Q: “Do you have any suggestions on how to maintain a healthier lifestyle and stop eating late at night?” – Marie

A: I am by no means qualified to give health advice, but I’ll list some tidbits that I use to help myself or that I’ve been told to do (because, let’s face it, how many times do we act on the advice given to us when it means we’d have to eat less or exercise more? Blech!). Consider trying intermittent fasting. Work and school have a lot to do with what time we take our meals and snacks, but if you narrow it down to an eight-hour window within which to eat, you might yield results that work for you. You can train your body to become accustomed to eating within a time frame of, say, 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. so that your hunger no longer rages in the off-hours. Sticking to a schedule such as this can help you stop eating earlier in the day and stop making midnight runs to Taco Bell for those gorgeous chicken-rolled tacos. Practice discipline and adjust the time frame as you see fit. Find a friend or family member to hold you accountable or even to try it out alongside you. Set small, realistic goals in increments for yourself in regards to exercising, losing weight, or shifting your eating habits. Change doesn’t happen overnight! If you believe you only have time to work out three times a week, commit to that. Find creative workouts to do at home that don’t cost money or travel time, if that’s what works best for you. Find a routine to settle into that gives you a minimum number of times to work out, a time frame to eat within, and maybe a weekly checkup with a friend to keep you motivated and honest. Slipping up doesn’t quantitate the end of the world, but it is up to you to visualize what outcomes you desire and then manifest them.

Q: “Do you have any advice on how to move on after being cheated on?” – Hector

A: First of all, let me say how truly sorry I am that you’ve experienced this. One of the worst things a human can do is betray one’s deepest trust and love. The kind of damage this brings is torrential, but it is not irreversible. It sounds to me like this just wasn’t the one for you, my friend. It will take a lot of time to recover – I won’t lie to you. Take time to fall in love with yourself all over again: try new things, find hobbies, meet new people, and work on showing yourself the love you deserve and the love that this person never fully gave you. Surround yourself with good people that you trust and forget about romance for a little while. If you find you can’t sleep in the middle of the night because your mind is going 3,000 miles a minute, listen to a podcast or watch a calming, familiar movie. Distract yourself if you happen to be alone when the feelings hit. It never hurts to talk to someone about it; I am a firm believer in the idea that everyone can benefit from talking to a mental health professional. Please don’t feel alone in this! You are loved and adored, and one bad apple who broke your heart will not spoil the other apples in the barrel (is that how the saying goes?). Focus on your own happiness, heal, eat good food, clean your room, exercise, etc. – you’ll be okay! Don’t let this ruin your perspective on love. The right person will come along and give you a reason to put your trust in someone again. Until then, be the love you deserve!

Q: How do you keep from overexerting yourself? – Carlos

A: Know your limits and establish boundaries. In any context, these are words to live by. Maintain balance in all aspects: If you had a hard day, do some things to care for yourself like taking a bubble bath or ordering your favorite food to bring home. Call a friend or family member to vent or ask for their input, if you feel that it might be valuable. Think about the things that bring you joy or relaxation and keep them in mind for the times where you’re stretched a little bit too thin. Take some PTO when you need to. Don’t be afraid to cancel plans when you feel like you need to decompress alone. If you need immediate relief during the workday or a stressful event, go to the bathroom and practice a Mindfulness Body-Scan Exercise (Google it!). Nothing brings me more solace than escaping for a bit to relax, and then knowing I have a cold beer and a rom-com to go home to later that evening. Nothing is worth overexerting yourself. You are talented and capable, and your energy is worth just as much as anyone else’s. Be aware of your limits in any situation!