across Colorado. He is a 2023 WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Award winner in both Denver and Chicago (his eighth consecutive year), was named “Best Business of 2024 and 2025” by Three Best Rated, and earned “The Best Wedding Officiant in Commerce City, Colorado for 2024” from Quality Business Awards USA. Since 2012, he has officiated more than 300 weddings.

Specifically, Michael officiates wedding ceremonies in the Denver neighborhoods of LoDo, River North, Washington Park, Cherry Creek, City Park, Central Park, Capitol Hill, Cheesman Park, Park Hill, Highland, Platt Park, Lower Highlands, Sloan Lake as well as the zip codes 80215, 80214, 80204, 80203, 80205, 80207, 80218, 80219, 80222, 80223, 80224, 80246, 80238, 80221, 80022, 80230, 80231, 80202, 80209, 80247, and 80210. Michael also serves as an ordained minister in Golden, Boulder, Breckenridge, Frisco, Aspen, Vail, Estes Park, and more.

If your Denver neighborhood or Colorado town isn’t listed here, no worries! Please contact Michael to propose a wedding ceremony location in a different area!

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Wedding Planning Tips

#5 - Mindfully Approaching Weight Loss with Dr. Robyn Pashby

Introduction

Welcome to “The Elements of Being” podcast, where I dissect and explore the minds and habits of filmmakers, writers, and industry icons. Essentially, we learn what makes them flip the switch to achieve incredible feats, goals, and milestones, and we have a chance to geek out over the psychology behind human behavior.

Today, you’ll hear my conversation with Dr. Robyn Pashby, a clinical health psychologist in Washington, DC, and Maryland, who specializes in the cognitive, behavioral, and emotional aspects of health behavior change. She is experienced in the use of two evidence-based interventions for eating and weight concerns, including Interpersonal Psychotherapy and Cognitive Behavioral. Her clinical specialization is in the psychological treatment of obesity and binge eating disorder.

So why do you need to know Dr. Pashby? She is the co-creator and leader of an online weight management coaching program called Health Gains. She has authored or co-authored numerous publications, including peer-reviewed scientific articles, book chapters, and blog posts. Dr. Pashby is currently serving as the Vice President of Professional Affairs on the DC Psychological Association Board and was also the Assistant Director and Senior Psychologist at the National Center for Weight and Wellness (NCWW) in Washington, DC, for 7 years.

Dr. Pashby is truly an all-star in the field of psychology, and I’m honored that she allowed me to pick her mind. No matter if you’re pursuing a specific weight management goal or another health-related intent, she provided incredible insight into our own psyche and what we need to do to change. We cover:

Dr Pashby

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Managing relapses, identifying your automatic thoughts, examining self-destructive tendencies, being honest about your own biases and judgments, changing your relationships with people, and much, much more. This interview was an incredible treat that dove straight into the meat of psychology. So with that being said, let’s jump in! You can follow Dr. Robyn Pashby on Facebook and Twitter and learn more about her on http://www.dchealthpsychology.com/.

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Listen to all episodes on Apple, Spotify, Overcast, Castbox, Stitcher, or on your favorite podcast platform!

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“If you persist with telling yourself that you're worthless, you just don't want to get up and go for a walk for a worthless person. If you don't start to change how you see yourself, then none of the plans or programs will stick…It starts with how you treat yourself.”

— Dr. Robin Pashby

Dr Pashby Podcast

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About the Author: Michael Moody, Wedding Officiant

Michael Moody—author of the self-improvement book Redefine Yourself: The Simple Guide to Happiness and host of the “The Elements of Being” podcast—is an ordained minister serving Denver and other towns across Colorado. He is a 2023 WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Award winner in both Denver and Chicago (his eighth consecutive year), was named “Best Business of 2024 and 2025” by Three Best Rated, and earned “The Best Wedding Officiant in Commerce City, Colorado for 2024” from Quality Business Awards USA. Since 2012, he has officiated more than 300 weddings.

Specifically, Michael officiates wedding ceremonies in the Denver neighborhoods of LoDo, River North, Washington Park, Cherry Creek, City Park, Central Park, Capitol Hill, Cheesman Park, Park Hill, Highland, Platt Park, Lower Highlands, Sloan Lake as well as the zip codes 80215, 80214, 80204, 80203, 80205, 80207, 80218, 80219, 80222, 80223, 80224, 80246, 80238, 80221, 80022, 80230, 80231, 80202, 80209, 80247, and 80210. Michael also serves as an ordained minister in Golden, Boulder, Breckenridge, Frisco, Aspen, Vail, Estes Park, and more.

If your Denver neighborhood or Colorado town isn’t listed here, no worries! Please contact Michael to propose a wedding ceremony location in a different area!

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Wedding Planning Tips

#7 - Dissecting the Creative Process and Overcoming Life's Challenges with Executive Producer Phil Lerman

Introduction

Welcome to “The Elements of Being” podcast, where I dissect and explore the minds and habits of filmmakers, writers, and industry icons. Essentially, we learn what makes them flip the switch to achieve incredible feats, goals, and milestones, and we have a chance to geek out over the psychology behind human behavior.

Today, you’ll hear my conversation with Phil Lerman, a freelance writer and TV executive producer from the Washington, DC area, best known for producing the hit TV program America’s Most Wanted and the PBS show Made in Spain. He’s also the author of “Dadditude,” a laugh-out-loud memoir about the joys of being an older dad, and co-author of nine other books, including “Where Have All The Flowers Gone,” a seminal work on the Woodstock Generation, and John Walsh’s book “No Mercy,” which reached The New York Times paperback bestseller list.

His latest book – “When Truth Is All You Have,” coauthored with Jim McCloskey, who has gotten more than 60 innocent people out of prison and who is considered the “father of the Innocence Movement” -- is due out this summer.

In this episode, we examine the role and creative process of being an executive producer for hit TV shows, finding your voice as a writer, successfully achieving weight loss and overcoming weight loss, and facing the challenges of being an older parent. Of course, these topics were just a few pieces in our far-ranging conversation. So with that being said, let’s jump in!

You can learn more about Phil Lerman on http://www.lermanproductions.com/.

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Listen to all episodes on Apple, Spotify, Overcast, Castbox, Stitcher, or on your favorite podcast platform!

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“Finding a way to isolate the thought, challenge the thought, and replace the thought is a process that is not that hard…it is a process that you can learn. And once you do that, it becomes a habit.”

— Phil Lerman, former executive producer of the show “America’s Most Wanted”

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About the Author: Michael Moody, Wedding Officiant

Michael Moody—author of the self-improvement book Redefine Yourself: The Simple Guide to Happiness and host of the “The Elements of Being” podcast—is an ordained minister serving Denver and other towns across Colorado. He is a 2023 WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Award winner in both Denver and Chicago (his eighth consecutive year), was named “Best Business of 2024 and 2025” by Three Best Rated, and earned “The Best Wedding Officiant in Commerce City, Colorado for 2024” from Quality Business Awards USA. Since 2012, he has officiated more than 300 weddings.

Specifically, Michael officiates wedding ceremonies in the Denver neighborhoods of LoDo, River North, Washington Park, Cherry Creek, City Park, Central Park, Capitol Hill, Cheesman Park, Park Hill, Highland, Platt Park, Lower Highlands, Sloan Lake as well as the zip codes 80215, 80214, 80204, 80203, 80205, 80207, 80218, 80219, 80222, 80223, 80224, 80246, 80238, 80221, 80022, 80230, 80231, 80202, 80209, 80247, and 80210. Michael also serves as an ordained minister in Golden, Boulder, Breckenridge, Frisco, Aspen, Vail, Estes Park, and more.

If your Denver neighborhood or Colorado town isn’t listed here, no worries! Please contact Michael to propose a wedding ceremony location in a different area!

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Wedding Planning Tips